Poll: Is this group still useful?

[Caitlin, mostly absent but fairly enthusiastic mod]

Hey Everyone!

I created a poll for this group but didn't realize it would be hidden completely broken.

Here's a link to the poll, please give it a glance if you could:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1....

If you have any comments around whether this group is still useful to you and how it could be more useful, let me know here.

Also, if you haven't already noticed, I added a tab for the 2018 challenge to the spreadsheet.

[Christina]

It says the poll is invalid type when I follow the link. In my opinion, I use it to look for books that others are reading. I love...love...LOVE ...LOVE the spreadsheet. Also if I'm stuck it's nice to get answers from the group. I just wish the discussion boards were better organized 2017 was a bit crazy to sift thru what I wanted to find.

[Caitlin, mostly absent but fairly enthusiastic mod]

Christina wrote: "It says the poll is invalid type when I follow the link. In my opinion, I use it to look for books that others are reading. I love...love...LOVE ...LOVE the spreadsheet. Also if I'm stuck it's nice..."

Hmm... i will investigate what's up with the poll. Thank you for your feedback though! I went on a discussion board organization binge a week ago but would love any suggestions about how to improve them more.

[Bonnie]

I think that I use the group more earlier in the year when I'm getting ideas. I still use the spreadsheet to stay organized. Also, I like to see what other people read/are reading.

[Janet]

The poll did not make any sense to me if you were wanting to know how useful this group was. I do use the group to use the spreadsheet and to get ideas for specific topics.

[Kelsey]

I got the 'Invalid type' error when clicking the link too. I like that the group is still accessible, I can see what other people are reading in the spreadsheet and dig through the discussions to find ideas for categories I haven't read or thought about yet.

[Audrey]

I also am here for the spreadsheet. It speaks to my quantitative mind! I like being able to see what other people are doing and the stats showing what people are having trouble with and what's filling up first. While we're not as active in the discussion groups, I feel like people are responsive to questions, so they're not dead.

[Sarah McCracken]

Can someone please explain to me how this all works? 2018 will be my first challenge, but I don't know where to post what I've read.

[Caitlin, mostly absent but fairly enthusiastic mod]

Sarah McCracken wrote: "Can someone please explain to me how this all works? 2018 will be my first challenge, but I don't know where to post what I've read."

Hey Sarah, welcome!

First, full disclosure: there's an official group somewhere on Goodreads and this isn't it.

That being said, some people still get value out of this group. Possibly the most valuable aspect is a shared spreadsheet we use to keep track of our reads. There's a link in the group info.

Hop to the 2018 tab and add yourself to a column, You don't have to use your name but you should use an identifier you'll remember. Then you can list out the books you have read or plan to read for the challenge. Take a peek at 2017 to see how people are keeping track of things this week, but don't delete anything you didn't add!

If you want to rearrange things you can always make your own private copy of the spreadsheet.

Closer to 2018 I'll be adding a goal to this group. You'll be able to set a # of books for the goal and tie it to a shelf. For a book to count for the goal it will have to be read in the goal year and be on that shelf.

Does that help?

[Sam]

Please keep this group going. I've been absent for a lot of the year after moving to a rural area with lethargic internet access, but I've really enjoyed catching up with things and seeing where everyone is at.

[Jamie]

Hi, I just joined, so I'm glad to see this group isn't dead yet, even if the group header info all looks pretty out of date. (yay!)
I read a LOT of books each year, but I am not into watching movies and I rarely know what authors look like, so challenges about books turned into movies always stump me, and ones about the authors' ethnicity or authors with disabilities, or who have non-cis genders, those sorts of challenges always are harder to identify books for. I like to read books on their own merits before checking out author bios and other supplementary stuff, so probably a lot of what I read is by 'diverse' authors, but I just read their books and never know. Hopefully joining a group that is focused on the Pop Sugar reading challenges can help. In any case, Hi everybody!

[Sam]

Just checking are we still going? I noticed there wasn't an option to set one's personal reading goal for the challenge ie number of books. Also I'm having issues with using the amazing spreadsheet - anyone else experiencing this.

[Jessie]

It’s not just you. I’m also experiencing difficulties with the spreadsheet (or at least I was as of last night). I kind of fell away from keeping up with the group the last several months for personal reasons, but I was hoping to get back into it this year. So I hope we’re still going!

- Jess

[Caitlin, mostly absent but fairly enthusiastic mod]

I'll set the new goal, I just hadn't got to it yet this year. But I'm concerned hearing the spreadsheet is acting up. Would either of you be able to describe the problems you're having?

Edit: Goal is now available for 2018 but AHHH! I see the spreadsheet problem. I'm hoping to have that fixed by 11:59 p.m. CST. Thanks for the heads up.

Second edit: try this version of the spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

[Sam]

Thanks Caitlin. I'll have a go at it when I have laptop access to the Internet - phone version of Goodreads isn't too wonderful.

[Fatima]

I can’t edit the spreadsheet anymore. It says view only.

[Michelle]

I was able to add myself to it.

[Caitlin, mostly absent but fairly enthusiastic mod]

Fatima wrote: "I can’t edit the spreadsheet anymore. It says view only."

Make sure you're using the link in the group info page. That link should take you to an editable version of the spreadsheet.

[Emily]

Just joined this group (frankly, because the other "official" one is wayyyy too overwhelming for my taste).

Love the spreadsheet! I'm looking for the goals... Do y'all have that set up yet? Or do y'all plan on setting up this year? Thanks!

[Emily]

Whoops! As soon as I posted this, I saw the goals pop up! Sweet... now to start reading!

[Lindsey]

This is my first time doing the Pop Sugar challenge...I'm a little late to the party, but I wanted to say how appreciative I am for this much smaller group and especially the Spreadsheet! It is so great to scroll through one topic and see what everyone else is thinking! Keep up the great work everyone!