2015: The Year of Reading Women discussion

Here are some tips for creating group/team reads. Please read this before posting in the upcoming group reads "calendar" threads!

-- In the relevant folders, all of which are organized under authors' surnames, start asking around if people want to read works by that author with you! Gauge interest that way, and perhaps begin to formulate a timeframe -- e.g. when members want to begin the group read; what a reading scheduling might look like (this can be a strict chapter-by-week sort of schedule or more loose, up to you); and so on. I think it might be wise if one person is the "main" contact or convener for that read, but how you set that up is entirely your call.

-- Once your group has decided you'll be reading Book X in Month 3 (for example), post the upcoming group read -- as an advertisement of sorts -- in the relevant monthly "upcoming group read" folder. These will be an easy and handy place for people in the group to see upcoming group reads all in one place, rather than trying to keep up with the discussion in each author's subfolders. In your "ad" for the upcoming group read, be sure to link to the author folder where that group read will be taking place.

-- Add your book/s to the group's bookshelves! Be sure to add in the relevant start/end dates of the read as well. This will be a handy way for everyone to see what the upcoming reads are, and also to hop on at the last minute since GR will automatically send out reminders to all members. Note: For upcoming reads, be sure to put the book on the to-read shelf! This will keep it toward the top of the main group page as a reminder that it's upcoming, and also ensure that the automatic upcoming read reminder is sent out to members. The default is "read," not "to-read," so you'll need to switch this. Note: If you add a book to the shelves, you're in charge of that book! So when the group read begins, switch the book's status to "currently reading"; and, of course, when it ends, please mark it as "read."

-- If a group read has enough members -- i.e. let's say 3 or more? -- we could devote a thread to that specific book; this would be located under the same folder where the author is already located. So, as an example, if people were reading Virginia Woolf's The Years, we might set up a thread just for discussion of The Years under the W folder for the surname Woolf. This would also be handy in case people want to read The Years (or any other book) but can't manage that particular group read timeframe; then the thread will be there for them to return back to and begin discussion again when they themselves turn to the book before the year's end.

-- I would just ask members to please first consult a moderator before making a thread like the one mentioned above, otherwise the group might become a bit disorganized and difficult to navigate!

-- Above all, have fun, and don't forget: we have a whole year of reading with and alongside this group, so there's no need to have a million group reads all starting in January! Space out the year ahead to enjoy reading as many female-authored texts as you can!

Added bit about the group's bookshelves - essential part! Total oversight on my end...