(CLOSED) LUMOS: A Harry Potter Fanfiction Book Club

Introduction + Rules

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for checking out this club - if you're here, I'm guessing you're as big a Harry Potter fan as I am. If that's true, and you've got an HP fic of your own that you want to get some feedback on or find new readers for, AND you'd like to be exposed to more HP fanfic as a reader... you've come to the right place! I hope you'll submit an application and join!

Here's the gist of what we do:

COMMITMENT + BENEFITS

Each week a new assignment will be released. Assignments will consist of two things - 1) a partner-match and 2) a Book of the Week. 

You are your partner will read at least two chapters of each others books (more chapters are ALWAYS welcome if you're into it and want to keep going! If your partners chapters are short, I'd highly encourage you to read three). 

You will leave at least three in-line comments throughout each chapter. These comments may be as simple as "This made me laugh out loud" or "This dialogue is working really well." They are meant to be for fun and to boost the writer's confidence. Leave as many as you want! 

You will also leave one longer comment of four or more lines at the end of each chapter. This comment should be a critique. I will include a chapter on how to write a good critique in an upcoming chapter that all members will be required to read, but for the sake of brevity here, kindness is key, even (or dare I say especially) when it comes to constructive criticism. Make sure to add #Lumos to the end of your comment so I can check that you did it.

You will make these same comments on two chapters of the Book of the Week. The only difference is that everyone in the club will read this book, not just you and your partner.

The Book of the Week will be chosen at random most of the time, but occasionally I may prioritize the book of an especially active and kind member or someone who reads extra chapters of their partners book.

You will have seven days to complete each assignment before the next one is posted. When you complete the assignment, you'll come back to the chapter of this book listing the assignments for that week and comment that you're done. 

RULES

1. Make sure you can commit to the club before you join! Extensions will be allowed, because I know life happens, but if you are constantly not completing assignments on time or become inactive for over two weeks without messaging me that you need to take a break, I will have to remove you from the club. It is unfair that your book should remain in the club's weekly pairings gaining feedback from week to week if you are not also doing your part to provide feedback to someone else. Being active is a benefit to everyone, yourself included!

2. This should be a given, but only Harry Potter fanfictions are allowed. There are no other requirements, with the exception that no one will be made to read a mature book if they do not want to. You may still submit one if you'd like, but know that your partnership options may be severely limited. If you have a non-mature book you could submit instead, I would recommend it for maximal review opportunity.

3. Make sure to add this book to your library so you are notified when a new assignment is given! No need to follow me or anyone else in the club unless you want to, but if the book is not in your library, you might miss important updates and risk being removed from the club for inactivity.

4. Be kind! I will be reading through the comments you leave to confirm that they are complete and appropriate. I have a zero-tolerance policy for unnecessarily rude, mean, or otherwise hurtful comments. It is fully possible to write constructive criticism that does not tear a writer down. Again, more on that to come. And speaking of which...

5. PLEASE make sure you read the section on how to write a good critique. No matter how much you think you already know, go read it. Don't just skim. It is so important to me that members of this club treat each other with respect and are encouraging and helpful.

HOW TO JOIN

After you've read the section on how to write a good critique, go to the chapter titled "Application Form." Fill out the form in a SINGLE comment (not many inline comments) on that chapter. Tag at least three people you think might be interested in joining. You don't need to know them well, but they should be users you know for a fact write Harry Potter fanfiction. That's all that's required!

Again, thank you so much for checking out this book and I really hope you'll submit an application and get started with us! :)