Why Do I Participate in Challenges?
Great question! While I absolutely love reading and gaming at my own pace, joining annual challenges adds a little extra sparkle to my year. Think of them as friendly nudges that keep me exploring beyond my comfort zone—and honestly? They’ve introduced me to indie authors, movies and developers I probably wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.
Challenges also connect me to a wider community of book bloggers, movie watchers and gamers. Sharing progress, swapping recommendations, and cheering each other on makes the whole journey feel less solitary. Plus, there’s something satisfying about checking off a goal at year’s end!
Note: These are personal goals, not competitions. If I fall behind, no worries. If I complete every single item, wonderful! Either way, the books, movies and games get reviewed on their own merits.
Challenges I’ve Joined (and Plan to Continue)
🎯 The Alphabet Challenge (ABC)
How It Works: Read one book (watch a movie or play one game) for each letter of the alphabet—26 total, from A through Z. Usually, I stick to titles starting with each letter. However, flexibility is key!
Why I Love It: It forces me out of my usual patterns. Suddenly I’m choosing a horror movie because it starts with “X” or trying a cozy mystery I’d normally skip. It’s structured creativity at its finest.
Years Completed: 2023, 2024
Current Status: Active participant, rolling yearly edition
🎯 The “Number-For-Year” Challenge (23 for ’23 / 24 for ’24)
How It Works: Simple math, bigger impact. Read or play a number of books/ movies/ games that matches the current year. So in 2023, the goal was 23 titles; in 2024, it was 24; in 2025, it was 25; and now we’re working toward 26 for 2026!
Some bloggers set higher targets (like 52 books/ year), but this version keeps things realistic without turning reading into a chore. I aim to finish roughly two books per month, with wiggle room for slow months or busy semesters.
Why I Love It: It’s achievable but still stretches my habits. And when I add prompts—like “one book by an indie author” or “one game from itch.io”—it becomes even more meaningful.
Years Completed: 2023 (23 books), 2024 (24 titles)
Current Goal: 26 for 2026
Tracking Platform: Goodreads + personal spreadsheet
How Challenges Show Up on This Blog
📖 Review Categories
When participating in a challenge, I’ll tag relevant reviews so you can track my progress:
[ABC-Challenge]— Books/ movies/ games matching the alphabet theme[26-for-26]— Entries counting toward the annual number goal[Bonus-Prompt]— Additional challenge participation
📊 Progress Updates
Twice a quarter (March/ June/ September/ December), I publish a Challenge Check-In post showing:
- Current count vs. goal
- Highlights from what I’ve read/ watched/ played
- Any DNFs (Did Not Finish) with brief explanations
- What’s coming next on my TBR
🎁 Reader Participation
Feel free to join along! While you don’t need to follow my exact list, here’s how you can participate:
- Pick a challenge that resonates with you
- Share your progress in the comments (I love hearing from you!)
- Swap recommendations—I’m always hunting for fresh indie titles, games or movies
- Tag me on social media if you’re blogging too (using #InsamyniacReads)
My Challenge Philosophy 🌟
✅ What I Believe In:
- Flexibility over rigidity — Life happens. Deadlines can shift.
- Quality over quantity — A beautifully written 200-page novel counts the same as a doorstopper epic.
- Discovery over completion — Finding new voices matters more than hitting a number.
- Honesty over perfection — If something doesn’t work for me, I’ll say so—even during a challenge.
❌ What I Won’t Do:
- Fudge the numbers — If I didn’t finish it, it doesn’t count. Period.
- Force bad reads — I won’t power through something I hate just to check a box.
- Pressure readers — These are my goals. Yours might look completely different (and that’s beautiful!).
FAQ: Common Questions About My Challenges
Q: Do challenge reads get reviewed differently?
A: Not at all! Every review stands on its own. A book doesn’t get a higher rating just because it checked a challenge box.
Q: What happens if I don’t finish my annual goal?
A: Honestly? I move on. I’ll reflect on what worked and what didn’t, set fresh goals for next year, and keep enjoying the process.
Q: Can I suggest books that fit your challenges?
A: Absolutely! Use my Contact Form and mention which challenge category you think it fits. Even if I don’t review it, I appreciate the rec!
Q: Are these challenges public or private?
A: Public! I believe transparency builds trust, and sharing progress keeps me accountable.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Plans 🚀
This year, I’m doubling down on what works:
| Initiative | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Goal | 26 titles (books + games + movies combined) |
| Secondary Goal | ABC Challenge, running parallel |
| Focus Area | More indie authors and Steam/ itch.io devs |
| New Feature | Quarterly “Challenge Spotlight” posts with deep dives |
| Community Hope | Encourage at least 3 readers to start their own challenge |
Want to Follow Along?
- Blog Posts: Check the Reading Challenges tag for updates
- Social Media: Follow @insamyniac on BlueSky for quick progress updates, or Join Us on Discord for a chat!
- Comments: Leave a note below my challenge posts—I read every one!
Last Updated: July 22, 2026
Challenge Status: Currently tracking toward 5/26 titles (July check-in)
Happy Reading, Happy Gaming, Happy Watching! 📚🎮📺💜