Little big question, are readers interested in a glossary?

[EliseValkyria]

Hello everyone again

Here again with a simple question, just as the title says

Are readers interested in a glossary?

I have created a very detailed glossary for my novel to describe and explain a bit more the world of the novel, it has everything from character profiles, relevant objects, important events, rare weapons that are used, even small previews of things that will be added later. It's a big job that is almost never seen (I don't really know, it's not like there are statistics).

But is this true? Does nobody really see the glossary? Do they only see it when they forget something important? Is it better not to spend time on it?

From my side I have only received three comments from readers saying that they started reading the novel after reading the whole glossary with even the spoilers. Now that I think about it that could also be another question, how is it better to avoid all possible spoilers in the glossary or is it better to put everything in an honest way like for example still put characters that don't appear until after the middle of the novel?.

I am sorry if I have gone off topic, I just want to know your opinion about the glossary.

 

[Lysander_Works]

It's best to make use of this glossary as its own standalone chapter, so that those not interested can simply hit the skip button without having it baked into the story. There is also a means to integrate a short alt-text system for on-demand definitions in the middle of your core chapters. (i forget which function it is but trusts me it's there).

 

[CharlesEBrown]

If a lot of terms and characters come up sporadically, or you make a setting interesting enough for the reader to want more, then the glossary is a great idea; otherwise it seems there would be better uses for your time as an author.

Unless, of course, you use it to track names and places for your own benefit (I may have to do that with one of my longer works if I post it here or somewhere else with a glossary feature).

 

[EliseValkyria]

It's best to make use of this glossary as its own standalone chapter, so that those not interested can simply hit the skip button without having it baked into the story. There is also a means to integrate a short alt-text system for on-demand definitions in the middle of your core chapters. (i forget which function it is but trusts me it's there).

Agreed, that's a good point, although in fact Scribble Hub also has a glossary function, which I don't know if people are even aware it's there, that's part of what I'm talking about.

 

[NotaNuffian]

Since SH provides the glossary, use it.

Even though most odds is that readers will skip it.

Just remember to constantly updating it, I have two problems with authors using standalone chapters as glossaries:
1. I can't bloody find them when I need to.
2. And when I did, the information was outdated.

 

[Lysander_Works]

Wait, I thought that was for the table of contents?

Agreed, that's a good point, although in fact Scribble Hub also has a glossary function, which I don't know if people are even aware it's there, that's part of what I'm talking about.

You all have me confused as ever now. I thought that was for the book's table of contents, since that's where released chapters show up.

 

[Rhaps]

It's best to make use of this glossary as its own standalone chapter, so that those not interested can simply hit the skip button without having it baked into the story. There is also a means to integrate a short alt-text system for on-demand definitions in the middle of your core chapters. (i forget which function it is but trusts me it's there).

Someone already did that and hit SH's chapter word limit, it was 30k or higher.

 

[EliseValkyria]

Wait, I thought that was for the table of contents?


You all have me confused as ever now. I thought that was for the book's table of contents, since that's where released chapters show up.

Bruh.

Glossary is for the glossary

The chapter table, or maybe you mean the chapter index, is under any of the three categories.

For example, this one is just below the whole glossary

 

[melchi]

Someone already did that and hit SH's chapter word limit, it was 30k or higher.

I'd like to say that is plenty but some people have some impressive gloss.

 

[Lysander_Works]

The chapter table, or maybe you mean the chapter index, is under any of the three categories.

Ok, I see it now. Guess I got confused for no reason again.
Yeah, never used the baked-in Glossary, though I feel it might be my style to do it the other way...