The Challenge Factory discussion

If you have questions about this challenge ask them here!

Do we choose any one from the list of races?

When do the dice come into play?

Yes, you choose any one of the many races listed. You can do the challenge more than once if you want to do more than one of the races.

You will roll one die upon completion of each of four different sections. We'll provide a link to a dice rolling app that you set to a single die to roll (or you could use an old-fashioned six-sided die if you prefer).

Thank you

On each race there is the three initials option. Does this mean the authors name must contain 3 matching letters anywhere in their name or does the author need to use their middle initial so there are literally 3 initials? Example M.C. Beaton using MCB?

Anywhere in the name is fine, and in any order

Again, thank you. Sorry for being a pest.

Shelly wrote: "Again, thank you. Sorry for being a pest."

You aren't a pest! I'm sure others wondered the same things and you saved them the trouble of asking... I was always the kid who raised her hand in class to ask the questions - it's the thing to do!

Once I've rolled the die, what do I do?

Catsalive wrote: "Once I've rolled the die, what do I do?"

Post on your thread what your die roll is and then you'll get your next prompt! Sorry I only just saw this - busy, busy at work today.

... and I see you did that. I sent your prompt!

Erica wrote: "Catsalive wrote: "Once I've rolled the die, what do I do?"

Post on your thread what your die roll is and then you'll get your next prompt! Sorry I only just saw this - busy, busy at work today.

...."

Thanks. I wasn't sure whether I had to alert you or not :0)

Catsalive wrote: "Erica wrote: "Catsalive wrote: "Once I've rolled the die, what do I do?"

Post on your thread what your die roll is and then you'll get your next prompt! Sorry I only just saw this - busy, busy at ..."

I follow the threads and I did check before I left for work - you must have posted just after I checked!

What are TCF's spell options?

For spell outs, you may use the author's first or last initial or the first letter of the book's title (you may opt to ignore a, an and the in a title).

How long does the challenge run?

I'll keep it open indefinitely as long as there is interest. Marathons are addictive!

Erica wrote: "I'll keep it open indefinitely as long as there is interest. Marathons are addictive!"

Ok, thank you

For number 13 about the Marine Corp task- does this mean the author has to use a first, last and middle initial OR is it ok that a author with just a first and last name have 3 of the letters??

For number 13 about marine corps- can it be past marine or military that they just got medically discharged and such?

For number 13 - can it be navy as well or just marine

Okay, I goofed on the name thing. The definition of an initial is the first letter of a name or word, typically a person's name or a word forming part of a phrase. But finding THREE author initials is too much. So the interpretation will be that you need to find three LETTERS anywhere in the author's name that are in your marathon name.

For the Marine question, a Navy seal doesn't work. The Marines are a separate unit of the armed forces and the saying is "once a Marine, always a Marine."

Erica wrote: "Okay, I goofed on the name thing. The definition of an initial is the first letter of a name or word, typically a person's name or a word forming part of a phrase. But finding THREE author initials..."

Understood, got it. Thanks!!

I just changed the word "initials" to "letters" in everyone's intro to clarify. That is what I was thinking but I chose the wrong word.

for that first set of tasks, me and my partner have to do the same task tho we can read whatever books we want, right??

For the choice of race, you each read one book but they can be different books.
For later sets of tasks, you can divide them between you however you want. It's just for the race selection where you do each have to read one book.

Erica wrote: "For the choice of race, you each read one book but they can be different books.
For later sets of tasks, you can divide them between you however you want. It's just for the race selection where you..."

thanks!

Hello, are audiobooks allowed?

And how long do you think I would have to wait to find a relay partner? (I don't have anyone to race with right now.) Thanks!

Yes audiobooks are fine! I don't have any other relay people at the moment. I can send out a broadcast to see if we have anyone who is interested. Not sure how long it might take... but we can try!

Erica wrote: "Yes audiobooks are fine! I don't have any other relay people at the moment. I can send out a broadcast to see if we have anyone who is interested. Not sure how long it might take... but we can try!"

Thank you! No rush, I'm happy to wait for someone. It just sounds more fun with a partner.

Becca, we have your relay partner - Jane. I'm making your thread now.

Can we use books started prior to signing up?
I’d use the 50+percent or 100+pages rules from other groups for me anyway - that way I won’t feel like cheating.

Yes that is fine. Setting up your Bean-free thread now, Agnieszka!

Erica wrote: "Becca, we have your relay partner - Jane. I'm making your thread now."

Thank you so much, can't wait to get started!

Erica wrote: "Yes that is fine. Setting up your Bean-free thread now, Agnieszka!"

Oh, you're so great! Thank you.

Hi Erica

you posted the second section of this challenge - the one about training - on my thread. I just went there to add something and it is gone! I don't understand how that could happen but in any event would you kindly post it again? Thank you! Denise S.

Denise wrote: "Hi Erica

you posted the second section of this challenge - the one about training - on my thread. I just went there to add something and it is gone! I don't understand how that could happen but in..."

Oh dear, how embarrassing. I was trying to do updates from my tablet last night (too lazy to go to the other room with a desktop computer) and I was copying that section from yours to post for another runner. I must have hit "cut" instead of "copy." So sorry!!

Erica wrote: "Denise wrote: "Hi Erica

you posted the second section of this challenge - the one about training - on my thread. I just went there to add something and it is gone! I don't understand how that coul..."

Ohhhh that is ok - glad it wasn't some mysterious glitch - its back now thank you so much. No worries

Erica wrote: "I must have hit "cut" instead of "copy.""

I experienced the disappearing of messages from time to time so it’s still possible it wasn’t you but a bug. In my experience the bug is more likely as you can’t save an ‘empty’ message (tried that by mistake several times and never worked *grins*)

For the task of ~ MC has to put off a large task in order to recover from an illness, would an injury in the line of duty count of he had to take time to recover from being attacked before they could go back undercover?

Yes that works. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I'm out of town at a big buying market for my industry. It's been quite a day - horrid traffic and tornado warnings, driving over a box spring that blew off someone's truck (!) and just now the hotel alarm called for an evacuation that had us climbing down 9 flights of stairs. Ugh. Luckily it was a false alarm, but that didn't help my partner who needs a cane to do stairs.
Stick a fork in me and turn me over - I'm done!

Erica wrote: "Yes that works. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I'm out of town at a big buying market for my industry. It's been quite a day - horrid traffic and tornado warnings, driving over a box spr..."

Oh Damn. What a day!

Hope things have improved Erica!

Where are we supposed to tell you we finished a section (or whatever you call it)? an assignment...a set...you know what I mean
Thank you.

Things are wonderful - I'm back home. Thanks for asking!

Just post in your thread when you finish a task or roll a die, whichever applies. I follow the threads and post prompts when I see something is done.

Erica wrote: "Things are wonderful - I'm back home. Thanks for asking!

Just post in your thread when you finish a task or roll a die, whichever applies. I follow the threads and post prompts when I see somethi..."

Thank you very much! I have a completion on mine.

Glad things are better:)

Denise S.

Reporting back for a spell-out taks, do you want the basic format (your example) or would a list work for you as well?


Examples (I just used any books with fitting letters from the books I plan/hope to read this month):
Basic format:
Task: Spell out NEW SHOES
Book: Confessions of a Transformed Heart
Author: Nancy D. Sheppard
Date Read: 3/10
How it fits: author's first name starts with N (or N-author)
(...)
Task: Spell out NEW SHOES
Book: My Valentine Seduction
Author: Serenity Woods
Date Read: 3/22
How it fits: author's last name starts with W (or W-author)
(...)
Task: Spell out NEW SHOES
Book: A Spy's Devotion
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Date Read: 3/15
How it fits: S-title


List format:
Task: Spell out NEW SHOES
N: Nancy D. Sheppard: Confessions of a Transformed Heart ?* 3/?
E: The Enigma by Michael Bar-Zohar ?* 3/?
W: Warner, Ann: The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club - Book Four ?* 3/?
S: Serenity Woods: My Valentine Seduction ?* 3/?
H: Her Grave Secrets by Kendra Elliot ?* 3/?
O: On the Town book 4 in The Lethal in Love Series: Books 1-3 by Susan Amanda Kelly ?* 3/?
E: Lynette Eason: Code of Valor ?* 3/?
S: A Spy's Devotion by Melanie Dickerson ?* 3/?

You really can report however it works for you. I follow the threads to see who posts. Just can't track instantaneously because I work.

Erica wrote: "You really can report however it works for you. I follow the threads to see who posts. Just can't track instantaneously because I work."

Thank you!

Is there a minimum page limit? Does a book with 266 pages qualify?

There is no page limit unless specified for specific training runs or tune-up races.

For setup character a Marine, Can it be a retired marine? Your mentioning the saying once a marine, always a marine implies yes but don't want to read a book and have it be disqualified.