How do you work on the challenge?

[Katrina]

This is my first time playing, so far I've just planned using pen and paper leaving space for those tasks which aren't created yet. I don't think I'll finish all of the tasks so I'm just going to use the challenge to pull books from my the pile which I've been ignoring for too long.
I like the idea of selecting books you want to read first and then trying to add them in first, I think I'll give that a go next time.
I'll update as I go along so that I can keep track. I've also picked a short book to read first, a 5 pointer so that early on I'll feel that I've succeeded and then I'll move to a 30 point task, as with other challenges I've started on the big points and barely been on the reader board.

[Sandi]

I began the challenge with the Winter 2013 where I attempted to use index cards and a 5 x 7 photo book to store the info. It didn't work so well for me, so during this season I tried the 'reading plan' thread but it became tedious to edit the post everytime I found a different book to use, so now I've graduated to a google spreadsheet which I can keep open in a new tab and edit easily. . . https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/p...

[Bea]

I find SRC addictive. I have been participating since Winter 2010 (14 seasons). I have never finished. Some seasons I have tried to beat the previous season's goal; some seasons I just read. Most seasons I tend to get about half the points.

I have had strategies of trying to do all the higher point tasks first and then have found that books slated in earlier tasks don't get read. Some I really wanted to read.

Then I got tired of trying and wanted to focus on other groups to which I belong. The addictive part was that I still kept coming back to this group and its challenge...and, although I thought I would sit it out for a season, I still end up reading and reporting no matter what.

So...I accept that I am ADDICTED to SRC, and I have learned to fit other group challenge books into this groups. I have also learned that I can change my books around, that my plan is not written in stone, and that it is OK (barely) to not finish a 2 book task.

There are a lot of strategies and ways that we all plan. The bottom line is HAVE FUN! Enjoy your reads.

[[deleted user]]

Katrina
I guess me and you will be newbies together ,so we can try out a system that works best for each so us ,regarding the way we choose books and keep track of tasks done . Maybe all the new people for this summer challenge can work together to cheer each other on :)


Sandi
That's a nice looking spreadsheet there . My husband set one up for me but it doesn't look the same . You have the enter things a bit differently and can't see the whole list at once like yours .. I like the way yours is set up, but I guess I'll go with his this time. I'd rather see the whole list at once like yours though . :)

[[deleted user]]

Bea
That's the best piece of advice, to have fun with it . You must be one of the original members to have been in 14 seasons ! That's a long time !

[Bea]

Kaye wrote: "Bea
That's the best piece of advice, to have fun with it . You must be one of the original members to have been in 14 seasons ! That's a long time !"

Thanks, Kaye. Not original but old!

Two other things to share:

My spreadsheet has undergone a few changes over the seasons but I think I like it now. I track: Task #, Task, Source (own, libray, ebook, etc), Title, Author, Series (just the number), GR Author, Big Book, Book group (for cross-reference to other challenges), notes (option chosen, requirements), date finished, date posted, and points.

When I post completed tasks, I have two tabs open. One for the actual posting activity and another with the TASKS for the season. Before posting the message, I review the specific tasks to be sure that all required elements are included in my post. This keeps me off the Naughty List!

When I do not do this...I invariably forget some key element.

[[deleted user]]

Bea
I know what you mean by old, I'm no spring chicken myself .
Thanks for the spreadsheet tips, my husband has it set to have all the original info from the task listed so I can read it to make sure I don't forget anything. It tracks my points for me , has task number ,name for author, book and pages, date finished ,points, whether it's a GR or BB .. I think once I fill in the book it does all the rest for me. I haven't filled in any books because I like to keep my options open instead of having a set list.
I do have all the books written down that will possibly fit for each challenge, but they won't be in the spreadsheet until they are read ,then I'll record them .
I think once I put in the book, and click Publish, it prints out all the info as it needs to be posted. We'll see when I try it . I 'm not familiar with using spreadsheets so this will be a first for me .

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

One thing I do with my personal spreadsheet is to add a sheet for each group of tasks. Then, when I'm thinking about books to use for, say 5.1, I list all the ones I might use on the 5 point tab. If I don't write it down somewhere I can find it later (the little pieces of paper near the computer have a way of disappearing!), I often find something interesting to work for a task, but then forget the name of the book. It also helps when I want to switch things around, since I can look at that page and see what other books I found that would work for a particular task.

[Rebecca NJ]

I've been reading through how everyone organizes and over time my methods definitely have evolved. I actually started the challenges back in Spring 2009 (back when it was in the Next Best Book Club group). I did take some time off due to family reasons between 2010 and 2012 but I seem to have 21 season of planned tasks despite only ever posting for points in 15 seasons.

I've started out with the handwritten lists, evolved to an excel spreadsheet and now I use google docs so I can see that spreadsheet everywhere (and now even on my phone!) I use different shading for whether they've been finished versus posted and now I try to include all the extra info so I don't miss things for the mods. I've now even started factoring my average pages read per season which is more of a personal goal.

At the end of the season, I print out my finished list and a list of the tasks and put them in my filing cabinet. I then look at the books I never got to and try to fit them into the next challenge first.

I have really enjoyed reaching outside my comfort zone and have picked up some wonderful reads. I wish everyone good luck for the upcoming season. It does look like it will be a big one!

[[deleted user]]

Sandy
That sounds like a good idea too ! I bought a notebook at Walmart which has Project Title and Date at the top of each pg . Not sure what it was originally made for, but I use one page for each task and write out all the possible book ideas on each page ,so I have some in mind. There are a couple categories I don't have ideas for yet , but I have an awful big pile of books already written down for ideas, PLUS , I don't have all the new tasks ,so there will be plenty more to add yet .. I think 9 of the 20 point ones and about 4 or 5 25 point ones, then the Big Kahuna --50 pointer .

Can anyone tell me if the 50 pointer is usually a 3 book challenge, or just a really detailed one that involves extra tasks ?

[Bea]

Kaye, the 50 pointer is always a 3 book task, but you can have read the books anytime during that season's challenge!

Last challenge I was able to slot in 3 books read for another group that did not fit any other task. Yippee!

[[deleted user]]

Rebecca
Wow, you have also been involved in the group for a really long time ! There seem to be lots of loyal followers in this group !
I'll have to look into the google docs a bit more and see if it may be more of what I'd like to use . I think the color coding would be handy to have too .
It definitely does sound like you guys have several new people and lots of return players so it should be a successful challenge . :)


Bea
Thanks for the info -- I was wondering about that 50 pointer, just what you'd have to do to get that many points. I was thinking maybe a book report and a posterboard with a map or something (joking )... kinda like a school end of year project !

[Dee]

Kaye - you can take a look at previous seasons and see what the 50 pointer consisted of - we've had some interesting ones over the years

this season it was ms anderson with a coin flip task
season before that it was Pamela Su (I think) with a task based around Clue (the theme)
the one before that was Sassafrass with a series task (3 books from different series in sequential order)

etc

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Dee .
So how does that person get picked ? The one with the highest points from the previous challenge ?
It'd be fun trying to come up with new ideas that no one else had thought of yet .

[Bea]

Oh, my goodness! I just realized that I will not have access to my Excel spreadsheet as we are moving. It could be a couple of months before I get back on my computer. Drat! Can anyone who uses Google docs tell me how to set them up?

And, here I thought I had weathered the move issues when I realized I would be using a new library system for many of my books. I was so proud of myself for identifying the new libary and getting my books checked against their holdings. (I did have to change some.)

[Book Concierge]

Sandi wrote: "I began the challenge with the Winter 2013 ... so now I've graduated to a google spreadsheet which I can keep open in a new tab and edit easily. ..."

I really like your spreadsheet, but I have I question.
I don't see multiple books listed for the tasks that require two or three books. How do you track those?

I use an Excel spreadsheet (and I think Hubby regrets ever teaching me Excel). I have multiple sheets in the document. Page 1 is a full list of all books, the authors (color coded if they are GRA or book is a BB), the task # and option each fits in, the date finished and the points. Like your spreadsheet, there's also a points total at the bottom for GRA, BB and total points.

Then I have a separate sheet with details for each category of tasks - 5 point, 10 point, etc. That's where I keep the details of each task requirement, and notes on where I got a cover image or genre approved. (e.g.: Apprv Help msg # 14 or GV msg 23)

I'm in six F2F book discussion groups and have over 25 groups I participate in here on goodreads and on shelfari.com, so not everything I read fits into SRC, but it surprised me how many books I managed to fit in for the current challenge.

It certainly is addictive, and a great deal of fun.

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

Kaye wrote: "Thanks Dee .
So how does that person get picked ? The one with the highest points from the previous challenge ?
It'd be fun trying to come up with new ideas that no one else had thought of yet ."

The 50 point task goes to the person who has the highest score at the midpoint of the challenge and who does not already have a task in that challenge.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Sandy !
Good info to know ! Maybe if I can build up my speed, I can win it in the year 2027 . :)

[Rebecca NJ]

Bea wrote: "Oh, my goodness! I just realized that I will not have access to my Excel spreadsheet as we are moving. It could be a couple of months before I get back on my computer. Drat! Can anyone who uses G..."

Bea - you can actually import an excel spreadsheet into google docs. I can PM you with the steps when I get home from the office tonight. It's really easy!

[Rebecca NJ]

Kaye wrote: "Rebecca
Wow, you have also been involved in the group for a really long time ! There seem to be lots of loyal followers in this group !
I'll have to look into the google docs a bit more and see if ..."

I think for me the biggest part of the scavenger hunt aspect of it all which keeps me coming back season after season. Someday I might finish :)

Now, the ideal challenge for me is to stick with what I have planned!

[Dee]

haha...plan what is this plan thing...lol! I routinely move books around - just ask the poor record keepers

[Sandi]

Book Concierge wrote: "Sandi wrote: "I began the challenge with the Winter 2013 ... so now I've graduated to a google spreadsheet which I can keep open in a new tab and edit easily. ..."

I really like your spreadsheet,..."

Thanks BC -- my spreadsheet is set up with three columns for the multiple book titles so for the 5, 10 and most 15 pts tasks I have two cells that do not have books in them but where I've entered N/A instead. Then for the two book tasks, the N/A is placed into the third cell under the column for the book #3 title.

For information re how the book chosen fits the task and a link to the goodreads page for the book, I use the 'comments' feature which you really can't see in the published spreadsheet.

It's a pretty simplistic spreadsheet, but have found it suits my purposes well.

[Rebecca NJ]

Dee wrote: "haha...plan what is this plan thing...lol! I routinely move books around - just ask the poor record keepers"

haha!

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

@Bea
I would write out all my tasks for the challenge in a notebook. I would do this for my other challenges. I still do that but I upgraded to a journal. I have a quarter of my journal filled with challenges. I joined in Fall of 2009. It has become routine for me to sit and plan my books for each seasonal challenge.

@Kaye,
I like to offer my support as it is your first SRC challenge. If I can help you in any way, let me know.

[Anne (Booklady)]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I would write out all my tasks for the challenge in a notebook."

Jayme, I do too! Have done it from the start!

@Kaye, I'd help too. PM me any time if you need help!

[[deleted user]]

Jayme & Anne

Thanks to both of you for the offer of help . I appreciate it a lot !

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I know how overwhelming this challenge is so any questions you have, please PM me.

[[deleted user]]

RISE & SHINE , Valentines !

It's Day One of the Summer Reading Challenge !

I'm an early riser ,so have been up for an hour already !

[♞ Pat]

I started my first book at 12:01am and read for 30 minutes before bed. Hope to get it finished today and get those first points up on the board.

Hubby's birthday is today, and we're grilling burgers, so the reading will have to work around that, but that's life with others, right? lol

[[deleted user]]

Pat
Yep, I have a day with nothing planned . Will probably do the same as you & grill out today since the weather is great here . That'll give me time to polish off my first book by the end of today !

Happy birthday to your husband !

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I will be cleaning, catching up on movies and reading.

[Bea]

I am doing laundry, sitting in the sun and packing for the move. Sandwiching reading in and around all that.

[[deleted user]]

Jayme
Sounds like a relaxing day !


Bea
Are you moving far ,or close ? We've moved many times in our lives and I've always loved moving ,but the older I get, the less I enjoy it . Of all the times we moved, we've stayed in the same town !

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

All that moving and you stayed in the same town?

[[deleted user]]

Yes, we rented when the kids were younger so we moved several times before we bought our first house. We've been here for 12 years ,though ,so this may be our last stop . :)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

That's alot of moving.

[Bea]

@Kaye - moving from Connecticut to South Carolina.

[[deleted user]]

@Bea
Great move . SC is beautiful . I hear Connecticut is too, but the weather is better in SC .
Best wishes , K~

[Karen]

Bea wrote: "I am doing laundry, sitting in the sun and packing for the move. Sandwiching reading in and around all that."

Hope the moving goes smoothly.

[Karen]

I am using a file and papers. I also am adding finished tasks to my chrome app on a list. I will cross of the pre challenge written on paper as I ad it to the internet. I will add it also on both when I have put it on here. I use the folder for monthly reads on other groups. I use a different paper though.

[Bea]

Karen wrote: "Bea wrote: "I am doing laundry, sitting in the sun and packing for the move. Sandwiching reading in and around all that."

Hope the moving goes smoothly."

Thanks, Karen. I have 6 more working days to go and then I am retired (as of 6/13). The movers are coming 6/14 to pack up anything we haven't completed like dishes etc and then coming back on 6/16 to load the truck. We will be on the road traveling as of 6/17 and have an appt with a realtor to start seeing houses 6/19!

I do not anticipate getting much reading done for a week or so!

[Anne (Booklady)]

@Bea

Congratulations on Retiring! I hope you'll love it as much as I have. =D Getting up at 5 AM really sucked.

Good luck with the move. My turn later this year from Ft. Lauderdale back home to Illinois. Closer to family in case I decide to break the other hip, lol...God I hope not.

[♞ Pat]

I absolutely LOVE being retired. I substitute teach still, but it's not the same as getting up and going to work every single day. It's just hubby and me and things stay where I put them, cleaning up the house doesn't take long, dinner is easy to fix and hubby cleans it up.

LOTS of time to just read and do what I want to do. After 34 years in the professional work force (and working my way through high-school and college before that), I figure I'm permitted to be lazy now!

[Karen]

Pat wrote: "I absolutely LOVE being retired. I substitute teach still, but it's not the same as getting up and going to work every single day. It's just hubby and me and things stay where I put them, cleani..."

Happy for you.

[Pamela Su]

This summer challenge I'm taking it really easy so I don't burn out since work has been hectic. Stupid work, getting in the work of my play time!

Had to cut down on a lot of challenges this month too.

I'm somewhat hating all the "set in [location]" tasks. There seems to be a lot of those tasks this challenge. :(

Not all the romances listed in GR state which countries X books are from and I'm so, so, so, so, SO lazy to research.

Looks like I'll be pulling out my old Mills & Boons romances from the 70s or 80s. Those tend to be set in not-America countries with domineering, hot-blooded Latino men who expect their women barefoot and pregnant or sexy Sheikh kidnappers who expect their women...you get the picture. LOL. :P

ETA: It seems like it's rare to find contemporary romances nowadays that aren't set around America or UK. Or is that just my imagination?

[Coralie]

I have no trouble with books set in other countries. It's books set in particular American states I have difficulty with.

[mstan]

This group page is a useful resource for books set in the US states (it also has links to books set in countries around the world).

[Nancy]

This is my first time doing the challenge so I have yet to work out the best strategy. I am not a particularly fast reader, so I am going to go for as many points as I can, and then see if I can beat myself in later challenges.

I have listed all of the tasks out in a spreadsheet and then I am having fun fitting what I need to read elsewhere into the tasks. I am a member of several book clubs, as well as doing a number of other challenges simultaneously, so it is fabulous when I can slot something I need to read into a task. So far I have been lucky!

My biggest problem is finishing the two book tasks. Because I have a pile of reading I need to do, often I haven't had a chance to get to the second book of the two book task. So I think I have about 3 of them where the task is half finished but I just need to time to pick up the second book and get it done.

But I am absolutely loving it and I am somewhat addicted to checking the forum and the tasks. I love seeing what people have read and what tasks they've finished...

[Peebee]

I just finalized my spreadsheet for Fall 2014, and thought it might be useful to others.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/c...

I could not do the challenge without a spreadsheet, because I move books around a lot so that I can read as many books that I want to read before having to select ones specifically for the challenge. So if you're like me, this might be helpful. PM me if you'd like me to send it in Excel or another format, or if you would like to ask me any questions.

I put in some sample books to illustrate how I use it. Purple means it's essentially a "freebie" or book of choice. In the columns on the right (to place and pages), I list all the books I read and their page numbers, then copy them into the tasks as I get ready to report them (usually around 10 at a time). I put things on sheet 2 that I would like to have handy without referring back to the task list. (I'm often on a mobile device where jumping back and forth between screens is more challenging.)

Hope this is helpful!

[Nicola]

I'm a first time challenger too - I've recently decided to seriously work on the 1001 list (2012) so I'm arranging as many of my picks around that as possible. This includes all of the groups reads for each month. Other than that I need a bit of light reading so that is good for filling up the blanks and giving me a bit of relief. I've just bought the entire Harry Potter series on Blue Ray for example and that has inspired me to reread the entire series as they are soooo much better.

I've got a spreadsheet and I'm slotting in what I can but as I rely a lot on library books sometimes they need to change as I can't predict covers and a lot of the tasks have pictures or colours on the covers as part of their requirements.

Everything that doesn't look like it can fit into the 1001 challenge will be left to the very end and may not be finished even if I complete everything else. It depends how I feel.