A book discussion is an excellent way to increase the buzz
about your book. It doesn’t matter whether your book is fact or fiction, there
are topics that can and should generate discussion. You can use this discussion
to generate greater interest in your book – and the best way to do it is to
write your own discussion packet.
Contact book clubs and libraries with both a blurb about your
book and prepared discussion starter questions – and don’t forget to provide a
sales link or a supply of books to sell. Remember, the easier you make it for
someone to host a book discussion, the better your chances are that it will be
hosted.
Prepare your book discussion packet with the following: a
list of starter questions. Use these springboards to start forming your – Does your book cover any controversial
topics? Does it have relevance to current or historical events? Did any of your
characters make a decision that affected the outcome? You can also start a
discussion on professions, culture, illnesses, societal expectations, superstitions
and more. Basically anything that is in your book can be the beginning of an
engrossing conversation.
You can make your discussion packet even more attractive by
adding extras such as a sheet of bookmarks, a list of suggested, related
reading, back story on the book, bio information about the author, a brief
excerpt, and even a list of other books written by the author. If you prepare
this packet in .pdf or another format, you can offer it to all locations via
email or a download link from your website or blog. There are also some
download sites where you can upload the file to be offered for free.
While the prepared book discussion packet can be used as a
guide for anyone, it is also a terrific way to promote your own author
appearances as moderator. So here are a few tips if you are leading your book
discussion, or any other book. Don’t expect every question to actually be
discussed. Over planning will prevent
periods of dead silence and will help keep the participants interested and
involved. Don’t make the questions too confining. Avoid asking yes or no
questions, if you do feel a yes or no is indicated, ask “why?”.
Before the book discussion, make sure you are thoroughly
familiar with the book – this is necessary even if you are the author. By
rights, the discussion should include people who have read the book, but be
prepared to have participants who only read reviews or blurbs. Note page
numbers that may have significant reference to a possible discussion topic.
Prepare, or familiarize yourself with, the questions. In front of the audience,
broach each discussion topic and allow the participants to respond and interact.
Expect the participants to slide into related topics, if they go too far off
topic, gently steer them back. Above all else, remember that a book discussion
is interactive and not a speech or lecture from the moderator.
Never dismiss or (allow) insult participants’ responses. Each
persons’ contribution to the discussion should be welcomed and appreciated.
Keep track of time and wind up the discussion by asking readers to rate the
book. This is also the time, if you are the author, to allow for autographs. By
the time the discussion group is over, everyone should be able to go away
feeling that they have been enlightened and enjoying the discussion. Some
people might even feel compelled to re-read the book with a new perspective.
Writing Exercise: Choose either the last television show you
watched or the last book you read. Make a list of 6 to 10 topics touched on in
the story, form at least one question about each topic that would lead to a
deeper discussion.
Writing Prompt: Write the colors of the rainbow (red, orange,
yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet)with each color on a separate line.
Next to each color write the first thing you think of in each of the following
categories: one piece of clothing you own; a food; an emotion. Don’t dally over
blank responses.
