How To Find Online Book Clubs For Writers
S.R. Beaston
Crafty with words, wit, and wisdom, just add caffeine to make it more interesting.
Reading is one of the best things you can do as a writer. Exposing yourself to genres, writing styles and indulging in your favorites can get the brain primed and ready to write. However, writing is a lonely process, as is reading.
Get-togethers are a great way to minimize that isolation, book clubs are a great way to get out, meet people with the same hobbies, and share your passion. However, if you live in a smaller town or just don’t have time to travel, there are options online for you. Introducing the online book club.
What are online book clubs?
Online book clubs are, well, book clubs online. The premise is the same. You join a group, take a designated amount of time to read the same book, then meet up to discuss it.
There are two main subgenres of online book clubs.The first is the more traditional take, where self-contained groups get together to choose a book to read and then discuss together after they finish. The second is more reminiscent of Inktober or $ Escapril$ , where books are listed on a site and you are free to pick and read at your disposal, though that may mean you are the first or last to share your experience with that book in that particular group.
The Benefits of Online Book Clubs
Despite not being face to face with friends, online book clubs have many benefits on their own.
Time
Without the need to meet at a specific date and time, our group can easily work around time zones, work hours, and personal engagements. Hop in to chat in your pajamas while googling a synopsis of the plot because you either forgot what it’s about, or forgot to read it.
Community
With the internet being more accessible than ever, you’ll meet people you never would otherwise, coming together for the same passion of reading.
Your ever growing community will also have different perspectives on what you are reading, giving insight or another view on the work which can make for great discussion.
Motivation
Nothing motivates me more than knowing others are expecting something out of me. (Stress may be a better term for that). But it is fun to bounce off each other. I often call it ‘live tweeting’ when spamming my friend who’s already read the book on how my experience is going. It’s nice to have that push.
Online Book Clubs List
Here is a list of free book clubs and book club host sites to help you find the best place to faun over and rage over your current reads.
Online Book Club
$ Online Book Club$ is one of the bigger and more thorough book clubs online. The site is formatted almost like a reddit forum. They have one book of the month every month. When clicking on the title, it will take you to a grand list of forums discussing solely on the book, from the cover to the content, and even an interview with the author.
Along with the book club, you can post official reviews, and enter contests like art and poetry. You are also given a master list of resources to find the book of the month on sale or for free, along with a list of ways to purchase it.
$ r/bookclub$ on reddit is massive, but makes up for its overwhelming presence with its structured format. Every month, a large list of books are listed on the community sidebar with a link to that month's schedule. There, they break down the dates of specific books and a link to where it will be discussed on that date, making for a more intimate and chill book club with a rotation in people and books.
You can take on as many or as few stories as you like, and change it up every month. There’s no sign up and no expectations, just good recommendations and a place to share your feelings about them.
Fable
Fable is a mobile app that hosts countless book clubs that anyone can start. Join or start your own for that book you really want to talk about, or use their spoiler free chat rooms to express your feelings as you read, joining others who are at the same place as you.
The app also offers book tracking and goals that make it easier to see where you are on your reading journey and how many books you’ve finished in any amount of time. These trackers include books finished, best reading streak, most read genres, average rating and most read authors. You can also rate your book and make your own posts without committing to any clubs.
Bookclubs
Simple and to the point, $ Bookclubs$ is another great resource for finding the perfect book club for you. Though it has a premium option to remove ads, it is free to use and it seems all the book clubs are free to join. You can join automatically or request to join, depending on the owner's preference.
Joining a book club you are interested in is easy. They have filed them in categories from local, to genre focused, to themed books and more. You can also search the book you are currently reading to see what book clubs have read or are also currently reading as well.
Choosing book clubs is easy and to the point. There is a synopsis beside their image and name, as well as a clear distinction of if they meet virtually, meet locally, or simply discuss online, making sifting through the list easier than ever. You can also make your own!
Community Discord
Discord is a constant source of community for me. No matter what I want to join, discord has several hundred communities for it. Book clubs are no different. Most communities are run by passionate readers wanting to build a friendly community with books at the centerfold.
Some booktubers host their own discord book clubs, though they may be locked behind a patreon paywall. The ones I am in are not.
There are hundreds of wonderful book clubs out there, but to find the one for you is the most important. Hopefully this short but stocky list can help you find your forever booky home!
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