Online Book Club by Scott Hughes Offers Poetry and Art Contest

Reading is a popular hobby, but it can be difficult to find someone who reads the same books as you, and it can be even harder to find people who would like to discuss the books that they have read. For book lovers who love literature, book clubs present a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and like-minded friends.

OnlineBookClub.org

A book club is a gathering of people who read and discuss a specific book. Most book clubs meet once a month to allow members the time to finish their designated reading. Some book clubs have specific genres such as horror or non-fiction, while others focus on chart-toppers. There are also book clubs that take an academic interest in writing, solely critiquing the author’s literary skills and techniques.

Book clubs have been part of our culture for many years. They have been enshrined in bestselling novels such as The Jane Austin Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler and successful movies such as Book Club featuring Diane Keaton and Jane Fonda. More than just people reading books, book clubs are a place of community and mutual support.

While book clubs traditionally feature small groups of readers that meet in person, OnlineBookClub.org is a pioneer website that brought the book club experience online over 15 years ago. People from all over the world can sign up for free on this platform and partake in the book club experience without having to leave their reading armchairs.

A glance at the online book club forums brings up lively discussions from over two million members. Questions exploring characters and their relationships, specific scenes in books, and even their cover artwork allow for a more intricate study of the books that members are reading.

Because of its huge user base, the online book club works democratically based on member votes and opinions. Members can nominate a book that they wish to be the “Book of the Month,” and other members can second their nomination or vote for a different book.

After reading the books, members can rate them on their Bookshelves dashboard and submit honest reviews that can be seen by other users. People looking to learn more about any book before purchasing will find useful knowledge in the independent reviews and the in-depth discussions.

A Reading Community

It is no surprise that Scott Hughes, the founder of OnlineBookClub.org, is a published author himself. As someone who spends a considerable amount of time curating reading lists and book recommendations, Hughes is understandably well-read with a unique view of the literary industry. He writes poetry, short stories, novellas, and even self-help books for aspiring authors.

Supporting writers and the reading community are goals that are central to the creation of the online book club platform. Books chosen for monthly reviews are often by budding authors or self-published. In addition, authors can submit their books to the website’s team of respected reviewers, helping these authors gain valuable exposure to a larger audience.

Readers themselves also benefit from this supportive community as they are privy to special purchase prices. Aside from monthly book club picks, the daily “Book of the Day” is usually either free or significantly discounted for readers who subscribe to the mailing list, helping members to stock up their bookshelves without breaking the bank.

And that is not all. The platform features several ways for active members to be rewarded for their love of reading, from monthly Twitter rewards to free giveaway raffles sponsored by authors or publishers. There are also surprise giveaways on their many social media profiles with very accessible entry requirements.

Poetry and Art Contest

A recent initiative of Scott Hughes and OnlineBookClub.org is the Poetry and Art Contest. The contest is free to enter and looks to award over $10,000 to participants. Submission is open to all writers and artists with the caveat that each person may only submit one entry, and that all work submitted must be original and previously unpublished.

The submission categories are short stories, poems, visual art, and songs. Chosen participants stand to receive $100 or more, with top performers in each category winning prize money of $1,000 each. Winners will also have their work published in an anthology that will be widely promoted.

This competition provides an opportunity for writers and artists to flex their creative muscle and display their talent to the world. Aside from receiving prize money to put towards sustaining their craft, these winners will be featured alongside renowned names and be able to increase their following.

Book clubs may have moved out of the tea room and into the chat room, but the spirit of fostering a robust literary community prevails. If you are an aspiring author, joining this platform can help you to hone your writing skills and reach out to readers. If you are a book lover, there is no better place to discover and discuss the hottest reads.