Book clubs are a fun activity for people who love to read. Book club members have an assigned book to read each month, then gather to review and discuss their thoughts about the book. Aside from finding new books to share with friends, book clubs are a great way for readers to develop a deeper understanding of characters and themes as well as hear the different opinions of like-minded (and not-so-like-minded) people.
Since the advent of the pandemic, more and more people have been seeking online alternatives to physical book clubs and OnlineBookClub.org is one of the most established sites around. The site was launched 15 years ago, way before readers had smartphones and fully grasped the power of the Internet. Today, the site has over two million active users and a host of features.
A Library of Knowledge
As an online book club, reviews and discussions are a central aspect of the platform. Because the online book club is not limited by time and location, people from all over the world can get together and share their views. They could be writing from the comfort of their lounge chairs or a busy café, and it would take nothing away from the experience.
Every month, readers nominate and vote for the ‘Book of the Month’, then take to the forums to explore every element of the book that piques their interest. The topics covered are varied and diverse. Discussions range from thoughts about plot twists and the meaning of ambiguous endings to the likability of characters and the design of cover art.
On the Bookshelves page, readers maintain their digital library where they keep a list of books that they have read or wish to read in the future. Members’ bookshelves can be viewed or shared, allowing readers to peruse what other people are reading and discover books that may be of interest. Users with the most books or who have read the most books are highlighted on the home page and the Bookshelves rankings.
For all its features, it may be surprising to learn that OnlineBookClub.org is completely free for readers to join. In fact, there are financial treats for members instead. Book club recommended books are often either free or heavily discounted for members, allowing them to expand their library easily. Daily raffles and monthly Twitter rewards allow members to receive cash bonuses for staying active and engaging with the platform.
Poetry and Art Contest
To add to the many incentives to join OnlineBookClub.org, the platform is now also hosting a Poetry and Art Contest for its members. The contest was recently announced by Scott Hughes, the founder of the site. Not limited to just the literary arts, the submission categories are short stories, poems, visual art, and songs.
The competition is free to enter and is set to give out over $10,000 in prize money to participants. The winners for each category stand to receive $1,000 each, with other chosen participants being awarded $100 or more. Additionally, participants will have a chance to see their work in print in a widely promoted anthology. The only conditions are that participants are limited to one entry each and that submissions must be original and previously unpublished.
For amateur authors and artists, competitions like these are valuable opportunities to see their work in print. Becoming a published artist or author will boost their portfolio and help to secure future prospects. And, of course, the prize money will make a big difference to those who are seeking to make a living from their craft. For those who simply love the challenge, they can be inspired by the interesting theme, as well as pitch themselves against their peers.
An Honest Review
The creator and president of OnlineBookClub.org, Scott Hughes, is a published author himself. He has written poetry, short stories, novellas, and self-help books which are published and sold on sites like Amazon. His unique understanding of the obstacles facing creator hopefuls is one of the reasons for hosting the contest, and also an impetus for the online book club site to be supportive of new writers.
The site boasts a professional book review team that is respected by readers for their quality, unbiased reviews. New writers can submit their books to be reviewed by a member of the esteemed review team and have the results either privately returned or published on the site. For authors who want to promote their new books, having a featured review on the online book club platform is a proven way to reach a massive audience.
With its pioneer position in the literary review landscape, OnlineBookClub.org is distinctively poised to influence the industry. Readers and writers mingle in a creative and lively ecosystem and efforts are made to help unearth and elevate budding artists and writers. We look forward to the upcoming anthology and to seeing the work of new creators.