When a new book club spun up in my ‘hood, and a friend invited me to join, I was like “Yeah, OK!”. I like books and writing but knowing it would be a monthly meet-up with some like-minded Babes, good wine, other drinks and a tasty but light spread to review books… oh, I was in.
At the time we were confirming members, rules around hosting monthly etc., I was in the ugliest first stages of my book. Truthfully, I’d put it down. Stuck on which of five directions to take it in and no clear direction, no matter how much I Googled or hit Pinterest. This book club couldn’t have come at a better time. Not only will it get me reading titles I’d typically not reach for, but I’d significantly level up the way I was writing, from reading better-crafted wordplay from the pros. But I prayed it could, or would, break my mental block. My writing stand-off, if you will. Could I land on a plot that wasn’t even in the ten or so I was bouncing around? The point wasn’t to reveal a concept no real-deal published author could even fathom. There’s really no never-written-about-theme, plot, or genre. Just a different take on a thriller, romance, or setting it around some unusual world- building. But bloody hell, I just needed one. One I loved enough to keep me wanting to write my book, the way I wanted until the end.
Not to mention the set date and time to see these women host that month’s book review. The hilarious takes, outright cussing, and venting, and even reciting parts of the book or character traits that disgusted them. And did I mention wine? I mentioned perspective in another post and though I took a lot away from my book club, it was truly everyone’s perspective on the book overall. The topics discussed and where we all agreed or strongly disagreed, that stayed with me book after book, and year after year.
To go into it more, it’s easier for me if I break down what I mean into the following 5 key points. Let me know if you’d like a list of the books we read over those years, and I’ll dig that up. But be warned, when I say it was varied, it was really varied. Genre, age range, rom-com, thriller, biographies, you name it. Anything from the viewpoint of a captive Octopus (Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt). A man on death row who gains his freedom after decades in solitary confinement (The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton). Verity (by Colleen Hoover), which team were you on? And yes, to one with a scene that included a purple… ah hem… adult toy (Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert).
Now, Brace Yourselves
As I speak to a very special, and frankly, haunting, read. A book so wildly divisive (and no, I’m not dragging* Verity*) that only two of us managed to finish it. Knowing all that I disturbingly know now, if this had been one of those ‘snuggle for five minutes with Cujo, or finish this book’ type dares, a front cover magazine spread would feature me and Cujo, titled, “Oh, Come on, He’s not that bad!”
Bring on the sage, crystals, beads, and whatever cleansing ritual is in right now, ‘cos we haven’t been right since.
For me, this book was all the ‘ings’: unsettling, mystifying, questioning, disconcerting, vexing… should I go on?
What is it, you ask?
The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice. Book one of a quartet.
Yep, there are four of them.
And hear me well: one was 4,000 too many for me.
It was actually a summer reading challenge, and not part of the assigned book-club list, by SHE, who shall remain nameless, but not shameless or blameless. (Still love you, girl!) But damn! Just typing out these few words is giving me some traumatizing twitching. And to add a truckload of premium salt into an open wound that already had a bath-tub of lemons squirted into it, I had to read ‘Dirty-Dirty Beauty’ alongside the set book-club book, “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” or “The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” by Stuart Turton. A book with that left me so dizzy. I’m not saying it was bad, but with all the plot twists and turns, I didn’t know where the hell I was. So twisted erotica + roller coaster labyrinth plot = insert all the shivers and shakes you can muster.
And We’re Back on Track
Apologies for the diversion. For me, and I think you too, book clubs can really sharpen your insights. You get to see, in real-time, how others, probably in or close to your target readers, digest words and intent. And baby, it can get wild. Far more interesting and thought inducing than any writing resources I’ve ever seen, read or taken. Maybe I’ve taken the wrong ones… hmm?
Here’s What I Mean
1. Readers don’t care about everything you might obsess over.
As a new writer, I can get stuck trying to perfect a character’s backstory or a scene that is relevant, but maybe I’ll go overboard on. And I’ve seen it with published and ranked authors. They too describe a room, a street, a character’s backstory in such lengthy detail, only to hear, in book club review, “Wait, who was that again?” or “Oh, I skimmed that part.” Harsh? Maybe. But still honest and valid. Book clubs, in person or online, show me what readers latch onto, and what they tune out.
Takeaway: Not only is stressing over that 3-paragraph location setup a waste of brain power, it also turned out to be unnecessary.
2. A somewhat flawed story can still be a favorite.
Some books we’ve read have glaring holes. Like potholes. Inconsistent timelines, character details, or emotional whiplash. But you know what? Readers still loved them because the story still moved them. The mess was forgivable because the characters’ voice stuck and their journey to conclusion, worked.
Takeaway: Do not get paralyzed by perfection. Readers connect to feeling, not just structure.
3. People read differently, even if they land in the same place.
Going back to Verity (deep breaths), and spoiler alert warning for those who plan to read it. Our club of nine fell into two teams. Team A: where they believed Verity’s claim that she ‘did it for the plot’. Versus team B, and the ones who called absolute bullshit, basically saying that she was madder than a box of frogs. That all those heinous things were done with malice aforethought. I was team C. I’d never bash Colleen Hoover’s writing and clear publishing success, but the entire plot left me like ‘Whaa-what?’ What the hell? At times, I laughed when I clearly shouldn’t, e.g., me wondering, why did they have Verity at the dinner table like that? I’m still cracking up at that scene-and I don’t believe I’m supposed to. Or was like, ‘For the love of God, Lowen, will you just read the entire manuscript already!’ Ergo: Disbelief + Team B = Team C.
There was a good mix between appreciating the intriguing storyline, love of the pacing, and all of us exposing parts that left us confused or wanting to vomit a little. In the end, you either loved it or you didn’t.
Takeaway: Write that crazy story stuck in your head. Someone’s gonna love it, others will hate it. So go for it.
4. They rewrite my endings, and sometimes they’re right.
You know, that book club thing where you all pick actors to play the parts, if in your dreams they made the book into a movie or Netflix series? Then it moves to “Ooh, what I wished had happened instead was…” moment? Some of those alternate endings are kind of brilliant. Leaves you thinking, “why didn’t they think of that?” Or maybe it was thought of, but they chose this version instead for a reason none of us will ever know.
Takeaway: It pushes you to think: For example: Did I end my chapter because it was right, or because I was tired of writing it? Hmm… maybe I’ll take another look.
5. They see spinoffs in places I don’t.
Before I Let Go, by Kennedy Ryan was my book club pick. I chose it simply because a friend of mine from Uni days posted it to her Instagram and she loved it. I didn’t do a lick more research on it than that. (Silly, silly me). Did I love the book, too? Oh, yeah! Did I know it had all that sex in there? Umm… Nooooooo! So while it shocked a few of the book club babes, everyone made it through. Due to my sheer laziness, I assumed it was a standalone book. Well before I even got to the end, I was eager for it to be a sequel and to hear more about the other side, but complex, characters. The author, Kennedy Ryan, is clearly much smarter than Lil’ ole me, as this was always her plan. Before I Let Go, was but the first in the Skyland series, with two more books planned. All three are out now.
Lesson Learned
- When selecting a book, even an air-tight referral, pay attention, Irene! Know your audience.
- Think about if the story you’re writing is truly one-and-done, when others may see the sequel potential for side character arcs. Or what about a prequel? I’m not saying this fits for my first book per se, but maybe rethink your book’s potential. I’m open to that feedback, for sure. Sometimes the world we see and build is bigger than we thought.
Biggest Takeaway
Even as new writers, we should understand that readers can enjoy and still rewrite the vision we have for our stories. That we always need to be reminded that readers will always bring their own filters, preferences, and drama to what we write. It’s not wrong, it’s kind of exciting and alive.
Book clubs feel like free, rich market research, a room full of loud, thoughtful, and opinionated (in the best way) readers. They can both love and tear a whole new arsehole into a book, while sipping wine like it’s nothing. Humbling, hilarious, and helpful. I need to get back into one ASAP as I type this, whether in person or online. Thinking out loud… I miss book club life. The deep dives, drinks, treats, all of it. With a group that’s rich in perspective, open in thought, and free of alternate realities… unless that alternate reality is part of a book’s world-building. I’m ready for some good (and not-so-good) books, and all the convo in between.
So no, I didn’t join a book club to become a better writer, exactly. I thought it would help with new writer fatigue and frustration that I didn’t know how to combat. Yet, it did much more than that and I grew in ways that I hadn’t imagined. Really listening to readers is really where your story grows.
