3rd year running and OH I love this challenge! As the host of the weekly What Are you reading meme, I find it awesome that I get to host the WHERE Are You Reading Challenge each year. What is the point of this challenge? It is to try to read in each of the 50 States between January 1 2013 – December 31, 2013.
How do you decide what state a book is categorized under?
1. In a fiction read it would be the State or Country that the book spends the most time in. (Ie. If your main character is from Wisconsin but the book is all about his/her time in college in California – the books should categorize under California….)
2. Non fiction reads categorize in whatever State or Country it is about (Ie…. a book about fly fishing in Colorado is a Colorado point, and a book about women in Afghanistan is an Afghanistan point.
3. If the book goes from one state to another… go with the state that most of the time is spent.
How to get started
Set up a map under Google Maps. It is easy to do! Every time you read a book in 2012, upload a cover picture to Picasa Web Albums (there may be other sites to use, feel free to use what works best for you).
Grab the challenge button here for your posts and sidebar:
Questions?
Do you have to have a blog to participate? No. You can do everything on the map above without linking the book to a review.
Do I have to have my post up by January 1st, 2012? No, but I would think you would want to get started right away at the beginning of the year. However, you will be able to sign up throughout January as well.
How will people see my map? There are a couple of possibilities. On your original challenge post you should have a link to your map. You could also put it on your side bar to draw interest to it (see mine on my left side bar) I will be linking my map to every review I will also set up a monthly link here to post updates if you wish.
I dont get it – I cant figure out how to use Google maps but I really want to participate! No worries! You are welcome to create a challenge post that lists the 50 states (as well as bonus out of USA spots) and then fill them in as you read in the areas.
Do audio books count? ABSOLUTELY!
Once you are ready and have your map set up please create a blog post (those who have blogs) using the Challenge picture of the map I provided above as well as link to this post so others may join in. Then come back and link that post here to Mr Linky (below) so I as well as other participants know that you are participating and we can pop in throughout the year to check out your map and how we are all doing. I will post a linky at the end of each month so participants can check in with their own post of how they are doing. I will offer a $10 amazon gift card to one lucky participant who does a check in post at the end of each month and links it.
This is actually a fun and easy challenge as all books you read qualify and it will be fun to see where you generally read books from as well as searching out books to fill in areas that you need.
For those who have covered the 50 states by the end of 2013, they will go into a drawing for a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble or to Amazon. ** All other areas beyond the 50 states are bonus points and we will have a drawing using random.org for those who read 10 or more books throughout 2013 in that category.
You can see my map I worked on in 2011 here to see what the map looks like and how the pictures link to the reviews. (If you zoom in you will see the individual areas I read in and clicking on the blue pins will show you what book it was and clicking on the picture will take you to the post!
That’s it! Here is a link to tips on how to do it. Any other questions – please leave them in the comments section below.
I can’t wait to see WHERE You Are Reading!
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Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…
* Please enter the link to your post on your blog, not directly to your blog. Thank you 
*If you do not have a blog but wish to participate by creating the map you can link to your map
Book Journey 
Hi Sheila,
I can’t wait to sign up. I have just one more book to read to cover all 50 states and have covered 18 places outside the U.S. I set my map up a little different than yours because I read several books set in the same state. On my map https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?t=m&msa=0&msid=213789431919202149275.0004b371e105da82fa31b&source=embed&ie=UTF8&ll=42.717257,-56.293945&spn=46.314935,198.544922 each pin represents the state and then I list my books read in the description. They are not linked to my reviews but I do assign them each to the Where Are You Reading category on my blog. I have also added a Books By State tab at the top of my blog and each state has its own page with every book I have read linked to Amazon. I have also added a GoodReads Shelf to each page linked to their book list for that state to help others find books to help them complete their map. In 2013 I plan to add an Outside The U.S. tab and assign countries their own pages too. Hopefully I can build a good resource to assist people in your challenge 🙂
Lori
Wow Lori – your map is impressive! 😀
Wow, your map is soooooo awesome! Much better organization method than mine. I’m totally going to steal this for 2013!
I’m going to give this one a try too. Thanks for the challenge!
I linked my post the wrong way.
Here’s the correct link: http://blackliliesaredeadly.blogspot.com/2012/11/2013-where-are-you-reading-challenge.html
Sure, I hope you have fun with this one!
This is a new challenge for me. It will be fun to see all the places I’ve read, even if I don’t manage to hit all the states! Thanks for hosting!
YAY! So glad you are signing up… its fun to see where you read 😀
I failed the map completely in 2012 and am short maybe 20 states 😦 but I’ll try again in 2013…back soon with a link
Always fun to try 😀
Thank you for hosting again. Love this challenge. Even though I didn’t complete it for 2012, I love to see where I have travelled to with my reading. The linky I added is the page of my progress. This is the announcement link: http://cmashlovestoread.com/2012/12/02/2013-challenges/
Chery this is my third year going in and I have yet to finish it… maybe this is the year! 😛
This question is a general one. How do you keep up with reading challenges throughout the year if you are doing several? My New Year’s Resolution is to become better at bloggy organizing so I need all the help I can get! 🙂
Shannon
http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com
Great question Shannon! I try to do challenges that compliment one another and are not a lot of work to keep up with. For instance, the 50 state challenge is just reading what you normally would and keeping track of what state or country they are set in. All books count. The same with a 100 book challenge, you are just keeping track of your books, and for me, an audio book challenge also plays into both my book challenge and where am I reading challenge… so when you choose challenges where books can fit in multiple areas it is easier to meet the challenge…
Of course, it is always easy to get behind keeping up on putting your reading in the right challenges so another key would be not to sign up for so many that you are going to get frustrated and it feels like work. I think the biggest thing is to have fun 😀
I too need to be more pro-active at keeping up with the challenges,
I have a reading blog where I post all my book reviews – http://susans2012books.blogspot.com/ . On that blog I have a separate page for each challenge that I am doing. That helps me keep track of where I am on each challenge.
Headed there now to check it out! Thanks!:)
Great idea Susan!
It works well for me. Most of my challenges are through goodreads and it helps me keep track of where I need to post my books 🙂
This is my first time signing up for your challenge, as well as my first time signing up for any reading challenge, but I sure am excited! This is such a fun challenge, thank you for hosting!
I hope you enjoy it – I have a lot of fun with it 😀
Thanks!
I just signed up. Thanks for hosting this again Sheila! I did awful last year, but I did have fun.
Having fun is really what it is all about 🙂
After looking at Lori’s map, I am totally going to revamp my idea for 2013 because hers is way more organized!
I feel like I accomplished what I wanted for the challenge, which was to see, out of curiosity, where my reading was falling. I didn’t go into it with the goal of hitting every state, and I won’t be trying for that in 2013 either, but I’m happy with the way mine has turned out so far 🙂
YAY!!!! So excited – go Crystal!
woohoo, I’m in! Last year I did the 52 countries challenge, so now it’s time for the 50 states one!
on the link I added on Mr Linky, there’s the list of all the states in the order I want to read, order of statehood. there’s also a link to my google map. there will be green pins and red pins, as explained on the map, for books I plan to read and those I have read for the challenge. there’s 1 green pin so far!
I may publish each update when a book is read on pinterest.
thanks for hosting!
and I host a challenge myself: Books on France!, we are 10 so far: http://wordsandpeace.com/2012/11/15/books-on-france-2013-reading-challenge/
Fantastic! 😀
I have just signed up. I love this idea so much that I can’t wait to start it 🙂
I have had a great time doing this challenge. I have signed up to do it again this year. I’ve only got a couple more states to fill in for this year. My reading blog is here: http://susans2012books.blogspot.com/
My list is here: http://susans2012books.blogspot.com/p/where-are-you-reading-state-statistics.html
My map (all four pages of it) is here: https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202252592560795051060.0004b5c13ef7b9508a423&msa=0&ll=38.203655,-98.4375&spn=37.617046,79.013672
I read a lot of category romance and historical romance. Many of the category romances take place in either Texas or California, though I’ve gotten most of the states and will have the rest by the end of the month. Most of the historicals seem to take place in either England or Scotland (love those kilts!)
I have had a great time doing this challenge. I have signed up to do it again this year. I’ve only got a couple more states to fill in for this year. My reading blog is here: http://susans2012books.blogspot.com/
My list is here: http://susans2012books.blogspot.com/p/where-are-you-reading-state-statistics.html
I’m having to post in pieces here, as the full post won’t go through…
My map (all four pages of it) is here: https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202252592560795051060.0004b5c13ef7b9508a423&msa=0&ll=38.203655,-98.4375&spn=37.617046,79.013672
I read a lot of category romance and historical romance. Many of the category romances take place in either Texas or California, though I’ve gotten most of the states and will have the rest by the end of the month. Most of the historicals seem to take place in either England or Scotland (love those kilts!)
I’m looking forward to the new year
The new map will be here: https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202252592560795051060.0004d022f5d5419c2c2e4&msa=0&ll=38.203655,-98.4375&spn=42.453794,107.138672
and the new list here: http://scoutmomskfva.blogspot.com/p/where-are-you-reading.html
Hi Sheila, I signed up for your challenge. It’s a lovely idea. I have one question though, what do we doe with a fantasy book that is not settled on Earth? Could I just put the State or Country the author is from?
Thank you!
Sounds like this will be fun! Thanks for the challenge!
Hi, Sheila!
Hope you had a nice Christmas with your family!
I saw the coolest display at my library last week: YA Read Your Way Across the USA. It immediately brought to mind your Where Are You Reading challenge (especially since I have been cramming these last few weeks and trying to get more states in!).
I posted some pictures and a link to your challenge at my blog:
http://greatbooksforkidsandteens.blogspot.com/2012/12/ya-novels-across-us.html
I will definitely sign up for 2013 again!
Happy New Year!
Sue
Thanks for reminding me to sign up again for this challenge!
This sounds fun. Is there also a challenge reading around the world?
Nevermind. I see that many of you just included your international reads as well as states. 🙂 I’m looking forward to joining this challenge with all of you. Happy New Year!
LOL – I was just popping in to answer you 😀
I just found your blog and your challenge. I think I found you through the Books on the Nightstand group in Goodreads, but I’m not sure. I love the idea of mapping out my reading, and I plan to participate. What fun!
Thanks for hosting! This is my first time participating and it sounds like fun!
Share your challenge at
Create With Joy
http://www.create-with-joy.com/2013/01/2013-reading-challenges.html
I finally decided on my 2013 challenges (always behind!). I always enjoy this one, Sheila, though I gave up on the map a couple of years ago – too much work for me! I prefer to just keep a list on my challenges page. Thanks for hosting this again!
Sue
Just signed up! Been reading but not keeping up with blogging 🙂
http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/2013/04/07/sunday-salon-march-review-weekly-rewind-mail-call/
I am doing really well at this challenge 22 states so far!!
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now
each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment.
Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Thank you!
Oh so sorry – I dont think I can do it, but I think you should have an “unsubscribe to comments” spot on the email you get. Sorry about that 🙂
Hi there! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when browsing from my iphone. I’m
trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to resolve this
problem. If you have any recommendations, please share.
Thanks!
Not findng a linky for monthly updates as mentioned above..
Is posting the link here accepted? or…..?
Thanks Sheila!
My updated map and books posted HERE
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