It’s hard to believe it’s March 1st already! This has been a very weird (and mild) winter for us, so I keep waiting for that big snowstorm we usually get every year, but it hasn’t yet come. And it’s running out of time, because spring is just a few weeks away. And, as we all know, along with spring comes Spring Reading Thing 2012! I hope that many of you plan to participate this year. I know I’m looking forward to it!

Here are the basics, in case you are new to my reading challenges:

Essentially, Spring Reading Thing 2012 is a fun, low-pressure reading challenge open to anyone and everyone. It will take place March 20th-June 20th (which is, not-so-coincidentally, the spring of 2012).

If you’d like to participate, here’s what you need to do:

• Create a list of some books you’d like to read or finish this spring.

• Feel free to set some additional reading goals (such as reading to your kids two hours per week, getting through your pile of magazines, etc.). This is completely optional.

• Write a blog post including the list of books you want to read and any additional goals you’ve set, and get ready to post it on your blog by March 20th.

• Visit this blog on Tuesday, March 20th to sign up. I’ll have a Mr. Linky set up that morning, so you can submit a link to your personal Spring Reading Thing post, and it will be added to the master list.

• Read! Work on your goals throughout Spring 2012.

• Report your results. Write another blog post in June to let everyone know how you did.

• Have fun! Visit other participants to see what they’re reading. Write reviews if you’re so inclined. But most of all, enjoy your spring reading.

When I host my biyearly reading challenges, I usually receive several emails from people asking, “Do I really have to make a list of specific books? Can’t I just set some other goals? Or can’t I decide what to read as I go along?” Here’s the answer:

While you are certainly allowed to set other goals, you really must make a list of books in order to participate in Spring Reading Thing 2012.

I began my challenges in 2006, and all along, the most fun part for the participants — the aspect of my challenges that participants get most excited about — is the fact that we can all check out the other participants’ lists. It’s so fun to see what others plan to read, discover new books and authors, and hop over to Amazon or GoodReads or other sites to learn more about the books we see on the Spring Reading Thing participant lists.

Of course, I’m completely open to your list changing as the challenge goes along. That’s not a problem. But you do have to start off with a list of books you plan or hope to read/finish this spring. I know that making lists and engaging in planned reading is not for everyone. I get that. So if the thought of making a list really bugs you, please know that there are lots of blog-based reading challenges out there. Just do a search and you’ll surely find one that fits your reading personality!

A brief Q & A

Q. What is the point of this whole thing?

A. I started these twice-yearly challenges because I thought it would be fun to share my love of reading with other bloggers and to push myself to read some books I might not otherwise read, or to finish some books I had started and then abandoned & stashed under my bed. I thought there were probably others out there who would appreciate the accountability and encouragement that a challenge like this can provide. And along the way, I discovered there were lots of people who — whether they needed the extra push or not — loved to share what they planned or hoped to read during the upcoming months.

So that’s the point: sharing some reading goals with all the other participants and doing it in a way that works for you. If you want to push yourself, go for it! Or if you just want to share what you’re hoping to get around to reading before summer, that works too. The most important thing is to read this spring, to enjoy it, and to share that enjoyment with others.

Q. What if I don’t have much time to read and I only set a goal to read 2 books? Is that lame?

A. No, it’s not lame! Whether your list includes two books or thirty-two books doesn’t matter to me. Make the challenge work for you. Be reasonable. Maybe try to stretch yourself a little. But don’t stress about it. This is supposed to be fun.

Q. What if I get half-way through the challenge, realize it’s not working for me, and I want to change my list/goals? Does that mean I lose?

A. No! I don’t mind one bit if you change your list part-way through the challenge. The point of my challenges is to provide a fun and easy way for you to set some goals, work toward them, and enjoy reading. If your original list isn’t working for you, you’re likely to be miserable, which would completely defeat the point. Rework your list/goals and keep on reading.

Q. Do I have to review the books I read?

A. Nope, no reviews required. To be honest, I usually don’t write reviews of the books I read during these challenges.

Remember: Katrina’s reading challenges are low-to-no-pressure.

Q. What should I write in my post that has my list and goals? Is there any special format?

A. Nope. As long as you include your goal-list of books, it’s entirely up to you. You might want to check out last year’s challenge page and visit some participants to see how they did it, if you’re not sure where to start.

Q. Do you have a graphic we can put in our sidebars?

A. Yes! Check out the bottom of this post for the code.

Q. Where can we get more information?

A. Well, you already have just about all the information you need. Check back here regularly, though — I’ll give you a few posting guidelines next week, just a few to-do’s that I ask you to abide by if you decide to be part of Spring Reading Thing 2012. And feel free to leave a comment here if you have a specific question I haven’t yet addressed.

:::::::::::::::

SRT ’12 Button

Feel free to use the code below to put the Spring Reading Thing 2012 button on your sidebar or in a blog post, or just grab the graphic from my sidebar. Spread the word!

 

:::::::::::::::::::::

Okay, that’s enough babbling from me. It’s time for you to start making your list. Go peruse your bookshelves, visit the library, check behind your nightstand for lost or abandoned books, and decide what you’d like to read this spring. See you soon!