FAQ

Logistics
What is the 24 Hour Read-a-thon?
What is the date of the next Read-a-thon?
Where can I sign up?
Once I sign up, what do I do next?
I can’t decide, The date of the Read-a-thon is too far away, I don’t know my work schedule, etc.
How can I keep track of the participants?
Do I have to stay up the whole 24 hours?
Do e-books count?
GIVE ME BUTTONS! Please.

Prizes & Challenges
Prizes? Did you say prizes?
What the heck is a mini-challenge? Do I have to do them?
Where do I find out about the mini-challenges during the event?
Can I host a mini-challenge?

Roles
What are the ways in which I can participate?
What is the role of a Reader?

May I participate in more than one way?
I can’t participate, but is there some small way in which I can help?
What’s this about organizational tasks?

Charity & Giving
Will there be a chance to raise money/books for charity this time?
If I want to be a Prize Donor, how do I do that?

What is the 24 Hour Read-a-thon?

It’s sort of a reading challenge, only everyone participates at the same time. For 24 hours, we read books, post on social media about our reading, and visit other bookworms online. We also participate in mini-challenges throughout the day and win prizes. In recent years, this event has grown to encompass Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Goodreads, Litsy, a Facebook group, Reddit, and other channels as well!

What is the date of the next Read-a-thon?

October 23, 2021 beginning at 8am Eastern in the US. We start at the same time all over the world, so you can find the start time in your time zone by using the time zone picker.

We have a time zone picker on our Start Times page where you can find your start time for the event!

You can expect a Read-a-thon every April and October. And in recent years we’ve added an event in July or August called the Reverse Readathon. The RR starts at 8pm on a Friday evening and runs through 8pm the following evening. This gives our international participants a change of pace and start times!

Where can I sign up?

You can sign up to be a reader by using the quick-link on the sidebar. It says “Reader Sign-Ups.” Other opportunities to volunteer will pop up on the main page, also in the side navigation. You can sign up to be a mini-challenge host, warm-up post writer, Twitter party host, etc!

Once I sign up to read, what do I do next?

Keep your eye on this blog or our Twitter account! In the days leading up to the Read-a-thon, we’ll post updates, “warm up” posts on topics of interest, last minute info, etc. The day of the Read-a-Thon, there will be hourly posts about mini-challenges and all kinds of other great stuff.

Once I sign up to host a challenge, write a warm-up post, host a Twitter party, what do I do next?

Keep your eye on your email. In the weeks leading up to the Read-a-thon, we’ll contact you!

I can’t decide yet. The date of the Read-a-Thon is too far away, I don’t know my work schedule, etc.

That’s OK. We’re hearing this from a lot of people, and believe me, we won’t let you forget! We’re going to keep mentioning the Read-a-thon, especially the month before it happens. Just sign up if/when you decide to join us! The only problem you might encounter if you sign up at the last minute is that you may not make it onto the official participants list. We usually update it for the final time on the morning of the event.

How can I keep track of the participants?

As we get closer to the Read-A-Thon, participants will be published on the homepage as a PAGE in the top navigation.

Do I have to stay up the whole 24 hours?

NO WAY! Although it’s more fun if if you do. We live by the “read as much as you can” creed! Readers can choose to stay up the entire time or take breaks as they need to or float in and out if they have life and family commitments. In general, the event is a “choose your own” type of adventure.

Do e-books count?

Well, sure! Also audiobooks, reading to the kids, etc.

What the heck is a mini-challenge? Do I have to do them?

This is something that social media users host so that readers can take a break. You can check out the the  mini-challenges by checking the hourly posts on the day of the event. Come here and you’ll see ’em!  Mini-challenges are optional; you can skip as many as you want or you can just spend the whole 24 hours reading if that’s what you want to do.

Where do I find out about the mini-challenges during the event?

In this blog! Just visit it throughout the day as often as you want and you’ll find mini-challenges waiting for you in the hourly posts.

Can I host a mini-challenge?

Of course!! Sign-ups for hosting mini-challenges will be up soon. Watch the side navigation over there for a quick-link.

What are the ways in which I can participate?

The types of participants are Reader, Mini-Challenge Host, Hourly Co-Host, Prize Donor, Twitter Party Host, Warm-Up Poster Writer.

What is the role of a Reader?

What they do: People who sign up to be readers are committing to reading books, post updates in their blogs or other social media, and participate in mini-challenges when they choose to; if they need breaks, they visit the social media of other readers and encourage them. The most hardcore among us will stay up the entire 24 hours and do nothing but read and update, even going so far as to skip showering and eat meals while reading. However, not all of us are that hardcore, and it’s OK for you to customize this read-a-thon to meet your needs. All I ask is that you be honest in your updates, and that’s about the only rule for readers.

Readers visiting other readers: Do this if and when you’re in the mood, as often as you like.

Tips for Readers:

1. Pick shortish books. When you’re reading for such a long time, you might get really sick of the same book for hours on end.  2007 Readers recommended that you start with a short book so that you have a feeling of accomplishment when you finish it early in the read-a-thon.

2. Choose something light (children’s books, humorous books, graphic novels, books you already know well) and save those for the end when you’re tired and sick of reading.

3. Try not to pick really dense nonfiction unless you have the most enormous attention span ever.

4. If you’re going to use this time to catch up on other challenges, try to have a big variety available. You don’t know what will hold your attention, so don’t assign yourself specific books without alternates.

5. Give yourself permission to put a book aside and try something else if it’s not holding your attention.

6. Careful with caffeine! If you drink more coffee than you’re used to, you’ll be jittery at first and then crash later. Drinking something lightly caffeinated (green tea?) throughout the day seems to work better.

7. Don’t sit in the same spot/position all day! This could make your back hurt. Instead, move to different places in the house every hour or two.

8. In general, don’t be a masochist. This is supposed to be fun! And if anything about the challenge makes you start picturing us with little devil horns and wanting to strangle us, please stop and change it so that it works for you. Or, you know, go ahead and scream TO HELL WITH THIS CHALLENGE and go to sleep. We don’t want sleep deprivation making you hate your friendly read-a-thon organizers.

Suggested high-interest, keeping-you-awake books: See Eva’s giant post of suggestions she gathered from her readers.

I can’t participate, but is there some small way in which I can help?

You would go straight onto our mental list of Most Awesome People Ever if you would promote the read-a-thon on your blog or other social media. You don’t have to say much; you can just say Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon is coming up and link to this page. Or you could just put a button in your sidebar. But if you don’t really care about being on our M.A.P.E. list, you could promote the read-a-thon just because your readers might be interested!

Or you could just sort of hover in the background and, if you’re not busy on THE DAY, visit a few Readers and say hi (or not). Some people might use the word “lurker” but here at Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon, we prefer the term “laconic socialpal.”

Will there be a chance to raise money/books for charity this time?

Lots of readers set up their own charity reading structure. Maybe they give $10 per book read to a charity of their choice.

GIVE ME BUTTONS! Please.

Here you go. This first button was created to include Dewey’s name. These buttons were all made by past read-a-thon participants. You’re also free to make your own (let me know and we’ll add it here) or tweak these.