The Challenge Factory discussion

Any questions???

Wanted to double check the wording on d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters....
Is it truly "OR" because I do not want to make it harder on myself than needed?
So Touch the Dark OR (Cassie Palmer, #1), but not a combo of the two?

Yes. I gave the option of using either the title OR the series name. Not the two combined.
For titles, any subtitle would be available to use too.

Erica wrote: "Yes. I gave the option of using either the title OR the series name. Not the two combined.
For titles, any subtitle would be available to use too."

Ok, that is what I figured, but like I said I wanted to double check.
Thanks 🤓

No problem! Have a wonderful day!!

Can you do this challenge simultaneously with the marathon challenge and other monthly task or is this too much for someone?

Just checking before signing up...don't wont to take on too much and get overwhelmed.

It's not too much. Even though it's labeled a six- month challenge, you can continue working on it after the end of the year if you want to.

Erica wrote: "It's not too much. Even though it's labeled a six- month challenge, you can continue working on it after the end of the year if you want to."

I can use the same book for both the Marathon and Birdwatching if it fits?

Yes you may!

Do you have do the bird's task in order. For example can i do the #3 bird's task before the #1 bird.
Thanks and
Happy 4th of Julgy🇺🇸

You can go in any order you like. Groups are released in sets of five, so all five must be done before you get a new group. But how you complete each group is up to you!

If I start the challenge today, can I use books I finished on 7/1?

If you were less than 50% through the books on July 1, then they can be used.

Erica wrote: "If you were less than 50% through the books on July 1, then they can be used."

I started and ended reading on July 1st.

Thank you.

For the task a. Read a book with a red spot on the cover.
Does the "red spot" need to be something in a round dot? I was unclear if the distinctive spot on the head was a special shape we needed to emulate. Or is any splash of red acceptable?

are some of the ones I was wondering about the red on the cover fitting. If I am thinking too hard on it I apologize, I sometimes get too far into my own head. 🤓

Something more roundish is best - so the partial lips on Psychic Eye are okay (but a full set of lips would veer too far off from resembling a spot), and Crimson Storm looks fine. But the others don't really come close to being spots. They are more lines/letters or larger areas of red.

Erica wrote: "Something more roundish is best - so the partial lips on Psychic Eye are okay (but a full set of lips would veer too far off from resembling a spot), and Crimson Storm looks fine. But the others do..."

Ok, glad I asked.
Thanks

I have a feeling that this is mentioned somewhere and I'm just not seeing it so I'll ask: Is it one task per bird or all the tasks per bird? Thanks

No worries! It's just one task per bird.

Erica wrote: "No worries! It's just one task per bird."

Whew, lol, that makes life a little easier! Thanks, Erica.

Which thread do I tell you I've completed a set and ready for the next set of birds?

I monitor all the threads, so when you're done with a set just do a new post on your thread so that I see there's a change.

Erica wrote: "I monitor all the threads, so when you're done with a set just do a new post on your thread so that I see there's a change."

👍

For the task d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters JAY in it.
Will you accept subtitles?
Atticus: A Woman’s Journey with the World’s Worst Behaved Dog

I'm going to say yes to the example you provide since GR uses the subtitle in its title even though the cover doesn't show it.

Great! That’s kind of why I try ought it might work ☺️ thanks !

I finally finished my first set! That darn sparrow was giving me a heck of a time lol.

Sorry Alicia! I just posted your badges and your second set of birds.

Your moderator is stuck in NY, trying to get home. Hurricanes disrupted our flight into O'Hare so we are now at airport #2 hoping to get home later today.
I won't be able to update threads until later tonight at the very earliest. Sorry!

Good luck making it home without too much more hassle.

Thanks!

No worries, Erica! Just take care getting home!

Thanks so much Rissa. We did get home yesterday but only just. We were on the ONLY flight that got out to Chicago. It was not a very easy take off and I am so grateful to the skilled pilot who got us home. Our luggage is still stuck in New York with thousands of other stranded passengers.

Erica wrote: "Thanks so much Rissa. We did get home yesterday but only just. We were on the ONLY flight that got out to Chicago. It was not a very easy take off and I am so grateful to the skilled pilot who got ..."

Oh wow! I am so glad you all got home safely!!!

Is the c-task for 11. Brown Headed Cowbird correct? (c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of B and H)

For the other two bird names with three words it was the first and last initial which was why I at first expected it to be B & C.

Yes that's correct. I was trying to make sure there was variety in the letters for that option, so a few times I went with a "secondary" letter when there were three or more words.

Erica wrote: "Yes that's correct. I was trying to make sure there was variety in the letters for that option, so a few times I went with a "secondary" letter when there were three or more words."

Thank you!

For the task for 18. Chipping Sparrow: b. Read a book where the MC shaves their face frequently

Does this have to actively take place in the book or can we assume a male character who doesn't have facial hair has to shave frequently? I'm not sure how we justify this one for you.

A character described as clean-shaven is okay I guess, but when I wrote this one it was meant to mimic a characteristic of the Chipping Sparrow - so at least one scene where the character is actually shaving is more what I was thinking. All children lack facial hair and that does not match the Chipping Sparrow's replacement of throat feathers multiple times a year. This one is pretty obscure but that's why there are 3 other ways to find this bird! It was rather challenging to come up with different tasks for all the different birds without lots of boring repeats...

When I read LaurLa's question I was thinking how rarely I have seen that described in books even from the male POV in a back and forth romance even when they have the female POV do hair and makeup.
It is actually sort of strange, how opposite things can be.

Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "When I read LaurLa's question I was thinking how rarely I have seen that described in books even from the male POV in a back and forth romance even when they have the female POV do hair and makeup.
It is actually sort of strange, how opposite things can be."

LOL!

I wanted to double check a cover because I disagree with TinEye regarding a color name :-D

11. Brown Headed Cowbird - b. Read a book whose cover is more than 50% brown and black. Broken Souls by Andi Rhodes 3* 9/15 (68.9 % Black & 13.7 % Brown (though TinEye calls it Grey - verification link: https://labs.tineye.com/color/7cc27ba...)

Would this work for you?

Yes that is fine.

Erica wrote: "Yes that is fine."

Thank you!

Thanks for a great challenge, Erica. The bird badges are very fine.

You are very welcome!

Hi Erica, I posted my next 5 completions back on 9/28. I know you were traveling for a bit so just wanted you to know in case you missed the notification.

Thanks for pointing that out Bobbi. All fixed now. My apologies!!

I got my set of 4 birds pictures. Is that the final set? I thought there were 5? Just checking to see what the next tasks are to receive bird set 5.

Oh no!! I thought I posted set 5 for you when I did your badges for set 4. I'm so sorry. I'll fix as soon as I get home from work. There are 6 sets total.