The Lost Challenges discussion

A discussion got started recently over at the 31 Flavors Challenge about the various methods that we use for keeping track of all our challenges. Some of us use spreadsheets, some have private groups and some use good old-fashioned pen and paper. How do you keep track?

From the 31 Flavors thread.

Caroline wrote: "I have a private group where I work on challenges that I'm creating and I have a section in that group to keep track of challenges that I'm playing. I update all of my challenges over there after each book. (If I didn't update after each book I'd be in a complete mess!) It's just transferring that information over here to the actual challenge threads that's my problem! I'm so behind that if you look at my challenge post here it looks like I've barely started!..."

JoAnne wrote: "I have heard others say they use a spreadsheet to keep track but that is too much work for me.
I have a simple laptop with notepad on it. I just list the tasks from each challenge. Then when I finish a book, I go down the list and add the book to each task it works for. Then when I have a few in each challenge I update them all together.

I do have the books and authors and date in the GR code in my notepad page - so I can just copy and paste.

It makes everything so much easier for me to keep up.

I just read and see if books fit unless I want to finish a challenge then I'll look for a specific book...."

JoAnne wrote: "I actually just keep a list on paper of my challenges and the # for my post. I'm currently doing about 16. Each book I finish I post to Goodreads with rating, date finished and review or My post for (review site) will be posted soon.

I then go down my list of challenges inputting the information for each one that it applies to...."

Susanna wrote: "I keep track by using the computer I may start a spreadsheet soon. Happy reading everyone!"

:} Sharon {; wrote: "i have used a spread sheet (im nerdy & love spread sheets.) Then i just used a word document & that worked well for a long time. however, one time, i lost the whole document & had to start over. now, tho, thanks to caroline, i have a private group here on gr. and, in one discussion, i have links to each of my starting posts so that when i finish a book, i just go to my group, open that discussion & go down the list, adding my book tho the challenges they fit i still have the word doc where i have the challenge dates & rules for each one...."

Barb wrote: "I use a Word document, set up in chronological order by challenge deadline -- and it's backed up to *three different automatic cloud backup services, so every time I make a change, those changes are backed up too :) I couldn't risk losing that file!..."

JoAnne wrote: "I guess my back up is my blog..... really thinking about it - hoping I never lose my document..."

JoAnne wrote: "The private group sounds good
Will have to look into it ..."

Seraphina wrote: "I use OneNote and have a section for ongoing and completed. Each challenge has it's own page so I don't get it mixed up with the others. Then I add the requirements etc. Plus my group folder."

I use a legal pad. Around this time of the month, I start a new page and list every challenge according to group (e.g. TLC August 2017 Scavenger Hunt - Vacation!; WRC Top 10 List Challenge; NBRC HP Sorting Hat) and in the side column I list the end date (8/1/17; 7/31/18; open). I have about 10 challenges right now.

On the right side, I have little boxes with the Groups I do Books of the Month reads/Pick One for Me challenges and the dates they start and end.

Then for each word search I have a new page with a checklist for each word and space to have the book/date found/page.

Finally I have a section listing the book titles with the abbreviations I use (e.g. Dark Matter = DM).

I designate one day to write up my posts for the next month's challenges. Which for me can take a while because I include pics to more easily find my post in the discussion.

I love GR. It makes reading that much more fun!!

Here's a link to my blog, if anyone is interested. When I started doing challenges, it was on random websites. I did not think to bookmark the challenges I signed up for and then I couldn't remember!
So I started using my blog. It's free to use.

Christine wrote: "I designate one day to write up my posts for the next months challenges. Which for me can take a while because I include pics to more easily find my post in the discussion. ..."

Christine, I don't know if this would help you at all but some of our members keep a challenge log here at TLC. You could use yours to post links to your challenge post in each discussion which would help you to go straight to it instead of needing to add pics to help you find it (does that make sense?)

So for example, if I wanted to link to your post in this discussion, I'd do this - Christine's Comment

The folder for member logs is here if you want to take a look :)

Caroline wrote: You could use yours to post links to your challenge post in each discussion which would help you to go straight to it instead of needing to add pics to help you find it..."

It's a good thought, and I have tried it. But the pics are another fun element for me. And I really am no good at the internet, so the cross-posting overwhelms me. ;) I hope it's not annoying, but I love it!

I have a private group. I also have a separate thread for each group that I do challenges in, where I post all the challenges I have signed up for in that group. Then I have a separate discussion thread where I have the links to my posts (it got too complicated when I had the link in the same post as the challenge because when I needed to update and clicked on the link, I lost access to my challenge in progress. I also have a small thread where I have my help sites posted (tineye, dice, randomizer etc). It works well for me. It is a secret group, but if anyone wants to take a peek at it to see how I have it set up, just let me know and I'll give you temporary access.

I update in my private group after every book but I only update my main posts within the groups once a month (sooner if I finish a challenge) because trying to post updates with every book was killing me. I am in so many challenges that it takes me almost 2 hours to update each book.

JoAnne wrote: "Here's a link to my blog, if anyone is interested. When I started doing challenges, it was on random websites. I did not think to bookmark the challenges I signed up for and then I couldn't remem..."

I always have a link to the challenge and then a link that goes to my message - so I can update.

Christine wrote: "Caroline wrote: You could use yours to post links to your challenge post in each discussion which would help you to go straight to it instead of needing to add pics to help you find it..."

It's a ..."

If you need help, PLEASE message me. If I can help or try to explain how to do things, I will.

I have a personal challenge thread in one of my other groups with links (and sometimes notices) for all the challenges I'm participating in.

here if you want to look

Christine wrote: "It's a good thought, and I have tried it. But the pics are another fun element for me. And I really am no good at the internet, so the cross-posting overwhelms me. ;) I hope it's not annoying, but I love it!..."

Pics are not annoying at all! They help keep the threads fun. I just wanted to offer you another option but if it doesn't work for you no problem :)

I have a private group where I keep track of everything (even planning for 2018 lol). Like Sam, I tend to update my group every book, but then wait to update each group until the end of the month. I used to do it every book, but it takes so long!

For those of you who keep track in your private groups: I don't understand posting in a private group as you finish each book. If you're going to take the time to do that, why not just update the challenges themselves? Or are you just posting the book info itself, and not where it fits in each challenge?

Barb wrote: "For those of you who keep track in your private groups: I don't understand posting in a private group as you finish each book. If you're going to take the time to do that, why not just update the c..."

I don't know about anybody else but for me the reason I post first in my private group is because I like to keep my options open. Sometimes a book will work for several tasks in one challenge so I post the information and how it fits each of the possible options underneath the challenge and then as I come up to deadline or fill in the gaps I can see where I need to use it :)

Mostly pen and paper. I write all the challenges and the groups they are in. I dont have a set time to update I just make sure its done by the end of the month or deadline. With the scavenger hunts/word finds I write down the word lists and after I finish a book I usually update those challenges.

I cringe at how I used to update when I first started doing challenges here. I would go to each thread and use the book/author - type in the book name everytime. Now I just enter it in and the copy and paste the html code and put that on my list at each task it fits.

For me, updating my private group first lets me just do a quick comment without much formatting and just shorthand for what challenges and stuff. I like keeping the main groups postings pretty and organized (unimportant I know... lol).

Wow you are all so organized.

I use Google docs to keep track. Have 3 working documents - a reading plan where list all up coming reads by month and as I finish replace with the code so I can cut and paste into challenges, then a challenges file in chronological order (with links to my post in each challenge) and spell outs in another. Seems to work for me.

Brianna wrote: "I like keeping the main groups postings pretty and organized (unimportant I know... lol). ..."

Me too. And actually it's not unimportant, it makes it so much easier for us mods to check your challenge if it's nicely laid out!

JoAnne wrote: "I cringe at how I used to update when I first started doing challenges here. I would go to each thread and use the book/author - type in the book name everytime. Now I just enter it in and the copy..."

I used to do that too!

I have a challenge post for each year on one of the boards. I put all my challenges from all the boards in one spot. When I finish a book or two (or 3 or 4) I go through all the challenges and update them. When they are complete, I move them down to the second comment so I still have a record or which ones I participated in.

Christine's 2017 Challenges

Barb wrote: "For those of you who keep track in your private groups: I don't understand posting in a private group as you finish each book. If you're going to take the time to do that, why not just update the c..."

Because updating all challenges take too long!

I have a private group (https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...) too. The first two posts on my home page are a yearly reading list (what I've read and when) and books to read per month (what I plan to read).

I have so many on-going challenges that I can't update each one every time I finish a book as it would take me forever. As it is, at the end of each month, it takes me 8-10 hours to update everything. So instead, I keep a short list of what I've read in the current month book/author/date read, I update monthly challenges twice a month and at the end of each month, I update all open challenges and then delete the temporary "list of read books" for that month and start a list for the next month.

Once I finish a challenge, I move the entire thing to an archive thread which is sorted per group/per year.

I started out with one notebook per group and that was even more time consuming to keep track and update challenges.

Barb wrote: "For those of you who keep track in your private groups: I don't understand posting in a private group as you finish each book. If you're going to take the time to do that, why not just update the c..."

I update in my private group first because it's faster. I have all my challenges in one spot and can just go post by post to update. If I tried to update the actual challenges, I would have to go to every link to update. It already takes me 1.5-2 hours to update; it would take much longer going to each thread. I only post in my actual challenge threads when I have either completely spelled out a word, or completed the challenge. Though I will sometimes update yearly challenges once a month to clear out my threads and make it easier to see what I still need (like an A-Z challenges, a listopia challenge, or something where I have to go in order).

Barbara ★ wrote: "Barb wrote: "For those of you who keep track in your private groups: I don't understand posting in a private group as you finish each book. If you're going to take the time to do that, why not just..."


Barbara - how do you set up a private group for yourself? Is there somewhere on here that shows you how to do? I think I might like to make one for myself :)

~Melissa~ wrote: "Barbara - how do you set up a private group for yourself? Is there somewhere on here that shows you how to do? I think I might like to make one for myself :) ..."

Click on 'Community' in the GR header bar, then click on 'Groups'. On the top right of the screen you should see 'Create a Group'. Click on that. Give your group a name and a description, then scroll down to where you should see a choice of privacy settings. Tick the box for private or secret (I have mine set to secret so I don't get ppl requesting to join). Scroll down a bit more and click on 'Create'. Then just play around with it till you have it set up for your needs :)

Caroline wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "Barbara - how do you set up a private group for yourself? Is there somewhere on here that shows you how to do? I think I might like to make one for myself :) ..."

Click on 'Commu..."

Thanks so much...I figured it out and was creating mine when you responded - was coming here to say I was all good :)

Phew - now a spot where they can all be together!! I had lists in each group but too much clicking to update. 1 spot sounds so much better

~Melissa~ wrote: "Thanks so much...I figured it out and was creating mine when you responded - was coming here to say I was all good :) ..."..."

You're welcome. Always happy to help. Well done for figuring it out though. If you're anything like me you'll be spending hours on your new group now getting it all organised!

Caroline wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "Thanks so much...I figured it out and was creating mine when you responded - was coming here to say I was all good :) ..."..."

You're welcome. Always happy to help. Well done for..."

Yes - I spent sometime yesterday and will do more this coming week to get ready for moving forward.