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Post your general questions about the Reading w/Style challenge, Style point rules, or the Fall 2010 Challenge here.

How do I sign up for the Fall Challenge? I don't see anything that I can post on.

Hi Melissa:

You've joined the group, so you're signed up for the Fall Challenge. :-) This group is really all about the challenges.

Just post the books you've read between September 1st, and November 30th in the Completed Tasks folder. See the first message in that folder for the preferred formatting of completed task messages.

I am confused with the formatting for the completed task messages.

What part is confusing you? Is it the posting of the style points?

Just the tracking part. I am a very liner thinker and when something goes out what I thinking it should be, then I get confused. Also when one starts tacking on other things that make it convoluted

Most of us use a spreadsheet for keeping track of our reads.

I have mine color-coded and Google docs doesn't like it. I'll modify it, then upload it, so you can see what I use. Then maybe you can make one for yourself.

Melissa, this is only a suggestion. I think other challenge participants do something similar, but each of us has our own likes and dislikes.



And, of course, Krista has her own giant spreadsheet where she tracks everything for everyone in order to post to the Readerboard.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

Melissa W wrote: "Thank you, Elizabeth."

Hi Melissa: Let me know if you need any more help figuring out the points posting. It's not as simple as with the Seasonal Reading Challenge, but we all love our Style points! After a few posts it should become clearer.

The new wrinkle this season will be the Reading through Time tasks. They don't earn all the Style points, so they'll be a bit easier to figure out and post the points for.

Elizabeth, thanks for sharing your spreadsheet! I appreciate that everyone pitches in so quickly to help a fellow challenge participant!

-Krista

Once I see how others are doing it, I will probably figure it out. Even if I can get some help once I post mine, hopefully then I can get some understanding.

Melissa W wrote: "Once I see how others are doing it, I will probably figure it out. Even if I can get some help once I post mine, hopefully then I can get some understanding."

Sure, I hope you'll find that we're a friendly helpful bunch. :-)

I do want to stress to everyone, especially the new players --- please post your completed points frequently, especially at the beginning of the challenge. Smaller lists of completed books are easier for me to manage especially if I have any questions about the points you're claiming. So, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE --- post early and post often!

Will the final few tasks be decided before or after the September 1st start date?

Thanks.

Krista wrote: "Melissa W wrote: "Once I see how others are doing it, I will probably figure it out. Even if I can get some help once I post mine, hopefully then I can get some understanding."

Sure, I hope you'..."

I will read one of my shorter books first, at least the one with a number of points attached with it.

Dan wrote: "Will the final few tasks be decided before or after the September 1st start date?

Thanks."

Typically, the last few tasks cannot be decided before the previously challenge ends, as they are determined by the top three scorers. However, Sam & Krista are pretty good about soliciting potential tasks from the likeliest candidates and are usually able to post them in the first day or two of the challenge.

I'm planning on reading Angels and Demons and the da Vinci Code for this challenge and I was wondering if I can claim series style points for them?

On goodreads they are listed as (Robert Langdon #1 and #2).

Are we allowed to repeat any of the tasks or just the ones that specifically say so?

Rachelccameron wrote: "I'm planning on reading Angels and Demons and the da Vinci Code for this challenge and I was wondering if I can claim series style points for them?

On goodreads they are listed as (Robert Langdon ..."

Yes, they count.

Julie wrote: "Are we allowed to repeat any of the tasks or just the ones that specifically say so?"

Any task can be repeated.

Sam wrote: "Julie wrote: "Are we allowed to repeat any of the tasks or just the ones that specifically say so?"

Any task can be repeated."

Just to clarify my understanding: you can repeat all the Reading With Style tasks at any time. However, to get credit for a repeat of Reading with Time tasks, you must first complete ALL of the RwT tasks.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Sam wrote: "Julie wrote: "Are we allowed to repeat any of the tasks or just the ones that specifically say so?"

Any task can be repeated."

Just to clarify my understanding: you can repeat all..."

Yes, that's correct.

I'm not clear on the series style points -Series (5 points): Read a book to complete a task that is part of a series and receive 5 points. Read a book from that same series to complete another task and receive 10 points...and so on.

Let's say I read the entire Harry Potter Series, does that mean that I would get 5 points for each book? Or do I get 5 points for the first, 10 points for the second, 15 points for the third, etc?

I just wasn't clear on whether it is strictly 5 points if the book is part of any series, or if it matters that they are part of the same series. Thanks!

Allie wrote: "I'm not clear on the series style points -Series (5 points): Read a book to complete a task that is part of a series and receive 5 points. Read a book from that same series to complete another task..."

Hi Allie: This is a new one for all of us this challenge. Good questions!

Series style points increase by 5 points for every book in the series you can work into different Reading w/Style challenge tasks. The big thing to remember is that the books have to be read for DIFFERENT tasks.

I'll give you an example.

If you read Book 1 (or 2, or 3...) in a series for Task 10.1, you'd get 5 Series style points for that book.

If you then read Book 2 (or 3, or 4...) in the same series for Task 10.2, you'd get 10 Series style points for that book.

The catch is if you read Books 2 (or 3, or 4....) for Task 10.1 (same task that you read Book 1 for) then you'd get 0 Series style points for that book.


You can really rack up the Series points with this concept, but I don't think that the tasks posted so far this challenge will give us much wiggle room to read many books in a series for different tasks.

The Reading through Time tasks (15 point tasks) don't qualify for any Style points.

Krista wrote: "Allie wrote: "I'm not clear on the series style points -Series (5 points): Read a book to complete a task that is part of a series and receive 5 points. Read a book from that same series to complet..."

I thought when this was posted that I would be able to rack up the series style points since I read so many series. However, the most I have reached is 15 points. While I really like the tasks this season, they seem to be more narrow or have tighter criteria than those in the past. But I have still fit all the books I want to read into the challenge so they obviously aren't that narrow. I can't wait for tomorrow to start on these books.

Rachel Lee wrote: "Krista wrote: "Allie wrote: "I'm not clear on the series style points -Series (5 points): Read a book to complete a task that is part of a series and receive 5 points. Read a book from that same se...

I thought when this was posted that I would be able to rack up the series style points since I read so many series. However, the most I have reached is 15 points. While I really like the tasks this season, they seem to be more narrow or have tighter criteria than those in the past. But I have still fit all the books I want to read into the challenge so they obviously aren't that narrow. I can't wait for tomorrow to start on these books.
...."

I'd say 15 Series style points is really good given the narrowness of the tasks posted to date. Maybe one of the 1st, 2nd or 3rd place finishers will throw us task that is a bit wider. :-)

Can I have my question that I asked for Monster Redux answered? I have waited almost a day for the answer. Surely I can get an answer now?

Melissa W wrote: "Can I have my question that I asked for Monster Redux answered? I have waited almost a day for the answer. Surely I can get an answer now?"

I don't have the final say, but I'm assuming the word blood won't work. It's not an adjective (part a), nor is it one of the monster names listed (part b). If you have a book with the name 'blood' in the title that also has a ghost in it, then it would probably work (for part C).

Remember too that the people running the challenge are volunteers and have lives outside of this group. They may not be able to approve a book right away, but I promise you they will get to it.

Melissa W wrote: "Can I have my question that I asked for Monster Redux answered? I have waited almost a day for the answer. Surely I can get an answer now?"

Hi Melissa: No, "blood" isn't an approved word for this task.

Please understand that this is the busiest time of the quarter for Sam and me. One season's challenge is winding down and folks are anxious to see the most current scores on the Readerboard for that challenge. At the same time one seasonal challenge is revving up and there are lots of new folks that haven't participated before, so there are many questions to answer.

I think that all in all we've answered the numerous questions you've posed very promptly. We will get them answered as quickly as possible. If you feel like one has slipped past our notice, by all means repost your question. Just remember that a gentle reminder goes a lot further than a demand.

Today was my first day on a new job. I spent my break and lunch hour checking on this site and answering questions as quickly as I could. There are 90 days in this challenge, and 30 tasks to choose from. Surely if you didn't get this specific task question answered immediately it won't seriously impact your performance in this challenge.

Is there an official ruling on partially read books for RwS? I was hoping to read one more book for the summer challenge, but did not get even close to reading half of it. Can I use it for the Fall Challenge? If I was in the middle (less than half read) of several books could I use all of them for the fall challenge?

For RtT, works under 100 pages can be submitted for approval. Is there a 100-page minimum for RwS tasks?

Liz wrote: "Is there an official ruling on partially read books for RwS? I was hoping to read one more book for the summer challenge, but did not get even close to reading half of it. Can I use it for the Fa..."

Hi LIz: I'm assuming that the same SRC rules for a partially read book applies here also. Wasn't there discussion this last quarter that only ONE book could be partially read before the start of the challenge and counted in the challenge?

If that's what they've decided on SRC, then I think that's what we should go with for this season.

Yes, there is a 100 page minimum for RwS tasks.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Melissa, this is only a suggestion. I think other challenge participants do something similar, but each of us has our own likes and dislikes.

..."

Elizabeth, I'm glad you posted it too but I have a question. Do you make a separate spread sheet for each group's challenge and group reads? For instance are you also doing the Season reading Challenge?
When yu read Last Night in Twisted River, did you have a separate spread sheet for that?

More questions. Since i joined the club, I'm already on the reader board? I can pick whichever challenges I want to do? Can I do the same one twice without doing any others? Do I have to pick one from each point category?

Rebekah wrote: "Do you make a separate spread sheet for each group's challenge and group reads? For instance are you also doing the Season reading Challenge? "

I had separate sheets in the same workbook for the Summer Challenge, but kept a column in each that identified the task number for the both the SRC and RWS so I could easily find them in the other list. I knew I would never finish either of them, so I used some color coding to prioritize them. I'd like to think I'm not competitive in this, but will admit that some of the prioritation involved some maximizing of points between the two.

I'm not going to do the big SRC anymore. It's gotten too complicated.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Last Night in Twisted River".

Rebekah wrote: "More questions. Since i joined the club, I'm already on the reader board? I can pick whichever challenges I want to do? Can I do the same one twice without doing any others? Do I have to pick one f..."

You will be added to the readerboard after you post your first completed task in the Completed Tasks thread.

Yes you can pick and choose the challenges you want to do & repeat the same task as many times as you want. You do not need to choose from each point level.
You could read three books for 20.2, five for 20.3, two for 20.5, four for 20.8, one for 20.9 and one for 10.10.

Elizabeth,
I see now you had a line for group read in the worksheet you posted. I was referring to LNITR as the group read in the group, The Book Nook and wondered if you had a spreadsheet to keep up with all the group reads in all the different groups you are a member of

Rebekah wrote: "Elizabeth,
I see now you had a line for group read in the worksheet you posted. I was referring to LNITR as the group read in the group, The Book Nook and wondered if you had a spreadsheet to keep..."

Oh, no I don't keep track of those. The only reason I have a spreadhsheet for reading is to keep track of the books for this challenge.

Another question for you, Elizabeth. Has the SRC gotten too complicated because of the number of the challenges or because there are too many steps involved/ I was thinking of doing a couple of them but since i am new, i don't want to overtax myself.

I think there are too many tasks - you would need to read over 75 books in 3 months to finish. That some actually finish is an indication, to me, of the lack of quality of the reads. I just looked and the Completed Tasks thread has been open for barely 12 hours, yet people have already finished a task. I don't feel much in common with people who read that way. I'm sure it's fine for them, just not for me. Also, I think many of the tasks themselves are too complicated, e.g. roll a die and depending on what you get you read 1 of 6 different genres, then roll another die you do something else; read a book and depending on what word it says on page XX, read another book. That just isn't any fun to me.

One of the nice things about Reading With Style is that you can do the same task over and over if you want, so that finishing all 30 tasks doesn't have to be the goal. It is a goal for me, this time, though I realize actually finishing is a bit of a stretch. Still, the Challenge offers me a way to organize and target my reading, something this somewhat disorganized woman needs.

Thanks from another disorganized woman! :)

Ok, question about Series Style Points. Does the book you read have to be the first in the series, or the first you read for the challenge? If any series book, can the book you read later be an earlier one in the series?

I see that Liz posted a book for Scandinavian Noir that is the first Mankell in his Wallander series. I think sometimes series books do not have to be read sequentially, that what we call series are more like a collection. Is this what you were thinking, Sam?

For tasks in the 10 and 20 point categories, can we claim style points if they fit into 15 point RtT tasks?

Jennifer wrote: "For tasks in the 10 and 20 point categories, can we claim style points if they fit into 15 point RtT tasks?"

The RtT rules say no:

"...You cannot claim regular style points for any book you read for Reading through Time (nor do the Reading through Time categories count as Combo style points for regular Reading with Style tasks) ."

Hi Liz. Doh!! I totally missed the last bit of the sentence. Thanks. :D

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ok, question about Series Style Points. Does the book you read have to be the first in the series, or the first you read for the challenge? If any series book, can the book you read later be an ear..."

Hi Elizabeth: I'm not Sam...but I think it's okay for the Series style points to claim points for books in the middle of a series. As long as it's part of a series then it counts for the Series Style points.

Not only might you start reading a book from the middle of a series, but you might have read earlier books in the series before this challenge started.

Thanks, Krista. I think only my Scandinavian Noir is part of a series, but 5 points is 5 points.

Now that I'm reading to post a completed taks, I have gotten myself confused again. Even though a book could be used for two tasks, you can only use it for one challenge, right? But you can still get combo points for the other task it would have fit in? Also if a book coud have been used for more than two tasks, can you get 5 points for each of those tasks?
i.e. Madame Bovary could fit in Banned, Under covers, Lit Map. Could you count it for Banned but get 10 points for combo?

One more thing... If a book is 600 pages, does that get 5 pts like the 500 page books?

Rebekah, Madame Bovary isn't on either of the Banned Book lists we are to use. Also, it has to be on the same list you use for your main task to use the combo for your Under Cover or Lit Map.

you mean for the same list for Lit Map. That means I type in the same author every time, right?

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rebekah, Madame Bovary isn't on either of the Banned Book lists we are to use. Also, it has to be on the same list you use for your main task to use the combo for your Under Cover or Lit Map."

Okay, I am laughing at myself now. I confused Lady Chatterly's Lover with Madame Bovary. It was another book I read not long ago and they do have kind of the same plot. I'm a goofy, alright!