How to Start a Book Club
Figure out what your book club will read, for both your first novel and in general., Find a core group of people with a passion for reading., Decide where to meet., Set meeting time length., Poll members of your club., Announce your first meeting...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Figure out what your book club will read
Will you be a general adult book club reading anything? A teen mystery book club? Deciding on a theme (or no theme, in the case of the first example) will help you keep you group motivated and supplied with reading ideas. -
Step 2: for both your first novel and in general.
They could be friends, family, or acquaintances you know through various activities, but they should all love to read.
Also, make sure that this core group of members can commit to meetings on a regular basis.
You don't want your entire group flaking out on you! , When you first begin, especially if the members are friends or you plan to serve alcohol, meeting your own home is a great idea.
Later, different members could "host" different meetings.
If there are members that you are not quite as familiar with, or don't want to meet at your house, ask your local library about using some of their space for a book club. , An hour is a good start.
Eventually, two hours or an hour and a half may work better if you add more members to your group.
Don't exceed two hours, because when meetings get too long people get bored.
When people get bored, they quit coming to meetings.
Your club could end before it even begins if it gets a reputation of being boring. , Ask what books they have been reading and what times and dates work best for them to meet. , Set the date at least two weeks in advance, to allow for people to have time to read the book.
Three weeks is even better.
Send out e-mails a week before the meeting to give people a written reminder. , For instance, vote for president, vice president, secretary, and get a few people for a club newsletter.
This step is optional for smaller groups, but is very handy for very large groups of over ten or fifteen people. , Get ideas for books from the internet or library recommendations.
Let everyone discuss and vote upon what book to read for the next meeting.
After deciding, let everyone get to know each other and discuss their reading tastes.
Serve snacks and refreshments.
This can help start conversation and will keep people much more content.
Your refreshments don't need to be fancy or expensive; cookies, breads, nuts, and popcorn are all good ideas.
Be mindful of vegetarian members or members watching their weight. , Actively invite suggestions from members at every meeting on how to improve the functioning of the club. , Request every member to bring in their book loving friends to the club.
Leave scope for prospective members to participate in meetings so that they can get a feel before actually joining. -
Step 3: Find a core group of people with a passion for reading.
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Step 4: Decide where to meet.
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Step 5: Set meeting time length.
-
Step 6: Poll members of your club.
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Step 7: Announce your first meeting.
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Step 8: Start thinking of a cabinet.
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Step 9: Make a list of about five books and bring it to the meeting.
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Step 10: Be open to suggestions and constructive criticisms.
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Step 11: Ask members to enroll new members.
Detailed Guide
Will you be a general adult book club reading anything? A teen mystery book club? Deciding on a theme (or no theme, in the case of the first example) will help you keep you group motivated and supplied with reading ideas.
They could be friends, family, or acquaintances you know through various activities, but they should all love to read.
Also, make sure that this core group of members can commit to meetings on a regular basis.
You don't want your entire group flaking out on you! , When you first begin, especially if the members are friends or you plan to serve alcohol, meeting your own home is a great idea.
Later, different members could "host" different meetings.
If there are members that you are not quite as familiar with, or don't want to meet at your house, ask your local library about using some of their space for a book club. , An hour is a good start.
Eventually, two hours or an hour and a half may work better if you add more members to your group.
Don't exceed two hours, because when meetings get too long people get bored.
When people get bored, they quit coming to meetings.
Your club could end before it even begins if it gets a reputation of being boring. , Ask what books they have been reading and what times and dates work best for them to meet. , Set the date at least two weeks in advance, to allow for people to have time to read the book.
Three weeks is even better.
Send out e-mails a week before the meeting to give people a written reminder. , For instance, vote for president, vice president, secretary, and get a few people for a club newsletter.
This step is optional for smaller groups, but is very handy for very large groups of over ten or fifteen people. , Get ideas for books from the internet or library recommendations.
Let everyone discuss and vote upon what book to read for the next meeting.
After deciding, let everyone get to know each other and discuss their reading tastes.
Serve snacks and refreshments.
This can help start conversation and will keep people much more content.
Your refreshments don't need to be fancy or expensive; cookies, breads, nuts, and popcorn are all good ideas.
Be mindful of vegetarian members or members watching their weight. , Actively invite suggestions from members at every meeting on how to improve the functioning of the club. , Request every member to bring in their book loving friends to the club.
Leave scope for prospective members to participate in meetings so that they can get a feel before actually joining.
About the Author
Kevin Jordan
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