There are two things that every writer should do that will greatly improve their writing: first, read, read, read; second, find a community to encourage, critique, and learn from. Both reading and writing are extremely solitary activities, but if you want to get serious about both, then it’s important to find like-minded people.
That’s why you should form a writer’s book club, a book club specifically to help you grow as a writer through reflective thought and analysis of great authors who came before. If you’ve been wanting to form a writer’s book club, but are unsure of where to start, keep reading; this article is for you!
Where?
First, it is important to start with the logistics. This first step will determine how you go about planning your writer’s book club. Do you want this book club to meet in person or in a virtual setting?
Both have pros and cons. An in-person meeting could allow you to meet new friends in your town or city. Many in-person clubs opt to either rotate meetings at members’ houses or meet at a more neutral location, such as a local cafe or restaurant. It could not only be an opportunity to work on your writing with like-minded people, but also a way to get out of your house and maybe try out new meeting places in your town.
On the other hand, a virtual book club allows you to meet people and build a community with people anywhere in the world. It may be easier to find and include people who have the same goals in a virtual setting where there is no limit on location.
Who?
Who do you want to join your writer’s book club? Maybe you already have a group of like-minded friends who want to get serious about working on their writing. In that case, this first step should be easy!
Maybe you want to build a community and meet new people. In this case, there are many ways to get the word out there about the club you want to form. Social media will be your best friend when promoting your new club. Post about it and get the word out there! If you are looking for in-person members who live in your area, try the old-fashioned way. Make some posters and ask if you can promote your club in your local library or bookstores.
Make sure the intentions of your book club are clear when you search for members. If you want this club to be about writing and learning from great writers, you want to ensure that writers are the people you are attracting.
What to Read!
For a writer’s book club, you will want to choose books that you feel you can learn from. If your club wants to focus on writing in a particular genre, make sure you choose books in your target genre.
If you’re looking for more general writing tips, it is important to do your research before choosing your book. It is helpful to choose a topic you want to focus on with a book to go along with it, for example, if you want to focus on one meeting on writing from dual perspectives, choose a book that implements this effectively or in a creative way. This will not only help guide the conversation towards that particular aspect of the book, but it will also allow you something to focus on while reading. In most book clubs, members take turns choosing the book so that everyone gets a say in what to read.
How To Learn From Reading
The biggest difference between forming a writer’s book club as opposed to an ordinary book club is what you get from the books that you read. Don’t just read from the perspective of a reader; read from the perspective of a writer.
Take notes and come prepared to discuss. Read or watch interviews with the author before or during your club, in order to hear about the author’s choices right from the source. Come prepared with discussion points or questions that you want to bring up during your meetings.
Write!
Finally, the most important part of a writer’s book club is the writing. In a writer’s book club, there should be a point in the conversation where it switches to how to implement the author’s writing techniques into your own writing. Many writers’ book clubs match the book with a writing prompt that focuses on what that particular book can teach writers. Giving a writing prompt before the meeting allows members to come prepared with something to share with the club in a sort of critique.
Ensure that your book club is also a safe space for your fellow writers to share their work, learn from each other. A critique circle is the most common method used in a writer’s club. Read someone’s work together and discuss what works and what could be improved upon. With the books you use, you will have helpful examples on how to make your writing work!
Tips & Helpful Tools
There are various platforms out there that can help you facilitate your book club and keep things organized. Fable offers an online book club platform where with a chat and the ability to add milestones and prompts, or questions along the way, for members to dive deeper as they read.
Similarly, Bookclubs offers a way to schedule meetings, choose your next book with collaborative polls. It even allows you to find already established book clubs to join, and it is a great way to promote your book club to others around the world.
Bookstr is a great place to start when researching books that will help you learn from them. We have endless book recommendations, author interviews, and writing tips to help supplement your discussion.
Forming a writer’s book club is the best way to take the next step in your writing journey and start taking yourself seriously. You will learn so much from the authors you read, as well as your fellow writers, as you form a community that seeks to encourage each other to be better. We wish all you writers the best of luck in forming your new book clubs!
Want more book club tips? Click here!
Find the perfect book for your writer’s book club on our Writer Inspiration – Tips, Tricks, and Book Recs on Becoming a Better Writer bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
