2-3-4 Challenge discussion

It Starts with a List
The goal of the challenge is to finish or make progress in the series that you start. It may be all those series that you began some time ago and never got back to or a recent one where you don't want to let it slide into oblivion. Whatever the circumstances, it's best to start with a list of the series you want to target.

Members have created one discussion topic where all the series for focus are listed and updated throughout the year. That list may be added to as well for any new series started (hey, can't help new releases we didn't know about). It may also be a "perpetual" list, one that will be maintained from year to year. If you prefer to create a new one each year, make certain you have the year in the title and you may archive your list to the Archive - Series List folder. Otherwise the Individual Lists folder will be changed on January 1 to reflect the current year and you won't need to create a new list. Be sure to change the year if it's included in your title. Moderators will NOT archive any member lists! A Quick Links to Member Lists is provided for your convenience and easy access to your series list.

We encourage you to look at what some of our members have created for ideas on how to create your list. You should definitely create one that suits your style as there are many ways to develop a list for you to manage throughout the year.

The only requirement for naming your list is it must begin with your name. The most common is "(Your Name’s) Series List" or some derivation of that title.

Reading Goals
In December, we will open up a discussion topic for you to use to declare your goals for the coming year. They can be as broad or specific as you'd like but they have to be measurable. For example, you can set a goal to complete a specific number of series, a percentage of your total series or to not start a series until you complete those you have in progress. Take a look at the 2022 Challenge Goals for those created by our members for great examples.

Every month, we do a roundup where you can summarize your reading experience for the previous month. It's an excellent opportunity for you to update your reading trackers (see below).

Reading Trackers
As goals are declared, we will create reading trackers for you to use during the year to plot your progress. The trackers are organized into broad categories and every goal will be able to fit in a category. The trackers for the new year will be opened in December.

Monthly Reading Plans
Some members like to create reading plans so they can manage their goals and other reading commitments (made in other groups or for their blogs). We have a specific folder for the monthly reading plans. Members should label their topics with their name, the month (if applicable) and the year. Some have opted to have one topic that's updated each month and, if that's the case, it will not be archived until the end of the year. Otherwise, the moderators will archive your previous month's plan once you've created a new monthly reading plan. A separate archive folder, Archives - Monthly Reading Plans, is used for this purpose to facilitate easy reference if needed.

2022 Series Group Read
In 2022, we will continue reading two series and add one new one together as a group. This will help members complete them and have others to discuss the books every month.

The series that we are reading as a group are:

1. Rock Chick by Kristen Ashley
2. Lucy Kincaid/Max Revere by Allison Brennan

Discussion questions will be created for each book and presented in our Book Discussion Groups (see below). Participants may also discuss the book informally in the topics opened for each series if that format is preferable.

Book Discussions Groups
We created separate groups to use for more structured and robust book discussions.

2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussion #1
2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussion #2

Specific lists of questions are created for each book and every book has a separate folder. You will need to request a folder be created for buddy reads and one of the moderators will then do so.

As we've far exceeded the folder limits for the first discussion group, a second was created for new series added in 2019. Since then, Goodreads has finally fulfilled on our request to increase that limit so no new groups will need to be created.

The links to the Book Discussions Groups are also located on the home page of the 2-3-4 Challenge Group. Links back to the main group are located on the home page of both groups.

Buddy Reads
Throughout the year, you'll find other members who may be planning to read the same book or series. Use the Buddy Reads folder to organize yourselves or seek out a buddy. You may have your discussions informally in this section or use the Book Discussions Group for a more structured and detailed discussion.

How to Do Things
Use this section to learn how to use the many tools available on Goodreads. If you don't see instructions for your topic, post the question in Whatever else you need help with and we'll try to find the answer. We have a diverse membership who have many talents!

What's Going On?
Here's where we communicate with each other. Be sure to not only tell us what you're currently reading but also what you thought of the book. Some members post links to their Goodreads review and others provide short summaries of their experience. It's up to you to decide which is the best format for you to use. And, if you're reading a book that's not part of a series, we want to know about that story, too. Please do not provide links to reviews outside of Goodreads.

We also love book bargains and our members generously post deals they come across. Be sure to check here regularly.

Our lounge is where you can chat about anything on your mind, from sports to current events to book/author news. No topic is off limits.

2022 Series Challenge
We conduct two challenges: Series Completed and Series Up to Date. Our goal is to collectively complete 150 series and get up to date in 150 series. Just follow the instructions to join and enter your goals to the group's.

Questions?
Post them here. One of the moderators or members will be thrilled to help you. We're an informal, friendly group and we love helping one another.


Enjoy the group!

Jonetta & Lauren

We've updated the info about our group! Check it out!

You guys are fantastic! I love this group. Last year I tried making my own group to track my reading goals but I never really managed to make it work. I think I will try the trackers and tools within this group this year coming year.

Thanks, Laura! That's what we're here for so use the tools to your heart's content:)

Jonetta, thank you so much for updating this! You are the best.

Monica wrote: "Jonetta, thank you so much for updating this! You are the best."

You're welcome!

Yay, glad you are enjoying the group :)

Thanks to Jonetta that keeps us all going.

Ok, I gotta get oriented

Holler if you have questions!

Jonetta wrote: "Holler if you have questions!"

I will because I don't know where to start :(

The best place to start is to create your series list. I'd first check out what other members have done so you can get ideas for how to organize your own.

Jonetta wrote: "The best place to start is to create your series list. I'd first check out what other members have done so you can get ideas for how to organize your own."

Thanks I'll go spy

Since I just joined this group, should I start my series list from now, or go back to the beginning of 2016 and list all the series I have read some or all of this year?

That's up to you, Karen. If you plan to participate in the 2016 challenge, you'll need to go back through the books you've read for the year and add the challenge shelf. You may only want to add any series completed to the reading trackers instead of adding them to your series list.

What may be more useful is to create your list from where you are now. It just depends on how YOU would like to organize your list. Whatever you decide works in this challenge.

Is this helpful?

Can I start my 2017 series list in the Individual Lists - 2016 folder?

Yes, as the folder title will change January 1 (see 2nd paragraph).

I missed that part, I thought we did it like that last year but I wasn't sure :)

I had to reread it myself!

Hooray! I can add my 2017 list in :-)

You know, I should send out a broadcast message about this. Thanks you two for putting on my radar.

No problem! I thought I was just being a bit too eager with my lists and so I thought I would wait a little before saying something :-)

Never! I created an Ideas and Recommendations topic for stuff like this in the future. We are here to support you!

Since the series list folder has so many topics, I created a quick links topic so each member can find their list more quickly. The list of links is in alphabetical order.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thank you <3

Thank you!!

Looks like the time has come to create another Book Discussion Group. As you may recall, Goodreads has folder limit (100) for display purposes. It will accept more as we have over 200. However, when you add a new folder, it defaults to the bottom. It now takes me about 10 - 15 minutes to force new folders to the top for display.

I propose that we continue to add new releases to already existing series group reads in the original discussion group. New series will be added to the new discussion group.

Additionally, I’ll include the series directory to this group to avoid confusion. You’ll continue to be provided links to discussions here in this group anytime we add a discussion so you won’t have to figure things out...just follow the link.

Let me know your thoughts.

Wow! We have reached as many folders as that?!

Perhaps there is a way to consolidate existing folders rather than starting a completely new group?

The structure of the group is that each book discussed is set up as a separate folder in order to present the individual questions separately. No other way to do it, nor is there a way to consolidate folders.

At some point, the first discussion group will be used less frequently, only for new releases of completed series group reads. The second group will become the most active.

OK. Sounds good to me

Thanks for weighing in, Lauren. I’ve raised the folder limit issue with Goodreads several times over the past two years. It’s not a priority for them:(

Here’s the link for the new group if you’d like to check it out in the meantime. I’ll send out a broadcast message later.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Would archiving the older book discussions help?

No. Archiving is not a Goodreads feature and doesn’t move folders to somewhere else.

FYI, Goodreads is aware of the limitation and acknowledges that there is no resolution other than them fixing it. I’ve discovered the one way to get the folders to display (they agree) and I’m weary of spending that kind of time every month to make it work.

We either move to a second group, delete discussions and folders or continue as I’m doing. Those are the options.

I signed up to become a member of the new group! So far, there are only four of us, so hop to it, everyone else interested :-)

I've signed up to the new group as well.
Thanks so much for your hard work, Jonetta!
We really appreciate it :)

You are so welcome, Lauren!