The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

Hey y’all!

I’m just wondering in my type-a brain, how do you keep track of what you’re reading and why? Do you have a written check list? An excel spreadsheet? Do you wing it and just read one book at a time? Do you keep a planner somewhere?

How do you keep your tasks straight? Do you just read the descriptions on your phone or computer and decide in the moment or do you have a better system? Do you let the task completely decide the book or do you try to fit the books you really want to read into a task?

I’M SO CURIOUS.

(When I was actively participating a few years ago, I would hand write the tasks and the books I planned to read before reading and submitting. But that was a while ago. I’m looking for something more efficient these days. I’m leaning heavily towards an Excel/Sheets solution.)

Thanks in advance for sharing your secrets and schedules with me!

Janelle wrote: "Hey y’all!

I’m just wondering in my type-a brain, how do you keep track of what you’re reading and why? Do you have a written check list? An excel spreadsheet? Do you wing it and just read one boo..."

There's an entire thread about this - How Do You Work on the Challenge?

Janelle, I use Google Sheets (same as excel in my head)-research the tasks, than research my other challenges and then fit books in where possible, Whether I read those books is a whole different ball of wax-LoL. The last few seasons I have decided to read whatever my mood was wanting, and than try to fit the books somewhere-these have been pitiful seasons for me, but my reading has been good-it is all about moods for me lately

I use a google sheet too I plan all my books and generally only stick to about 30% of it but I like to have a plan. I have no idea how to let you see the spreadsheet I use but someone else on her will

Thank you, Sandy! I’m using the Goodreads app on my phone, so it was a little more difficult to go through all the discussion topics. That made it really easy for me.

Joanne, I agree that Sheets and Excel are similar. I love Excel, but Sheets is free. Haha! I’m definitely a moody reader as well. And, as I am just following the Reading Challenge for fun, I don’t feel the need to pressure myself into reading everything tasked.

Thanks, Marie! I took a scroll through the above mentioned discussion thread and was able to find a few shared spreadsheets. I have lots of ideas now!

I have several files that I use to plan and keep track of my reading/TBR for each challenge. There is a document with all my TBR titles that I started before GR. This one has also been color coded for where I can obtain the book (libraries and ebooks that are free. Interlibrary Loan is a great tool, too). This also includes setting and author info for easy searching...

That document was also transferred to a spreadsheet, minus everything other than pagination. Now it can be sorted; I read in different ways each season, just for fun. I also added control numbers here so that it can be sorted in the same order as my document. This one has what tasks can be used for each title.

I also have a document with all the tasks summarized. I go through and pick about 10 titles for each option and have them listed (then transfer info to spreadsheet).

Another spreadsheet has what titles/tasks have been reported, with running totals of points, etc.

It may sound like lots of work, but I enjoy the planning stage and it helps me know what to borrow next. I actually consider that all of this is my "game", since I no longer play games on the computer/phone. And it helps that I love spreadsheets, etc!

I use Word documents, rather than spreadsheets.

When the tasks are posted, I copy them all into a document. When I decide on a book for a task, I add that at the end of the task description, and highlight the book title in pink. When I actually read the book and post the task, I highlight the task title and change the highlight of the book title to green. That way I can see which tasks are completed in the same place as the descriptions. (If it's a 2 book task, I highlight the one that I've read in orange and change it to green when I've completed both books.)

I have a separate document for books that I want to read but haven't definitely assigned to a task. For each book, I list all the tasks that it might fit. This could be books I was given as a gift, or the next book in a series, or something that caught my attention in the library. I will also look at what I might have downloaded on my Kindle and never read to see if any of those fit the tasks.

I usually start with the books that I already know about. When I get through those (usually about halfway through the season) then I start looking for books that fit the tasks that I haven't done yet. I generally leave the tasks that are to pick books from a list for last unless there is a book on the list that I already know I want to read.

In the last two seasons I have also created a document listing the tasks that I have posted in the order they were posted (not in the task number order) to help find posts if I need to review whether my totals match the Readerboard or where we went off.

I started with a document such as Julia uses, but I had too many pages. Then I got a spreadsheet template from my GR friend Book Concierge. There is a spot on top for currently reading and Up Next, which can include as many books as I want. I list each task with a brief description and any requirements, then I list possible books in fields to the right. I color code tasks that are done in green, working on in yellow, (I don't always read the 2 books for a 2-book task in a row.) For tasks I haven't started but have chosen a book, I highlight just that book in blue (just because I like blue). On the far right I put the number of points and the Message # of the post where I claimed it (in case there's an error or I want to swap something). On the very bottom I have a running total of points, books read & tasks done. I also have totals for BB,
GO, and IAF.

When I am about to post a task for points, I usually go back to the Task List to make sure I didn't miss something about number of pages or other details. My goal for this season is not to make any errors, as I have always had at least a couple.

Kathy KS wrote: "I have several files that I use to plan and keep track of my reading/TBR for each challenge. There is a document with all my TBR titles that I started before GR. This one has also been color coded ..."

Kathy, I also really love spreadsheets and find the planning portion and tracking portion to all be part of the fun! It seems that you are a few steps further than me though in spreadsheet experience! That's so impressive. (I found a Sheet that was shared in the other thread that I really liked and just changed the colors. I may make a few other adjustments if I decide to track other characteristics they haven't listed, but so far, so good!)

Julia wrote: "I use Word documents, rather than spreadsheets.

When the tasks are posted, I copy them all into a document. When I decide on a book for a task, I add that at the end of the task description, and h..."

Wow, that seems like a really smart option as well! I love the color-coding system you have. I haven't thought much about considering multiple titles for the Tasks, so I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I think I was planning on choosing just one book for my spreadsheet and then adding any alternatives to a note attached to that particular cell. We'll see what works soon enough!

Robin P wrote: "I started with a document such as Julia uses, but I had too many pages. Then I got a spreadsheet template from my GR friend Book Concierge. There is a spot on top for currently reading and Up Next,..."

Oh! I really like that idea of keeping track of what you're currently reading and what's up next on the spreadsheet! I might have to add that to what I have so far. Good luck with accomplishing your goal! Your tracking seems really organized as well. I'm sure you'll do well!