The Challenge Factory discussion

Tell us What You Think!!!

•In order to make this group work for you let us know what you are thinking! What is working for you? What should we change? A Challenge you would like to see? Anything at all, we want to hear it!!!

I put a suggestion for a non-reading challenge in "Challenge Sign Up" thread. Hope you like it...

cool Idea Alana!..

Yeah, I'm going to try and see if I can put it together... playing with some different ideas of how to approach it...

Muahahahaha! You've created a monster... you gave me an inch to create a challenge, and I have given ya'll:

The Challenge Factory: Based on a Book Mini Challenge

The Non-Reading Based-on-a-Book Challenge

The Non-Reading Mad Libs Title and Genre Challenge

On my drive home tonight I was thinking about a couple of series that I gave a second chance to recently and ended up loving. Maybe there could be a second chance challenge where you try to finish some of the books in your DNF (did not finish) list.

Just a thought.

There is an Out with the Old challenge just like that on Gotta Have Paranormal Romance with a Kick

I didn't see a challenge like that on Gotta Have. I see the Out with the old one here, but I wasn't talking about finishing series, I was talking about books that you started and then stopped for whatever reason, but then later went back and tried again.

For example: I tried reading The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay last year, but just couldn't get into it after about 50 pages, so I sent it back to the library and put it on my DNF list. Last month, I decided to give it another shot and this time I loved it, I finished it quickly and put in a request to get the next two books from the library.

Ohh--- I misunderstood... thought you were talking about finishing a series, my apologies...

You can always make a challenge yourself- or ask one of the moderators to make one if you are not comfortable doing so. Usually, I will always finish a book... there are exceptions... for me was one of them... challenge or no, I just don't think I'll ever finish that book...

Okay cool. I guess I should think about it some more and see if it would be a viable challenge idea cause you're right there are some that I won't go back and read, but then again I just re-started the first book in 3 different series and loved them this time around.

Thanks!

wfpoppet wrote: "Am I correct in understanding that, unless otherwise specified, rereads are allowable in most challenges?

Also, can you count a title across challenges (e.g. count it in Birthday, End of the World..."

rereads are allowable through the majority of our challenges unless specified. and you can count a book towards multiple challenges

I wanted to suggest a new kind of challenge. I was thinking about an author challenge where you would have to read all the books that an author wrote or read a certain number of books by the author. What do you think?

that sounds good! unless it was like Stephen King

I don't think I could read them all....

It would depend on the author. If the author only wrote like 3 books then you would read all 3 of them. But if they wrote like 100 books then the challenge would be to read like ten of them or however many a person wants to read. Other variations can be done too like having someone pick an author for them or having someone pick the books for them (Kind of like the 'you want me to read what" challenged)

Joanne, that is a good idea...I will look into that and see if I can come up with some ideas! Thanks for the suggestions:)

I was thinking that maybe we could have a yearly challenge, where we can pick our favorite genre and spell out the word(s) as easy level. If anyone wants the challenge as a hard level, they can add in (also spell out these words) especially by [add in author's name]. Sort of like the Rime yearly challenge. Let me know what you think..

Cindy, we will prob have several different yearly challenges, but I do like the idea of spelling the genres!

Ok, thanks! I know we already have a lot of challenges lol, it's must be a lot of work to keep up with..

It can be...and I haven't been doing the best of jobs!lol But I love having tons of challenges for everyone to choose from☺

No, you are doing a good job ☺! You are entitled to a life outside of GR lol and plus holidays is coming up so it's going to be crazy busy soon...

Paris wrote: "On my drive home tonight I was thinking about a couple of series that I gave a second chance to recently and ended up loving. Maybe there could be a second chance challenge where you try to finish ..."

I really like this idea! :)

♥Shellbelle♥ wrote: "Joanne, that is a good idea...I will look into that and see if I can come up with some ideas! Thanks for the suggestions:)"

No problem. Glad I could help

Cindy wrote: "No, you are doing a good job ☺! You are entitled to a life outside of GR lol and plus holidays is coming up so it's going to be crazy busy soon..."

Hahaha! Thanks:) And I will be working on yours and Joanne's suggestions very soon!

Joanne wrote: "I wanted to suggest a new kind of challenge. I was thinking about an author challenge where you would have to read all the books that an author wrote or read a certain number of books by the author..."

Have two new challenges posted that hopefully fit what you were wanting.

YAY Oh no, more challenges! ;D

lol I think I'm done with new ones for a while. The ones up now are slowly driving me crazy.

wfpoppet wrote: "Could we maybe add a board for non-challenge related discussions? Kind of a catch-all for random tidbits we want to share?"

We are trying to keep this group just challenged based because all of the mods and a lot of the members are from a few groups that are already established and active! If you haven't already check them out...

Reading Is My Escape

We Love Susan Mallery

Paranomal Romance with a Kick

Anyone else have this problem-- challenges OUT OF CONTROL? I can hardly look at a challenge without signing myself up for it, and I've finished a bunch but have a bunch outstanding also. I don't want to just give up on them even though I'm now hopelessly late on finishing some of them. How about a 10-book January challenge which consists solely of books needed to finish out 2011's over-indulgence?

lol *singsongs* Somebody's addicted....

I'm sure we can swing something like that!

I'm on a challenge diet atm. With the holidays and travelling back and forth to Georgia, I just can't commit to a list. Plus, lately I'm only in the mood for certain types of books. =/ Maybe in January when everything settles down a little (I hope) I can get back to my insane challenge list.

How about a TBR pile (or in my case toppling mountain range) challenge -- you must read (random number) of books from your TBR stack that you've had at least 3months? Or pick an author and we spell the name out with words in book titles or any author's first or last name initial? (i.e. Lara Adrian...Word in Book Title or Author's first or last name must begin with L-A-R-A-A-D-R-I-A-N

I have a teeny tiny idea for a challenge, and wasn't sure what to do with it, so here I am. I have a special place in my heart for the music of the 80s. Who doesn't, right? I picked a song, and wrote up some possible categories, with a grand total of 17 books if you read all categories. I was thinking it would be maybe three or four months and you can do as many or as few categories as you like. I'm not convinced that I like all of the categories so I would welcome any input.

‘She Blinded Me With Science’ is a New wave song released by British musician Thomas Dolby in 1982.

Thomas Dolby was born Thomas Morgan Robertson. Read a book in which a character OR the author is named Thomas, Morgan, Robert, or some variation (Tom, Tommy, Morgana, Rob, etc.)

Thomas Dolby was born in London, England. Read a book that is set (at least in part) in England or whose author is English.

Producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange sang backup vocals. Read a book featuring a “mutt”. For our purposes any were’ or animal shifter will do.

Dolby also wrote the songs for the film Howard the Duck, a 1986 American science fiction comedy film. Read a book that you considered to be sci-fi OR a comedy.

Dolby says that the song is "probably about the most frivolous song that I've ever written," but he still loves it. Read a book that others might consider frivolous, but you love it anyway!

"Good heavens, Miss Sakamoto! You're beautiful!" Read a book with a beautiful body on the cover, male or female.

”Science!” is shouted throughout the song by British scientist Magnus Pyke. Read a book in which a character is a scientist, uses scientific knowledge, or battles a “mad scientist”. ( Some examples of using “scientific knowledge” would be synthetic blood for vamps to drink, special medical equipment or drugs to treat vamps and weres, or special weapons to battle supernatural creatures. It’s purposely open to a lot of interpretation.)

"She blinded me with science" was a play on a British expression meaning to deliberately confuse someone by giving the impression of highly complex knowledge. Read a book in which a character tries to impress or confuse other characters with their knowledge, or in which a character uses wordplay to avoid giving straight answers (Most books with Fae characters should fit this category.)

The song was not on the original release of Dolby’s first solo album ‘The Golden Age of Wireless’ but was included on a re-release of the album. Read a book from a series in which you didn’t care for the first book (or most recent book you read), but are willing to give the series another chance.

The song is about a scientist who falls in love with his lab assistant. Read a book in which two characters who work together fall in love.

Read a book with a title that begins with each letter (omitting 'The', 'A', 'An') -or- author’s FIRST OR LAST name that begins with each letter: S-C-I-E-N-C-E
S -
C -
I -
E -
N -
C -
E -

I really like that idea Christine!

Thanks, Paris! I do like my 80s tunes. If folks like this one, I'm already thinking of other great 80s songs that could be used. 'Mickey' by Toni Basil and 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police are at the top of my list. I can't do anything with a music theme and not include The Police.

Sounds fun Christine

An E-Reader challenge for those who keep buying e-books but still have the never-ending library pile. Mini challenge.

Deborah wrote: "An E-Reader challenge for those who keep buying e-books but still have the never-ending library pile. Mini challenge."

you've been peeking at is now my TBR mountain range. To make matters worse I got another e-reader for Christmas

A "Give me 5" challenge. I've seen it in another group :)

I list 5 books I want to read and the next poster chooses one of the books for me to read and posts 5 books he/she wants to read and so on.. You'll have to have read at least one of the books the person above you listed.

Irene wrote: "A "Give me 5" challenge. I've seen it in another group :)

I list 5 books I want to read and the next poster chooses one of the books for me to read and posts 5 books he/she wants to read and so on..."

that sounds like a fun challenge and a great way to get thru the tbr mountains most of us have.

Irene wrote: "A "Give me 5" challenge. I've seen it in another group :)

I list 5 books I want to read and the next poster chooses one of the books for me to read and posts 5 books he/she wants to read and so on..."


That sounds like a neat idea!

Christine wrote: "I have a teeny tiny idea for a challenge, and wasn't sure what to do with it, so here I am. I have a special place in my heart for the music of the 80s. Who doesn't, right? I picked a song, and ..."

Feel free to post your challenge, Christine!

Deborah & Irene, I'll see about getting yours listed unless you would like to post & host them yourselves!

Well I can host it, if that's okay? I already have a huge tbr mountain! :)

Works for me. Just post it in the mini-challenge section.

Thank you, will do! :)

The "She Blinded Me With Science" Challenge is up. I made it a six month challenge.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7...

Hey. I just wanted to ask when the challenge "In the with the New" is going to start? Its under the Flotsam and Jetsam challenges. Thanks

I have an idea for a challenge. It can be a year long challenge or a six month challenge. Its where you spell out your name. You can use book titles or author's first/last name to fill in the books for each letter of your name

Joanne wrote: "I have an idea for a challenge. It can be a year long challenge or a six month challenge. Its where you spell out your name. You can use book titles or author's first/last name to fill in the books..."

Oh that sounds like fun!

Joanne wrote: "I have an idea for a challenge. It can be a year long challenge or a six month challenge. Its where you spell out your name. You can use book titles or author's first/last name to fill in the books..."

Done. ☺ What's in a name... Challenge

See Twist #5!