what challenges do you want to see for 2015?

[Justin]

It's time to start discussing what challenges we want to make for next year. Let us know which challenges we should set up again, and what new challenges we should create here.

[Justin]

One idea I have is a buddy read challenge. I think a group challenge where we try to have a certain amount of buddy reads within the group would be a cool idea. The way they are set up, if you click on the challenge you can see the total number of challenges and how many of them are completed I'm not sure if we could work out a way to set this up, or maybe if we could just make a thread for it in the buddy reads folder to keep track. We could set a goal for number of buddy reads or maybe a higher number and count people in group reads so if we have 2 people In a buddy read we would be two closer to our goal number but if the same buddy read had 6 people in it we would be six closer to our goal. What do you think?

[Justin]

I definitely want to do the A-z challenge again.

[Holly]

Those sound like good challenges Justin.

What about an A-Z author's challenge?

[Julissa]

I definitely want to try the A-Z challenge again. The buddy reads would be fun too.

[Andy]

It's not really a challenge, but maybe we could start a buddy read group within this group and rotate picking the book. Anything goes!

[Andy]

I suck at challenges, but I would definitely give a-z another go.

[Kate]

I'm in for the A-Z. I'd also like to float the idea of the Stoker Award nominees and winners challenge.
I have to admit I've found the challenges a bit much this year but I still want to do them.

[Justin]

Andy wrote: "It's not really a challenge, but maybe we could start a buddy read group within this group and rotate picking the book. Anything goes!"

I like that idea, that's kind of what me and addy do in our non horror buddy reads. We take turns picking and usually I don't even check what her choices are about I just agree to them. She always has better choices than me. I wouldn't say anything go's though, it would have to be something you can get for a decent price and no author self promo of course. That shouldn't have to be said but if we didn't put it out there I guarantee we would have a pissed off author asking all their fans to spam the group with angry messages. Other than those small rules though anything go's.

[Justin]

Kate wrote: "I'm in for the A-Z. I'd also like to float the idea of the Stoker Award nominees and winners challenge.
I have to admit I've found the challenges a bit much this year but I still want to do them."

I have already told you I like this idea but just to put it in this thread I would definitely do this one.

[Justin]

Holly wrote: "Those sound like good challenges Justin.

What about an A-Z author's challenge?"

That would be a bit more difficult, I like it though. We could possibly combine it with the way we did the titles this year. If someone wants to try both they can challenge themself to 48 instead of 24 otherwise they challenge themself to 24 and do either choice, or even combine it and do author or title for each letter mixed up.

[Andy]

I'd definitely participate in a Stoker's challenge.

[Addy]

I'm horrible at challenges:( these ideas sound great though!

[RachelvlehcaR]

How about a horror sub-genre challenge? Read one of each sub-genre.

An easier one is:
(view spoiler)[Supernatural: can include ghosts, monsters, dark forces, zombies, or pretty much any creepy thing that can’t be found in the real world.

Dark Fantasy: contains fantasy elements with a horror twist, or horror with a distinctly fantastical setting, like Stephen King’s Dark Tower series.

Sci-fi Horror: mash-up of science fiction and horror, usually where the sci-fic aspects (aliens, robots, space travel) are used to precipitate the overriding horror. Like in the movie Alien.

Psychological Horror: driven by characters’ fears and focused more on psychological dread than on murder, mutilation, and gore. Could be supernatural, but is more often associated with those twists where the protagonist turns out to be insane.

Lovecraftian Horror: yeah, Lovecraft is so awesome he gets his own genre. Includes stories of a dinstinct aesthetic involving either Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythology or similar ideas and situations: i.e., ancient secrets, giant monsters/aliens in the bowels of the earth, and a profoundly unsympathetic universe. Could also be called cosmic or atheistic horror.

Gothic: involves psychological terror in historically romantic settings, usually including mysteries, ghosts, castles, decay, madness, hereditary curses, and death. Pretty much dominated by Edgar Allan Poe.

Splatterpunk: the horror extreme, with graphic and gory violence intended to gross you out. Includes cinema’s torture porn category, in movies like Hostel.

Satanic/Religious/Occult: horror derived from certain belief systems and the evil aspects that they fight against. Usually involves demonic possessions, exorcisms, or explorations of the darker side of pagan religions and the use of “left hand” magic. The Exorcist is a stand-out example.

Erotic Horror/Paranormal Romance: for some reason that I can’t fathom, sex and horror seem to go hand in hand. There’s plenty of erotica involving horrifying situations/the supernatural, and (unfortunately) paranormal romance (which I’m not even going to consider a genre of horror, because it’s NOT) has gotten huge among the tweenieboppers with the unfortunate success of drivel like Twilight.

Suspense/Thriller: does not involve any supernatural or otherworldly aspects, instead relying on real-life situations to generate horror through serial killers, deadly situations, natural disasters, and psycopaths. Good film examples are Se7en and Jaws (even though it’s pretty unrealistic that a shark gets so hung up on eating people).

Weird Fiction: a primarily historical term for fiction of the 1930s, it predates genre fiction and blended the supernatural, mythical, and even scientific into stories that were ultimately strange, uncanny, or unreal in nature. The term is popularized by Weird Tales magazine.

Speculative Fiction: not a subgenre but an umbrella term encompassing science fiction, fantasy, horror, superhero fiction, utopian/dystopian fiction, apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history literature. For a story that doesn’t necessarily fit into one genre, or blends several (maybe a post-apocalyptic horror/sci-fi piece with elves?), you can always just call it speculative fiction, since these genres often overlap. (hide spoiler)]

A longer one is:
(view spoiler)[ Demons

Demons are supernatural entities that are typically depicted as malicious creatures who either create fear and violence or attempt to coerce or lure humans into doing evil. Demons are similar to devils, and may even be described as originating from Hell.

Fairytale Horror

In early versions of the stories, the Pied Piper led the children to drown, Red Riding Hood was devoured and digested, and the Little Mermaid died in the sea. Not all fairy tales are for kids. Also stories of little, winged fairies who are not pleased with human company.

Ghosts

Ghosts are supernatural entities which are the incorporeal spirits of deceased persons (although sometimes ghosts may also represent deceased animals). Ghosts are often associated with paranormal activity, including cold spots, glowing orbs, and objects that seem to move by themselves. Belief in ghosts is found in virtually every culture on earth, and throughout the history of literature and art.

Gothic

The early precursor to the Horror genre, the Gothic novel tells tales of mysteries, forbidden loves, ruined castles, moral decay, fallen aristocracies, madmen, and various sorts of spirits.

Humorous Horror

Humorous horror is a form of black humor which combines horror and comedy. It may take the form of parody, pastiche, or be completely original.

Lovecraftian/Cthulhu Mythos

Much of H. P. Lovecraft's fiction revolved around the notion that our world was originally ruled by alien beings which now exist out of our sight, waiting for the time to return and destroy humanity. The Cthulhu Mythos is any work of horror fiction which involves any of the "Elder Gods" created by Lovecraft.

Man-Made Horrors

Man-made horrors are non-supernatural creatures or situations which are either produced by man or a by-product of industry or technology. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818) is the first great story of a man-made horror, but man-made horrors are not limited to creatures produced by mad scientists - they can also be genetically created viruses, toxic pollution, or mutated animals (among others). Man-made horrors may involve science fictional elements, but the distinctive element is an intent to create fear.

Monsters

Monsters are creatures that are typically malevolent, although they sometimes act violently in response to persecution; they're usually supernatural, but not always. Vampires, werewolves, and zombies all fall into the broader category of monsters, but monsters need not be confined to these types—they can also include other shapeshifters, aquatic menaces (mermaids or gillmen), cryptozoological animals (Bigfoot, the chupacabra, the Loch Ness monster), or unnaturally evolved animals (King Kong). The term "monster" is also occasionally applied to deformed humans such as The Phantom of the Opera or The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Mythic Fiction (Horror)

Horrific tales told in the backdrop of ancient mythology and folklore. Pagan pantheons of gods and nature spirits (e.g., nymphs and banshees) frequent this subgenre.

Occult

Stories of witchcraft, wizardry, Satan worship, esoteric brotherhoods, and the general communion with evil or morally ambiguous spirits.

Post-Apocalyptic Horror

Post-apocalyptic horror typically presents an end-of-the-world scenario in which some sort of event has destroyed most of the world's population, leaving only a few survivors to battle for diminishing resources. Post-apocalyptic horror may verge on science fiction, presenting post-nuclear holocaust or other man-made situations, but emphasizes the horror of the protagonist's situation.

Psychic Abilities

Psychic abilities are often presented at the center of horror novels. Psychic abilities may include telekinesis, ESP, mind control, pyrokinesis, and other abilities. Horror novels focusing on psychic abilities frequently present children as the possessors of these unique powers. Science fiction works may also employ the use of psychic abilities, but in these works it's usually the protagonist - not the antagonist - who possesses these powers, and the intent is not to produce fear.

Psychological

Psychological horror is horror in which the antagonists are non-supernatural. Psychological horror most commonly involves the serial killer, but may also refer to the protagonist's state of mind (as in Stephen King's Cujo). Psychological horror is close to the thriller or mystery novels, but is differentiated by focusing more on producing fear rather than resolving a mystery.

Splatterpunk

A revolt against the subtly suggestive Gothic novel, Splatterpunk ratchets the gore up to eleven with as much violence and graphic description as it can muster.

Vampires

Vampires are supernatural creatures that are reanimated corpses who survive by drinking the blood of the living. Vampires are found in nearly every culture in the world, and vampire variants include the lamia from Greece, the wurdalak from Russia, and the goong-si (or "hopping vampire") from China. Prior to the 19th century, in Europe vampires were generally thought to be foul, ragged creatures that rose at night from their graves to stalk their victims (who were often family members). However, the 19th century concept of the vampire changed radically thanks to literature, with the most important works being Dr. John Polidori's 1819 short story "The Vampyre" (which created the character of "Lord Ruthven") and Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula. Stoker's work in particular added the vampire's ability to shapeshift (especially into a vampire bat), the vampire's use of erotic seduction, and the use of a stake through the heart to slay the creature.

Werewolves

Werewolves are supernatural creatures that are humans by day, but are afflicted with lycanthropy and shapeshift into monstrous wolf-like creatures at night (typically by the light of the full moon). Werewolves are one type of shapeshifter; other shapeshifting entities might transform into other animals, or even non-organic objects.

Witches

Witches are typically portrayed as aged women with tall, pointed hats, possibly bent over a cauldron, holding a broomstick, or accompanied by a black cat; they cause mischief and havoc by casting spells. However, witches may also be young or male (although male witches may be referred to as sorcerers), and may be good rather than evil.

Zombies

Zombies are supernatural creatures which are re-animated corpses that lack intelligence and self-awareness. Prior to 1968, zombies were associated with Haitian voodoo practices, and were often corpses of the recently deceased that were brought back to life by a voodoo practitioner to perform manual labor (usually on a plantation). However, in 1968 George Romero's influential film Night of the Living Dead redefined the zombie as a reanimated corpse that seeks to eat the living. Unlike vampires, zombies are not confined to appearing only at night, and they are not affected by religious icons such as crucifixes and holy water; in fact, post-1968 zombies usually can only be stopped by damaging the brain (usually with gunshots). (hide spoiler)]

[Kate]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "How about a horror sub-genre challenge? Read one of each sub-genre.

An easier one is:
Supernatural: can include ghosts, monsters, dark forces, zombies, or pretty much any creepy thing that can’t ..."

This would actually be something that we could use for our group read themes.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Yeah it can. I was thinking it might be nice to have something like that. We can vote for the top 12. One for each month or 6 for every two months. I'm not sure how often we will have a theme.

[Holly]

That sounds good Justin. Lots of good ideas!

[DeAnna]

I like the Stoker and the horror sub-genre challenges!

[Vicki Willis]

I think I put this somewhere else (the wrong place obviously) but I liked the Random TBR challenge. It got some of those books off the list.

[Maxine Marsh]

I'd love to do a Stoker award challenge and the title challenge again. I think Justin's buddy read idea is great, it is sometimes more fun to read a book with someone else!

[Justin]

I will probably start setting these up next month so they are all ready by January. When I set them up we will have a thread for each of them to discuss how we are going to do each challenge and will have a month to discuss each challenge separately in its own thread before they start. Sounds good?

[Justin]

After tomorrow night my winter break starts and I will be setting up challenges. What are we doing? Stoker awards, sub genre, A-Z, random tbr, what else? I will read through this thread again before I set them up so make sure your idea is mentioned here. I might see if there is a way to make a poll that allows more than one vote to see what the top three challenges are or something like that I'm not sure.

[Kate]

I'm probably going to stick to the A-Z challenge and an overall reading goal.

[Justin]

I don't think I'm going to do any this year, maybe the Bram stoker though.

[Maxine Marsh]

I would like to do the A-Z again, as well as the Bram Stoker challenge.

[Andy]

I'm definitely in for stoker and possibly the sub genre idea. I especially like the ongoing alternating buddy read idea.

[Addy]

I was thinking about a Stephen king challenge. He has so many books I haven't read plus I've been collecting them as I find them. Would anyone be interested? If not maybe I'll do it as a personal goal.

[Andy]

I was just thinking that it would be fun to read all of King's books in order (including rereads). Of course, that would be a huge challenge.

[Kirstin]

I have a bunch of King books on my shelf to read. Gerald's Game, 11/63( or whatever it's called), The Tommyknockers, Cell, The Bachman Books, Eyes of the Dragon and The Gunslinger. If some of those are in the challenge I'd try it. I'd be up for any buddy reads too.

[Addy]

I have a link of his books in chronological order. Maybe we could set up a thread for this challenge. Pick as many as u like and maybe do a few buddy reads on them as well. I'd be up for that.

[Maxine Marsh]

I'd do that even though I'm doing a bunch of other challenges, because his books would count for multiple challenges. I'm also ashamed to say there are a few of his classics I've never read. Addy, you should start a challenge thread!

[Kirstin]

Sounds good!

[Andy]

I can't imagine rereading The Tommyknockers, yuck!

[Addy]

Was it really that bad Andy? I know the movie was kinda silly!

[Addy]

I think I'll start a challenge thread. Good idea Maxine! Thanks for the encouragement guys!

[Kirstin]

Andy wrote: "I can't imagine rereading The Tommyknockers, yuck!"

Haha! That's why it's been sitting on my shelf for so long! Maybe it will be a plus- having such low expectations.

[Andy]

It wasn't terrible. Just too long in my opinion.

[Justin]

I saw the movie and hated it. I'm not a big Stephen king fan though. sometimes I love his books, other times I love the first 2/3 of them but then it gets so weird that I hate it but I finish it anyway because at that point I'm invested and when I'm done I wish I had never picked it up to begin with.

[Maxine Marsh]

I would definitely knock off The Stand (I know, I know, I should have read it by now) and the rest of The Dark Tower series. Revival, too.

[Kenneth]

I would like to see a TBR List Buddy Read Challenge. You and at least one or more other buddies look at each other's TBR list. You choose one to read off of theirs and then they do the same with your TBR list. This would be a great way to whittle down our ever growing mountains of TBR lists.

[Vicki Willis]

Ken wrote: "I would like to see a TBR List Buddy Read Challenge. You and at least one or more other buddies look at each other's TBR list. You choose one to read off of theirs and then they do the same with yo..."

Yes! Love this idea.

[Addy]

Me too!

[Icy-Cobwebs-In-Space]

I'd be in!