Series Challenge Q&A

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Post any questions/concerns/comments here. I'll modify the rules thread as needed if we see that something needs adjusting...

[[deleted user]]

*cough* Moving my poorly-timed post here so it doesn't interrupt the flow of the rules thread: :D

Ooh, I'm really liking this. This may also be the first challenge I've seen that actually happens to work with all of my personal little reading neuroses instead of against them.

Nice stuff Chris! ♥


And now I'm going to rummage through my book catalogue for all those series I keep meaning to get back to...

[Felina]

Blerg. Sounds like its time to make a list. :)

Can I horde my new series start rewards? Like if I reach my goal for the month and earn the right to start a series without penalty but then I don't get around to it that next month do I still have my free credit. Could I save them up for six months and then crack out on starting series books in September?

[Nyssa]

I have a couple:

1. What happens if we set our goal to just read 1 series book a month, but we end up reading 2 or 3, do we just add the "Read any book in a series that isn't the 1st = 10 points." points?

2. Do Group Reads (here or in any other group) count for or against us?

[Lee]

The rules are pretty much what I was thinking of. Well... except for the not starting a new series until I've met my goal for the month. This is actually much harder than it sounds.

I guess I have a question. What about rereading a series that you have read before? They won't count for the challenge. But my question is, they wouldn't count against it either right?

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Felina - yeah, you could save them up and use them later....

Nyssa - You'd just get the bonus one per month, though I guess you could horde them towards future months. So if you read 12 in the first month you wouldn't have to worry about goals. Oh, and you could always up your goal later. As I said, they're personal challenges...

Good question on the group reads. I'm thinking we'll wave the penalty on those to encourage participation.

Nienna - If you start a new series before earning credit, your only penalty would be the -10 to your score. Since scores are for personal use, you can use that however you like.

Re-reads count. I encourage re-reads especially to refresh yourself to read new books in a series. But even if you've completed it, they'll count. The principle is "finish what you started", so you'll be rewarded for progress..

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Titania wrote: "Ooh, I'm really liking this. This may also be the first challenge I've seen that actually happens to work with all of my personal little reading neuroses instead of against them.

Nice stuff Chris! ♥"

I had you in mind for a lot of this thought process. ;)

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

13 is an awesome number, btw.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Reposted here:

You know, you wouldn't even have to set a monthly goal in that challenge. If you wanted, you could set an annual goal, say 5 or 6.

Or a goal of 1 series book every 2 months. It's pretty flexible.

I'm thinking of making a simple option too.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Ok, let's test this idea out. If it works, I'll post it on the main rules.

Simple Option

1. Entirely goal based. No points.
2. Set a monthly (or yearly, weekly, etc) goal for yourself.
3. For every goal met, you get one credit that you can use to start a new series.
4. FoF group reads do not have to be purchased with these credits.
5. FoF group reads will count towards goals.

Examples:

Monthly goal of 2 series books/month.
Once I read 2, I can earn a credit to start a new series.

Annual goal of 5 books. Here, whenever I finish one, I can earn a credit.

Weekly goal of 1 series book/week. Again, one credit for each book read.

You can make this as easy or hard on yourself as you like.

[Nyssa]

How would we categorize anthologies?

There are anthologies like this: Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files, where all of the stories pertain to one series, and there are anthologies like this, Unbound ,where only one story is related to a specific series.

I'm sorry if I'm being too nitpicky - its just the way I think.

[Lee]

Chris wrote: "Ok, let's test this idea out. If it works, I'll post it on the main rules.

Simple Option

1. Entirely goal based. No points.
2. Set a monthly (or yearly, weekly, etc) goal for yourself.
3. For eve..."

Same principle but easier. I like it.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

That's cool, Nyssa. That what the Q&A is for.

Really, score those however you like. That's the very reason I didn't make up points for the number in a series (that, and the pub order/chrono order debate might rear again, heh).

Side Jobs would simply count as a book in the Dresden series. Score it as you would one of the numbered ones.

The anthology, hmmm..That's one I haven't thought of. Again, use your judgment though.
I could see scoring it once (just pick a series) and having it count as one goal/book read total. If you list your particular series, you could either list the individual short stories under the main series, or list the anthology for each one.

There are lots of individually published short story ebooks out there. I'd say use those the same way. Again, on the scoring you're only really competing with yourself, so you're not cheating by setting your own system.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

This is great Chris!!

[Lee]

I'm going to start with the point system, if it gets too confusing I'll switch to the simple system.

I'm looking foward to this... which series to knock off first... ?

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Meant to add - I'm in for challenges.

[Nyssa]

I have a rule #14 for you Chris! :)

#8 says "Complete a large series (more than 5 books) = 30 points."

What if we make that 5 - 8 or 5 - 10 books, and create another tier for series with more than 10 books?

Dresden Files, The Hollows, The Southern Vampire/Sookie Stackhouse, Honor Harrington, etc. all have a minimum of 13 books. Dresden Files is planned to have 23 when all is said and done.

[Nyssa]

Oh and I'd like a bit of clarification:

Using the standard 1 series book a month example -

If I read any "new to me" book from the series in a month I earn the 50 points, but if I just reread a book from the series in that month I only earn 10 points?

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Nyssa, I can do that tier structure. Let's split the difference and go 5 - 9 books, then have a big category of 10 or more.

For the clarification, your re-read book can count as your series read goal, earning the 50 points. Both would also earn the 10, as it's cumulative.

Basically, there really isn't a difference between a new series read and a re-read series book. Except how you categorize it. A book 1 re-read would be different because it is treated like any other series book, but that is really the only exception.

Theory there is from "finish what you started". A re-read is something you've started before, where a new series is something newly started to add to the pile of unfinished stuff.

[Nyssa]

So If I reread book #14 of Dresden and then read book #15 in the same month I earn 60 points?

Oh, and thanks for adding the additional tier! :)

[Chris , cookie guilt]

You'd get 50 for completing your goal, then 10 more for each of the two books. And if you were finishing up the entire Dresden series, you'd get the points for the top tier too.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Can we have points for reviews?

[Nyssa]

Chris wrote: "You'd get 50 for completing your goal, then 10 more for each of the two books. And if you were finishing up the entire Dresden series, you'd get the points for the top tier too."

Oh! Okay...that's what I was asking here:

1. What happens if we set our goal to just read 1 series book a month, but we end up reading 2 or 3, do we just add the "Read any book in a series that isn't the 1st = 10 points." points?

I get it now. So you earn points for any of those 14 goals you achieve from the list. And every time you get the 50 point bonus you earn 1 credit towards starting 1 new series.

Thanks Chris!

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Welcome, Nyssa. And you summed it up nicely.

MrsJ, I can add points for reviews. What sounds like a good number?

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Chris wrote: "Welcome, Nyssa. And you summed it up nicely.

MrsJ, I can add points for reviews. What sounds like a good number?"

Ohhh, IDK. 25 maybe? Not as high as a new read but not as low as a re-read.

What do you think?

[Chris , cookie guilt]

That works. I'll add it when I'm at a computer.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Cool!

[Nyssa]

So I'm adding a twist to mine, and you all are free to use it if you like.

One of the reasons why I have so many unfinished series is due to the sales and freebies available on Amazon. So I'm going to use my points to reward myself with new books. I'm thinking of setting the mark at 250 points. (I don't think I have any series - other than Honor Harrington - with sub series, so I'm not expecting to have any 120-point months).
Basically for every 250 points I'm allowed to purchase/acquire a new book. (Series challenge books are exempt, and can be purchased/acquired at any point in order to complete the series.)

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Great idea, Nyssa!

[Nyssa]

Chris wrote: "Great idea, Nyssa!"

Thanks! :)

[Kathy]

Ok, as usual I miss a few days and I'm completely lost. Do we set up our own thread? Or do I tell you I'm in?

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Set up your own thread. :)

[[deleted user]]

Many of us have our threads posted already so you can look through this folder for examples if it helps, Kathy. :)

[Kathy]

That's great! Thanks, guys! :)

[Emily]

This is probably a really dumb question, but I don't have to only read one series until done, right? If I have 4-5 series already started, I can read any of those that I have to finish without penalty, yes? I just can't read a book from a totally new series? Or do I have to finish one series before continuing on in another already started series? For example, I want to keep on in the Dresden series but don't think I could read 10 in a row. :)

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Emily, you can read anything from any series (in any order, for that matter). The credits/penalties only apply to brand new series..

[Lee]

Nyssa wrote: "So I'm adding a twist to mine, and you all are free to use it if you like.

One of the reasons why I have so many unfinished series is due to the sales and freebies available on Amazon. So I'm goin..."

I like this. :)
I have the same problem. I just keep buying books. I'm lucky most of my books are digital or I wouldn't have space to sleep. I'm thinking of doing something similar. But I need to give it some thought on how I want to do it.

[Kathy]

I work in a bookstore, which is dangerous!

[Chris , cookie guilt]

I'm safe, because the closest bookstore is 45 minutes away. I don't read most of Walmart's selections.

And I'm too broke to order from online very often.

So I won't do the buy/reward method. It's a great idea, but I wouldn't get to spend my credits. Heh...

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I have to actively stay away from the places where I can buy books. Especially the library. One of the libraries near me has books available for purchase year round.

O_o

Paperbacks are 3 for $1 or $0.50 for one and hardbacks are either 2 for $1 or $1 each.

Goodwill is treacherous as well but nothing is as bad as the library.

[Kathy]

When I started working here and I would be shelving, I would have separate piles....one in order of how the books are to be shelved...and one pile for me. Lol.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Kathy wrote: "When I started working here and I would be shelving, I would have separate piles....one in order of how the books are to be shelved...and one pile for me. Lol."

lol

[Becky]

Kathy wrote: "When I started working here and I would be shelving, I would have separate piles....one in order of how the books are to be shelved...and one pile for me. Lol."

Sounds about like how I would work in a bookstore. LOL

[Nyssa]

Kathy wrote: "When I started working here and I would be shelving, I would have separate piles....one in order of how the books are to be shelved...and one pile for me. Lol."

Becky wrote: "Kathy wrote: "When I started working here and I would be shelving, I would have separate piles....one in order of how the books are to be shelved...and one pile for me. Lol."

Sounds about like ho..."

I have a feeling I'd just have to hand my check right back to them. LOL

[Lee]

Kathy wrote: "When I started working here and I would be shelving, I would have separate piles....one in order of how the books are to be shelved...and one pile for me. Lol."

They should love you. They pay you. You buy books. Its like you're paying them to work there. Lol.

Sounds about fair. I would pay to work in a bookstore. ;)

[Nyssa]

This is possibly a stupid question:

If you started the first book in a series without completing it, does it count as "Already Started" (no penalty points) or "New to Me" (take penalty or use credit to start).

I read about 1/3 of Mistborn: The Final Empire a few months ago, but put it down.

[[deleted user]]

That's a good question actually, Nyssa. I might need to recalculate my unfinished series if I factor in books I wandered away from... it was one of those years. ;)

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Tomorrow I'm going to post some generic definitions of 1st books & a series.

But the main thing I want people to take away from this is that it is a self challenge. So going to let everyone tailor their scoring and categorizing to suit them.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

For a book started before 2014, I would feel that it should not be penalized for being a first. You wouldn't get bonus points or starting points for it, but the point of the challenge is to finish stuff began.

So started tomorrow, or 1987, or whenever. No penalty for finishing unfinished books.

[Nyssa]

Yay! As long as it counts towards "Complete your monthly goal." I'm good! :) I'm going to have to reread the beginning anyway; it will have been about an eight month gap (assuming we go ahead with the Buddy Read in May) by the time I get back to it.

Thanks.

[edited to fix a typo]