[OPEN] Astania's book club for those who wish to have a stress-free, non-structured environment. You can choose any member's book to read, and receive engagement on your own book in the process!
See our profile for other book clubs!
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Are you open to new members?
Yes! Unless we state otherwise, we are always open to new members. Please see the Form chapter for instructions on how to sign up.
We also have our other book club, Unicorn Guild, on our profile!
Do stories need to have a minimum number of chapters to participate?
At this moment, there is no minimum number of chapters required to participate. It just means there will be less chapters for other members to read, and your assignment will remain the same (minimum of 4 chapters with at least 4 comments per chapter).
What counts as a chapter?
Any chapter with substantial, narrative content. You make the call when reading. It's suggested that, for example, if you're reading a very short prologue (i.e. 400 words), don't try to force your comments. Just move on to the first chapter and do your assignment like normal. We won't penalize you if the chapter genuinely isn't long enough to leave good comments. Non-narrative chapters such as author's notes, character aesthetics, and content warnings do not count as chapters for the purposes of this club.
Does length matter for the comments?
No, but we both know whoever is receiving your comments will be very disappointed if you're just saying, "Great grammar!" or "Nice dialogue!" Make your comments effortful, and it will pay off for you. We promise.
To meet the minimum requirement, at least four comments per chapter must be thoughtful and insightful. For comments on a Partner Chapter, you may either leave 4 constructive inline comments + 1 constructive outline comment, OR 10 quality comments.
What are quality comments?
Quality comments are thoughtful and insightful comments left on a story. They are more than just "LOL" or multiple emojis. They show you are actively reading and have opinions and reactions about the narrative.
For assignments, you may make non-quality comments, but they will not be counted towards the minimum requirement.
Examples:
Quality comment: "The way you described the emotions here is so realistic and relatable! Great job!"
Non-quality comment: "lol mood"
What are constructive comments?
Constructive comments are a step higher than "quality comments" and must have useful or beneficial purposes. Not only do they show you are actively reading, but they also provide the author with feedback on what you think works well or needs improvement. Please be respectful and understanding when providing constructive comments.
For partner chapters, you may either leave 4 constructive inline comments + 1 constructive outline comment, OR 10 quality comments.
Examples:
This section is giving us an appropriate amount of information that's relevant to the character's current situation without feeling like an info dump. It was well-executed.
The transition into this observation felt a little drastic. It looks like we has a time jump from the previous scene, so this section feels a little out of place without some sort of indication that there's a break in time.
Outlines are comments done outside the main text of the story. This means they are not attached to a paragraph; rather, they are done using the bottom of the chapter where there's a general comment adder. This is where you'll put your constructive criticism comment if you're doing a Partner assignment.
Inlines are the opposite. They're attached to specific lines in the chapter. These are the comments that are required for every assignment. It's typically 4+ inline comments per chapter. To add an inline comment, on desktop, hover your mouse over a line and click the plus sign to the right of the paragraph. On mobile, press the plus sign to the right of the paragraph.
What audience is my book intended for?
This should already be classified in your book, but generally:
Children's Fiction: <13 years of age
Young Adult: 13-18 years of age
New Adult: 18-25 years of age
Adult: 25+ years of age
Do I have to vote on what I read?
No. Only vote if you enjoyed it. But it can brighten someone's day if you do vote—we cannot require you to vote, though.
Do I have to leave a tag in my comment?
The official tag for our book club is ABC (I know), but you can use any tag that would direct someone back to this club. So, for example, you'd say #ABC, and continue on with your comment as normal. This is by no means required, but appreciated for exposure.
Do I have to read the Book of the Month?
No, but you will get extra points if you do.
How do Partners work?
If you like a member's story, you can ask them to be your partner. Partnering with another member will help ensure you receive reads thanks to increased point values, though it is not completely guaranteed.
To ask someone to partner with you, leave an inline comment in your section under "Partners" and politely tag them with your request! If someone refuses, please respect their decision.
What is the Discord server?
Our Discord server, Writers of Astania, is a marvelous server with fellow writers and readers. It's a tight-knit community that's open to everyone with contests, write togethers, movie nights, game nights, and much more. There's a lot of writing help as well, if that's what you're looking for. This is also where the Discord Book of the Month is held. For more information, the link is in our Carrd in our bio!
I want to join! Where do I sign up?
Awesome! See the "Forms" chapter to sign up, and we can't wait to have you!
