Fantasy Book Club discussion

I'm kind of slow to the draw sometimes but I've noticed a couple of things about FBC.

1. When you make a comment in one of the headers then you receive notifications when someone else makes a comment.

2. I'm certainly not saying this to scare anyone off but we have a lot of members who appears to have never made even one comment.
I really wish there was a creative way we could encourage members to participate....without feeling any pressure. I really think it makes for a really fun time when people participate. IMO.

We have tried. We went through a whole group revamp a couple years ago. Not everyone cares to chat, they are just looking for ideas.
It would be nice if they at least introduced themselves.

: )

Many of us are members of several groups. It is a little hard to keep up with them all.
(I like the people and differences in each, but can't always interact with them all.)

The best we can do is keep conversations going.

Course it might help if this mod would keep on top of her responsibilities...... headed to send out message to the group...

Yea, I believe I'm going to make an effort to respond to and support those who do comment. I don't want them to feel there just talking to themselves and maybe encourage those that do comment to continue to do so.

We do try.
: )

Thanks for your support.

Well I'm gona talk about my previous experience. I'm part of this group for almost a year and, at first I was a little lost about how the group worked. I've been a bit shy on my first months, and I am not a very commenting person. I remember that besides a tiny comment on the "presenting yourself" thread I posted nothing for a lot of time. Then I was just reading out a lot of you guys, and about the comments you made. I finally managed to post a few more comments now and then, and I always find it a nice thing whenever someone answers!
So let's keep it up and try to do our best in order to encourage others to do so.

Javier wrote: "Well I'm gona talk about my previous experience. I'm part of this group for almost a year and, at first I was a little lost about how the group worked. I've been a bit shy on my first months, and I..."

Javier, I'm really glad you feel comfortable to make comments. Let's hope more will start.

Feel free to message one of us (moderators), if you have questions.
We may forget occasionally that some of our newer members might not understand.
Our rule are pretty simple.

Be nice (though don't be afraid to disagree... politely is key)

No spamming.
(There is a thread for authors to post their books.)

Have fun!

Yes it's true.. in fact I have a real life friend who is part of this very group (and the sister group) who literally just lurks and reads along every month that she can manage it. It's up to us to make this group welcome for others by keeping up light welcoming conversation, and some more thought provoking stuff in the book discussion threads. I get bored when there's hardly more than "yep I finished it last night. It was good."

Margret wrote: "Yes it's true.. in fact I have a real life friend who is part of this very group (and the sister group) who literally just lurks and reads along every month that she can manage it. It's up to us to..."

I agree and the little competitions that that you and Scott are having is pretty fun also.

It is hard to get participation and there always seems to be a lot of lurkers. I moderate a group and did a clean out of the group for people that hadn't been on Goodreads for a few years. I was amazed how many lurkers my group. I try to comment where I can, but like you said Brenda, it's hard when you belong to multiple groups to keep on top of commenting.

With a simple comment so much happens. As an author, I appreciate the feedback, how people felt in the world I have created. Yet, as a reader, I share my experience to let others know the feel of the work. It is a powerful message and good for all. The author has shared and spoken to us in a language we carefor deeply. I feel warrants acknowledgement.

Angela wrote: "It is hard to get participation and there always seems to be a lot of lurkers. I moderate a group and did a clean out of the group for people that hadn't been on Goodreads for a few years. I was am..."

It's up to us members to keep things going. I'm pretty sure we may have trolls. When someone gives a glowing 5-star review on just one book and then never, ever makes another comment. Kind of seems fishy. But I could be wrong. Ok, no more negative stuff. As far as lurkers, let's just keep everybody. You never know who might be the next Javier.

Brian wrote: "With a simple comment so much happens. As an author, I appreciate the feedback, how people felt in the world I have created. Yet, as a reader, I share my experience to let others know the feel of t..."

Thanks for sharing with us Brian. I've added your book The Heart Island Anomaly to my TBR list.

Sorry- I guess I'm one of the lurkers. I've joined the group, left it and rejoined a couple times.
I'm just a sci-fi/fantasy book geek. So my radar goes off for about anything concerning the genre and I just can't get enough of it. Plus, I just don't know many dudes, my age (49 for bit longer) that even read for the fun and the women readers I know, aren't into scfi/fantasy . (You know how bookish people are; we longingly crave conversation about books. )
But I don't do very good in book clubs, cause I'm always reading something else than what the club is reading.
So I guess I check in to see what ya'll are up to now and then but don't usually have anything to add.

Greg wrote: "Sorry- I guess I'm one of the lurkers. I've joined the group, left it and rejoined a couple times.
I'm just a sci-fi/fantasy book geek. So my radar goes off for about anything concerning the genre..."

I too am one of those upper middle aged individuals. So don't feel alone. What's great about this group is the challenges. That way if your not reading the monthly read there's always something you can read. But anyway, thanks for dropping in and commenting.

As a 50+ woman.....I have found most people I know shrug off fantasy/science fiction. That's why I come here.
: )

We have many ways to contribute.
You can discuss a current read.....a past read (we love when someone opens an old discussion again.
You can post what you are currently reading in our What are you reading in.... thread.
You can talk about your favorite author....in our topic made just for that. If you don't see your author there, feel free to open the conversation.

Don't forget our chat room area...to talk about anything else.

Tnkw01 wrote: "What's great about this group is the challenges. ..."

I'll have to check those out, Tnkw01. Thanks

Brenda ╰☆╮ wrote: "As a 50+ woman.....I have found most people I know shrug off fantasy/science fiction. That's why I come here.
: )

We have many ways to contribute.
You can discuss a current read.....a past read ..."

Thanks, I'll have to look around on here more often. It ain't like I'm shy and I do love to chat about the genre.

Hi Greg! I just wanted to comment that I share your commiseration about book clubs. I've been told I should join this and that book club so many times or start one at work etc.. but most people I'm friends with don't do the whole fantasy and sci fi thing. Sometimes I even get "those" looks or people's eyes glaze over when I try to tell them about what I'm reading!

In 2015 I resolved to get back into reading after a dark year where I only read 3 books (so embarrassing). I decided to join this group when I was on goodreads. I had no idea that there was such a thing as genre - specific book club! Su

Oops! My baby pressed the send button! Haha!

Anyways continuing on.. I find online book clubs so much better cause there's less real life convo.. and for shy introverts like me who don't do the whole real people type thing it's awesome and has kinda helped me break out of my shell when it comes to talking about books..

Ok I'll shut up now

Margret wrote: "Oops! My baby pressed the send button! Haha!

Anyways continuing on.. I find online book clubs so much better cause there's less real life convo.. and for shy introverts like me who don't do the w..."

Great points, Margret. Do you generally read the book-clubs' picks?
I have a hard time with that. Not because I don't like the genre specific book club choices -generally I have the same books on my TBR if I hadn't read them already- It's just that my reading time is very limited and I read what I'm in the mood for at the time.

Last year, I'd read a lot of reads and some I didn't fancy. I'm also reluctant to start new series, especially non-finished as I have so many started!

I do like the challenges and there's often a lot of chatting in them.

As for lurkers, a while ago I deleted over 1000 members who hadn't been on goodreads in over three years, people who'd never commented but been members for years, etc. The problem with the deleting is we literally have pages and pages of members and you have to go through them from one end. Very time consuming. Also Brenda hates deleting ;) we've easily got over 1000 that are no longer 'members' but haven't deleted their membership.

I'm a bit of an introvert myself.

Life issues often get in the way of reading the book of the month.
Again if it doesn't work out the same month, you are welcome to join the conversation at a later date. I agree that it seems like you are less likely to get a response, but there are a few that check back in.

Tnkw01 wrote: "I'm kind of slow to the draw sometimes but I've noticed a couple of things about FBC.

1. When you make a comment in one of the headers then you receive notifications when someone else makes a com..."

If you click on the members button, top right, you can see what I mean and how many do/don't chat.

Also Helen, when you delete them. they get blocked from the group, so they are not able to join again if they were lurkers.
I added several back upon request.
: )

I know, hence I stopped but it does mean we have hundreds of members who aren't members any more.

I always figure the more, the merrier. Maybe someday they will see something that catches their eye.

I'm active in three groups one of which I'm a mod.

I don't really believe in deleting members because if they want to lurk so be it. I've given up getting upset up times when the group is slow. Things seem to ebb and flow based upon the time of the year. If you read good books and have active conversations about them people will participate.

Tnkw01 wrote: "I agree and the little competitions that that you and Scott are having is pretty fun also. ."

As an FYI that competition is spanning two groups, both of our profile and reading challenge for 2017 pages and numerous forum challenges.

Margret's my Goodreads sister who I keep expecting to say "Mom, Phinias and Scott are making a title sequence".

My sister has decided she's too busy to read every night anymore so I'm glad you've adopted me

I expect to get some italian food delivered by ups in short order :)

I'm in my 40's too. 41 years young ;). Very similar reasons as to why I even came looking to Goodreads in the first place. My friends books tastes and mine don't seem to gel. Goodreads provided a place to talk to other people about the same books I love to read and to discuss them. I don't just read fantasy, but it is one of my main genres. My best friend often tells me I should start a book club, but I can't stick to one book the whole group reads format and my best friend who suggest it, the only time we've regarded the same author and series similar was Agatha Christie. The rest of the time we're worlds apart.

I don't get to the groups book of the month reads either (sorry). I seem to overcommit in other groups before this one.

I don't really love challenges though, and find it's a great way to keep groups active. I belong to 10 groups and would say I'm active in 3, not very active in the others. However in two of the others I'm not that active in I mainly just do the challenges.

I'm in 27 groups.
Some, like Goodreads Feedback, are mostly for information. Some, I'm curious about.
Others are science fiction and or fantasy, and I just can't make myself leave. Occasionally, they read something I am interested in. I'm still reading a book from one of the other groups that read it last month, in fact.

Because of the book shelf here, this is the only group I'm in. That's enough though. There are times I find it hard to participate even here. Busy, busy life.

Margret wrote: "I expect to get some italian food delivered by ups in short order :)"

That's ironic, I had spaghetti tonight. No..wait..did you say UPS?

Since Scott and I are related now I want him to send me Italian food.. I mean when I was in college my mom used to send me food on the greyhound bus (now I see you're getting an accurate picture of my crazy family). Should be fine right?

Brenda ╰☆╮ wrote: "I'm in 27 groups.
Some, like Goodreads Feedback, are mostly for information. Some, I'm curious about.
Others are science fiction and or fantasy, and I just can't make myself leave. Occasionally, th..."

I'm probably in 15 but really there's only 3 I check and post in daily plus do many of the group reads. Of those 3 one is really specific being dedicated to Malazan.

Margret wrote: "Since Scott and I are related now I want him to send me Italian food.. I mean when I was in college my mom used to send me food on the greyhound bus (now I see you're getting an accurate picture of..."

So you're up late and have the muchies.....hmmmm.........

Margret wrote: " Should be fine right?"

As long as it's kept below 40°F. It should be fine. (I have to admit, I do food safety for a living)

I don't mind lurkers. But you can sort members by when they joined, by how many comments and when last on the site. We had literally hundreds that hadn't been on the site, not the group, in years.

My kindle fire has updated, its awful. Keeps deleting words as I write them!

My phone will add words I don't mean. My fault for not checking sometimes, but it is annoying to fix.

I have to edit my comments at least half the time because my Ipad does weird stuff. (Actually it could be my short uncoordinated fingers.

Tnkw01 wrote: "I have to edit my comments at least half the time because my Ipad does weird stuff. (Actually it could be my short uncoordinated fingers."

Haha I have the same problem with being uncoordinated fingers. Often I read something I've posted and have to go back an edit to correct spelling.

Or when you send a message to an aunt.. Happy Birthday Auntie Lousy!

Sorry... Louise

Margret wrote: "Or when you send a message to an aunt.. Happy Birthday Auntie Lousy!

Sorry... Louise"

How hilarious!!! You make me laugh.

Margret wrote: "Or when you send a message to an aunt.. Happy Birthday Auntie Lousy!

Sorry... Louise"

Haha that's funny Margret.

Several years ago, an effort was made to create more discussion. This involved creating repeating, general discussion features that anyone who had read any fantasy at all could contribute to.

It involved choosing topics, then having the mods feature them on a regular basis.

One such effort involved creating a monthly panel discussion, where a topic was presented and several authors were invited to weigh in, answer and discuss the questions about fantasy in general, and also, group participants could weigh in or direct discussion to any of the panelists. Effort was made to outreach to authors who were also widely read, in love with the field (and not their egos) and the invited list was, each time, balanced with well known names and lesser known ones.

The practice died out due to nobody kept it rolling; participation dwindled, and some people tried 'creating' their own topic of the month...it's still a good idea, deciding on a topic of discussion and pursuing it in the forum.

Maybe if we had group members propose the topics, and poll for the order they are presented; or revamp the idea to suit the current roster of active membership, this concept could be revisited.

Also: making it safe for people to comment without concern for how they will be received is a big factor in gaining participation, and this takes time to cultivate.

I have also found with book discussions, if the leader of those discussions leads with some questions, or a list of topics for readership old and new to weigh in on, with regard to a current book of the month, this generated more response than just setting up a blank thread.

Posting up a round of controversial threads works too, definitely people will weigh in on a polaraizing idea, but it only enriches if ground rules make it safe for posting dissenting opinions, kindness and respect being foremost, and those two values being enforced if ignored.

Just my 02 cents, having been a member here for a number of years.

Fabulous commentary Janny... ps we are reading your book next month and I personally would love it if you'd join in some discussions with us!

Love the idea of a panel discussion.

Janny, I wish I was participating when this was going on. I know Michael Sullivan has a question and answer segment at times and I would love it if we could get other authors, including yourself to participate.

I believe at this time we do seem to be getting more commenters, I hope it lasts. I truly believe we have some great moderators, but it's really up to us members to keep things going.

I know everyone, including myself, have busy lives but even if everyone just makes one comment a few times a week might help.