Help needed or questions? Ask here!

[Tracy]

Laura wrote: "That's my mistake, Tracey. I thought I had gotten them. Unlocking now."

No Problem :-)
They were keeping me busy while I was sick in bed lol

Thank you

[Angela]

For the weekly topics - Even though the first topic is not numbered 1, does that still mean it's the topic for the first week (a book that intimidates/scares you for 2018)?

[Jillian]

Angela wrote: "For the weekly topics - Even though the first topic is not numbered 1, does that still mean it's the topic for the first week (a book that intimidates/scares you for 2018)?"

The number goes with the week (for those who read them in order and for organization). So that one is week 45, it is just at the top because it was the one with the newest comment.

[Sumedha]

Hi! I'm new. Is it required to track progress by making topics/discussions on the group or is it okay to just do it ourselves and maybe post on blog/twitter?

[Jody]

Sumedha, the only requirement is to read! 😁 Although if is nice to have everyone’s plans here, so we can get book inspiration and cheer on each others’ progress it’s definitely not mandatory. Welcome!!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Are we changing the way things are posted for 2018? I know we had a couple polls about different aspects of the group, and the questions that were typically posted under the 2017 Progress Posts are now under the Weekly Topics 2018. Just curious if there were going to be a new/updated set of guidelines for 2018!

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Yes, the weekly topics have now replaced the progress posts. It is an open discussion format so it is encouraged that members respond to others and openly discuss the prompts. The only rule is that people keep book-specific discussion to the A-Z section. That gets a little blurry but really the weekly topics are for discussing what books fit for a prompt, help others find books, etc.

It is preferred that members post more than just the title of a book since that discourages discussion but obviously that is not an actual rule.

[Michele]

I don’t know what I am doing wrong but I can’t seem to figure out how to hook my shelf with the challenge. Last year it just seemed like the challenge box was on my page and I posted my shelf name there. Not working for me this year. So help please and thank you!
And HNY

[Tracy]

Michele wrote: "I don’t know what I am doing wrong but I can’t seem to figure out how to hook my shelf with the challenge. Last year it just seemed like the challenge box was on my page and I posted my shelf name ..."

Its not up yet. Maybe tomorrow?

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

It won't officially start until the new year. I'm not sure which time zone it will be based on but if you continue to have issues then check back in.

[Michele]

Okay thanks. You can see what I am doing on NYE.
Setting up next years challenges.
LOL

[Bryony]

I think it’s working now Michelle, I just managed to set up my shelf.

I also spent part of NYE planning my 2018 reading, and finishing my last book for a 2017 challenge. Only fellow reading addicts will understand! ;-)

[Zaz]

It's working for me too :)

[Sharla]

I am trying to post my 2018 reading plan, but I keep getting an error message that says I have to verify my e-mail first. How do I do that?

[Zaz]

Sharla: https://www.goodreads.com/help/show/2...
It should do the trick, we have 1-2 members each year with this problem and it usually solves it :)

[Karen]

Can someone help me understand the A-Z book threads? I'm wondering what the purpose of the discussion thread is if there's very little chance someone else is reading the same book at the same time. On a related note, how long to the discussion threads stay up? Will I still be able to add to a thread that someone started in January if I end up reading the same book later on? Thanks!

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

The threads stay up indefinitely. There should still be plenty of books that were started during the 2016 challenge. The idea is that members check in on discussion of any books they have read or want to read. So you don't just discuss the book while you're actively reading it. If you create a thread and then someone reads it a few months later then they would comment and then ideally you would see it and respond. Obviously, everyone isn't reading every thread but I do duck in on the books I have read and would like to discuss.

[Karen]

Laura wrote: "The threads stay up indefinitely. There should still be plenty of books that were started during the 2016 challenge. The idea is that members check in on discussion of any books they have read or w..."

Thanks! That makes more sense now!

[Amanda]

Question: Can I reread a book for a challenge? I want to reread City of Bones for the challenge "read a book with a body part in the title".

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Amanda, it's totally up to you. I've never been able to get myself interested in re-reads but I know some others in the group love to.

[Amanda]

Thanks! Personally, I haven't really reread a lot of books but I really want to get back to the series and read them again.

[Emma]

I picked up a few books from a local bookshop yesterday and am hoping to incorporate them into my 2018 plan. I'm struggling to decide whether or not I can use John Marrs The One for Topic 9. Technically it does have a body part in the title, as there is a fingerprint literally IN the title.. Would this count?

Otherwise has anyone who has read it have any suggestions if it would fit into any other week?

[Jillian]

Emma wrote: "I picked up a few books from a local bookshop yesterday and am hoping to incorporate them into my 2018 plan. I'm struggling to decide whether or not I can use John Marrs The One for Topic 9. Techni..."

I probably would not use that book for #9 but I think everyone gets to interpret the prompts as they want to. Looking at the book it might work for 23. A medical or legal thriller. It looks like a medical thriller (though that is not a genre I think I have ever read so I could be wrong).

[Emma]

Jillian wrote: "Emma wrote: "I picked up a few books from a local bookshop yesterday and am hoping to incorporate them into my 2018 plan. I'm struggling to decide whether or not I can use John Marrs The One for To..."

Thanks for the reply Jillian. Its actually described as a psychological thriller. Its about using a DNA test to find your perfect partner - the one you're genetically made for. It has some very good reviews so I'd like to fit it in somewhere! I'll see what I can do with it :)

[Maggie]

Hello! I'm a little confused about how you "post" books as you finish them? You add them to the challenge shelf you created and that's what counts? Thanks!

[Sophie]

Emma wrote: "Jillian wrote: "Emma wrote: "Thanks for the reply Jillian. Its actually described as a psychological thriller. Its about using a DNA test to find your perfect partner - the one you're genetically made for. It has some very good reviews so I'd like to fit it in somewhere! I'll see what I can do with it :) "

I would say DNA test would fall into the medical theme, but it's your call.

Maggie wrote: "Hello! I'm a little confused about how you "post" books as you finish them? You add them to the challenge shelf you created and that's what counts? Thanks!"

You have several ways to share with us what you've been reading, none are mandatory, you choose what you prefer:
- Weekly topic: just saying which book you read for which week
- A-Z topic: for specific book discussion. Use the search bar and the 'topic only' option to see if a topic already exists. If not, you can create one in the folder of the first letter of the title (not counting 'the' or 'a')
- 2018 Plan: you can create a topic specific to your own plan in this folder, and you can update it however you want.

[Maggie]

Sophie wrote: "Emma wrote: "Jillian wrote: "Emma wrote: "Thanks for the reply Jillian. Its actually described as a psychological thriller. Its about using a DNA test to find your perfect partner - the one you're ..."

Got it!! Thanks!

[Marie]

Emma wrote: "Jillian wrote: "Emma wrote: "I picked up a few books from a local bookshop yesterday and am hoping to incorporate them into my 2018 plan. I'm struggling to decide whether or not I can use John Marr..."

It sounds like a interesting story, and I've just had far too much fun trying to fit into as may different prompts as possible!

The description mentions secrets, so that's #13, and also "deadlier" which might imply a murder which would count for #35, plus the DNA side of it could maybe make it science or science fiction so that's #38. I googled and there's an article about how the author was inspired to write it by modern dating, so that's #5. If you've never read anything by him before then #36 would work. You've got to have high hopes for it, so that's #22. If all else fails, it's possible to fit any book into #34. And then there's the possibility of your birth year word at #33, and considering it's about relationships there might be some deadly sinning for week #48.

(I'm now going off to find out if anything on my own plan beats a score of 9 possible prompts)

[Emma]

Marie wrote: "Emma wrote: "Jillian wrote: "Emma wrote: "I picked up a few books from a local bookshop yesterday and am hoping to incorporate them into my 2018 plan. I'm struggling to decide whether or not I can ..."

Wow! Ok I clearly need to get better at this! I did think it could possibly fit with #48 in terms of lust.. but you really went to town fitting into 9 different prompts! I’m impressed! Now I feel like I need to set myself a side challenge to see how many different prompts I can get each book to fit into! Hahaha. Thanks Marie, great help :)

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Marie wrote: "Emma wrote: "Jillian wrote: "Emma wrote: "I picked up a few books from a local bookshop yesterday and am hoping to incorporate them into my 2018 plan. I'm struggling to decide whether or not I can ..."

I just finished Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and it fits in 12 of my categories! Decisions, decisions.

[Chantal]

For The 2018 question "A book with a location in the title", would a fictional location count. I want to read 'Hearts in Atlantis' by Stephen king.

[Tracy]

Chantal wrote: "For The 2018 question "A book with a location in the title", would a fictional location count. I want to read 'Hearts in Atlantis' by Stephen king."

I'd consider Atlantis a location. If you look under the topic thread you'll see that there are all kinds of interpretations for the prompt, and others are asking the exact same type of question :-)

[Sabrina]

hey mods, do you think we could get approximate dates for the readathons ahead of time? I'd like to participate in all of them but between exam weeks and Europe that may not be possible

[Claire]

I created two bookshelves for this challenge by accident. I cannot find a way to delete a bookshelf. Does anyone know how? Thanks!

[Claire]

Recommendation: to access your plan easily, add a link to it in your profile. So you'll just need to click on your profile picture to find it:
Add this (without the "*") to your profile (edit profile> about me):
<*a* href="http://url_of_your_plan"*>Your Plan<*/a*>

This didn't work for me.

[Zaz]

Claire, you need to remove the "*" in the code.
For deleting a shelf, go to "my books", then you have an "edit" link near the bookshelves title at the top.

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Sabrina, there is a new announcement for the next read-a-thon and a tentative schedule for the rest of the year: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The first one will be January 28-February 4.

[Lizzy]

Can one of the mods please explain what is the difference between the grouping "To Infinity and Beyond" and "Outside Challenges"?
Thanks for the clarification!

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Outside Challenges is just a section that summarizes the challenges that are available other than Around the Year. If you're interested in actually completing one of these challenges then you would copy and paste the challenge in your own personal plan in the Infinity and Beyond section.

[Sabrina]

Laura wrote: "Sabrina, there is a new announcement for the next read-a-thon and a tentative schedule for the rest of the year: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The firs..."

great thank you!

[Jen]

For #3: Read something from the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards, does that mean read one of the winners or does that also include the nominees?

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Jennifer, you can choose either a winner or a nominee.

[Katie]

Jennifer, you can choose a winner or a nominee.

[Sesia]

totally confused and fruatrated. 2017 was my 2nd year in this challenge, read the Rules, Ask questions here, etc. Finally, got my 2017 shelf straight in Aug, finished my last book this week, got lost in all the different folders under the group so never got to participate in any of the discussions and didnt have my plan ready at year start so didnt post there either. what am i suppoaed to do with the read list now? what happen to the 2017 discussion areas? what timeline (in a week dedicated to 1 challenge topic and 1 book) should i follow and what folders should i go into that week to get more out of this group? how do the read a thons work? i just dont get this? i already added the 2018 challenge topics to my calendar back in december, but am i just supposed to be picking, reading, checking them off and move on independently to say "yay for me, my year is done" at the end of 2018 again? ( sigh) help please!

[Tracy]

Sesia,
1. go to your profile and make a shelf and name it something like " sesia aty 2018", then copy the name of the shelf.

2. go to the ATY group page and paste it into the shelf at the top of the page

3.go into the 2018 plans- copy and paste the topics into a new thread and put your challenge name on it- list your book choices there if you want to keep track or let others see what you're planning on reading

4. Read

4.5 after you finish a book mark it as read and also mark it under your aty shelf in your profile so you can see your progress on the group page

5. Post about your choices in the 2018 topics thread to participate in the discussions

6. look for the titles you read in the A-Z folders and talk about your books there.

:-)

Hope this helps

[Sesia]

Tracy wrote: "Sesia,
1. go to your profile..."

OMG, yes! THANK YOU SO MUCH, TRACY. That is exactly what I needed: a simple task list. Will do!

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Sesia wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Sesia,
1. go to your profile..."

OMG, yes! THANK YOU SO MUCH, TRACY. That is exactly what I needed: a simple task list. Will do!"

Sesia, those directions, along with many more, are in the first post of this thread :P

[Tracy]

Sesia wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Sesia,
1. go to your profile..."

OMG, yes! THANK YOU SO MUCH, TRACY. That is exactly what I needed: a simple task list. Will do!"

You're very welcome :-)

Good luck with your challenge. Enjoy!

[Sabrina]

when will the february book of the month be announced?

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Voting always ends on the 15th of the month. But the results are visible in the meantime.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...