Red Dress Ink Fans discussion

Ok, so there's a huge lack of participation in the challenges from what there used to be. I don't know if they've just run their course, or if it's because not very may members particularly liked this one (for that, I'm sorry). The creativity well is pretty much empty. Please - I need ideas for the next challenge, please feel free to post your ideas here and make sure you note if it is a 1, 2, or 3 book task.

Unless - you're not interested in participating in the challenges anymore, feel free to drop a note about that too - either in this thread, or pm me.

Also, I'm open to suggestions if the layout has gotten tired and you'd like to see some changes made to that.

I like the challenges. I seem to be missing every other one. I will try to come up with some ideas.

Thanks Alicia! I appreciate it. It seems like now that I actually have things to do at work, I don't have as much time to think of new tasks. LOL

I love the challenges. This one is harder for a couple reasons. Work is crazy right now. (Seriously almost all our equipment malfunctioned when we moved in with the other TV station the company acquired.) I also don't own like 90% of the books on the lists and have read a surprising number of them already. I tend not to re-read unless I loved a book. I also haven't gotten around to figuring out where the library is and getting a card (I moved at the end of 2014) because I've been so focused on work.

I'll think up some ideas though. I kind of like easy ones like "read a book by the pool."

I really get in a reading slump in the late spring/early summer because I'm always outside & busy! Here are a few challenge task ideas. What do you think? I tried to include examples that would fit each task.....

1. What’s Your Name?—Read a book with a proper name in the title (i.e. We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver, The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin)

2. Above The Law—Read a book with a legal theme (i.e. The Firm by John Grisham, Defending Jacob by William Landay)

3. Eye See You—Read a book with a close-up of someone’s eye on the cover (i.e. One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf, The Host by Stephenie Meyer)

4. Seriously Series—Read three books from a series; not all three have to be from the same series, just three series books (i.e. Woman’s Murder Club Series by James Patterson, Pretty Little Liars Series by Sara Shepard)

5. Where Ya Goin’???—Read a book that has a form of transportation on the cover (i.e. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks, Swapping Lives by Jane Green)

6. Hey Baby!—Read a book with a baby or small child on the cover

7. A to Z—Read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with A and one whose first or last name starts with Z

I was thinking too maybe once we come up with task ideas you let the person chose if they want it to count for 5, 10, 15 or 25 points. So you just give the tasks and just tell everyone you need to read one book for 5,two for 15, three for 25 maybe make the 10 ones permanent tasks or set ones you have to do? Like Red Dress Ink could be 1, a book off a certain list or a book that has been on TBR list for over 2 years or something.

Since the next one will start with October-

1. Read a book involving Halloween
2. Read a book published in October
3. Read a book by an author born in October
4. Read a book with something Halloween-related on the cover
5. Read a book involving ghosts

These all sound like great ideas to me, thanks so much you guys for helping out! Keep them coming!

And Alicia - I like your idea of choosing how many books for a task. I think we need to keep it to a set number of of each type so the points aren't all over the board. Like, you can only choose four 25 point tasks and four 15 point tasks. Maybe we skip the five point tasks altogether and just go with 10 points? I think there's only been one time where someone has read all of the books in the challenge. And I think 32 books in three months is still a bit of a challenge. If more than one person does read all 32 books and finishes the challenge, I'll award both (or all, but hopefully not too many, lol) with a $10 gift card.

Stacy,
I have so many books that are required of me to read right now. That is the only reason that I am not participating. I think the current challenge is a good idea. I am just sorry that I am unable to participate. :( As for other ideas...hmm. We could go back to pop sugar and do the ones we didn't cover before.

I like Nicole's idea of October/Halloween themed books. Her idea could be expanded to include November/Thanksgiving & December/Christmas as well!

1. Read a book with an original publication date in November (any year)
2. Read a book with food on the cover
3. Read a book by an author with a November bday
4. Read a book from the historical fiction genre

5. Read a book with an original publication date in December (any year)
6. Read a Christmas or Winter-themed book
7. Read a book with a Christmas item on the cover (i.e., Tree, Gift, Ornament, etc)
8. Read a book by an author with a December bday

Another idea (sorry for the multiple posts):

Read a book whose title or author's first or last name begins with the letter O (for October)

Read a book whose title or author's first or last name begins with the letter N (for November)

Read a book whose title or author's first or last name begins with the letter D (for December)

I still like the challenges! I just don't like that I'll never win. :( I just can't read that many books that quickly. I'm not saying you should make the challenges easier, but... I just feel like why bother? Is there a way to make the challenges still competitive, but not entirely based on the number of books read?

I didn't participate this round because I always have a list of books to read and none of them would fit into any of the categories.

There was one challenge you did that was basically like - group A was the first 10 books you added on Goodreads, group B was any 10 on your to-read list, etc. Do you remember that? You could always do something simple like that if you run out of ideas.

Hi! I'm new here (well..not on GR, but in this group)...I used to love reading the Red Dress books and somehow stumbled upon this group in the last couple weeks. I've never done a challenge like you guys are talking about but I'd love to join in when one starts up if that's ok! :)

Keep the posts coming! I'm loving the ideas!

Suzanne - yes, that was one of the first few challenges. We can definitely try that again sometime. I think I remember that one didn't get a lot of participation....I think it was too confining (probably kind of like the current challenge) or something. Maybe we can come up with a way to make it more open and rotate between that and the regular challenges.

Shelby wrote: "Hi! I'm new here (well..not on GR, but in this group)...I used to love reading the Red Dress books and somehow stumbled upon this group in the last couple weeks. I've never done a challenge like ..."

Hi Shelby, welcome to the group! Feel free to join in on this challenge any time if you'd like. Or, you can wait and join the next one that will start October 1st. Feel free to look through past challenges and toss out some ideas.

We used to have a monthly or quarterly read of an RDI book, but that kind of fell by the wayside in the last year. :( Maybe next year, I'll try to get that going again.

One idea Stacy is to just go back & repeat the challenges from the beginning.....then you don't have to come up with new ideas :)

I really do think you should get rid of the 5 pointers and then just list tasks and say you are allowed to X amount of 25 point tasks, but to get 25 points you need to read 3 books per task.

I've done that a time or two, Julie. It's a good idea, and definitely something I can do again.

I think I'm definitely going to get rid of the 5 point tasks. And I believe I will try your suggestion Alicia. :)

Stacy, I love the challenges! I was in a reading slump a little while ago and just picked it up. But now I might wait for the next one - not sure yet. But anyway, please keep 'em coming if you can!! :) I'll think of some ideas and send them to you as well. :)

Great, thanks Bianca! The encouragement is definitely welcome! (As are the ideas!)

Here's a thought - what if everyone that's interested signs up to set up a challenge. I'll still keep score, but if you're interested, you can come up with a challenge.

I'll finish out the year because I am planning to make changes to the format, but let's make next year up to you guys. Does that sound ok? It can be first come, first challenge. So whomever responds first will get the 1st quarter, second will get the 2nd quarter, and so on.

Stacy wrote: "Here's a thought - what if everyone that's interested signs up to set up a challenge. I'll still keep score, but if you're interested, you can come up with a challenge.

I'll finish out the year b..."

Stacy, that sounds great! I like that idea. :) I'll take the first quarter. You might need to remind me when it gets closer, though. :)

Awesome! Thanks Bianca, will do!

Did you come up with something for the next challenge? I think it starts soon, right? Just curious because I'm hoping to participate. My reading time will be limited because I got a 2nd job. I had to. I'm moving in with my fiance and our wedding is next year. And things are not going very well with my career. So... we'll see. Reading is my escape!

I would be interested in setting up a challenge maybe sometime next spring.

Suzanne wrote: "Did you come up with something for the next challenge? I think it starts soon, right? Just curious because I'm hoping to participate. My reading time will be limited because I got a 2nd job. I had ..."

That's my plan for this weekend, besides watching football. :) I should have it posted by Sunday night.

Jencey/ wrote: "I would be interested in setting up a challenge maybe sometime next spring."

Awesome Jencey! I'll put you on the list after Bianca. Thank you!

Thank you again everyone for the ideas! It made the next challenge super easy to create!!

Sorry I've been so MIA!!!

Happy to be back to the challenges. Thank you for all that you do, Stacy!! :)

No worries Alex, I know the last challenge was really difficult for everyone. Glad to have you back!!!

So I know I was all for getting rid of the 5 point tasks, but now it is hard to find a way to get all your books to fit. So mmmmaaaybe make all the 5 pointers your choice. Still have to come up with as tasks as there was this month.

Stacy could you send out a reminder when you need it?

Alicia wrote: "So I know I was all for getting rid of the 5 point tasks, but now it is hard to find a way to get all your books to fit. So mmmmaaaybe make all the 5 pointers your choice. Still have to come up wit..."

LOL, I'll leave that up to the person who is doing the challenge. Bianca will take care of Jan - March, and Jencey will take care of Apr - June.

Jencey/ wrote: "Stacy could you send out a reminder when you need it?"

I will definitely do that. I have you both on my Facebook so I can send you a message on there as a reminder also. :)

Stacy wrote: "Jencey/ wrote: "Stacy could you send out a reminder when you need it?"

I will definitely do that. I have you both on my Facebook so I can send you a message on there as a reminder also. :)"

Thanks Stacy!

Stacy wrote: "Jencey/ wrote: "Stacy could you send out a reminder when you need it?"

I will definitely do that. I have you both on my Facebook so I can send you a message on there as a reminder also. :)"

Thanks, Stacy! Yes, please send a reminder when it gets closer. I just thought of an idea that I Facebook messaged you - let me know what you think!