A book club is a nice and easy thing. It is a community of individuals who choose to read the same book simultaneously. Then they get together and discuss it. They express their ideas, what they enjoyed, what they did not enjoy, and how the book has affected them. It is just a film with friends, except that it is not a film, it is a book that you all watch.
If you’re wondering how to start a book club, it’s simpler than you think. A book club is not merely about reading. It is a special time that we dedicate in the busy lives that we are in, to relate with others. It is one of the reasons to leave our phones aside, to sit at the same table, and have a face-to-face talk. It makes us find books that we would never have read otherwise.
It also challenges us to think more critically of what we read. A book club is a mini-community, a group of friends who love stories. It is a simple concept that has a huge influence on our learning and happiness.
Book Clubs as a Side Hustle: Is it worth investing?
You may be asking yourself whether you can use a book club as a means of earning an extra income. The easy answer is, yes, you can. Individuals are seeking out groups and structured leisure activities. They are commonly ready to spend a small amount of money on a properly managed experience. You may impose a monthly fee as a membership fee. This charge can be used to pay the price of snacks, beverages, a subscription to a video call service, such as Zoom, or even your time to organize all that.
Nonetheless, to make it a side hustle, one will need to change the mindset. It is no longer an informal gathering. You must deliver true value for the money. This implies that you must be an excellent planner. You must choose interesting books, conduct excellent discussions, and provide a friendly environment that customers will be willing to pay.
Benefits of Starting a Book Club
Numerous benefits are associated with joining or initiating a book club. It is not the reading deadline at all.
- You Will Read More: as you realize there is a group waiting to talk about a book, you will be more likely to read it. It is a tremendous strain to read your way through.
- Find New Books and Authors: Your book club members will recommend books that you have never heard of. It exposes you to an entirely new genre, writers, and ideas that could otherwise have been overlooked. You may find your new favorite author this way.
- Make New Friends: Book club. This is an excellent place to find people who are interested in the same thing as you are. Discussion of a book is an instinctive method of getting acquainted with a person. A lot of long-term friendships begin with a story.
- Enhance Your Thinking and Communication Skills: Book discussion helps you think harder. You know how to listen to other opinions and clarify your ideas. It is quite a good practice in speaking respectfully.
- See the World in New Ways: Each one reads the same book, yet each individual perceives it differently. Listening to what other people thought of a character or a twist to the plot will alter your perception entirely. It teaches you to look at the world the way other people do.
- A Healthy Escape: It provides you with an excuse to stop working, stressing, and doing your everyday tasks. You spend a couple of hours in another world and enjoy a philosophical discussion. It is an activity that is relaxing and stimulating to the mind.
- It’s Fun! A book club is just fun at its core. It is a social affair to look forward to. Books, chats, frequent snacks, and good company are some of the things that are present. What’s not to love?
Types of Book Clubs
Book clubs are not identical. They may differ a lot depending on the people in them and the manner in which the people come together. Here are a few common types.
Online Book Club
A book club is an online meeting, where people are video calling, such as Zoom, or Google Meet, or chat groups on apps, such as WhatsApp or Facebook.
- Who it is addressed to: This is ideal for those who are geographically distant, are busy, or cannot travel comfortably. It unites book lovers in various cities or even in various countries.
- The mechanism: The group settles on a book. After that, they make a video call to talk about it. Other online clubs are simply text-base,d where members share their ideas in a discussion group or chat room within a week.
Friends & Family Book Club
It is a book club consisting of individuals you are close friends with or family members.
- Who it is addressed to: Everybody who is seeking a very casual, cozy and friendly atmosphere. It is not as much a matter of rigorous literary critique as it is a matter of enjoying oneself in the company.
- The mechanism: This is typically a small, informal group. The meetings could occur at the houses of each other. It is easy to talk about the book and then talk about life and that is not wrong.
Adult Book Club
This is the overall name of a book club among adults. It can be any genre, whether it is serious or fun beach books.
- Who it is addressed to: Adults who wish to talk in a deeper manner. Such clubs can address books that have complicated themes, mature content, or difficult concepts.
- The mechanism: It can be either serious or informal, big or small. They usually gather during evening hours or weekends, at the house of one of their members, in a local library or cafe.
Kids / Student Book Club
These clubs are meant to foster a reading affection among the youths.
- Who it is addressed to: Children or teenagers. They assist children in developing reading competencies, discussing their ideas, and viewing reading as a social phenomenon that is enjoyable rather than a homework task.
- The Mechanism: In the case of kids, the meetings are to be interactive. You may have the activities or crafts in the book. The discussions can be more organized, but should feel more relaxed and enjoyable to students. The meetings are normally organized and directed by a parent or a teacher.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Start a Book Club
Book club is not as hard as you may think. All you need is to follow these few steps.
Step 1: Determine the Type of Book Club.
To begin with, consider the type of vibe you are interested in. Would you prefer a casual club with your best friends? It is a Friends and Family book club. Do you require the freedom of online meetings? Then the Online Book Club is what you need. Are you a parent who wants to teach your kids and their friends to read? The solution is a Kids Book Club. Thinking about how to start a book club helps you make this first decision, which will guide all the other choices you make for your group.
Step 2: Select Your Purpose and Theme.
What is the purpose of this club you are starting? Is it to win new friends, to read classic literature, or simply because they have a motive to read more enjoyable, light-hearted novels? Having a purpose will keep the club focused.
Next, pick a theme or genre. You do not need to stay with it permanently; it is a good place to start. As an example, your theme might be:
- Mystery and thriller novels.
- Writings by female authors.
- Science or history books of non-fiction.
- Books that have been adapted into films.
The existence of a theme facilitates easier selection of books and appeals to individuals who share interest in the same type of stories.
Step 3: Choose the Group Size
Consider the number of individuals you would like to have in your club.
- Small Group (3-5 people): This is a very personal group. Time to chat is not a problem to everyone and meetings are easy to plan. The conversations are profound.
- Medium Group (6-10 people): This tends to be an ideal size. It is not so small that everybody cannot take part, yet it is not so big that so many opinions cannot be expressed. You have a good group in case some of them are unable to attend a meeting.
- The Large Group (11+): It can be enjoyable and energetic. It may be difficult to control, however. Not all people will have an opportunity to speak, and the discussions may become off-topic. It needs a powerful leader to ensure things are in order.
The safe bet is to start with a medium size of 6 to 10 members, in the case of a new club.
Step 4: Determine the Meeting Frequency and Format
Now, figure out the logistics.
- Frequency: How frequently are you going to meet? The most popular one is monthly. It provides one with ample reading time of the book without rushing. Alternatively, bi-weekly (twice a month) may be used in case you are reading shorter books.
- Location: Where will you meet? You have the ability to alternate hosting at the home of members. This is cozy and free. Or you can see each other in an open space such as a coffee shop, library or a park. In the case of an online club, your place is a video meeting tool, such as Zoom or Google Meet.
- Time and Duration: Find a day and time when most of the people are free such as a weekday evening or a weekend afternoon. The meetings are supposed to take about 1.5-2 hours. That will do us in terms of greetings, conversation, and closure.
Step 5: Set Rules & Structure
Rules are not funny, but they only make sure that everything is okay and that no one gets into trouble. You do not need a long list. One just needs a few simple guidelines. For example:
It would be good to have the book completed prior to the meeting. (You do not have to, but make the best you can).
- Allow each to take his turn to speak. Do not interrupt others.
- Respect different opinions. It is fine to disagree but do it nicely.
- Determine the method which you will use in selecting the next book (e.g. by voting).
The meeting should also have a simple structure in place. A simple structure could be:
- First 15 minutes: (Arrival) The people come, have snacks and converse.
- Next 60 minutes: Discussion of the book.
- Last 15 minutes: Select the next book and check regarding the date of the next meeting.
Step 6: Choose the Books
This is the fun part! How will you pick your reads? The following are some of the common techniques:
Vote The members vote on their favorite 3-4 books suggested by the organizer.
- Everyone Suggests: Each of the members comes to the meeting with one suggestion on their mind and the group votes.
- Host Decides: The host charged with the meeting has the privilege to select the book to be read that month.
- Adhere to a Theme: When your theme is “award-winning books” you will only be able to select books that have received significant awards.
In the case of the very first book, however, you, the organizer, should select it. Select something that is neither too long nor challenging. A popular well liked book would be a good place to start.
Step 7: Invite Members
Now find your people, now, it is!
Begin with your circle of friends: Approach friends, family members and colleagues who you feel might be interested.
- Act on social media: Share your new book club on your Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. You may make a nice graphic to grab the attention of people.
- The local community boards: Post a flyer at your local library, community center, or coffee shop.
- Internet resources: Find book lovers in your locality using such websites as Meetup or Goodreads.
In the invitation, you should specify the nature of the club you are inviting people to, the genre you are going to read out and where and when you are going to meet.
Step 8: Plan the First Meeting
The initial meeting determines the mood of the entire club, and thus makes it a good one!
- Send reminder: A reminder can be sent out to all a few days before the meeting to remind everyone of the date, time, and venue.
- Write up discussion questions: You do not have to be a literature professor. All one needs to do is find 5-10 open-ended questions online about the book to initiate the conversation.
- Icebreakers: Begin with a basic icebreaker. Ask each one to introduce themselves and tell what type of books he/she generally prefer to read.
- Make it easy: This is aimed at ensuring everyone is relaxed. Get some snacks and beverages. It makes the atmosphere more friendly.
- Talk about the book and the club: We have been talking most of the time about the first book. In the final part, talk about the rules of the club and select the following book mutually.
Step 9: Run Engaging Discussions
Discussions are everything in a great book club. The task is to facilitate the conversation as the organizer.
- Use open-ended questions: Do not use questions with a yes or no answer. Rather than did you like the main character?
- Allow everyone a moment to discuss: When a person is not talking, you may use the opportunity to ask him or her, Sarah, what did you think about that chapter?
- Stay on course: It is a natural tendency to lose track. Bring the mind back to the book in case you go too far.
- Give your personal opinions: Do not merely be a moderator. Share your opinions too. Your passion is catching.
Step 10: Maintain Momentum
You have to keep your club going when it is in operation.
- Be consistent: Do as much as you can to adhere to your meeting schedule. Consistency aids an individual to make the club part of his/her routine.
- Request feedback: Once you have had several meetings, request your members to provide feedback on what is and is not working. Are they satisfied with the book options? Is the meeting length good?
- Shake it up: It is a good idea to do something different now and then. You may have a movie night, in the case that you read a book that was adapted into a movie. In case a book is set in a particular country, you might sample the food of that particular country during your meeting.
- Establish a communication channel: A WhatsApp or email group will be excellent to use in sending reminders and chatting between meetings.
Step 11 (Optional): Monetize Your Book Club
If you decide to turn your book club into a side hustle, here is how you can do it.
- Charge a Membership Fee: You can request a minimal monthly/quarterly charge. Be transparent about what the fee covers – for example, a subscription for your online meeting tool, snacks and drinks or a small payment for your organisational time.
- Use Affiliate Links: When you are recommending the next book, you can use an affiliate link from a site like Amazon.
- Host Special Paid Events: You could host a special event, such as a workshop, and sell tickets.
Remember to always provide excellent value if you are asking people to pay.
How to Run a Book Club Discussion – Tips to keep discussions engaging
Every great book club meeting is of course a lively discussion. Here is how to ensure that your conversations are always interesting.
- Prepare Some Questions: So before the meeting, prepare 5-10 open-ended questions. The great ones are available just by searching online, e.g. [Book Title] discussion questions. Questions should begin with “What,” “How” or “Why.
- Start Broad: Start with a general and easy question to get everyone talking as in, What was your first impression of the book? or “Let us round it out and rate the book out of 10 and say one word to describe it.
- Talk About Characters: Everyone loves to talk about their characters. Examples of questions to be asked include, what was your favorite character and why? or “Did you concur with the major choice of the lead character?
- Make Real Life: Take the book to life. Question, “Did this book remind you of anything in your life? or (supposing you were in this position) what would you have done?
- Be a Good Listener: Listen to what other people are saying. It shows respect and helps you to ask some good follow-up questions.
- Encourage Different Opinions: The best discussions occur when people disagree. If everyone agrees, you can be a devil’s advocate and say ‘That’s an interesting point, but what if we look at it from this angle…?’ Make sure that all opinions are welcomed.
Tips for Success
The following are some of the last tips that may make your book club a permanent success.
- Have a Leader: In any club there must be a kind of leader or organizer to get things going. This individual reminds, initiates the conversation, and ensures that meetings do not go off-course. You can have this role as you wish.
- Be Flexible: Life happens. Individuals will become busy, and on other occasions a book selection will be a failure. Do not be too strict. It is not aimed at causing stress, but to have fun.
- Food and Drinks Help: You do not have to cook up a feast, but just having a few snacks and beverages would make the atmosphere much more relaxed and social.
- It Is Okay Not to Like a Book: Some of the best conversations are the ones that a person did not like the book. It is equally interesting to discuss the reasons why a book failed as much as discussing the reasons why it succeeded.
- Fun: You must always remember why you began the club to have fun and have friends. Remain light-hearted.
Conclusion
You can have so much joy in your life by a simple act: how to start a book club. It is a method of reading in a group as opposed to an individual process. It introduces you to other people, broadens your mind, and creates a small niche in the busy world. One does not have to be a literary expert to begin one. The only thing you need is to love books and want to share that love. With such few steps, you will be able to build a vibrant, welcoming community that will read together for many years to come. Take that first book, then, and make up your own story.
FAQs
1. What would happen to me should I fail to complete the book in time?
Nevertheless, you are expected to attend the meeting! Do not just be unprepared to be spoiled. One is better to participate in the discussion and become the part of the community than not to participate in it at all.
2. What is the appropriate length of time of a book club meeting?
One of the good lengths is approximately 1.5-2 hours. This will allow you enough time to chat casually, have an in depth conversation about the book and arrange the next meeting without making it seem that it is too long.
3. What should I do when no one is talking?
Do not panic. It may occur particularly in a new club. Prepare some interesting, open ended questions. It is also possible to express your personal opinion first to break the ice.
4. Is a book club supposed to have a formal leader?
It is good to have an individual who will be the organizer of every meeting. This individual will be able to make reminders and initiate the discussion. Nevertheless, this position can be swapped among the members such that an individual does not necessarily have to do all the work.