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CHANGES FOR CYCLE #2 are in bold

We are beginning a new game/challenge in the group called Picks of the Shelf (POTS)

OVERVIEW:

The cycle for this game will be a two month cycle. The first cycle will begin in March with subsequent cycles beginning on the 1st of each odd month. Sign ups will be held the first seven days (March 1 - 7 for Cycle #1). Recommendations will be made until the middle of the odd month(Cycle #1 - March 8 - 15). That will give each person at least 1.5 months to read the book(s) they choose.

When you sign up to participate, you will not only sign up to read books, but also indicate the number of books that you would like to have referred for the 1.5 month reading period. For example, I might sign up and say that I would like to read 2 referred books during that time. Someone else may only want to read 1 book during that time, or someone may even want to read more than 2. We would then form teams based on the number of books the members want to read, as much as possible.

All books referred to the participants must be from their own TBR. If you have multiple TBRs (like I do, lol), you will have to designate which list or lists you want the referrals to come from.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS:

Participants will be put in teams of 3 to 4 members each (Depending on the number of members who sign up). The teams will be matched so that people that have asked to read the same number of books are together as much as possible.

Once teams are formed,each person on the team will pick for ALL of their other team members. The number of books you pick for each member is equal to the number they have elected to read +1. For example, if you choose to read 1 book, Each team member would choose two books for you. If you are on a team of 4 members, you would end up with 6 books chosen for you. Keep in mind, you'd only have to read the number you signed up for, the extra books are just to give you some choice in cases where one book is not readily available, or you just can't get into one of them, etc.

When picking books for your team members, there are two things to be aware of:
-At least one of the books you pick for each of your team members must fit the theme for the cycle.
-A book may only be referred once per cycle, i.e. if member A has picked The Witness for me, it cannot be picked by anyone else that cycle.

Once all of the members of your team have chosen books for you and you have all decided which books to read, you can commence reading right away. This should occur by the 15th of the month at the latest.If for some reason you have not heard from a member of your team by the 12th of the month, please let me know so other arrangements can be made to get you the correct amount of books for your list by the 15th.

At the end of the cycle, I will pick a random INDIVIDUAL from all of the participants who have completed their reads and that person will get to pick the theme for the next cycle. This theme will apply to one referral for each member participating in the next cycle and must be a very simple theme. Examples would be a book with a red cover or a title starting with a certain letter of the alphabet.

REPORTING:

As each individual finishes their books, they should report to me using the POTS Reporting Thread here. This will be used as the basis for determining who gets to pick the theme for the next cycle. There is no longer a requirement to post completion as a team as the theme picker will be a single individual. Once you have been the theme picker, you must wait at least three cycles to be theme picker again.

Additionally, each team will have a thread in the POTS folder for team coordination. This is where you can list your recommendations for each team member, post which book(s) you will actually read, and discuss books and progress.

Please keep in mind, if you sign up, you are committing to reading the the book picked for you by the end of the cycle.

Lyn M wrote: "We are beginning a new game/challenge in the group called Picks of the Shelf (POTS)."

Omigosh! I'm still absorbing this, but I already know I love it. The Forts challenge is the first collaborative group challenge I've ever done, and it has been so much fun!

I want to take part but I am not sure I understand it well enough to sign up. I will wait and re-read the rules and hope it falls in place for me.

If I do not join right away, does that mean I cannot join later? --- oh, I see, I have until March 15 to join...or then I sit it out until May, when I have another opportunity to join, right?

Bea wrote: "I want to take part but I am not sure I understand it well enough to sign up. I will wait and re-read the rules and hope it falls in place for me.

If I do not join right away, does that mean I can..."

Actually, you have until March 7th to decide to join. Then we will be forming the teams and the teams will be making book referrals. Actual reading of the books starts on the 15th. But, yes, if you miss cycle 1, it all starts over again May 1.

Feel free to ask for clarification on anything as I am sure I could explain some things better.

I think I've got it, but no doubt I'll be back and forward to this thread to make sure I'm doing it right. Now I'm off to sign up.

Still working on wrapping my head around this new game.

I have until March 7 to sign up.
I select the number of books I will commit to read and a shelf for others to pick from and post in the appropriate thread.
Teams are formed from March 8-15.
I read x number of books between March 15 and April 30. (The number of books I read is the number I committed to read.)

Now the other thing I learned is that someone on my team (once it is formed) selects x + x number (the number I committed to read x2) books from my shelf for the purpose of giving me options. Yet I only have to read the number I committed to read.

Did I understand that correctly?

If so, then I just need to figure out the shelf.

yep that is how I understand it Bea

I'm a bit confused (always), but if what Bea just said is right, I'll sign up too. I just have to wait a few days to be sure I have it all in my head correctly :)

Dee wrote: "yep that is how I understand it Bea"

LynnB wrote: "I'm a bit confused (always), but if what Bea just said is right, I'll sign up too. I just have to wait a few days to be sure I have it all in my head correctly :)"

Bea wrote: "Still working on wrapping my head around this new game.

I have until March 7 to sign up.
I select the number of books I will commit to read and a shelf for others to pick from and post in the app..."

Good job Bea. That is it in a nutshell. You have it!

And if your team all finishes their first book the fastest, you get to pick a theme for part of the next cycle.

Lyn M wrote: "That is it in a nutshell. You have it!

And if your team all finishes their first book the fastest, you get to pick a theme for part of the next cycle...."

Oh, yeah, Lyn. Throw in one more thing....:) LOL

OK. Then I will sign up but first I have to figure out what shelf I want others to pick from. Or maybe I will create a shelf...hmmmm

So is there a theme for this first one? Or will we know once the teams are formed?

There is no theme for the first one. Just pick books for each other.

This might be a dumb question, but with people participating from all around the world, are we starting at a specific time on the 15th? The folks in Australia are already able to begin reading, as it is the morning of the 15th now, while folks in the U.S. are hours behind. As I write this, it is nearly 6 a.m. on the 15th in New South Wales while not yet 3:00 p.m. on the 14th on the east coast of the U.S.

Amy wrote: "This might be a dumb question, but with people participating from all around the world, are we starting at a specific time on the 15th? The folks in Australia are already able to begin reading, as ..."

Actually, I'm not really sure how Tien handles that, but I say if it is the 15th on Australia, where this group is "located" then everyone can start reading now.

I know this was an issue with sign-ups as well so a time zone note would be great ;)

Actually, the only issue we had with sign-ups is that I got the date wrong, but I think your suggestion of a time zone note is a good one. I will amend the rules. Thanks Dee.

Dee wrote: "I know this was an issue with sign-ups as well so a time zone note would be great ;)"

Take a look at the change I made, Dee, and let me know if it makes sense to you?

makes sense to me - that is in about 14 minutes from now (for anyone on the east coast of the US)

Thanks Dee. Happy reading everyone!

Argh! Didn't see the time thing until now. I'm behind a few hours - oh, well....

I figure this first round to figure out issues - timezones etc...next one should move smoother

I agree, Dee. I am expecting there to be bugs, etc. this time.

LynnB wrote: "Argh! Didn't see the time thing until now. I'm behind a few hours - oh, well...."

Sorry LynnB. I think, though that you are just a few hours behind? Anyway, we as Dee said, we are still working out the bugs. :)

lynn - you should be good to start now, because it is past the time that Lyn M put in the thread

Should the reporting thread be unfrozen now, for people to post when they finish their first books? I haven't finished mine yet, but was checking whether other people had.

I've finished my first book, but have heard nothing from my other team member. I understand we report when BOTH members have finished their first book??

LynnB wrote: "I've finished my first book, but have heard nothing from my other team member. I understand we report when BOTH members have finished their first book??"

Yes, report only when you have both finish your first book. Then report again when you have both finish your second and so on and so forth until you have finished reading your nominated number of books :)

Susan wrote: "Should the reporting thread be unfrozen now, for people to post when they finish their first books? I haven't finished mine yet, but was checking whether other people had."

Didn't realize it was frozen, Susan. It is unfrozen now. :(

Don't forget to share your quotes too :)

Question about the theme...does the middle initial count need to be included in the initials?

DG, I would think not since most authors only have 2 initials, but I bow to the moderators to decide differently.

Since Bea & Amy chose the theme, I'd say it'll be up to Bea & Amy.

I second what Tien said, I'll leave it up to Bea and Amy to make the call.

I agree with Bea. Middle initial can be ignored since most authors only go by first and last names.

Thanks Bea and Amy

I asked because when I was doing Lyn's recs, two books I really wanted to recommend her had an author with middle name! (Sharon Kay Penman and Mary Ann Shaffer.) At the end, I stayed away from them both, LOL!

so just to confirm - we can start reading on the 15th - correct?

Dee wrote: "so just to confirm - we can start reading on the 15th - correct?"

Depends upon where in the world you are located. Here is what the rules say:

TIME ZONE NOTE: Since technically this group is "located" in Australia, for purposes of reading, the 15th shall be determined 8:00 am on the 15th in Sydney, Australia.

I'm in Florida, EST, so I can actually begin at 6:00 p.m. on the 14th which is 8:00 a.m on the 15th in Sydney.

Dee and Amy - Since the theme picker is no longer tied to whoever finishes their first book the quickest, I see no reason to worry about when people start anymore, so as far as I am concerned, you can either start anytime on the 15th.

Actually - I was thinking that we could amend the rules to say that you can start whenever your team has completed picking your books and makeing the lists. What do you all think??

Lyn M wrote: "Dee and Amy - Since the theme picker is no longer tied to whoever finishes their first book the quickest, I see no reason to worry about when people start anymore, so as far as I am concerned, you ..."

I think that's a sensible approach, Lyn. And I'm sure everybody will be ecstatic with that :D

D.G. wrote: "I asked because when I was doing Lyn's recs, two books I really wanted to recommend her had an author with middle name! (Sharon Kay Penman and Mary Ann Shaffer.) At the end, I stayed away from them..."

I would have loved either of those, D.G. :) But I loved the ones that you picked anyway.

I'm all for starting right away.

I will amend the rules to that effect.

Works for me ;)

Yippee!

does this start again in September

Marie wrote: "does this start again in September"

This game has been on summer hiatus, but I am planning to post a sign-up sheet for September to see if there is enough interest for this.