The November 2011 ReadAThing Planning Thread

(Edited parts)

There was much discussion in the August Feedback thread about what people did & did not like about the August ReadAThing. There were many ideas & suggestions made and should be considered when planning this read. Please read the thread & bring your wants, needs, desires, concerns & suggestions here.

The feedback thread for the August ReadaThing is here:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/121814

IIRC, the request was to have the November ReadaThing scheduled for the first weekend.... at least the first weekend, perhaps longer.

There has also been a request for a theme read... so, I'm going to repost what I said on the feedback thread:

My concern with a theme is that the group is international & multicultural and it is important to me that we allow & encourage everyone to participate. If we do seasonal, there are two seasons going on, north & south of the equator.... holidays are mostly national or cultural...

But if the themes were more on a subject basis... business books: fiction or non-fiction... or history: fiction or non-fiction.... books on time, including time travel or how time affects people... or books on books.... or books on a subject (like politics) or fiction where a character is a political figure or a biography of a political figure or a political event....

I also must insist that the option of reading on a theme be OPTIONAL. That anyone can participate without adhering to the theme.

So, let's start this discussion.... read the feedback thread & come back here & let's plan!

#1: The Dates - do we want the same or a similar set-up & length, or do we want shorter or longer?

#2: Theme - do we want or need a theme?

and I'm going to drop the booklist.... we have the threads to do that and all of us can edit our posts so if our books change, then we can edit as need be.

A note: I'm going to be extremely busy for the next two weeks AND I'm going to have limited internet access on some days. Keep it going & I'll check as often as I can.... and I definitely want & need some volunteers for various parts.... Please PM me if you are willing to help. Thanks!!

I think the theme idea is fun, but as you say, should be optional.

I like the theme idea being optional. I am fine with any dates and time. If I can fit reading into it I will join and if not I will try to.

Oi... November....

I don't know if everyone is looking to do this on just a Saturday & Sunday again. So these are the weekend dates for November:

November 5, 6 (Daylight Savings ends this weekend)
November 12, 13
November 19, 20 (weekend before Thanksgiving (USA))
November 26, 27 (Thanksgiving weekend(USA))

Anyone with suggestions please post them in here.

Would like to put in a vote for NOT putting it on the Thanksgiving weekend, as I will not have any time to read at all the entire weekend. :-(

Can we make it longer? A week? Or at least 3-4 days?

In the US, the first weekend with Daylights Savings Time ending, adds a hour to the reading so maybe that would be best.

>6 staffordcastle: I think Thanksgiving is one weekend that won't work for many. I don't know if doing it in the middle of that week would work for anyone.

>7 AnnieMod: AnnieMod I like the idea of making it longer.

>8 cyderry: That would be great. We just need to know what time everyone changes. Being on the East Coast I know that at 2:00 am on Sunday morning (Saturday night) the clocks fall back an hour so it would be 1:00 am again.

Skittles said she can work that out later if we choose to do it that first weekend.

I like playing with numbers and I was considering the time zones & fun stuff like that...

3 days is 72 hours... 4 days is 96 hours.... 96 is four hours short of 100 hours.

What if we had a 100 hour ReadaThing?

Not that people have to read the entire 100 hours, but that LTer's & their friends & families would be combining to continually be reading during the 100 hour ReadaThing!!

I'm thinking a Thursday to Monday duration (depending on your location).

I'm almost asleep, so I'll respond to stuff in the morning.

OK, the resounding silence says that a 100 hour ReadaThing is NOT a good idea.

I'm fine with that.... just threw the idea out to see if it would float..... it sank like a lead balloon.

Any other ideas?? Suggestions?

Why did you decide that after 12 hours only noone likes the 100 hours idea?:)

well, if they do, they can let me know... but the dead silence seemed a little.... dead.

sorta like the saying that I heard many times growing up: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything."

I am fine with doing 100 hour read-a-thing. I was asleep at about the time that post was posted and didn't check again until now.

Starting on a Thursday give people that maybe can't participate on just a weekend a chance to join in.

>13 skittles:

You gave them less than 24 hours. You know... people do things like sleeping or working occasionally:)

I want a longer one... so a 100 hours one sounds like a good plan. We can try to get 100 participants... and 100 different authors or 100 people reading 100 pages each from books from 100 different authors... or something

I'd rather the readthon be longer. 100 hours is fine. My issue is that November is NaNoWriMo and my focus will be there. As a result, I'd also be happier with days later in the month, after I've gone wild and spent a couple of weeks living, eating and breathing NaNo and be ready for a break.

It works for me! This is just the first time since my last post that I had time to get on LT!

Sounds good to me.

OK, I was wrong!! **bows head in abject shame**

I'm sorry!

I realize that NaNoWriMo is in November, but for most people who gave feedback to the August read preferred the November 5th-ish weekend. The UK has Guy Fawkes(?) that weekend, but I'm not sure how much that will interfere.

I'm leaning toward one of the first two weekends.

But, the end of the month is bad for the US readers... or most US readers.

Please post your preferences here or PM my profile or Crazy4Reading's profile.

We'll give it until Monday to see what people prefer.
If someone could put up a poll again, that would be great!!

**shuffles off**

I vote for 100 hours too!
I don't care which weekend in November - though earlier may be better; that way it is not so close to December madness down here. :)

Thanks Lman for posting the polls!!

I am loving this.
I like the 100 hour ReadaThing idea.
I don't like the Themed ReadaThing.
I do like the first weekend of November for the ReadaThing.
I hate the wikki thingy ma bob sign up/whatever because you have to go behind me and clean up my mess. :-( (makes me feel guilty)
I am thinking "C'mon November!~!" :-)

Belva, I have felt the same way about the wiki. I have finally learned to not worry about making mistakes since it doesn't affect anything significant on LT. I have felt guilty about the mistakes I have made in the wiki.

I can't wait for November. Maybe I will just take those days off from work so that I can do nothing but read... :)

>25 rainpebble:,26
Mistakes can be fixed. Wiki has a history log so no matter what you do, it is fixable

Besides -- it won't break anything.

Yes I have learned that it is fixable and I am now more comfortable with it then before.

Yay ReadAThing! Different places change their clocks at different times. Here in the UK, we go back to GMT on 30th October. Reading through the clock changes could be fun, although I always find it a bit odd watching digital clocks jump back an hour. Mind you, I also get freaked out by my oven clock, which says 24.00 at midnight, and I once flew over the International Date Line and I've never worked out whether or not this means that I'm going to die a day earlier or later than I otherwise would have done.

This has turned into a massive ramble, I'm sorry! Early November would be lovely for a spot of hardcore reading. A hundred-hour read sounds like a great idea!

>26 crazy4reading: 'welcome. :)

Nobody - IMHO - need worry about anything except what books to read for this ReadaThing.
Everything else is fixable (especially a Wiki - as Annie noted), sortable, and flexible.
Massive rambles are welcome - I love having so many readers participating from all over the world.

That's my only concern - every one who wants to, does so; whether with a theme, at a certain time...or not.
I hope we get lots!

I think we will get a really good turn out. People love these if they know they are happening so I am going to mention it on my 75 gig thread and also will mention it to the Virago group. I am so looking forward to it and here it is only September. Oh well, that gives me plenty of time to plan what I would like to read during the November ReadaThing.
hugs all round,
~belva

Well we need to have you guys vote for the weekend to do this readathing. I will be posting some polls for you to vote.

Publicity-wise, the second weekend (12-13) will be difficult for us; I'll be giving a talk that week in upstate NY, then will be in Boston for the antiquarian book fair and not online much at all in the days leading up to the weekend (or the weekend itself). So if that makes a difference ...

I only entered the weekend dates. We may start on an earlier day to reach 100 hours or go after Sunday too. Take that into consideration when voting.
If more then one weekend will work out for you then vote for it.

So Please vote in the above polls!!

I like either or (earlier or later) on the 100 hours. I think it will give people a lot more flexibility with the ReadaThing and R/L intervening as it always seems to.
Thank you for the polls. It's nice to give us a voice. :-)

This is for everyone so we need all to vote on this.

Thanks Jeremy for that information. Publicity is one thing that will help readathing be successful.

Yes, there's lots yet to plan & lots of decisions to be made,

but WE NEED TO KNOW what everyone wants/needs/craves for this ReadaThing!!

I've been accused of mind-reading, but I really can't read minds (don't want to either) so TELL US!!

So, please vote for the weekend that works best for you!

And, comments are always welcome!!

If you want to comment privately, you can also PM me on my profile page.

- - - - - - - - -

Also, I still need some more volunteers to help. Wiki editors are needed & I would like to have some people not in the US to help as well. Savvy computer skills not needed....

and, I need someone who is ok to really good with graphics to clean up the ReadaThing graphic. I made a rough version, but I don't have the drawing, editing tools or skills to fix it to look its best! I've got a file that I can send out next week.

- - - - - - - - -

Oh, yes!! We also need a lot of READERS!! Lots & lots of readers to read during ReadaThing!!

Decisions & Announcements will be next week.

Thanks!

I said "No" to the first weekend because the logistics of designing a schedule that will work for both folks changing their clocks for the end of daylight savings time AND everyone else seemed problematic to me . . . That said, I may have to sit this one out anyway . . . long day of Wagner opera Live in HD on the 5th, another opera on the 19th (which for me dictates saving the entire next day for rest) . . . Thanksgiving after that . . . so really the only weekend that would work for me is the 12-13 . . . BTW, for some folks in the US that is a long weekend because of Veteran's Day. . . .
Just some info to throw into the discussion . . . no need to work around me . . . just voicing possible issues.
If the RT does indeed run for 100 hours, I'll try to find at least one hour to read, but may not sign up.

Thanks again for the advanced planning and discussion!!

The more readers, the more discussion. The more discussion, the more fun. I know that planning ahead makes a huge difference in the success & smoothness of a ReadaThing or a Read-a-Thon either one for me.

I posted a link in my challenge threads so hopefully some people will stop by to join in.

I will try to make any weekend work out for me.

Ditto here crazy.

a quick FYI: working around DST changes will not be a problem for whatever weekend we choose.

>45 skittles: Whatever . . . You've obviously never lived in a border town near Illinois-Indiana or Indiana-Ohio back when Indiana never changed times but those other states did . . . It's not as simple as you may think. But like I said, I'll be skipping this one if it's on that weekend.

When we are talking for something like the ReadAThing - it is actually that simple

Living in border areas or flying around the time of the change from changing to non-changing airport or vice versa can get interesting :)

However...........I think a little flexibility could be allowed if there are issues. Perhaps you could just use someone else's time zone. I don't really see the value in making a big deal out of a time conversion and I think that doing so could really spoil a good time for you.
hugs,
~belva

Just wanted you to know I used Crazys link to get here. I will be doing nanowrimo too but am going to schedule a break at the time needed for the readathon.

Time seems to be moving along quickly to November. I can't wait. Gonna turn off the phones and tell the family I am out of touch for the duration. Yea!~!

Hello, hellO............is there anybody OUT there???????
(my not very clever take on Pink Floyd )

I'm here, but I'm still treading water trying not to go under....

I should find the shore tomorrow & get back to regular online access....

and my beloved books!!!

(if this post doesn't make sense, I've been overwhelmed with RL & an project for the past few weeks. But the end is in sight!!)

Look for The Announcement later this week!!

Am all for making some sort of theme... And if we're worried on picking a theme, then the theme can be a challenge theme, based on some LT challenge group you're in or a "make your own" theme, where you'd... just read whatever you wanted. *shrug*

Am pretty much okay for the rest of everything... including making it as long as possible. Even on my most busy days, I can always take an hour out to read before bed. ;)

Ohhhhhhhh, the ANNOUNCEMENT............
**excited**

I'm out here too ! Just busy taking care of my puppies. There are 7 left. They are so big now. Yes I am so excited about nanowrimo. It will be a challenge with the pups but I will just do the best I can.
I love the support of all the other writers and the website
I'm not sure what a theme would entail but I am reading two books now that would do just fine. I'll try to get back sooner so I don't miss our start time.

What kind of puppies do you have mm?

I have 7 American Bulldog puppies and they are wonderful, smart, good-looking and loving puppies! It is physically and mentally exhausting to care for them but I think that is why God made them so darn cute, don't you. They are around 40 pounds or so right now. So far we have only sold 2 although we have gotten a number of calls. People are looking for certain colors, etc. and some folks do not fill the bill for me. I am quite selective about who can have one of my pups as I am quite concerned about where they will spend the rest of their life. It is hard to give them up at the same time that I am grateful when they find a good home. We had a lovely couple on the way home from their honeymoon pick up a green-eyed fawn coated beauty this weekend. They drove her home to Syracuse New York and she is doing great. I spend an enormous amount of time caring for them as they need to be exercised daily and fed 3 times a day as well as having their crates cleaned. I am actually losing weight pretty quickly so I guess that is a good thing, right? Rain, do you have a novel that you have been working on for Nanowrimo or do you start fresh in Nvember or were you referring to the read-a-thon ? In which case, do you know what I am talking about? (National Novel Writing Month?)I am thinking about writing about the puppies since they fill my every waking moment anyway. Or maybe I shouldn't so that I can really escape when I am writing. I am reading a biography on Raymond Carver right now and was lucky enough to pick up one on Flannery O'Connor, one on Truman Capote and one on John Cheever recently so I am excited. I love to read about writer's lives. The Carver book is exceptionally good. The woman who wrote it is Carol Skelniczak, think I have the last name right. I find they are usually inspirational as they point out the reality behind the work it requires to get your work published. I still think that I will be able to take time out to do the read-a-thon though as I will need a break whenever it comes. The writing is quite intensive.

I'm sorry, but the insanity of the past few weeks carried into this week. I'm going to gather the votes & the time charts & so forth & post this weekend.

I thank everyone for their patience.

That is okay skittles. We all have real life responsibilities that get in the way of our fun times. Let me know if you need any help.

mmignano11 > Thanks for explaining what the Nanowrimo meant. I never knew what that stood for. I personally have never tried to write a novel. Afraid of how bad I would do... :) Good luck on finding homes for your American Bulldog puppies.

Please, I need a few wikipage editors & monitors for before the RaT & during it, too.

'Moderately good' is fine because we have some really good ones, too!! (or we will once they volunteer to help)

and trust me on this, I'm barely moderately good at the wikipage. I am a firm believer in "copy & paste" editing!!

I will help with the wikipage. I am getting better at using the wiki.

buzz me if you need help - I can always help with the Wiki

Thanks to you both.

Annie, could you add a line to the wiki page putting yourself & crazy4reading as wikipage helpers? Somewhere near the top where your names will be seen?

Thanks!

A note about volunteers for the ReadaThing: A great quantity of time is not necessary. If you want to help in a small way, that's great. If you can do more, that's also great.

A lot of people also help in small ways without officially volunteering and it is appreciated.

Whatever anyone can do to help is appreciated.

Thanks.

I can help out as well, although I'm far from an expert.

@ #57
mm;
Sorry to confuse you but I was referring to the ReadaThing. I don't write except for schoolwork and journaling.
The puppies sound adorable.

>63 skittles:

After I got back from flying around as a crazy person and having all kind of airports(and airlines) misadventures during the last weekend.... Looking at it now. :)

How does this look like:
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/ReadathonNovember2011#Need_help.3F

Great job AnnieMod!!

Looks great! Thanks, Annie!

Annie, you are a ROCKSTAR!~!

Just wanted to bump this up so people know that we are still planning the November Readathing.

Oh, yes, we are still planning & getting stuff ready....

WOOT WOOT!~!~!

Let me know if you need help! But I won't be helpful with wiki stuff.