The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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How do you work on the challenge?
Does anyone else struggle with reading way too many books at a time? I really tried early on in the Spring challenge to have no more than 2 to 4 books in progress (I usually like to have an actual book, ebook, and a couple audiobooks going at once). However, as the deadline drew nearer and library books came due, I have now accumulated a stack of 25 books in progress. I thought I might actually finish this round, but it doesn't appear that it's meant to be. I feel like this lack of focus actually hurts me, but I'm afraid if I don't start a book by a certain point that it will be too late to start and I'll run out of time. Instead I feel like I just inch away at all my books and finish fewer. I think the fact that I largely use library books and am at the mercy of when books are available contributes to this. Help!
I read multiple books at a time as well Kristen and totally use the library as well so I do empathize. I would think though that putting so much pressure on yourself to have so many books started would take the joy out of reading them. Generally I have 3 or 4 in progress and somewhere along the way one of them leaps out and says read ME now.I don't have any answers for you but do just hope you can pull back some for the summer challenge and have fun.
I think that if you read too many books at a time, it takes away from enjoying them and I know that I would get confused keeping the plots straight. It is for fun.
I'm a multiple book at a time reader-I always haven been. I'm just not always in the mood for a particular book at a given time and I like to have options. That said, I can never read more than 25 or so books a season. I'm a relatively fast reader but I just don't have enough time to read the 70/75 books needed to finish. I am in AWE of those who can do it!! Even so, I feel the pressure to get as many points as I can-when I start feeling that way, I have to step back and remember this is for fun :)
While I often have at least 2 and sometimes 3 or 4 going at the same time, one usually jumps out as Sheila says and I ending up reading that one and moving on to the next. I agree that having so many going at one time can not only result in fewer books being read but in less enjoyment. The challenge is supposed to be fun (as many have said) so my suggestion is not to stress about it. Just read and enjoy!
I have learned that I am a multiple book reader...until one or two do that jumping thing that Sheila spoke of. Then I concentrate on those more exclusively. However, I am not a single book type of gal. My usual is 6-9 books going at once, but I do better when I keep it 5-6.I used to read for points. Now I read for my own goals. This season I concentrated on other groups and their challenges and, as a result, have had to try to fit in a lot of books that were not originally planned for SRC. I did not score well, but I am OK with that. Part of the fun for me is the planning.
It's so interesting to hear how everyone is tackling the challenge! I've decided to go with my "library" challenge and keep to a budget of $30 available to spend on books this go-round which will encourage me to utilize the fabulous library I have in my area. Also, anyone else chomping at the bit for those 20-point challenges? I tackle those first since they generally give you the biggest bang for your buck. It's always so hard to wait for them to show up once the challenge has started. I typically just start reading and get to the planning part later when those are up.
I am having a hard time finishing the spring challenge books, because I am so busy planning the summer reads. I think 80% of the fun of the challenge is finding books to fit all the tasks. What I am finding though is that I am avoiding really long books , so I can get more tasks completed.
I start with the 30 point tasks first because I use the library for the most part. That way if I have to wait for a book, I usually still have time to finish it and complete the 30 point task before the end of the challenge. Then, I focus on the 20 point and the 1 book 15 point tasks. I don't have time to finish the entire challenge so I try to get as many points in as I can as well as reading as many books as I can.
Mod
Heather(Gibby) wrote: "I am having a hard time finishing the spring challenge books, because I am so busy planning the summer reads. I think 80% of the fun of the challenge is finding books to fit all the tasks. What I a..."Oh yeah I can see how this makes it difficult to finish Spring when the excitement for Summer has already started! I know I won't be finishing the challenge (no plan to in general) so I'm considering myself "done" with the Spring challenge for the most part. Good luck on finishing if you are trying to reach that goal! And yes, it can be really tempting to reach for the shorter books to get a better chance at finishing more goals.
Thanks for the thoughts, everyone, on scaling back. I usually don't do the challenge to finish but thought with the point total being lower this round, I might have a chance. Even with my massive pile of books, I'm still having fun. It's just starting to feel ridiculous since I know I won't finish them all, but I can't stop myself from trying. My goal for the next 5 1/2 days is to focus on finishing the tasks that are half done and the books due to the library on Saturday and anything else I finish is just icing on the cake :) Also, I'm going to have a rule of "no more than 4 books at a time" for the summer challenge. I think I read faster when I spent less time juggling all of the books and trying to figure out how many chapters to read each day!
I have been participating since October 2009 and I have never finished a challenge. This season I am doing the TBR challenge in another group I am in. I am trying to fit the books from my to be read list challenge and see if they fit into the SRC one. In the past I have worked off the SRC challenge first. So far I have fit 12 books from my TBR list into the SRC challenge.
Well the best way is what is best for you. Some people use spreadsheets. Some people use notebook. Some people use excel. Some people use a separate group. It just depends on you. I use a notebook and write down each task and and I refer to my TBR list and see if a book I want to read fits a task. I use the Goodreads lists quite a bit to look for books. I keep track of points in the same notebook. I check off the task I completed in the notebook. If you are computer savy you can do a spreadsheet or excel. My TBR list is on excel. It just depends on what works best for you.
Hi Megan -- for my planning I use google spreadsheets and used one that was posted in one of the first few messages of this thread to mold mine from. Since I'm at work right now, I can't post the actual link for a workable copy -- the published one I keep at least the last year in is here -- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/p... I also use a private group to post my completion posts to in an effort to stay out of the doghouse and on the mods good list (doesn't always work -- made two mistakes this last quarter)
I use a Google Spreadsheet that I adapted from one that a member shared earlier in this thread. Sorry, but I can't remember whose it was.If anyone is interested here is a link to mine. Feel free to use and adapt:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
To use, just click on make a copy.
I also use Google Spreadsheet, though looking at Lauren's I think I may have gone a bit overboard... (I really, really like making spreadsheets, okay? Maybe to the point of having one for comics to buy and movies I've seen and TV shows I watch. I don't know why. It's a problem).Mine is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Red is TBD, yellow is Currently Reading/In the TBR Stack/Know What I Plan To Read, green is Read, and green with bold is Read And Points Claimed, grey with light text is Options I Didn't Choose.
In setting it up, I tried to start with the earliest book I read in June and found the best place it, and then continued up my list from there until I've read that works for a task has a place. Some of the titles just came to my mind as I was reading the tasks and setting up the spreadsheet, like Harry Potter for a book that came out the decade I was born.
I started my first challenge this summer after it had already started. My original goal was to get about 500 points but I didn't even come close. My total at the end of today will only be 265 points, 24 books and 17 tasks. I created a spreadsheet, too, but I found that I planned way more than I could actually read. I generally have 4 books going at once: usually 1 physical book (generally read at night before bed), 1 audio book (listened to while driving), 1 epub book (read at my computer at work during breaks), 1 kindle book (read while waiting for appointments, etc.) I work a lot and have various social commitments, so I never read as much as I think I will. I took a 10 day vacation and never read a single page (way too busy!) while I had planned on finishing a book every couple days. I've read several of the comments above, but what else do other folks do to keep up? I can't imagine ever actually finishing one of these challenges. Congrats to all who do, though!
I am goal-oriented and started with SRC thinking I would finish. For myself, I found that, over the years, finishing was not primary for me, neither was getting a certain amount of points; rather, what really became my focus was reading what I enjoyed and then fitting it into the tasks at the end as best I could. I still plan books for each task, because part of the fun is the planning. It's just that I have given myself permission to deviate from the plan. To that end, I keep a list of books read that were not on the SRC plan. Later, I look at what tasks are not yet completed and then consider if the other books read list will complete any. It works for me. Over 600 points this time by this method.
I've been participating since 2014, love it and will not mess with any other groups. When we moved to Puerto Rico this year, the local book club tried to get me to join but they had their books chosen already clear to next summer (YIKES!) and I had to pass...their book choices for Sept-Nov didn't fit into any of the open spots I have in the SRC, lol.I have never been able to finish a challenge...probably because I read what I want and there are a lot of large books out there and some you just can't rush. I also will not post the Task complete unless I have actually finished the book. If I gave up on the book (rare), I find a replacement for the Task. The problem with reading so many books on top of each other, is I sometimes cannot even remember the content of the book! That's okay, it becomes a re-read then.
My favorite part is choosing the books, and then I read the ones that interest me at the time...also library due dates and availability dictate the order. I have made an MS Word template for each season and they are linked to a point tracker in Excel that helps me keep track of my points, BB and GOs. I work from home and spend a lot of time on teleconferences and waiting for documents from upstream and downstream...so using Overdrive online reading or audio helps pass that time.
I might actually get pretty close on finishing this challenge!
Welcome to our group Cynthia. I been on Goodreads since October 2009 and I never finished a challenge either. I like this group for the challenge and I like picking the books. I try yo use books I own and I use my library. I keep track of my points and I write out the tasks in a notebook.
My first challenge and I am already fairly addicted to the format.I used to read non stop when I was younger, then I had a few years when I did not read at all!
I am now reading more than ever because of the challenge - I am thrilled whenever I manage to 'tweak' my reading list to the books I want to read. Up to now (cross fingers) I have managed to do so for the past month.
I found having a list on the 'reading list' thread quite sufficient for my needs. I use 'html' to cross, highlight what I have read, bought, about to read etc. It is great to see other people's list as well.
I don't have any reading order at all - I try to finish up the 'higher points' tasks if I can. If I don't fancy a book in a category anymore, I try to change it - that's great fun.
Long live SRC! :P
I'm in my second year of the challenge (7 seasons), and I've also never managed to finish although I did come close once :0) I love finding books to fit the various challenges and I mainly use the tasks to choose my next book from my existing TBR. It is rare that I don't manage to find something that I don't already own or have access to from the library.
After trial and error, I have also found that reading from high points to low gets the most out of the challenge points wise.
Posted by PeaklesI disappeared from the Summer Challenge because I was planning my son's out-of-town wedding. I had read many books but had not posted because I was going to be super organized about maximizing my point count. The end of the Challenge rolled around and I never got the books posted!
I have not read a book in several months so I have a towering TBR list. I'm planning to jump back into the Challenge soon, so please hold my spot on the Readerboard!
I only started with this season's challenge and because i was doing another challenge i have completed it. I have an index card pad and write everything out longhand. I work out what i own that will fit a challenge
What i can get from the library - physical and overdrive
What i can get on KU or Audible
Anything else
This time I only had to buy a couple of books and i have really enjoyed doing it
This is my new favorite thing; I am so surprised at how much fun I've had with this challenge. I participate in quite a few, so it's not that. Somehow, I have found this to be a delightful puzzle, with additional aspects, such as the themes, contests, suggestions & minor competition in the Readerboard (it's more a competition with yourself, but it still adds a dynamic without becoming a true competition).I simply keep track on a Notepad (the regular text one on your computer). Since I started late, I simply went through the books I'd already read & fit them in...and really, I think that was 3/4 of the fun! And I've just kept note of which challenges I still need to do, and if I have books for them picked out...and books that I haven't fit in yet. It's pretty simple.
Oh, and I'm a High point to Low point reader...seemed more efficient.
I find I really enjoy the puzzle aspect of it all. I've read a lot more books outside of my norm or what I would have chosen to read...didn't like them all, but found a few surprising gems.
I've also noticed I have multiple reads going at the same time...like another person commented, I've got at least an ebook & DTB, plus often a library book (Overdrive) or Kindle. Especially when I get bogged down on a nonfiction read...or just want to be able to read in bed (my laptop died about a year ago, so I've been relegated to my deceased mother's old computer for the time being). I have gotten held up waiting on some library books, so may have to find alternatives.
No worries, because I didn't join with the goal of completing this first challenge. Now that I see how addicting it is, I might really have to push myself next season! Either way, it seems there are plenty of rewards & ways to participate; very, very good job everyone!
When the new tasks are posted I will look through my vast personal.library of print books and sometimes will use ebooks if I find one that fits the task. I put all the books in separate stacks for each task category 5, 10, 15 etc. I do my best to find books for every task but have never been able to finish reading that many. Still it is nice to have them there when I need them. I always like it when I have books from the previous challenge I can move into the new challenge. It takes me several days to find everything but for me part of the fun is to find the books..
I think this next challenge will be different...I'm already trying to pull books off shelves & fit some series I'd like to finish...it's very different from having read 1/2 way through the challenge last time before I started fitting books. Boy, some of those tasks are HARD.
Justme wrote: "I think this next challenge will be different...I'm already trying to pull books off shelves & fit some series I'd like to finish...it's very different from having read 1/2 way through the challeng..."i think the tasks are harder this time - maybe it is just that some of them are not my cup of tea. I am going to start with the 5 point tasks - i have all of those either on Kindle or from the library
I am doing another challenge at the same time as SRC, so I am always needing to find books that can fit a task in both challenges, which is extra challenging. Hoping some of the 20 point and the remaining 25 point challenges will have some Christmas themes tasks! Hint HInt.
Heather, I also do more than one challenge and I try to use books for both challenges. My problem is sometimes I double book tasks.
EmilyD1037Thanks for all the great ideas and techniques. This is my first challenge and I have left all but 1 of my former groups to focus on this challenge. I think I will try the notebook way of keeping track. I started to work just the 5 pointers, glad to know I can mix it up. I love the fact that I can pick my own books when I feel like it, instead of trying to read something I am not interested in.
I just started doing this challenge, but I'll probably approach it the same way I do other challenges I've done and just take it one challenge at a time. As I finish each challenge I'll just pick another one and look through my available books, or just browse the library for a random book that fits the parameters.
So sorry. I'm new and have never done a challenge. I know there's a couple things I need to do first, but how do I look at the challenges and reference the books I read? Help would be greatly appreciated.
Ali wrote: "So sorry. I'm new and have never done a challenge. I know there's a couple things I need to do first, but how do I look at the challenges and reference the books I read? Help would be greatly appre..."Ali, this challenge started December 1 and runs to February 28. Only books read during that span of time will count toward completing of any task. I suggest that you read the The Seasonal Reading Challenge explained and Getting Started threads under the Welcome section and then move onto the Rules section to read the Rules for the Winter Challenge and the Posting Requirements.
Ali wrote: "Bea, thank you so much! I'll do that."Ali, if you have specific questions about the Winter Challenge, there is a discussion thread called General Questions where you can ask.
Also, Ali ... if you haven't already done so, you must request a READERBOAD NAME to have your points counted.
SPREADSHEET TEMPLATE ~ HELP!Dimrose suggested in the "Getting Started" section for SRC that some of the seasoned members might be willing to share a template for a spreadsheet. I just joined the group and, after looking over the challenges, I can see that a spreadsheet would be a big help. Sure would appreciate the help
Cheya wrote: "SPREADSHEET TEMPLATE ~ HELP!Dimrose suggested in the "Getting Started" section for SRC that some of the seasoned members might be willing to share a template for a spreadsheet. I just joined the g..."
Here is my spreadsheet. Hope it helps.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Kathryn CA, thank-you so very much! Awesome spreadsheet! I think I'm ready to jump in.
Cheya wrote: "Kathryn CA, thank-you so very much! Awesome spreadsheet! I think I'm ready to jump in."You can do it! Its so much fun!!!!
I have to say I am finding it more difficult to commit books to specific tasks during the 1st half of the challenge (this is my 2nd & I joined midway through last time). At first I thought I'd try for the top mid-challenge score, but it was very quickly clear that was a hopeless task. So, I am waiting until I see that 50pt task to finally add all these books I've been reading. (I've added a few) There are so many with tasks requiring specific places & odd genres (for my reading) this time...so, I'm debating whether I will even attempt those if I know I won't finish anyway.
@Justme,I been participating since 2009 and I have never finished.
I think it all depends on how prolifically you read, in general...I didn't expect to be within ONE book...and I just couldn't push myself to get a last book read. With even my significant cut back on reading, about 100 less annually, the challenge is supposedly doable for me (# of books/# of days). But it sure adds more stress making that a goal! So, I just don't think I will this time. Then spring is always a very busy time; lots of work outside!Anyway, very cool that you've been participating that long! I'm glad to have found the challenge & group!
I feel unduly punished by my age for the 50 pt challenge, so I guess I'll skip it.
I am 68 and, although the 50 point challenge was a BIG challenge to find books, I managed to do so. It is sad that it defeated your efforts.
This is my first time doing the challenge and feel like I keep screwing up posts. Is it just me or were you like that the first time through too? I reread every post several times, go over the challenges and still seem to miss something. UGH!
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
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After the midpoint, I often moved some things around to cover the 50-point task. I could also see by then what slots were difficult to fill, and which were much easier, so then moved things around to make sure the challenging books were covered, and I could focus on finding books for the hard-to-fill point slots that didn't even have alternates at that point.
I try to make my TBR list work for the entire Challenge, but usually the last 2-3 weeks I would have left only books I had identified for the Challenge (often learning about them by seeing what others had posted as qualifying). I don't buy books at all -- all are from the library, either dead tree version or eBook.