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Do: choose a theme -

Maybe it’s books written by women, or contemporary books published in the last 10 years, but having a theme can really help attract like-minded people and make the book choices a little easier. It can even be as broad as fiction, or memoirs.

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Don’t: leave the book choosing to one person -

Even if you feel like as creator of the book club you should have some agency over which books are read, giving everyone a turn to pick a book will create a stronger sense of community and keep people coming back.

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Do: look beyond your own friend group -

Part of the beauty of starting a book club is getting to have discussions that broaden your mind and to read books that you wouldn’t have heard about—both of which are difficult when you stay in your echo chamber. Consider finding people of different ages, genders, and ethnicities.

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Don’t: let just anyone join -

While it should most definitely be an inclusive space, book clubs are a sweet literary oasis and should not be burdened by unnecessary contrarians and general vibe-killers. A little challenge is good in discussion, but you’ll want to at least screen people with a conversation before you give them access to your space.

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Don’t: make meetings too frequent -

People have very different reading speeds and meeting in person can take a lot of energy for some people, so have them at maximum once a month so that members don’t feel overwhelmed.

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Do: make a poll for meeting times -

Schedules are hectic as they are, so it’s helpful to send out an easy poll asking people to pick a day, to ensure members always have some flexibility and that you’re getting as many attendees as possible.

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Don’t: ostracize people who haven’t finished the book -

If members are bold enough to want to attend without having finished the book, let them! There are always things getting in the way, so let members know they’re welcome to attend the meetings even if they haven’t read the whole thing.

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Do: provide snacks -

Free food is the easiest and most reliable way to draw people out of their cozy rooms, and a great way to get people to attend book clubs. Make sure the food suits dietary restrictions and allergies, or invite everyone to bring something potluck-style.

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Do: pick a comfortable space -

Many people feel comfortable hosting it at their house for the privacy it affords, others prefer a neutral space like a library or café. What you certainly need is a space where people feel comfortable to share their opinions and where there are not so many distractions.

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Don’t: forget to make it accessible -

There are many people who might not be able to be physically present either due to health, travel, etc. and prefer to appear via video call. It’s as easy as setting up a Zoom call and putting a laptop on a chair.

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Do: create an online space for the club -

Whether it’s an Instagram profile, Facebook group, texting chain, blog, or even just email, make sure there’s a place where you can all contact each other for matters involving the book club.

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Don’t: pick too-niche reads -

The top reason why book clubs fail is because people don’t like the book choices. While it’s good to occasionally read and discuss things you don’t like, try to make the book choices as widely appealing (and perhaps widely acclaimed) as possible until you have a dedicated group.

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Do: create a book-picking system -

It’s best to keep track of who picks the book for each session and rotate it so that everyone has a chance to choose—and they have time to prepare so they have options available when it’s their turn.

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Don’t: do all votes in person -

There will likely be some people that are more introverted than others and will be shy when it comes to voting on book selections. Instead of voting in person, have the options for the next read laid out, then send out an anonymous poll for people to vote without feeling any pressure.

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Do: set guidelines -

If you’re looking for a 50/50 book discussion and social event or a more academic affair, it’s good to be upfront about that. You may also want to set guidelines for discussion to make sure everyone is on the same respectful page.

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Don’t: be too rigid -

Maybe there’s a book that someone suggests that is all the buzz but it doesn’t fit the theme you’ve set for the club—let it slide! No one likes a book club dictator.

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Do: brainstorm discussion questions -

You can pick a few general questions that you answer for each book, like what was your favorite/least favorite, what scene stuck with you, what did you think of the writing, etc., but it’s nice to also have specific questions for each read.

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Don’t: make it too serious -

People don’t want to go back to school where they’re being graded on participation and can’t digress. Book clubs are a social event and should be treated as such.

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Don’t: let the meetings go too long -

Around two to three hours is the sweet spot, as you can have around 30 minutes for snacking and catching up, an hour to 90 minutes for discussion, and another 30 minutes for more informal socializing and talking about the next book.

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Do: make sure the book is available -

If it’s a difficult book to find or it costs a lot, you’ll likely have less people reading it and joining you at the next meeting. Try to see if the book is available at local libraries and bookstores (and send members links to them) as well as eBooks before you announce it as the selection.

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Do: add a fun book-themed element to meetings -

Whether it’s a certain wine pairing with the book of the moment, or getting everyone to dress as their favorite character, or having a themed snack, this adds a little more excitement around the meeting.

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Don’t: do it all yourself -

While you can certainly spearhead the idea, it’s much easier and more pleasurable to run a book club with one or two other people. You can take turns sending emails with polls and corresponding with members.

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Do: have a size cap -

It’s amazing if you end up having the problem that too many people want to join, but it’s also important that the group isn’t too large for the sake of the discussion.

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Don’t: let dominant personalities go unchecked -

Though it’s not easy to do, you can manage dominant personalities with small phrases like “Let’s hear from some others,” or asking other people specific questions. Some clubs have an object to pass around for the speakers, though that’s only if the situation is very hard to manage.

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Do: check if there’s an audiobook/eBook -

Many people prefer to listen to books, either because of their auditory learning styles or their busy schedules, so it’s good to make sure there’s an audiobook version for the next read. Many others prefer to have the book on their eReaders, which can also be accessed from anywhere.

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Don’t: stress about trying to get the books for everyone -

Some book clubs charge a fee and then buy a copy of the book for their members, but it’s a lot of organizational work for you and isn’t worth the stress unless you’re getting a bulk deal. If you’re ordering a book, however, definitely ask if anyone wants to get in on it to save delivery fees.

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Do: research other book clubs -

There are some bigger book clubs available online or completely virtual that, due to their reputation, can invite authors to join some sessions. Looking at what other book clubs are reading and if you can piggy-back off of their special guests could be a nice way to switch things up once and a while.

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Don’t: act like a teaching assistant -

Those all-too-eager post-grad students asking questions to their students in tutorials is not the energy you want to bring. You should be virtually unable to distinguish a leader from the group when you’re having your discussion, so don’t stick too closely to the question-answer formula unless needed.

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Don’t worry! -

Some meetings you’ll have more people than others, some books will be much better than others, but with consistency, enthusiasm, and flexibility—and the tips we’ve listed here—you’ll be well on your way to a long-lasting book club.

See also: Movies you didn't know were based on books

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