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Hi Mehmet — thank you. A few ideas that could help:Weekly pinned thread with one clear question/topic (so discussions don’t scatter).
A simple “intro thread” for new members (who they are, what they read/write).
A monthly “share your work” thread (books, essays, stories) to keep promotion in one place.
Light guidelines for respectful debate + a quick way to report spam.
Happy to contribute and take part.
Vasyl wrote: "Hi Mehmet — thank you. A few ideas that could help:Weekly pinned thread with one clear question/topic (so discussions don’t scatter).
A simple “intro thread” for new members (who they are, what th..."
Hi guys :)
Yes, great idea! and Vasyl's comments totally make sense.
I am also wondering.. how do we make group discussuons more visible to readers, and not just writers? Because when the readers occasionally join our discussions, they seem to really enjoy it; and attracting plenty of readers could help everyone's promotion/visibility.
Jasmine
Hi Vasyl and Jasmine,Thank you very much for your valuable and constructive suggestions. I believe it would be better to wait a little and gather additional ideas before shaping our roadmap together.
However, I think it would be beneficial to first clearly define our group’s main goals, so that we can build on a strong and solid foundation. I believe this can be achieved through three core approaches:
1) Sustainability:
A transparent structure that can continue independently of individuals, supported by a broad moderation team and a rotating leadership model.
2) Reader Engagement and Participation:
Attracting more readers as members and encouraging the habit of sharing their thoughts and book reviews.
3) Author Engagement:
Increasing author participation, expanding the variety of free books, and encouraging their active involvement in discussions.
By the way, Vasyl, if you would like, we would be very happy to have you join us as a moderator. There is absolutely no pressure — our offer is always open, just as it is for Jasmine.
Mehmet :)
Mehmet wrote: "Hi Vasyl and Jasmine,Thank you very much for your valuable and constructive suggestions. I believe it would be better to wait a little and gather additional ideas before shaping our roadmap toget..."
Just another thought- how about we offer " ask a quesiton" weekly column to the readers?
A reader could then benefit from our combined "expertise", for we have teachers, businessmen, doctors, philosophers etc amongst us. And/or, the reader could direct a specific question to one of us; we would then need to have a short summary of each person's status/qualifications etc., to enable the reader to make a choice.
Obviously, a moderator would need to look through all the questions submitted before making a weekly selection...
What is a place on GR with the highest visibility for the majority of readers, I wonder?
Jasmine
Thanks, Mehmet — I truly appreciate the invitation. It means a lot.At this stage, I’d rather stay focused on writing and being an active participant as an author, not on moderation responsibilities. I’m happy to contribute with thoughtful replies in discussions (especially in the weekly “Ask a Question” idea), but I can’t commit to moderating.
Thank you again for understanding.
Hi Vasyl, Your contributions and active participation are already truly valuable to us.
We’re always happy to have you with us.
Mehmet :)
Hi Steve,Thank you for creating the March 2026 Member Reviews thread. It looks really great and well organized.
I just wanted to point out one thing. Instead of opening a separate folder each month, I think it might be better to add a new post under the existing folder. If we create a new folder every month, over time it could become complicated and harder for users to follow.
For now, I’ve simplified the February and March folders and gathered them as two separate folders at the bottom. I haven’t fully figured out the best technical way to do it yet; however, if we merge these two into a single main folder and then continue by adding new posts underneath for March, April, May, and so on, I believe we can maintain a much more user-friendly and sustainable page structure.
I’d also be interested in hearing your thoughts on this.
Mehmet
Good call. I have collapsed to a top-level folder, Member-Sourced Reviews. Below that you will find the (closed) Feb review folder and the new Mar review folder.Keep those cards and letters coming! And please share your reviews here, so that we can all find great new reads!
Thank you so much Steve — you’ve organized it really well. You’re definitely very good at this!Mehmet :)
Good morning,New member here, with apologies if this is the wrong place for this - I'm still very new to Goodreads.
I posted an ARC request yesterday in what I hope was the right folder and with the requested title format, however the post is no longer visible today so I can only assume I missed or misunderstood something in the rules.
Can an Admin/Mod contact me so I can correct whatever bungle I made - many thanks!
Hi JP,Welcome to the group!
We can't see any ARC request from you in our group. Is it possible that you posted it yesterday in another group, perhaps "FREE BOOKS for Book Lovers"?
Please let us know, and we'll do our best to help.
Best,
Mehmet
Mehmet wrote: "Hi JP,Welcome to the group!
We can't see any ARC request from you in our group. Is it possible that you posted it yesterday in another group, perhaps "FREE BOOKS for Book Lovers"?
Please let us..."
Hi Mehmet,
You were absolutely right - my mistake (and today's first facepalm out of the way).
Apologies for the confusion, and thank you for your help.
JP
JP wrote: "Mehmet wrote: "Hi JP,Welcome to the group!
We can't see any ARC request from you in our group. Is it possible that you posted it yesterday in another group, perhaps "FREE BOOKS for Book Lovers"?..."
...And it looks like I spoke too soon. I added a post just now, checked the preview to make sure it was legible, and then hit 'post'.
All seemed to go through normally.
Just went to sanity check - and the post has disappeared. I kept the url for my own reference
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Would love to know what I'm doing wrong?
Hi JP,Could you try creating a new post from the New Topics section and make sure you select ARC Requests in the folder field?
Also, please don't include any links in the post itself, as that can sometimes trigger Goodreads' filters.
If the post still disappears after that, I would recommend contacting Goodreads Support directly, as it may be an account-specific issue.
Best,
Mehmet
Mehmet wrote: "Hi JP,Could you try creating a new post from the New Topics section and make sure you select ARC Requests in the folder field?
Also, please don't include any links in the post itself, as that ca..."
Thanks for your help again - I've taken your advice and messaged support as you rightly point out it may be an account limitation with me being a new user.
Just regarding the 'no links' is there another way I could point readers to my ARC sign up? Other posts do seem to carry links to signups - again, just trying to make sure I'm not doing something silly.
Thanks for all your patience.
Hi JP,I only suggested not including a link in the test post you were creating so we could better understand the issue. Once the problem is resolved, you can share your link just like in other posts.
Mehmet
One thing that would make browsing easier for me is genre-first discovery: mystery, psychological suspense, thriller, horror, fantasy, nonfiction, and so on. The format tags are helpful, but the reading mood usually comes first.
Hi everyone! I’m looking for a critique partner or beta reader for my completed 78,000-word New Adult relationship-driven psychological thriller with a dark romantic core. I don't know if I am in the right place. If not, can someone please let me know where I can find beta readers or critique partners? Thank you :)
Hello everyone,I’m Redha Ali, an author exploring questions of existence, the unseen, human destiny, and the relationship between revelation and the structure of the universe.
My books are part of a broader project titled *Maps of the Unseen Dominion*, approaching these questions through the Qur’an and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt, while also engaging with philosophical and contemporary questions.
I’m pleased to join this community and look forward to connecting with readers and fellow authors.
Hi Vera, Eszti, and Redha,Welcome to our group!
Best,
Mehmet
Hi everyone! 😊 I’m Dana, an indie author and the author of Morning Sunset, my first published book. I’m here to connect with fellow authors and readers, discover new books, and be part of the community.
Hi! I’m Nilakshi, a 20-year-old reader from India. I love romance, thrillers & literary fiction, and I’m always up for discovering new books and making bookish friends!
Hi all! I am a reader and am exploring writing. I have three books on Amazon and although they have gotten limited traction, I still have hope. I like romance, thrillers, and some mystery. I will read just about anything anyone recommends and volunteer at a local bookstore. All books are donated so I have found a little bit of everything! I leave reviews so hopefully they can help people find their next read. Feel free to recommend!
Hi Dana, Nilakshi and Lee.Welcome to our group!
Best,
Mehmet
Hello everyone! My name is Alexander Filevski, and I write practical nonfiction wellness guides focused on gentle, approachable movement for older adults.My latest book is "Chair Tai Chi for Men Over 60", which includes illustrated seated exercises, follow-along videos, and a flexible 30-day program.
I joined this group to connect with readers and fellow independent authors, learn from the community, and share useful reading opportunities in the appropriate folders. I’m pleased to be here and look forward to getting to know everyone!
Hi, I’m Charles E. Snyder III, author of the Countdown to Armageddon military science fiction series.I write character-driven military SF with Green Berets, engineered soldiers, black programs, supernatural threats, and a fair amount of gallows humor. Book I, The Book of Daniel, releases September 11, and Book II, The Dogs of War, is already available for preorder.
I joined because I’m interested in connecting with readers who actually enjoy discovering and reviewing indie books, not just collecting free downloads. Looking forward to seeing what everyone here is reading.
Hi everyone! I’m Venus Günyeli, an independent author interested in mythology, ancient traditions, inner life, and the ways old stories still resonate with us today.I’m the author of The Intimate Afterlife of Myth and Ancient Anatolia’s Healing Secrets. I joined the group hoping to meet thoughtful readers, exchange recommendations, and discover more independently published books that I might not come across otherwise.
Looking forward to seeing what everyone is reading and being part of the community!
Greetings, all! I'm Steven Henry, an author working through a (very) small independent publisher (Clickworks Press). I was writing as a part-time supplement to my day job until 2020, when I transitioned to full-time writing.I've written a 30-book police procedural series over the past ten years, The Erin O'Reilly Mysteries, in addition to 4 installments of a new Victorian mystery series, The Coventry Adams Mysteries, and a couple of other novels.
I received an invitation to this group from a current member. I enjoy reading across multiple genres, and hope to connect with other aspiring and working writers here. It's a tough gig, but a tremendously rewarding one; storytelling is what I was put on Earth to do!
Thank you for the invitation, and for being a friendly and welcoming community!
Hi! I’m Ember. I write romantasy, strange fairy tales, and, somehow, a sexy space western. That last one was not the plan, but here we are. I’m also a lifelong fantasy reader who has been making an effort lately to find more indie books instead of reading whatever the algorithm keeps putting in front of me. Give me dangerous magic, morally questionable people, weird worlds, slow burns, monsters, terrible decisions, and I’m probably happy. My next book comes out in October, so I’m also figuring out the whole ARC side of publishing for the first time. Mostly, though, I’m here to find good books and meet other readers and indie authors. And if your book is weird, I probably want to hear about it.
The fact that I even navigated to this group is truly an act from above. Goodreads UI is horrible. With that being said, thanks for having me and I'm open to any and all discussions. I write various forms of fiction from Urban to Horror to Sci-Fi Fantasy, and have self published 20 official titles on Amazon. Im looking to get eyes on my latest effort, Don't Fear The Reaper, Pt. II and am also open to ARC.
Hi, I'm new to this group.I've wanted to write most of my adult life, but it took a heart attack and bypass surgery for me to say, "It's now or never". I wrote my first novel Falling Up the year I turned 70. I published my second novel Zero-I this year. Both on Amazon.
I write science fiction that flips physics on its head. I've discovered I must have a bit of clean romance and a smattering of humor in my novels as well.
Hello everyone,my name is Nino Gatti and I’m an Italian independent author from Sicily.
I write short, reflective fiction about people, relationships, choices, silence, and those moments in life when we feel the need to stop and look at things differently.
My first book, La distanza giusta, is set in Sicily, in the landscape of Mount Etna. I’m currently continuing my writing journey with new stories and a historical novel set in Sicily during World War II.
I’m happy to be here not only as an author, but also to discover other writers and readers and to exchange experiences about books and writing.
Greetings from Sicily,
Nino Gatti
Hi Everyone. It's good to be here. My name is Godswill. I write both fiction and nonfiction. I'd really love to connect with other authors here
Greetings, fellow devotees of the written word.Desiree Drake here. I am an American author of Regency historical romance. I write stories filled with humor, friendship, spice, and a little chaos. I currently have three published novels, and happily ever after is always guaranteed.
I am delighted to make your acquaintance and look forward to discovering new books and meeting fellow romance readers and authors.
Yours truly,
Desiree
I’m a new independent writer working on a 15-part connected cinematic franchise saga.What makes this project unusual for me is that I have started working on all 15 parts together. Each story has its own world, characters, and events, but they are connected to one larger universe. Because of that, I need to develop the different stories and their connections together rather than completing them one at a time.
I’m doing all of this independently, and sometimes working on such a large project alone becomes mentally exhausting. The first part, The Journey of Conviction, has already been successfully published on Amazon Kindle.
I’d love to hear from other writers and readers here:
How do you keep yourself motivated when working on a long-term project that may take years to complete?
Any advice, experience, or words of motivation would mean a lot to me.
Hello everyone!My name is Whitney Goetsch (last name rhymes with "h"). I grew up in a small town where everyone knew everyone's business, and the local bar was the main spot for entertainment… so much so that I spent most of my weekends there as a kid.
My parents were amazing, but not home all the time, I suppose my books explain why.
Growing up, I spent most of my time fantasizing about made-up worlds, castles, fairytales, and anything that resembled Zelda. Eventually, I grew up, lived a bit of a fairytale life myself, and completely forgot all about my childhood dream of writing stories.
That was until I was bitten by a tick, which turned my life upside down. During treatment for late-stage Lyme disease, I decided to look back through years and years of old journal entries and my character art for children's books. Those journals ended up inspiring a couple of memoirs and a novel based on a true story. I even launched a children's series featuring Boomer, a character I created at 16 year old, drawing him all over my school notebooks. While looking through those old illustrations in my yearbook and journals, it was then that I wrote WEIRDO.
I was definitely the true "weirdo" back in school, and I never imagined my writing journey would shift from fantasy to memoirs and true-to-life stories. I currently have a Goodreads giveaway going on for my most recently published book too, WEIRDO. Maybe you would be interested in that, or maybe not?
I have no idea what I am doing or how to get people to review my books. I have no idea how many people will love or hate my book. I love hearing the wonderful compliments readers share, and I truly appreciate all of the helpful suggestions too even if negative.
Anyway!
Thanks for reading,
Whitney
Hello everyone!My name is Elyssa Derka (and no my last name came before that horrible team america joke i swear). Im 34 and live in Starkville, MS! I used to write children's books and poetry in highschool but never had anything published. I do love to read tho and have met my goal of 100 books read a year for the past 4 years! This year my goal is 150 books and I've currently read 89 so i'm almost done! I love to read supernatural fantasy and am always looking to add to my TBR list! Nice to meet you all!
Your participation is welcome and valued.
— Moderation Team