✍️ An Ode to Book Clubs

or, Breaking the First Rule to Show How Book Clubs Can Improve Your Writing…

Still from the movie Fight Club.

I’ve always wanted to join a book club – and not just for the Fight Club jokes.

I enjoyed book discussions in high school and university. I find it fascinating to get someone else’s take on a book – and group discussions seem to crank that interest level up exponentially. Invariably, those discussions gave me a deeper appreciation for the book (or, more rarely, make me realize that maybe I didn’t like the book after all... lol).

However, I’ve never really had occasion to join a book club. I almost joined one about 25 years ago – a friend and mother of a child in our son’s class casually mentioned I should join. Another parent who was there was horrified by the thought. Book club to her was a night away from husbands and (I suppose) men in general. Rightly or wrongly, this is the impression I’ve gotten from every book club I’ve encountered since.

I’ll hasten to add that I’m not bitter or resentful about it whatsoever. I totally respect where they are coming from. Some writer friends started a mini-book club on Zoom I think in part so I could feel included. It fizzled as COVID did, but I’m grateful for the gesture.

In any case, that’s all in the past – I’ve joined two book clubs in the last year! (Actually, technically, I joined one and co-founded another… does that count?) As of this post’s publication date, I’ve been to two separate book club meetings over the last two Sundays.

As outlined above, book clubs can bring you a greater appreciation of the book. But today, I want to talk about how book clubs can enhance writing, too.

Breaking the First Rule of Book Club… You Don’t Talk About Book Club!

I love that joke. But today, I’m breaking the rule…

Writing Craft Book Club

I want to start first with the quarterly book club I co-founded – and that came to life in the comment section of one of my posts, “The Importance of Being Wilde”. Two local writers (Marion Agnew and Mary Gastmeier) and I decided to start a book club specifically for writers that explore the various books about writing out there. After planning and prepping for a few months, we held the first meeting of the Writing Craft Book Club on Sunday, July 13, 2025 at Entershine Bookshop to talk about Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.

The meeting was a great success. The book on the other hand…

I won’t go into the full review, though if you’re interested in reading what the Writing Craft Book Club thought of it, read the review here. I was surprised by the mixed reactions, particularly because I liked it so much!

What I really appreciated though, which I alluded to in the intro, is that the book club sparked some great discussion. Some specific things I learned (as a writer) from this discussion:

Be careful about my references – not everyone will get them.

Everyone struggles with knowing when to stop writing (I kind of knew this one, but still had my eyes opened).

Book clubs change the way you approach the book. This was a real eye-opener too – when you read a book for book club, you look at it a different way. Personally, I watch for things to talk about and critique more in my head as I read than I would normally.

There isn’t a universal “good” and “bad” when it comes to books and writing. I knew this one already, but it was reinforced here. I expected everyone to love Anne’s book as I did, and was surprised at the meh-ness of the room.

Curious, Whimsical, No Rules, Anything Goes Because We Love All Books Book Club

The second book club I’ve joined is the monthly Curious, Whimsical, No Rules, Anything Goes Because We Love All Books Book Club, hosted by Entershine Bookshop here in Thunder Bay. This one has some writers in it, but it’s mostly readers. I think what I like most about it is that I am reading books I probably wouldn’t have picked up otherwise. Though I lean towards literary fiction, I’m a fairly eclectic reader. Personally, I believe that even if I’m writing literary fiction, there’s a lot to be learned by reading non-fiction, genre, and other books and writings outside of the field.

For example last Sunday, we talked about Who by Fire by Greg Rhyno, an ex-local who grew up in Thunder Bay but now lives in Guelph (Ontario). Even with the local connection, I likely wouldn’t have picked this up. I used to read Agatha Christie and such in the day, but mysteries don’t generally grab me these days.

I’m glad I read this one, though (spoiler alert: I didn’t finish it in time for the meeting). Again, maybe not my cup of tea normally, but it did give me some insights into my own novel writing process.

Ultimately though, what I get most from this book club as a writer are insights into what works with readers and what doesn’t. Plus as I read, I’m forever noting in my head what the writer is trying to do; whether it works; if it does, why; and if it doesn’t, how I would do it differently. There is something useful in dissecting a book to find out what makes it tick – and in some cases, what might make it tick better. It’s like learning from someone else’s mistakes.

What I learned – and Continue to Learn – from Book Clubs

Developing the writing craft involves more than just banging out a couple thousand words day after day. Personally, I draw on many different sources: travel, documentaries, podcasts, YouTube videos, talking with and hanging out with other writers, and, well, just life.

Let’s add book clubs to the mix. Not only do they help you see the book in new ways as a reader, it’s very helpful as a writer as well. The Writing Craft Book Club in particular is useful for this, not least of all because we directly discuss the craft of writing. Although we’ve only had one meeting so far, I’m excited for what’s to come!

(And if you’re in Thunder Bay or will be on October 5, 2025, plan to join! More details here: writingcraftbookclub.ca )

Key Takeaway: Book clubs can also help your writing. Book clubs that focus on the craft of writing perhaps help more, but hearing from readers about the books they love and don’t love have great meaning, too.

Over to You: What are Your Thoughts on Book Clubs?

Are you in a book club(s)? Have you noticed them affecting your writing in any way? Let us know in the comments below!

I’ll leave you with a (very) short video about the recent rise in book clubs. (Bookstagram? What?)

Until next time, keep writing with wild abandon!

~Graham

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