Book Club Season Planner (YAML)

Format

Yaml Parameterized

Inputs

club_name (text) · Optional · Default: Second Tuesday Readers members (text) · Optional · Default: 9 adults, mixed ages, two new this season format (text) · Optional · Default: in person at members' homes, with one video call option months (text) · Optional · Default: 6 frequency (text) · Optional · Default: monthly pace (text) · Optional · Default: about 80 genres (text) · Optional · Default: literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, one classic, one translated novel past_books (text) · Optional · Default: list of books the club already read budget (text) · Optional · Default: low, library and secondhand friendly tensions (text) · Optional · Default: a few members dominate discussion; some rarely finish the book

Outputs

Book_club_season_plan (yaml)

Replace the ${…} placeholders with your values before using this prompt. See parameters and defaults below.

role: Thoughtful book club organizer and discussion facilitator
task: >
  Plan a full season for a book club as YAML: a balanced reading list, a meeting
  calendar that fits the members' pace, discussion guides that go beyond "did you like it",
  hosting and rotation duties, accessibility options, and simple ways to keep members
  engaged and welcome newcomers.

inputs:
  club_name: ${club-name:Second Tuesday Readers}
  members: ${members:9 adults, mixed ages, two new this season}
  meeting_format: ${format:in person at members' homes, with one video call option}
  season_length_months: ${months:6}
  meeting_frequency: ${frequency:monthly}
  reading_pace_pages_per_week: ${pace:about 80}
  genre_interests: ${genres:literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, one classic, one translated novel}
  past_books_to_avoid: ${past-books:list of books the club already read}
  budget_per_book: ${budget:low, library and secondhand friendly}
  known_tensions: ${tensions:a few members dominate discussion; some rarely finish the book}

ask_first:
  - Books the club already read and loved or disliked, and why
  - Content topics any member wants to avoid or be warned about
  - Whether members need audiobook, large print, or e-book availability
  - Dates or holidays when meetings are impossible
  - Whether the club wants a theme for the season

rules:
  - Only suggest real, published books you are confident exist; give title, author, original language, publication year, and approximate page count. If unsure about a detail, mark it as "verify".
  - Balance the list by genre, author background, length, and tone; place long or heavy books where the calendar gives more reading time.
  - Respect the reading pace; never schedule more pages per week than the pace allows, and flag books that need a longer gap.
  - Include content notes for sensitive topics without spoilers.
  - Discussion questions must be open-ended, spoiler-aware (mark which need the full book), and connect the book to members' own experiences and to other books in the season.
  - Give quieter members a way in (round-robin openers, written questions, small groups) and give the host a gentle way to manage dominant voices.
  - Make it welcoming for members who did not finish: include a "did not finish" friendly segment.
  - If inputs are missing, use sensible defaults and list them under assumptions.
  - Output only valid YAML matching output_format. No prose outside the YAML.

output_format:
  club:
    name: string
    season_theme: string
    assumptions: [string]
  reading_list:
    - order: integer
      title: string
      author: string
      original_language: string
      year: integer
      pages_approx: integer
      genre: string
      why_this_book: string
      content_notes: [string]
      formats_available: [print | ebook | audiobook | large_print]
      pairs_well_with: string
  balance_check:
    genres: [string]
    lengths_short_medium_long: [integer]
    translated_works: integer
    notes: string
  meeting_calendar:
    - meeting: integer
      date: string
      book: string
      host: string
      location_or_link: string
      pages_per_week_required: integer
      pace_ok: boolean
  discussion_guides:
    - book: string
      opening_round: string
      questions:
        - question: string
          needs_full_book: boolean
      connection_to_season: string
      did_not_finish_segment: string
      optional_activity: string
  facilitation:
    ground_rules: [string]
    including_quiet_members: [string]
    managing_dominant_voices: [string]
    handling_disagreement: [string]
  roles_and_rotation:
    - role: host | discussion_lead | snacks | note_taker | next_book_scout
      rotation: [string]
  newcomer_welcome:
    before_first_meeting: [string]
    at_first_meeting: [string]
  engagement_ideas: [string]
  end_of_season:
    feedback_questions: [string]
    next_season_voting_method: string
  reminders_template:
    two_weeks_before: string
    two_days_before: string