How did I start my book club?

I think the word community is so overused right now, but to answer the question: I was looking for community. I realized one day that I didn’t have that many hobbies and I wanted to change that. I looked for a local book club that fit my interest but couldn’t seem to find one that matched my vibe … and that was free (I did find a local book club where you had to pay every month and that was definitely new to me). After much research, I decided to start my own. I started with one member. I told her that if she and I vibed, I would add more people to the club that I personally selected. And when I say personally selected…I mean I stalked their pages for a little bit before I slid in their DMs. 

Another thing I did was rotate the “host”. I really didn’t want the book club to be me-centric with me selecting the book each month. Instead, each member provides three book selections monthly to the whole group. The other members vote on which book they would like to read and the majority rules. Once the selection is made and we meet to discuss the book, the “host” leads the discussion, including having questions ready and directing the group. 

If I had to give advice on how to start a book club, here are some steps I would suggest one take. 

Key Steps to Starting Your Book Club

• Define the Vibe and Why 

• Do you want the book club to be light and fun or more focused on deep analysis? Do you want it to explore a plethora of genres or focus on just a few? Is it highlighting a specific segment of the literary world, like Black authors or thrillers only?

• Determine the Format and Schedule

• Are you comfortable with a local or virtual book club? Are you looking to host in person, meet up, or talk over Zoom? If in-person, will someone host in their home or at a local meetup place (if a local place, make sure there is enough space for the group and that the ambience is conducive for conversations).

• Will the meeting be monthly, once every other month, quarterly? Have this in mind but work with your members to determine a cadence that works for everyone.

• Determine the Size from Jump

• Depending on the type of conversations you want to have, it’s important to keep size in mind. Smaller groups may be more manageable compared to a 20-person book club but both are doable. My personal preference would be a book club with anywhere from five to eight members. This allows for differing opinions without anyone feeling lost in the sauce. While there may be more dominant personalities in the bunch, this size should allow for all members to be heard. 

• Find Your Members

• As the starter of the book club, you are responsible for securing the members. Depending on the format and size, you can invite people you know, stalk random people’s social media like I did, or put out a request for members on your social media accounts.

• Determine the Group’s Communication Method

• How will the group communicate with each other when they aren’t meeting in person or virtually? Setting up a group chat will help keep members engaged during the time when they aren’t just discussing the book. 

• Establish Some Ground Rules

• Set expectations and group norms. Do members have to finish the book? How are books selected? Are we only here to talk about the books or can we chat and catch up too? Set some general rules to keep order…but don’t go crazy; this should be fun…if that’s your vibe.

• Select the First Book

• Come on now! I need to expound upon this so see below. 

What makes a good book for a book club?

This is probably the most important step. It shouldn’t be taken lightly so here are some tips on selecting a good book for book club discussion.

• How long is the book?

• If it’s too short, you may or may not have much to discuss. If it’s too long, you still may or may not have much to discuss and people may not be able to get the book done before the meeting. While books of all lengths can be considered, just keep the length in mind. 

• What genre is the book?

• You want to ensure that the genre is of interest to the people that will be consuming the material. If no one besides you likes historical fiction, that might not be the best selection for the overall group.

• Will it lead to good discussion?

• The whole point of a book club is to discuss the book, so it has to lead to good conversation. Look for books with interesting themes or tropes. I usually like to go into books blind, but you may need to do a little research on the book before selecting it.

• Is the book widely available for all the members to access it?

• How will your members get the book? Everyone consumes content differently so whether they prefer to read a physical book, read an ebook, or listen to an audiobook; the book’s availability should be taken into account. 

While this list isn’t exhaustive, it should get you on the right track to setting up a book club that meets your needs and brings you some joy. I started Good Books, Pour Choices almost one year ago and it has truly brought me so much joy and introduced me to some women who I may never have met otherwise.