I enjoy reading self-help/personal development books and many of them suggest you will get more from the exercises if you have friends who are doing them too so you can support each other and tell each other how you're getting on. I was thinking of setting up a book group in Newcastle to meet up every month and read books together such as "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" by Susan Jeffers and "Life Makeover".

I was thinking of making a poster and some business cards. I thought we could meet in Starbucks and I'd put a poster in there. I'll give the cards out to anyone I know who might be interested and ask them to let anyone they think might be interested know. I was going to put my mobile number and email address on for people to get in touch. I was thinking about making it women only.

I've never ran a book group before or even been part of one and I was wondering if anyone had any advice or tips for me please.

Sounds like an excellent idea, but I have no experience of doing things like that other than as a "joiner".  Is it a Starbucks in the city? I'd be a little bit afraid of attracting nutters if I put my mobile number up somewhere like that.  As it's self help/personal development you're thinking of, what about more niche marketing - health food shop maybe? somewhere that sells things like crystals, ethnic art? or if it's for women, what about somewhere women go - community centre, gym? Maybe even your local newsagent or corner shop? Might even be a good idea to start with friends/neighbours/workplace...

Sorry, I didn't reply to this thread before because I honestly didn't know where to start, even though I'm a member of a book group!  I think things are slightly different with "special interest" groups like this - one of the original members of our book group went off to set up a Christian/spiritual group on her own, but I think she attracted members through her church and her singing group.  As Annie says, you want to be a bit careful who you attract - probably best to start small and let it grow as members mention it to friends and friends-of-friends.  And I think women-only is a good idea too.  Our group is women-only and although we sometimes feel it would be nice to have a man's perspective on some books, we all agree that having a man there would inhibit a lot of the more personal chat that goes on!

Good luck with it, and do let us know how it goes.

Thanks everyone. I'm not worried about giving out my mobile number - it comes up with claler ID but maybe I will just have my email address on the poster. 

There's a few Starbucks in Newcastle and anyone would do really but I was thinking of having it at the Starbucks near Central Station as it's my favorite one.

I was reading the start of "Feel the Fear and Beyond" and she suggests setting up a group to meet up weekly to work through the exercises together. She suggest meeting weekly for 14 weeks - the first week to set up and pick the exercise to work on first to discuss at the next meeting - then 12 meetings for the 12 exercises - then a final meeting to discuss it overall and see if you want to continue.

I was thinking of doing that and putting on the leaflet it's to work on the exercises in "Feel the Fear and Beyond" so is good for people who loved "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" but if you haven't read either book you can still join (and to email me if you want more info). I think 3 to 10 members would be ok. I hope I get a couple of people interested, but what if there's too many and it would be too big a group? I suppose I'll have to pick a day to meet too and that might cut it down a bit. I was thinking Thursdays.

I work in the Mind chairty shop and was thinking of putting flyers on the desk in the bookshop and giving some to put in the Amnesty bookshop and Oxfam bookshop. I could also ask if I can leave some at Waterstones. It's a good idea to try the independent healthfood shop. I know Holland & Barrett won't let you display notices or leave flyers.

I've never done anything like this before but I think it will be a good learnign experience. I also want to try to get in touch with more like minded people. I've grown apart from most of my friends over the last year or 2 as they still go out drinking every weekend and that doesn't appeal to me anymore. Besides, I can't afford to go out all of the time and when i do get some spare money I'd rather buy clothes or a book - something I can use - rather than spend it all on alcohol.

Sorry I've gone off on a tangent a bit. Even if you have no advice or help can you just please reply and say if you think it's a good idea or not? Thank you.

There is a website called meetup.com where you can run a group from.  This was how I found my old reading group.  It's a way of advertising the group, registering members and keeping the group advised of meetings, book choices, news etc.

Obviously you could also do posters/leaflets as you say but instead of giving out a mobile number you'd be giving out the web address for your group.

I love the idea of your book group, if I lived a little closer I would join myself as I think some of the exercises in these books can be helpful to anyone as a general rule.

If you like you can borrow a book that I have which is very small and is specifically for people wishing to set up their own self help groups. I would like it back though. If you want to check out this Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Help-Groups-Getting-Started/dp/1874259003/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217231874&sr=8-2

Also if I can find it I have a big book of exercises for self help groups, it will cost a bit to post it but you are welcome to borrow it. Let me know.

As for meeting in Starbucks, personally if I was a member of the group I'm not sure I would feel too comfortable discussing personal matters in somewhere so public. You may find that some people find some of the exercises a bit upsetting so maybe somewhere more private would be better? Does this Starbucks have a downstairs area or something, maybe they would let you have the area to yourselves for an agreed time each week.

 Thanks for the link Wendy, I'll check it out. 

The Starbucks doesn't have a private area but I was thinking, there's a smaller, independent organic coffee shop and cafe opposite where I work and I might have the meeting there. That's a good point, I never thought of that. I'd love to borrow the books if that's ok Paula. I will send you the stamps for postage and I'll also send you a book from my swaplist or TBR (but I'll have to read it first) as a thank you. Just let me know which one you'd like.

Edited to add: I mentioned it today to my friend at work (whois also my boss and a close neighbour) and she thinks it's a great idea and would love to join.

If you could PM me your address I'll try and dig out both books tonight

Thanks for the offer of one of your books, I will have a look - not that I need any more books lol but I can't resist having a look!

Katie - there is loads of useful stuff online about setting up a book group.  I've posted the links for you.  Good luck - I wish I lived nearer!

http://www.bloomsbury.com/readersgroups/howtosetuprg.asp

http://readers.penguin.co.uk/nf/shared/WebDisplay/0,,67969_1_2,00.html

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/culturetourism/libraries/booktalk/readinggroups/setting_up_a_reading_group.htm

This one is specific to Newcastle:

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/librariesreadinggroups

Thanks for that Paula. I've PM'ed you my address.

And thanks for all the links Anne. I'll have a look through them. :-)

 Good luck hope it all  pans out for you.

Thank you! I was in the organic cafe opposite where I work last night and I asked the man in charge about having my group meet there. He says he will double check with his partner but he doesn't see it as being a problem.

I just tried meetup.com but it's asking me to pay to join so I'm not going to. Perhaps you only need to pay to list a group.