The Future of this Group

[Reena]

Maybe adding content which provokes discussion such as current events related to the YA GLBT.

I notice there's a book of the month... a book chosen to read, but I don't see the discussions happening during or after. It's as if the thread becomes forgotten after everyone gets in their nominations. What can we do to keep those threads more active? Does anyone, who's been in a book club, have advice?

It seems like quite a few people in this group are rather ignorant when it comes to YA M/M Romance or YA LGBT books (me included). Perhaps we can get a poll or thread going where folks mention the YA LGBT books they've read. Then set up specific threads for the most popular books. It'll give the less knowledge folks a place to start when getting into YA LGBT books. For example, I'm also in a YA group, they have special threads dedicated Divergent, Hunger Games, Unearthly, and other popular YA books.

Later, YA LGBT books which are receiving a lot of buzz can have their own thread added. That way there's always something new to talk about, even when the topic of those old favorites become dull.

[Juli]

Andrew wrote: "I only became a member for moral support. I'm not a teen, and my books are hardly YA. But I want to help this group, because I think there's a real need for it.

1. Don't give up too soon. This gro..."

Can you tell me what a good tweet would entail... also what are the best hash tags to use?

[Patricia]

@Juli I'd try
Join the fun and discuss everything #YA#LGBT books group on GoodReads at {Insert link to group}

[[deleted user]]

Can we create a "New Releases" thread? I don't think the author self-promo boards are adequate as they seem to suffer from light traffic. Releasing books and then having the announcements go unread in the self-promo boards can be pretty disheartening.

[Andrew]

Juli wrote: "Can you tell me what a good tweet would entail..."

I'm not a specialist, but first it should mention who the group is trying to reach. Maybe something like

"Young, gay, like to read? Looking for imaginary friends? And real ones? Why not join us?"

(This is just off the top of my head. It needs work)

Make a shortened link to the Facebook page, and make sure they land on the page with the instructions on how to join.

The principle is: reach out and make them curious with Twitter, give them the means to act immediately (link), tell them what they need to know on Facebook, make them join Goodreads and the group.

There will be not much room left, but you can always tweet the same with another combination of hashtags.

The ones I can think of now:
#gay
#lgbt
#glbt
#books
#mmromance
#novels
#ebook
#kindle
#comingout
#ya

Follow m/m-romance writers on twitter and then ask them by DM to help retweet.
Do the same with the dozens of glbt-groups (consider also anti-bullying groups and explain the connection)

Just what comes to mind now. Hope you can use some of it.

Edit: A lot of readers/members of the m/m-romance group are also tweeters.

[Juli]

Andrew wrote: "Juli wrote: "Can you tell me what a good tweet would entail..."

I'm not a specialist, but first it should mention who the group is trying to reach. Maybe something like

"Young, gay, like to read?..."

Andrew thank you so much for all of this. I honestly am not a fan twitter but for this group I'll figure something out.

[Juli]

Hayden wrote: "Can we create a "New Releases" thread? I don't think the author self-promo boards are adequate as they seem to suffer from light traffic. Releasing books and then having the announcements go unread..."

DO you mean something like Jase does over in the M/M group? I have no problem with that but we would have to rely on the authors to update as I have no idea how we would get the information otherwise (unless someone has some suggestions.)

[Juli]

Here's what I did over @ Twitter. If someone else has other ideas please let me know. I am going to set up threads for the Facebook group and for twitter for suggestions and comments.

http://twitter.com/#!/YALGBTBOOKS

[[deleted user]]

Juli wrote: "Hayden wrote: "Can we create a "New Releases" thread? I don't think the author self-promo boards are adequate as they seem to suffer from light traffic. Releasing books and then having the announce..."

Exactly! Yes, thank you. Sorry, I keep seeing his posts in my head but couldn't make the connection. XD

Yeah, I think it's really up to the authors to post their releases in one thread. I'm just afraid that the additional conversations going on in the self-promo forums would bury any noise about new books coming out.

[Juli]

Hayden wrote: "Juli wrote: "Hayden wrote: "Can we create a "New Releases" thread? I don't think the author self-promo boards are adequate as they seem to suffer from light traffic. Releasing books and then having..."

Sounds good. Do you thing a monthly thread would be sufficient for now?

[Byron]

Trying not to lurk here..

I really like Hayden's idea of a new release thread.. it would make keeping up with what I need to buy easier too.. hehehe (not that I 'need' to buy more books, but an addiction is just that!)

[Juli]

Byron wrote: "Trying not to lurk here..

I really like Hayden's idea of a new release thread.. it would make keeping up with what I need to buy easier too.. hehehe (not that I 'need' to buy more books, but an a..."

Thanks for being a "de-lurker"

I will go ahead and set up a new release thread by month for the time being and we'll have to rely on the authors to let us know when something new comes out that is relevant. I will also talk to Jase over at the M/M group and get some ideas or see if he can pass along information if he gets any thing relevant.

[Byron]

Hmmm Maybe if members who are authors and involved in a publishing house could encourage their publisher to let someone know in the group, (you Juli? or another minion?) so that it can be written up and posted?

Also remembering that there are a lot of self published members who will need to contribute..

I think I'm getting lost in my thoughts here.. (and the customers coming into the shop!)

[Scylar]

I was looking for a Discussion folder for the Book OF THE MONTH. I didn't buy October's book, yet, because I am still waiting for my Kindle to arrive, and I get eye strain from reading on computer. But shouldn't there be a folder just for that book. Then either the author, or members, could start individual threads on particular areas of interest. For instance, someone might post a thread "How much profanity is okay for Y/A-- could this author have pushed the limit a little more and still be within suitability for Y/A?" And then people could chime in on particular uses of profanity in the book that they thought were reasonable or not, and why?

[[deleted user]]

A monthly thread sounds great. It'll be easier for everyone to keep track of things, and I figure it's easy to do that with a much smaller group than our adult M/M counterpart.

I have a novel coming out in November and another one in December, then short stories starting January. I'd love to do giveaways when the time comes. Stuff like that can be part of the monthly release posts (unless people prefer to separate freebies from announcements).

[Juli]

Scylar wrote: "I was looking for a Discussion folder for the Book OF THE MONTH. I didn't buy October's book, yet, because I am still waiting for my Kindle to arrive, and I get eye strain from reading on computer..."

Should we set up new topics once the book is picked and do one with spoilers and one without like they do in the M/M group?

[Juli]

I have set up the thread for new releases for the remainder of the year. We'll see if we need to convert to a weekly topic or if the monthly will work for now.

[Scylar]

Reena wrote: "Maybe adding content which provokes discussion such as current events related to the YA GLBT.

I notice there's a book of the month... a book chosen to read, but I don't see the discussions happeni..."

I agree. THe book of the month should have its own folder, and then there could be discussion threads set up within that folder. SO there should be a folder for "Out of the Pocket" for this month.

[Juli]

Scylar wrote: "Reena wrote: "Maybe adding content which provokes discussion such as current events related to the YA GLBT.

I notice there's a book of the month... a book chosen to read, but I don't see the dis..."

Do you think we need ones with spoilers and one without or just one thread with a disclaimer?

[Katie]

Over in the M/M group they have one thread for each book in a book of the month folder with a spoiler warning. I think that's probably the best way to do it.

[Patricia]

Juli wrote: "I will go ahead and set up a new release thread by month for the time being and we'll have to rely on the authors to let us know when something new comes out that is relevant. I will also talk to Jase over at the M/M group and get some ideas or see if he can pass along information if he gets any thing relevant. "

What about books that are already released by members. Can we make an topic for those? Maybe call it Past releases, so members can see what's already out as well as what's going to be released.

[Lori]

Scylar wrote: "I was looking for a Discussion folder for the Book OF THE MONTH. I didn't buy October's book, yet, because I am still waiting for my Kindle to arrive, and I get eye strain from reading on computer..."

There is a thread set up for the Oct. BOM Out of the Pocket by Bill Konigsberg. It's in the Book of the Month folder.

[Reena]

Patricia wrote: "What about books that are already released by members. Can we make an topic for those? ..."

I noticed there's a Self-Promotion thread. That might be one way authors can increase their participation. We have the ability to modify our own posts. If the author creates the thread, he/she can add their books in the original post so past, present, and future releases are in one place per author.

[Jordan]

I'm sorta skimming the posts here as there are so many, but from my experience with Josh Lanyon's book group, it works like this: In October we each nominate one book. And if a book gets seconded, then it goes to a poll, where everyone votes and the one with the most is the one we read. That discussion thread is an ongoing one "candidates for next month's read". And then a new discussion thread "November's read" gets started, but there's a specific date, usually the 21st of the month, where the actual discussion is started, so everyone has a chance to read the book.

I'm terrible at keeping up with stuff, and being in charge is so not my thing, otherwise I'd do it.

I don't know any teens who are on GR, and most of the teens I know don't like Twitter. The line I get the most is "who's on Twitter?" For the most part they're all on Facebook, though maybe I can drum up some interest for those book lovers we do have.

I'll make a post to our library teen blog, and maybe that'll draw some attention from people who have ideas they want to share. Maybe there's a young teen out there willing to take on something like a goodreads group. One can hope, can't they?