Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
2014 Challenge Archive
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2014 -Challenge Hosts
Challenge Hosts for 2014PIFM Hosts-
January - MountainKat
February - Zara
March - Gigi
April- KarenH
May- Hina
June- MountainKat
July- Vi
August- Zara
September- Crystal
October- Vi
November- MountainKat
December- KarenH
Monthly Hosts-
January- Elizabeth
February- Nikita
March - Tiff
April- Ty
May- Elke
June - Vi
July- Logan
August - Nicola
September- MountainKat
October- Zara
November- KarenH
December- Hina
Yearly Challenge Hosts-
* 2014- Create- Your- Own Reading Challenge- Fran
* 2014 Stacking the Series Challenge-Questian
* 2014 ADD Convention Challenge-Hina
* 2014 A-Z Author Challenge- KarenH
* 2014 A-Z Book Challenge-Hina
* 2014 Chubby Chunkster Challenge- Vi
* 2014 A-Z Character Challenge (Male)-Joann
* 2014 A-Z Character Challenge (Female)-Joann
* 2014 A-Z Friends Challenge- Tina"coffeeandbooks"
Read the Seasons - Ty
Read the Months - Welsh - Zara
Volunteer Monthly Challenge Host DutiesNow that I've been roped into hosting a monthly challenge, what am I supposed to do?
1. Create draft of challenge and send to a Mod no later than the 20th of the month.
2. Post/Launch the reviewed monthly challenge no later than the 22nd of the month.
3. Monitor the thread by visiting it as often as one can.
4. Give encouraging and congratulatory comments to challenge participants.
5. Keep track of participants that completed the challenge (optional).
6. Officially end the challenge by posting the list of members who have completed the challenge. Stats about the challenge are also welcome, but are not required.
(Mostly used by PIFM and optional)
Happy hosting!
Categories that need to be included in each Monthly Challenge-
1.(example) 'S' is for September: Read a book that starts with 'S' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'S'. (Substitute appropriate month and letter)
2. .(example) Member of the Month: Gea- Gea has been a member of the RRRC since October 2011. Here is the link to Gea's shelves- Gea's shelves . Please read a book from any of Gea's shelves or a book published in 2011 or a book published in October of any year. (This will be Mod chosen using a 250 comment/500 books on shelf criteria, and then randomly selected)
3. Geography: Read a book whose author, character or setting is from (example)(Austria). You can also add facts about the location and more reading choices based on the facts. One of the Mods will provide the location for the particular month.
Geography Example-
3. Geography: Read a book whose author, character or setting is from Idaho.
Facts about Idaho:
★Idaho is also known as the “Gem” State. Idaho produces 72 types of precious and semi-precious stones.
★Idaho is the No. 1 producer of Potatoes, Trout, Austrian Winter Peas and Lentils. -
★Shoshone Falls at 212 feet drops 52 feet further than Niagra Falls.
You can also read a book with jewelry on the cover or part of the plot. Or read a book with a farmer or rancher. Or read a book where characters spend majority of their time outside or involved in some type of outdoor recreation.
4.host choice
5. host choice
6. host choice
7. host choice
8. host choice
9.host choice
10. Reader's Choice: Read any book of your choice.
Categories 4-9 should be based on different holidays/special days/celebrations that occur during the month of that challenge.
*Hosting Requirements/Guidelines for the PIFM*1. Post PIFM thread and open challenge to sign-ups in the morning, EST, of the 21st of the month. The sign-ups will run for 3 days, ending the evening of the 23rd, EST.
2. The categories/requirements and pairings should be posted in the evening, EST, of the 23rd or early morning of the 24th of the month. Picks will run for 3 days, ending in the evening, EST, of the 26th of the month.
3. Re-picks to be given late 26th or early 27th of the month.
All picks should be given by the end of the 27th of the month, giving participants a few days to get their books/challenges in order for the next month.
OPENING POST FOR PIFM HOSTS TO USE WHEN STARTING A NEW THREAD FOR A NEW MONTH OF THE PIFM -What is the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?
The Pick-It-For-Me Challenge (PIFM) is a reading challenge where each participant gives and receives book recommendations based on a given a set of rules. The assignment method and book selection rules change each month so it’s always new and always different.
After signups are closed, I'll put your names and any extra info I’ve required into the super secret PIFM randomizer and select someone for you to choose for. This will get posted along with the rules for the month.
While you're doing your picks, someone else is doing picks for you. Once you receive them, you pick a book off the list and get reading. To complete the challenge, you only have to read 1 (one) book but many of us end up reading more because we just can't resist a list of books to read.
In order to participate you need to either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable), or make the person who will be giving you recommendations your friend. On top of that, I strongly recommend keeping your bookshelves updated; otherwise you might end up with a recommendation that you have already read.
Everything gets done in this thread so be sure to come back often!!!
***TIPS TO MAKE THE CHALLENGE ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE!***
1. Check the publishing date of the book before recommending it. To check the publishing date, from your pickee's to-read or similar shelf choose shelf settings, select "date pub" from the drop down selections and save/close the menu.
2. Check pickee's personalized shelves, especially their exclusive shelves - it could be very helpful in recommending something they want to read. A personalized shelf is one that a member has labeled themselves, for example, 'to read next', 'can't wait to read', 'favorites'.
3. Look at your pickee's 'read' shelf and see what genres they have recently read the most. That might help in choosing something they are interested in reading right now.
4. Please make sure the books you choose for your pickee are not on their 'read' shelf. Just because it isn't rated doesn't mean it wasn't read. Sometimes the reader may choose not to rate a book.
5. Although Buddy Reads are no longer going to be offered as a category, if there is a recommendation that you give your pickee that you would like to read with them, please feel free to suggest a Buddy Read with them. You can PM each other and discuss it.
6. If your pickee reads lots of books in a genre you are not familiar with (erotic romance, GLBT, YA, etc.), feel free to contact either Fran, Dee, Jane or the month's organizer and they can try to point you in the right direction for recommendations.
7. If possible, try to include a shorter book, a longer book, a new addition to their 'to-read' shelf, and and older book from their 'to-read' shelf. This gives them a variety of options to choose from. You can sort the shelves by many features - ratings, date read, date added, date published, #of pages and many other items from the shelf settings as described in tip #1. And they can be sorted by ascending or descending order as well.
8. Please choose at least 4 new titles for your pickee. These should be brand new to them and not found on any of their shelves. Part of the fun of this challenge is discovering new books to read, adding new titles to the ever-expanding tbr shelf. The remaining 4 titles should come from your pickee's tbr or preferred shelves.
9. Please remember this is a romance readers challenge, so unless you KNOW your pickee would prefer something else (something off their preferred shelf, for example) most, if not all, of your picks should be romance. There are many different sub genres and related types of books - Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Erotica, M/M, Urban Fantasy even. Take a look at your pickee's read shelf and see if they read non-romance genres before making your suggestions.
INFORMATION NEEDED TO SIGN UP
Please sign up in this thread with the answer to the following question:
(insert question if you have one. Not required. Participants can just sign up with their name and you can randomize one list of names rather than groups of names based on answer to question)
***If you have a preferred shelf, please list it along with your pick!***
IMPORTANT DATES
Sign ups will remain open until Sept 23rd (8 pm EST).
You’ll have until Sept 26th (8 pm EST) to make your recommendations.
The re-picks will be assigned afterwards.
Please do not start reading your book(s) until the first of the month. You then have the entire month to read your pick(s) and give some feedback.
If you’re new please read the PIFM Guidelines and FAQ. If you have any questions that are not addressed there, please feel free to ask!
***Please add a new comment rather than updating a previous post or your progress will likely be missed. It is also very helpful if you add more information like "I finished another pick" or "I finished my third book for this challenge" and mention if your pick was a buddy read. Thanks!***
*Please note that late sign ups will be included at the host's discretion and no one will be included after re-picks are assigned!*
Here is a link to a 'Time Zone Converter' for anyone that needs it for future PIFM challenges.http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock...
if you are interested, let us know what challenge(s) you would be willing to help us withstandard monthly challenges are:
pick it for me
monthly host
we also look for quarterly hosts; or ppl who would be willing to commit to a longer time period (6 months, a year etc)
2014 HostsRead the Seasons - Ty
Read the Months - Zara
A-Z Male Characters - Joann
A-Z Female Characters - Joann
I can host the PIFM in September 2014...
Crystal wrote: "I can host the PIFM in September 2014..."Thanks for volunteering Crystal! You are down for Sept PIFM :)
Fran I could host the February monthly challenge for 2014
Nikita wrote: "Fran I could host the February monthly challenge for 2014"Great! Thanks Nikita :)
Ok, very nervous...but I have been with RRRC a long time and never "took the plunge"! :DI would like to volunteer for the May monthly challenge for 2014!
Elke wrote: "Ok, very nervous...but I would like to volunteer for the May monthly challenge for 2014!"Hey Elke - you'll do great! :)
I'd be happy to be host for the Volunteer Monthly Challenge of July. If the need should arise I would also love to do the July PIFM as well.
Zara wrote: "I'd be happy to be host for the Volunteer Monthly Challenge of July. If the need should arise I would also love to do the July PIFM as well."Hi Zara. I put you in for the Feb. PIFM as per our last PM conversation. If you would rather host July just let me know. For now, we are going to have one month/challenge per person. If the list doesn't fill in soon we can open it up to extra hosting months. Thanks for volunteering!
I can take the April PIFM, Fran. Actually I'm not particularly choosy about when I host or which challenge for that matter, so if someone else comes up wanting that slot feel free to move me somewhere else...although if this year is any indication, it would probably be a good idea to avoid July, August and September! :D
I can continue the Read-the-Seasons. and put me down for April and/or September monthly. :D
Fran wrote: "Zara wrote: "I'd be happy to be host for the Volunteer Monthly Challenge of July. If the need should arise I would also love to do the July PIFM as well."Hi Zara. I put you in for the Feb. PIFM a..."
That's fine as is Fran. I'm looking forward to February and have already got some ideas floating around for categories etc.
Hi Fran! Can I get the July monthly?
I could do a quarterly challenge as well :)
Thanks so much ladies! I think I've got everyone so far. Thanks for continuing with the Read The Seasons Ty! We really appreciate it :)
Breann, one of us will PM you pronto, LOL. The next quarterly may be taken care of already, I have to check, but the one after that is all yours!
LOL, okay!and psst... I wanted the monthly, not the PIFM :D
please
Breann wrote: "LOL, okay!and psst... I wanted the monthly, not the PIFM :D
please"
sorry! all fixed :)
I would love to host a monthly challenge, no real preference as to month! I am happy to help out with any challenge actually!! =D
I could host the January or August monthly challenge or some other quarterly or yearly challenge!
Can I have the June monthly and the July PIFM? And I can help out with yearly challenges as well.
I think I've got everyone where they should be in the list up top :)Kat, Elizabeth, Vi, Breann.....we will be figuring out the rest of the challenges soon. Thanks so much for offering to help out, we will get back to you shortly :)
Elizabeth wrote: "I could host the January or August monthly challenge or some other quarterly or yearly challenge!"Gave you August Elizabeth, thanks!
Hi Fran, I will take any of the monthly, no preference and if you end up needing someone to fill in for PIFM, I can do that as well. If you need help with any other challenges, let me know.
Thanks!
I'd be happy to host another PIFM challenge if you need that. This is in addition to what you have me down for already.
Thank you so much to everyone who volunteered. I look forward to seeing your challenges!
Fran, if you're not saving that November monthly challenge in case someone shows up later wanting to host, I wouldn't mind taking it! :D
~KarenH~ wrote: "Fran, if you're not saving that November monthly challenge in case someone shows up later wanting to host, I wouldn't mind taking it! :D"Thanks Karen, it's yours!
Zara wrote: "I'd be happy to host another PIFM challenge if you need that. This is in addition to what you have me down for already."I gave you the August PIFM Zara, does that month work for you?
Two more PIFM spots open....anyone want one who doesn't have one already?
If you need to plug in for the PIFM/Monthly, just use me. I know I already volunteered once but I don't mind being back up too. I don't have any pref.
Yay!Thanks Vi and Breann!!
All spots for the PIFM and Monthly Challenges are taken :)
Next to tackle are the Quarterly and Yearly Challenges....we will get back to everyone who volunteered for one of those soon...
I'm not much of an idea person, but if at any point someone has an idea for a quarterly or other challenge but isn't comfortable hosting or wants a co-host, I'd be happy to pitch in there!
Fran wrote: "Zara wrote: "I'd be happy to host another PIFM challenge if you need that. This is in addition to what you have me down for already."I gave you the August PIFM Zara, does that month work for you?"
That month is perfect thanks Fran.
Fran if you need anyone to host another challenge I'm also available.
Hi Fran! Can you take me off the list for June & July? I'll be busy with a newborn ♥♥♥
Breann wrote: "Hi Fran! Can you take me off the list for June & July? I'll be busy with a newborn ♥♥♥"Congratulations Breann!!
Fran wrote: "Breann wrote: "Hi Fran! Can you take me off the list for June & July? I'll be busy with a newborn ♥♥♥"Congratulations Breann!!"
Thanks!! :) I don't want to risk signing up to host and then not really have the time (or energy) for it since I'll have three kids under age 5 at home! *panics*
Can I volunteer if I'll have been a member for 3 months by the time I host? I'd love to do the July monthly - it's my birth month!
It's hard to believe 2014 is only a few months away. We wanted to start the volunteer hosting list so that anyone who would like to give it a try has some time to plan in advance.
Don't be shy! If you have been an active member of the RRRC for three months or more, have participated in the challenges and are enjoying them, why not see if hosting is something else you might like? It can be as addicting as the challenges themselves!