Grimdark Fantasy discussion

I see that at some point I was made a moderator. Cool. I'll try not to let the power go to my head. ;)

A suggestion and I'll wait to hear responses rather just going and doing it (as apparently I can).

Should we have one folder for "Group Reads" and not a different folder for each one? The discussion area will get long, and very fast, if we continue to put a new folder for each group read.

Most other groups I've been in do a group reads section and the current one is at the top. I think that would work a lot better.

Thoughts? Objections? Tips for my tip jar?

Also a bit of confusion on the group read. I see "Song of Fire and Ice" at the top as what the group is currently reading, yet I see no discussions about it as a group read.

We just decided to start "Prince of Thorns" as a group read. Should we change the "currently reading" book at the top of the group?

I added "Prince of Thorns" to currently reading, but didn't remove "Song of Fire and Ice". Waiting for comments.

I agree that we should have just one folder for group reads. Perhaps remove A Song of Ice and Fire from the currently reading shelf, but open up a thread for those that have read it and want to discuss.

I also hope we'll continue with the group nominations and vote for next month.

Tracey (Queen of Blades) wrote: "I also hope we'll continue with the group nominations and vote for next month."
Yes, I agree with doing this too.

Also, (my opinion), perhaps monthly is a bit too quick to have monthly reads. Especially if some are involved in other groups and interested in group reads. I think every other month would be a better time frame.

Chris wrote: "I see that at some point I was made a moderator. Cool. I'll try not to let the power go to my head. ;)

Go mad! Go on! Get carried away!

I agree with Tracey. Let's list SFI read instead of currently reading, but let's give it a folder and let's pin that folder not at the top but toward the top.

In fact, if we can identify some books and series as "cannon" why don't we give them all folders?( However, let's group them in a different place from the currently reading folders. When they are voted on for group reads, we could temporarily retitle or move them around on the board so they feature prominently.)

I like Chris's idea about the currently reading group, rather than a new group for each thread. We can keep whatever is really current at the top of the folder.

Chris wrote: "Tracey (Queen of Blades) wrote: "I also hope we'll continue with the group nominations and vote for next month."
Yes, I agree with doing this too.

Also, (my opinion), perhaps monthly is a bit too ..."

I have to agree with you there, every other month would probably be better. Most members have other group reads plus their own reads to get through as well.

Every other month works for me.

Agreed. Every other month is fine by me.

Well OK then...let me see if I can put some of these suggestions into practice.

OK. Took Song of Fire and Ice off the "currently reading" and marked it as "read" (I'll start a discussion for it momentarily).

I'll mark the discussion threads for "Prince of Thorns" as 'important' so they are at top of list. We can remove that and add the new ones as 'important' next (and each successive) group read.

Moved all the threads about group reads into the group reads folder and removed the "Group Reads - " folders.

Corrupts absolutely.

Deborah wrote: "Corrupts absolutely."

Just call me Jorg. ;)

I think if we go to group reads every other month, then in the month before the group reads we can start the suggestion thread, like "Suggestions for group read November 2015".

Sound good?

We can then have a week or two of suggestions in thread and a week or two of poll on the books. Just like Deborah did for this one. Great setup for choosing group reads, IMO.

One idea... In one of my other groups they use "Events" to schedule the group reads. Once a book is picked for an upcoming month, a mod will create a month-long event with the book name, link, description, etc., and invite the group to attend. "Currently Reading" is still updated, and discussion still happens in the threads, but this allows groups members to easily see and commit to upcoming reads.

Of course, this could be overkill. Thoughts?

That's an awesome way to do it.
I think we should at least try it out. If we don't like it we can go back to this way.

Sounds good to me too. Let's try it for the next group read.

Sounds good to me.

OK....we decided before to do group reads every other month....so I'll try to remember this and activate it this way for the November group read when we pick it.

I think we mentioned earlier that the group reads would be every other month, and a new poll for the group read would also happen every other month in the months between the group reads.

No reason why the same book can't be nominated (by you or somebody else), but I think we should vote every time as books that are high on the radar may change over time. Otherwise, the the group reads would be no different than a "want to read" list that we slowly trudge through.

I want to read it too. we'll nominate it, lobby hard and if that fails we'll read it anyway.

I'm all about Low Town too.

So, I created that Group Read Rules without seeing this topic and ended up having a chat with Chris about how things are happening.

To sum up, I corrected the mistakes and came up with the Idea of doing the Nomination Thread on the first 10 days, the Poll on the next 15 days and leave the last 5 five days of each month reserved for everyone to get their copy of the chosen book. (we could make it 15 days of nomination and 10 for poll, either way the Idea is to give people some time to acquire the book)

Other thought that came to mind was if we should determine a limit of book in each poll so we don't get 15 books running.
This other group I'm in limits their Poll to 5 books and in order to make the "short list" it must be nominated and then seconded by other member.

It may be difficult to manage that since we don't have that much members but, it's an idea.

Go Grimdark! hahaha

I'm OK, either way, with giving time for people to get the book. My thought was since we have 2 whole months for the read, it wasn't a big issue.

More than anything, I think I would not want everything to get too regimented and rule-oriented. It's those rigid rules that make many other groups not as fun, IMO.

In my little club a few people have needed time for a physical copy to get through customs. You might want to give at least a two-week prep.

I agree that I like less rules. Another club I'm has a lot of scolding for going off topic.

Chris wrote: "More than anything, I think I would not want everything to get too regimented and rule-oriented. It's those rigid rules that make many other groups not as fun, IMO. "

Its a fair point...

Heather wrote: "In my little club a few people have needed time for a physical copy to get through customs. You might want to give at least a two-week prep."

Well, my only concern with the setting of rules for the nominations/polls is that we all start the book around the same time so the discussions would be better developed.

Heather wrote: "In my little club a few people have needed time for a physical copy to get through customs. You might want to give at least a two-week prep.

I agree that I like less rules. Another club I'm has a..."
Personally, I think it's more important to have more time allotted to allow people to chime in on nominations and polls. Not everybody is on GR daily.

Besides, with 2 months before the next group read, even if someone doesn't get it 'on day one', it shouldn't really be a problem, right?

Maybe we can find a happy medium.

Rules light is good by me. I'm open to when the discussion starts - maybe mid month?

Sounds good.

By then some may have already finished the book though... the 10th of each month maybe?

I think last time I started the thread at the beginning of the group read and people just came in when they felt like it. Often whether they were finished with the book or not (that's why we create two threads one 'with spoiler' and one 'without spoilers').

I could be wrong here, but with the end of April already looming, should we not have nominations and/or a poll for a May/June group read?

Dan wrote: "I could be wrong here, but with the end of April already looming, should we not have nominations and/or a poll for a May/June group read?"

You are absolutely right!! Lately I've handled those, but it seems nobody noticed and picked up when I was away (been busy and barely on GR lately).

I'll start a quick suggestion thread, but poll should happen within a day or two, I think.

Can somebody else handle the poll as I'm still likely to not have enough time to be on here?

any news on when we can nominate books for November/December group read?

The Barrow

Silvana wrote: "any news on when we can nominate books for November/December group read?"

Are we doing a Nov/Dec group read? Did anyone participate in the Sept/Oct one?

Where is everyone?

Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "Silvana wrote: "any news on when we can nominate books for November/December group read?"

Are we doing a Nov/Dec group read? Did anyone participate in the Sept/Oct one?

Where is everyone?"

No idea, I didn't vote for the winning book ;p

I haven't read any grimdark stuff lately so I'd love to see the next group-read one (if any).

Silvana wrote: "Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "Silvana wrote: "any news on when we can nominate books for November/December group read?"

Are we doing a Nov/Dec group read? Did anyone participate in the Sept/Oct ..."

Me neither, read it already.

I hope we're doing one next month!

Sorry...I don't know about the others, but I started a new job and have barely had time for more than a flyby a few times. I'll try to get something going over the weekend.....or maybe I can promote one of you all to mods to help put things in order. :D

Promoting Tracey is a great idea.

Scott wrote: "Promoting Tracey is a great idea."

Awww *blushes*

Scott wrote: "Promoting Tracey is a great idea."

Agreed. The mods seem to be MIA.
Life has a way of preventing us to chat on Goodreads sometimes. :(

Chompa wrote:

Chris wrote: "Sorry...I don't know about the others, but I started a new job and have barely had time for more than a flyby a few times. I'll try to get something going over the weekend.....or maybe I can promot..."

Same here, I thought it would temporary, but life is still a mess... I second the idea of adding more people to the team.

Chompa, and what do you think? Brittany and Deborah?

Who knows when we may get an answer. I'm just gonna do it (ask forgiveness, not permission) *wink* ).

Tracey...you are now a moderator. I hope you have time to help out for those of us who are MIA right now.

I was already thinking we needed to promote a person or two, so hopefully this will help. :)

Chris wrote: "Tracey...you are now a moderator. I hope you have time to help out for those of us who are MIA right now.

I was already thinking we needed to promote a person or two, so hopefully this will help. :)"

Muhahahhaaaa! You shall all witness my power!!!! Ahahahaaaa... ahem.

I'll start by sending out a message inviting members to come and nominate/vote. Hopefully this month we'll have a few more participants.

Conveniently she's already a queen!

Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "Chris wrote: "Tracey...you are now a moderator. I hope you have time to help out for those of us who are MIA right now.

I was already thinking we needed to promote a person or two, so hopefully th..."

Congrats Tracey! Power on!

Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "Muhahahhaaaa! You shall all witness my power!!!! Ahahahaaaa... ahem.

I'll start by sending out a message inviting members to come and nominate/vote. Hopefully this month we'll have a few more participants.
"

Congrats! :)

Thank's everyone! :)