The Novelists’ Book Club

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Meet with other writers to talk about the craft, creativity, and consequences that are the bedrock of storytelling.

Come and gain:

• New skill sets from published examples.

• New ideas from inside and outside your favorite genres.

• New connections with peers.

• New appreciation for what makes novels beloved—and sometimes bestsellers (besides hype and algorithms).

Coming Up

MARCH 17: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (upmarket) 2022. Discussion: “literary,” “upmarket,” and “commercial” fiction—what’s the difference?—and what all genre-defying fiction needs to appeal to most readers.

APRIL 21: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (new adult romantasy) 2023. Discussion: how a new generation of readers is transforming genres, story values, and content.

MAY 19: The Briar Club by Kate Quinn (women’s fiction/historical murder mystery) 2024. Discussion: how conventional and unconventional point-of-view usage shapes story.

JUNE 16: The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly (middle-grade Newberry winner, speculative) 2024. Discussion: what is theme, and what makes theme rich?

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Discussion questions will be emailed one week before the meeting to those who register.

FAQ

• "Is there a fee?" Nope! Attend for free (and for fun).

• “Do I have to read the book?” Nope! I’ll provide the context you need for the conversation to make sense. (But if you read the book, you’ll get more out of the meeting.)

• “Is this book club only for clients?” Nope! If you’re a novelist or aspiring novelist, you can come. (Let your friends know.)

• “Am I going to have to talk?” Nope! But I’ll encourage chats and invite participants to share their views. (Who wants to listen to me drone for an hour?)

• “What genres and authors are you going to cover?” As wide a variety as possible.

• “How do I join?” Register here.

A Few Requests from Erin

The Novelists’ Book Club will cover a wide variety of titles and genres that demonstrate certain aspects of craft. Typically choices will be from within the past five years, to reflect current strategies and trends. Often I’ll select titles with a measure of popularity, because audience responsiveness says something about creative effectiveness. When you attend, please keep these guidelines in mind:

Honor Your Needs

Not all selected books will suit everyone. Readers bring important preferences, worldviews, values, sensitivities, and experiences to their reading selections. Please vet each choice for yourself and determine whether it’s right for you. If not, please join us next time. If you detect a pattern that routinely makes you feel excluded, I would like to hear from you to see if that could be prevented. Please reach out to me privately at wweditorial@msn.com.

Respect the Authors

One’s opinion of an author can cast long shadows across the work. But I have zero tolerance for disparaging remarks against any human being. We’ll extend professional respect to our colleagues even if we’re occasionally critical of their work.

Focus on Craft

For those who like a heads up, I’ll send out discussion questions a week before each meeting in an effort to direct our attention to the central topics. But live discussions sometimes take on their own life. Come and see what happens!

Expect Spoilers

It’s hard to discuss the effectiveness of a story if we can’t talk about the whole thing. So don’t be upset when the beans spill. All plot points will be on the table.