How to start an online book club
How to start an online book club
During a pandemic
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How to start an online book club
Since being interviewed on CBC Radio about the pandemic-busting online book club I’m part of (you can hear that story here update Tuesday, April 18, 2023, this story is no longer available on CBC’s website or Apple Podcast), I’ve received emails from people wondering how to start their own book club.
Although it seems pretty straightforward to me (grab a friend and start discussing books you’re interested in), some people need a little help getting pointed in the right direction. So I will humbly offer a few tips to help you find your starting point.
Tip one: Where at least two people meet to discuss books, a book club is formed. If you have friends you ordinarily keep up with over the Internet or through social media or emails, reach out to them. A book club is best shared with friends who “get you” and are into the same or similar type of reading you are. Your members may be diverse but your interest in books should be on a similar shelf, so to speak.
Start with one other person whose taste in books jives with yours. Over time, as your discussions grow, add more people until you feel your group has reached a comfortable size where everyone gets a chance to share their thoughts about the book selection. You don’t need to have a lot of people to have a book club and in many ways, it might be an advantage to keep the numbers limited. How can everyone speak over Zoom if there’s a lot of people clamouring for talk time?
Having said that, there are online bookclubs that have thousands of participants, these types of book clubs flourish on sites like Facebook, where people read and participate by typing their thoughts in the threaded comments section.
Tip two: Pick a time to meet and discuss.
In the age of the internet, it’s nice to be able to connect with people all over the world, as long as time zones permit. Some book clubs meet every so many weeks, others pick a day and week combination and stick to that (say the first Wednesday of the month, for example.) It’s really up to you and what’s mutually agreeable with your book club members.
Tip three: Not everyone will be able to make it every time. Sometimes schedules will conflict, other times, the book selection might not appeal to everyone. Don’t worry about it, just carry on and set up your next book club meeting.
Tip four: Some book clubs, I am told, take attendance and some have club fees. Other clubs vote on the book choice, others designate a person to go out and purchase the books for each of the members, kind of like someone buying a round at the bar, only buying a round of books instead — and they each take turns that way. This may or may not be the way you want to roll with your book club. The club I’m part of just does a round robin approach where everyone gets a chance to suggest a title. Ask the members what feels most comfortable for them.
Tip five: Not everyone is going to want to join your book club. Don’t take it personally. Sometimes, people just don’t want to commit to a book club. After all, it involves buying a book, reading a book and showing up somewhere at a designated time to talk about a book. I can guarantee you the trumpet section of my old high school band is just not interested in a book club. I know because I asked. Did I take it personally? Nope. But for the people who are part of the book club, it’s fun and as near as I can tell, they’re happy to be there. They’re people I look forward to seeing each month.
Bonus tip: Evolve. You can grow your book club and evolve it as you add members. And at the end of the day, a book club should enrich your life. Do things to keep the happiness factor merrily at play.
I hope the above thoughts help. The following links offer suggestions to help you get your book club started. I wish you the best with your book club.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/book-clubs/getting-started/
https://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/how-to-start-your-own-book-club/all
Gentle reminder to subscribers: At the end of March there’s a draw for a small original painting for subscribers of ArchibaldStudio.substack.com. I’ll draw a name on Thursday, March 31st and reach out to the winner from there. If I don’t hear back from the selected winner within 30 days, I’ll select another name. So keep your eyes on your inbox from me.
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