SIGN-UP: 2011 Book Club: Alphabet Soup
I can't believe I announced the theme for the 2011 Book Club all the way back in August! That seems FOREVER ago, but probably because so much has happened since. But enough of that, let's focus on the present instead of the past. Well, actually, let's focus on the future.
As you know, for 2011, I'm not doing monthly themes, which is a good thing, because I think I need a year's break from thinking them up! Instead, the year-long theme will be Alphabet Soup, in which each poll selection will come from my TBR Pile and will be presented in alphabetical order. So January will be A-D, February will be E-H, and so on and so forth. But, since we vote on titles two months in advance, January's poll will be next month, so it's time to buckle down and talk about some administrative changes to the book club.
Sounds scary, right? It's not. Ultimately, I'm trying to make it easier on myself to track participation, and while this sounds counter-productive, I'm introducing a year-long sign-up post NOW in addition to the monthly, "here's your selection, sign up if you're participating!" posts that you'll get through-out the year.
Why?
Those who sign up in the Master Sign-Up get a few perks.
1) They're the only ones eligible for points-related giveaways.
2) They get points for participating, which makes them eligible for points-related giveaways.
3) They get to suggest titles for upcoming polls.
4) They'll get to sign up for various reminders (when to vote, when the discussion is up, when I want suggestions for the next poll, etc).
And I'm sure I'll think of more.
Now, I know it's unfair to ask you to sign up when you have NO IDEA what books will be selected through-out the year. Sure, you can look at my current TBR pile, but that changes all the time, and I'm not going to ask participants to track down titles that are out of print or part of a series (unless it's book #1). So let me answer a few questions:
Do I have to sign up for the whole year?
When you sign up on the Master List, you're automatically signed up for every month for the whole year. This way, when I post monthly sign-ups, you don't have to sign up again. In fact, you won't have to comment at all unless you want to tell me that you definitely won't be participating in that particular month.
Do I have to actually participate for the whole year?
No. You can sign up now and only participate 6 out of 12 months, 3 out of 12 months, or even once the whole year! Signing up simply ensures giveaway eligibility and gives you a say in what ends up in the polls.
What if I sign up and I never participate? Am I still eligible for the points-related giveaways?
Silly rabbit, no… if you have zero points when a giveaway comes up, you won't be eligible, because you have no points.
What if I participate but don't sign up on the Master List?
If you're not on the Master List, you won't be eligible for points-related giveaways.
So this is it? Sign up or die?
Not at all! You can sign up NOW or two months from now or six months from now or whenever. Every time someone signs up for a specific month, I'll remind them to sign up at the Master List so they can get the perks. :) If they don't want the perks, they can still participate whenever they want.
But I don't HAVE to sign up, right?
No, you don't. You can participate as you always have, sign up during the months that interest you, and that will be that. Nothing will be different. I might remind you to sign up on the Master List so that you're eligible for points-related giveaways, but if you're not interested in those, you can just tell me to stuff it. :)
What about Dares?
Yes, I mentioned dares in my original post. The same applies to dares as it does to the monthly challenges. To get points for participating, sign up on the Master List.
But we can participate in both the monthly challenges AND the monthly dares WITHOUT signing up on the Master List, right?
Absolutely!
I hope this covers any questions you might have regarding how the 2011 challenge works. More details will come about the dares, but those will be books I've already read and will be treated really informally. The point there is to get more people to read books that I think are fantastic. :)
So, have I scared you away from the 2011 Book Club yet, or are you excited? Ready to sign up? Then click the link below!
Sign up for the 2011 Book Club HERE
Remember: if you ever need to change your preferences, just let me know and I'll be happy to do so!
2011 Book Club List
January: Lois McMaster Bujold: The Curse of Chalion
February: Octavia E. Butler: Fledgling
March: Patrick Ness: The Knife of Never Letting Go
April: Robert A. Heinlein: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
May: Neal Stephenson: Snow Crash
June: Nnedi Okorafor: Who Fears Death
July: Max Brooks: World War Z
Thank you, everyone, and please, comment if you have questions!
As you know, for 2011, I'm not doing monthly themes, which is a good thing, because I think I need a year's break from thinking them up! Instead, the year-long theme will be Alphabet Soup, in which each poll selection will come from my TBR Pile and will be presented in alphabetical order. So January will be A-D, February will be E-H, and so on and so forth. But, since we vote on titles two months in advance, January's poll will be next month, so it's time to buckle down and talk about some administrative changes to the book club.
Sounds scary, right? It's not. Ultimately, I'm trying to make it easier on myself to track participation, and while this sounds counter-productive, I'm introducing a year-long sign-up post NOW in addition to the monthly, "here's your selection, sign up if you're participating!" posts that you'll get through-out the year.
Why?
Those who sign up in the Master Sign-Up get a few perks.
1) They're the only ones eligible for points-related giveaways.
2) They get points for participating, which makes them eligible for points-related giveaways.
3) They get to suggest titles for upcoming polls.
4) They'll get to sign up for various reminders (when to vote, when the discussion is up, when I want suggestions for the next poll, etc).
And I'm sure I'll think of more.
Now, I know it's unfair to ask you to sign up when you have NO IDEA what books will be selected through-out the year. Sure, you can look at my current TBR pile, but that changes all the time, and I'm not going to ask participants to track down titles that are out of print or part of a series (unless it's book #1). So let me answer a few questions:
Do I have to sign up for the whole year?
When you sign up on the Master List, you're automatically signed up for every month for the whole year. This way, when I post monthly sign-ups, you don't have to sign up again. In fact, you won't have to comment at all unless you want to tell me that you definitely won't be participating in that particular month.
Do I have to actually participate for the whole year?
No. You can sign up now and only participate 6 out of 12 months, 3 out of 12 months, or even once the whole year! Signing up simply ensures giveaway eligibility and gives you a say in what ends up in the polls.
What if I sign up and I never participate? Am I still eligible for the points-related giveaways?
Silly rabbit, no… if you have zero points when a giveaway comes up, you won't be eligible, because you have no points.
What if I participate but don't sign up on the Master List?
If you're not on the Master List, you won't be eligible for points-related giveaways.
So this is it? Sign up or die?
Not at all! You can sign up NOW or two months from now or six months from now or whenever. Every time someone signs up for a specific month, I'll remind them to sign up at the Master List so they can get the perks. :) If they don't want the perks, they can still participate whenever they want.
But I don't HAVE to sign up, right?
No, you don't. You can participate as you always have, sign up during the months that interest you, and that will be that. Nothing will be different. I might remind you to sign up on the Master List so that you're eligible for points-related giveaways, but if you're not interested in those, you can just tell me to stuff it. :)
What about Dares?
Yes, I mentioned dares in my original post. The same applies to dares as it does to the monthly challenges. To get points for participating, sign up on the Master List.
But we can participate in both the monthly challenges AND the monthly dares WITHOUT signing up on the Master List, right?
Absolutely!
I hope this covers any questions you might have regarding how the 2011 challenge works. More details will come about the dares, but those will be books I've already read and will be treated really informally. The point there is to get more people to read books that I think are fantastic. :)
So, have I scared you away from the 2011 Book Club yet, or are you excited? Ready to sign up? Then click the link below!
Sign up for the 2011 Book Club HERE
Remember: if you ever need to change your preferences, just let me know and I'll be happy to do so!
2011 Book Club List
January: Lois McMaster Bujold: The Curse of Chalion
February: Octavia E. Butler: Fledgling
March: Patrick Ness: The Knife of Never Letting Go
April: Robert A. Heinlein: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
May: Neal Stephenson: Snow Crash
June: Nnedi Okorafor: Who Fears Death
July: Max Brooks: World War Z
Thank you, everyone, and please, comment if you have questions!