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PICK IT FOR ME CHALLENGE - Frequently Asked Questions-How many books do I have to read?
You’ll be given a selection of books to choose from but you only have to read ONE to complete the challenge. Some people like to complete more, and you may be asked to do buddy reads but you only have to complete one book to complete the challenge. At least 4 recommendations should come from your tbr shelf.
What if I don’t like the books I’ve been given?
The heart of this challenge is to try a book that you may not have tried on your own accord � it’s what makes it fun! And even if you try something and don’t like it well then you can always give it a low rating (which will actually help the next time you do a PIFM challenge). However, if you’re really struggling you can ask the person to re-pick for you.
Re-picks can be given by your picker if the books they chose for you are not yet released or you have already read them. If you do not receive any recs from your tbr, as there should be at least 4 given from there, you can ask your picker for some choices from there as well.
The other thing to do is to check out the reviews of the book on goodreads before you discount it � you may not like PNR for example but the reviews for the book may be filled with people who say “you know I’ve never liked PNR before this book...�.
What’s a Buddy Read?
A buddy read is where you and the person who picked for you/or you picked for read the same book at the same time. You can correspond through private messages while reading and discuss the book or start a Buddy Read thread in the Buddy Read folder so others can join you if desired. A buddy read is not a specific category in the rules any longer, but you can suggest one or more to your pickee. It usually works best if it's a book that you and your pickee both have on your TBR shelves (although that doesn't have to be the case and may not be this month due to the rules). If they pick it � try your best to read it as well as the book you select from the list picked for you. If you absolutely know that you can’t read more than one book this month, let the person you’re picking for know when you make the picks.
I don’t have a very big to-read list � is that a problem?
No, we have some members who don’t have to-read lists at all. The only thing is that it may mean that your book picker may select books from their read pile to fit the rules if there’s nothing suitable in your to-read list. But remember that you will be receiving at least 8 recommendations, and 4 will come from your tbr shelf if you have one. Keeping a tbr updated with books that interest you and you may want to read makes it easier for your picker to find something that you may actually want to read.
I don’t see any rules posted � where are they?
Most of the time the book selection rules won’t be posted until the assignments are made. Again - It’s part of the fun of the challenge! Rarely, rules will be posted early. This is normally when the host thinks people will need more time than normal to find picks.
How do I know what the person I’m picking for likes to read?
Simple � look at their read shelves. What books do they rate highly and what books do they only give one star to? Is there a pattern there? Are all their 5 star books PNR or a particular author? Are there a heap of historicals in their shelves but they’re never rated higher than a 3?
Check out their profile and read some of their reviews, you’ll be surprised at what you find out...
I’m having trouble finding picks for the categories � where should I go?
Try some of the following links:
http://www.goodreads.com/shelf
http://www.goodreads.com/places
http://www.goodreads.com/list
And check out previous challenges or lists in this group. Plus there’s always google....
How do I make my posts look good and add the book links etc?
At the top of the comments box there’s a link that says “some html is okay� click on that and it will show you how to use bold, underline etc.
To insert a book link or cover click the link “add book/author� (again just above the comments box), search on the book you’re looking for and select whether you want to add the link or the cover (down the bottom of the search page).
What if a book is recommended to me from a later point in a series I am reading?If your picker has mistakenly given you a recommendation for a book you are not up to in a series you are reading, you may read the next book in that same series instead. For example, if you are given book #5 in a series you have started but you are only up to book #3, you may read book #3 instead. It will count for completing the challenge.
This also holds true if you are given a recommendation for a book earlier in a series. If you have been given #2 to read, for example, but you are up to #4 already, you may read the book in the recommended series that you are up to.
Where should my recs come from?At least 8 recs total-
If your pickee has designated a preferred shelf, please try to pick at least one (and preferably more) book from that shelf. The other 3 picks should be from their tbr/preferred shelves.
Please try to choose at least 4 new titles for your pickee. These should be brand new to them, not on any of their shelves. They can be books that you have read, enjoyed, and think your pickee would like. Or they can be new to both of you, maybe getting great buzz. As long as it's new to your pickee :)
***TIPS TO MAKE THE CHALLENGE ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE!***1. Check the publishing date of the book before recommending it. To check the publishing date, from your pickee's to-read or similar shelf choose shelf settings, select "date pub" from the drop down selections and save/close the menu.
2. Check pickee's personalized shelves, especially their exclusive shelves - it could be very helpful in recommending something they want to read. A personalized shelf is one that a member has labeled themselves, for example, 'to read next', 'can't wait to read', 'favorites'.
3. Look at your pickee's 'read' shelf and see what genres they have recently read the most. That might help in choosing something they are interested in reading right now.
4. Please make sure the books you choose for your pickee are not on their 'read' shelf. Just because it isn't rated doesn't mean it wasn't read. Sometimes the reader may choose not to rate a book.
5. Although Buddy Reads are no longer going to be offered as a category, if there is a recommendation that you give your pickee that you would like to read with them, please feel free to suggest a Buddy Read with them. You can PM each other and discuss it or start a thread for the book in the Buddy Reads Folder.
6. If your pickee reads lots of books in a genre you are not familiar with (erotic romance, GLBT, YA, etc.), feel free to contact either Fran, Dee, Jane or the month's organizer and they can try to point you in the right direction for recommendations.
7. If possible, try to include a shorter book, a longer book, a new addition to their 'to-read' shelf, and and older book from their 'to-read' shelf. This gives them a variety of options to choose from. You can sort the shelves by many features - ratings, date read, date added, date published, #of pages and many other items from the shelf settings as described in tip #1. And they can be sorted by ascending or descending order as well.
8. Please choose at least 4 new titles for your pickee. These should be brand new to them and not found on any of their shelves. Part of the fun of this challenge is discovering new books to read, adding new titles to the ever-expanding tbr shelf. The remaining 4 titles should come from your pickee's tbr or preferred shelves.
*Hosting Requirements/Guidelines*1. Post PIFM thread and open challenge to sign-ups in the morning, EST, of the 21st of the month. The sign-ups will run for 3 days, ending the evening of the 23rd, EST.
2. The categories/requirements and pairings should be posted in the evening, EST, of the 23rd or early morning of the 24th of the month. Picks will run for 3 days, ending in the evening, EST, of the 26th of the month.
3. Re-picks to be given late 26th or early 27th of the month.
All picks should be given by the end of the 27th of the month, giving participants a few days to get their books/challenges in order for the next month.
I'm guessing this will come into effect from next month?
Yes Vi!It won't affect your PIFM this month :)
GTK, Fran. The biggest challenge would be to restrain yourself from reading once you get the picks. 1 day is hard enough for me let alone a week.
That's true! But we thought a few days to get books/challenges in order for the next month could be helpful.
It would. Especially if we are getting from a library :)
Here is a link to a 'Time Zone Converter' for anyone that needs it for future PIFM challenges.
LOVE the changes, Fran! It's always bothered me a bit that people who don't get picks in the first round almost always had to wait until after the new month started before repicks were done...kind of added insult to injury! Also, having the dates more solid and the same every month should help people plan accordingly. Thanks to you and your fellow conspirators for all you do to improve and keep things running smoothly around here!
Thanks KarenH!We, the Mods, agree- more consistent timing, and an earlier start and finish date in the month will hopefully help the challenge run smoothly and let everyone get their book lists in order before the start of the next month :)
Lama wrote: "Do we inform people by messaging them?"Hi Lama,
Here's the link to the rules/guidelines of the PIFM Challenge. You will get assigned someone to pick for and someone will choose books for you. All communication is done in the challenge thread by posting comments there. Hope to see you there next month :)
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
OPENING POST FOR PIFM HOSTS TO USE WHEN STARTING A NEW THREAD FOR A NEW MONTH OF THE PIFM -What is the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?
The Pick-It-For-Me Challenge (PIFM) is a reading challenge where each participant gives and receives book recommendations based on a given a set of rules. The assignment method and book selection rules change each month so it’s always new and always different.
After signups are closed, I'll put your names and any extra info I’ve required into the super secret PIFM randomizer and select someone for you to choose for. This will get posted along with the rules for the month.
While you're doing your picks, someone else is doing picks for you. Once you receive them, you pick a book off the list and get reading. To complete the challenge, you only have to read 1 (one) book but many of us end up reading more because we just can't resist a list of books to read.
In order to participate you need to either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable), or make the person who will be giving you recommendations your friend. On top of that, I strongly recommend keeping your bookshelves updated; otherwise you might end up with a recommendation that you have already read.
Everything gets done in this thread so be sure to come back often!!!
***TIPS TO MAKE THE CHALLENGE ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE!***
1. Check the publishing date of the book before recommending it. To check the publishing date, from your pickee's to-read or similar shelf choose shelf settings, select "date pub" from the drop down selections and save/close the menu.
2. Check pickee's personalized shelves, especially their exclusive shelves - it could be very helpful in recommending something they want to read. A personalized shelf is one that a member has labeled themselves, for example, 'to read next', 'can't wait to read', 'favorites'.
3. Look at your pickee's 'read' shelf and see what genres they have recently read the most. That might help in choosing something they are interested in reading right now.
4. Please make sure the books you choose for your pickee are not on their 'read' shelf. Just because it isn't rated doesn't mean it wasn't read. Sometimes the reader may choose not to rate a book.
5. Although Buddy Reads are no longer going to be offered as a category, if there is a recommendation that you give your pickee that you would like to read with them, please feel free to suggest a Buddy Read with them. You can PM each other and discuss it.
6. If your pickee reads lots of books in a genre you are not familiar with (erotic romance, GLBT, YA, etc.), feel free to contact either Fran, Dee, Jane or the month's organizer and they can try to point you in the right direction for recommendations.
7. If possible, try to include a shorter book, a longer book, a new addition to their 'to-read' shelf, and and older book from their 'to-read' shelf. This gives them a variety of options to choose from. You can sort the shelves by many features - ratings, date read, date added, date published, #of pages and many other items from the shelf settings as described in tip #1. And they can be sorted by ascending or descending order as well.
8. Please choose at least 4 new titles for your pickee. These should be brand new to them and not found on any of their shelves. Part of the fun of this challenge is discovering new books to read, adding new titles to the ever-expanding tbr shelf. The remaining 4 titles should come from your pickee's tbr or preferred shelves.
9. Please remember this is a romance readers challenge, so unless you KNOW your pickee would prefer something else (something off their preferred shelf, for example) most, if not all, of your picks should be romance. There are many different sub genres and related types of books - Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Erotica, M/M, Urban Fantasy even. Take a look at your pickee's read shelf and see if they read non-romance genres before making your suggestions.
INFORMATION NEEDED TO SIGN UP
Please sign up in this thread with the answer to the following question:
(insert question if you have one. Not required. Participants can just sign up with their name and you can randomize one list of names rather than groups of names based on answer to question)
***If you have a preferred shelf, please list it along with your pick!***
IMPORTANT DATES
Sign ups will remain open until Sept 23rd (11 pm EDT).
You’ll have until Sept 26th (11 pm EDT) to make your recommendations.
The re-picks will be assigned afterwards.
Please do not start reading your book(s) until the first of the month. You then have the entire month to read your pick(s) and give some feedback.
If you’re new please read the PIFM Guidelines and FAQ. If you have any questions that are not addressed there, please feel free to ask!
***Please add a new comment rather than updating a previous post or your progress will likely be missed. It is also very helpful if you add more information like "I finished another pick" or "I finished my third book for this challenge" and mention if your pick was a buddy read. Thanks!***
*Please note that late sign ups will be included at the host's discretion and no one will be included after re-picks are assigned!*
Fran wrote: "OPENING POST FOR PIFM HOSTS TO USE WHEN STARTING A NEW THREAD FOR A NEW MONTH OF THE PIFM -What is the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?
The Pick-It-For-Me Challenge (PIFM) is a reading challenge where..."
QUESTION>>>> This post to copy and reuse says EDT for the time... is it suppose to be EST?
EDT and EST are the same thing (sorta) - EDT is eastern daylight time and EST is eastern standard time - or rather, you only see EDT when daylight savings is in effect
Oh ok... I have never heard of EDT before... I learn something new everyday! Thanks for answering.
no problem ;) the joys of having a job with people across multiple time zones...you learn handy little things
Dee wrote: "no problem ;) the joys of having a job with people across multiple time zones...you learn handy little things"I agree! ;-)
Is there a minimum page Number requirement for the books that we Pick for someone?
AnniLuvs wrote: "Is there a minimum page Number requirement for the books that we Pick for someone?"Not unless the picking rules specifies a minimum.
Here are some FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS and Guidelines for the PIFM Challenge. These FAQ will hopefully help you navigate the challenge and add to the enjoyment of participating.
If you have a question about the challenge and don't see the answer below, please feel free to post your inquiry here in this thread. We, the Mods, will be happy help you out :)