What is a Challenge?

[Tegan]

A reading challenge is kind of like a game (that's how I look at it!). There are categories based on the challenge, example: seasonal challenges have categories to do with the season.

In each challenge you let the person that is hosting it know that you are interested. Then you pick books that fit in with the challenge guidelines and categories. Then you post your list.

As you finish your books you update your list and leave occasional updates on the thread. You also rate the book.

Challenges do not need to be finished, we understand that sometimes you can't! They're just for fun and are very addicting! :)

Below I'll post an example challenge list and how you update your list.

If you have any questions, please let us know!

[Tegan]

Here's an example of one of my current challenges:

RIME September Challenge
September 1 - September 30, 2011
Squire Level 6/6 COMPLETE!
Original Post


Celebrate September
Red, Gold, Yellow: Only Yours by Susan Mallery (yellow cover) 9/13/11 ♥♥♥♥
Theme-Animals: Heartless by Gail Carriger (shifter) 9/7/11 ♥♥♥♥♥

September is National....Month
Literacy Awareness Month: Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper 9/21/11 ♥♥♥♥
National Chicken Month: Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning 9/18/11 ♥♥♥♥♥

Conquering the TBR Mountain
National Swap Ideas Day: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning 9/14/11 ♥♥♥♥♥
First American Woman to Climb Mount Everest: Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder 9/12/11 ♥♥♥♥



Mine are all slashed out since I've completed this challenge, but this is what a list will look like. Each book fits the category that it's in.

To slash out a book after you read it type book title and author without the !.

To add ratings to the books, which is what my hearts are (if you want to use hearts), type &!hearts; without the !. Put as many as you would rate the book.

You don't have to put the book covers, but it's always fun. And it's nice to see the cover if the category specifically deals with the cover.

[Melissa]

Question: Can you use the same books you read for the mini challenges to complete yearly challenges?

[~Jennifer~]

Yes you can. ☻

[Rachael C.]

Question: If the genre of books used to complete a challenge is not otherwise specified, can non-fiction books be used? The non-fiction challenge we have for the month of January made me wonder if only fiction can be used for regular challenges.

[~Jennifer~]

Unless it's specified you can pick whatever you want.

[Rachael C.]

I apologize if this question was asked before, but I haven't found it anywhere yet. If we "fail" a challenge we've signed up for (i.e. don't finish one of the mini challenges without a specified time period) can we attempt it again? For example, say I sign up for "around the world in 3 months," and set my time period and books but don't complete all my books in the time period, can I start it over again? So in a sense, it's not needing a "repeatable" challenge, but just giving a regular challenge a second shot. And you could either put new books down for the next time period, or, re-read the ones you completed before plus the ones you didn't get to?

[~Jennifer~]

You can repeat any challenge as often as you want regardless if you complete them or not. The challenges are there to encourage and spice up your reading. If things come up and you're unable to complete one..no worries. We're not gonna flog you. We save that for special occasions. ☺ Now if you don't finish one and you sign up then yeah you'll have to re-read the books again if you want to use them or just start over fresh with new books.

[Shellbelle]

You CAN use the same books for different challenges Sara! (unless the challenge states otherwise...but most don't:-)

[Rachel]

If I finish a challenge early, can I up the level and add more books?

[Shellbelle]

Rachel in most challenges that is totally fine!!! Just check with the host or in some instances it will say in the rules and instructions that you can change your challenge at any time so it would be fine to add more!

[Laura]

I have a question about the second chance challenges. Do they need to be done over a specific time frame, or can I just do them at any time, as long as I assign the same time limits as before (eg six months)
Thanks,
Laura

[Jenne]

There really isn't a "set rule" on them Laura. Sticking with whatever the time frame for the particular challenge(s) you were interested in would probably be the best bet. They're here to enjoy and enhance your reading experience :)

[Laura]

Thanks, Jenne, that sounds great :)

[Ellie]

Is there a minimum page count per book?

[~Jennifer~]

Not really. If there is one we'll usually stick it in the outline for the challenge.

[Ellie]

Thanks for the quick reply! I have my own standards about what I'll count, but I wanted to be certain.

[~Jennifer~]

For me, It usually has to be novel length, but I have been known to count a novella or two if they were good. :)