Not to toot my own horn but I just came up with a radical idea for a swap. It almost makes me want to host another one. Um, almost. 🙈
Am I crazy or would a music-themed #mixedtapeswap be SO fun? Matches could be made considering taste in both books & music. Littens could specify which format(s) they‘d accept their mixes in (playlists, CDs, cassette tapes). Books could involve music *or* Littens could create a soundtrack for a particular title!
monalyisha @jerdencon I think I remember you asking for swap inspiration! 6y
CouronneDhiver Interesting! 6y
kyraleseberg I haven't done a swap before but wouldn't hesitate to sign up for this brilliant idea!! 6y
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Exbrarian I like it. 6y
RainyDayReading I would so take part in a swap like this! Combines my two loves, books and music. 6y
Soubhiville That sounds really fun! 6y
Chrissyreadit OMGoddess!!! Yes!!!! Please consider, have a not responsible for... consult the “list” of swap offenders...limit your sign up if necessary.... etc etc.... 6y
LauraBeth I love the creativity of this! 6y
LibrarianRyan I‘d do it. 6y
LapReader I‘m in. 6y
Jerdencon @monalyisha sounds fun! Want a partner to do it?? 😂 6y
monalyisha @Jerdencon Hmm...if no one else takes up the mantle, I may be willing to host in late Spring/Summer. But I‘m hoping someone else will volunteer. I‘m totally cool with doing the work of collecting info & matching people, but dealing with the fallout of those who never sent/received gifts, or didn‘t post upon opening, etc. was SUPER stressful. I‘m too much of a people-pleaser & ended up spending a lot of extra money (which I honestly can‘t afford). 6y
Chrissyreadit @monalyisha have you connected to see how others handle poor swap participants? @Avanders @BookishMarginalia I‘m curious too as I prep my matches and swap. 6y
Chrissyreadit @LibrarianRyan have you had to work through painful swap stuff? 6y
BookishMarginalia @Chrissyreadit I‘m fortunate that 99% of Littens that sign up for my swaps follow my rather strict guidelines carefully. Problems are usually solved fairly easily with the rest, with a handful of missing packages (in over 1,000 matches) being replaced by lovely and generous angel Littens. I think when people sign up for my swaps they understand it‘s a commitment. Since I‘m well-known, I tend not to have any issues with people “forgetting.” 6y
monalyisha @ChrissyReadIt I have. @Avanders was super helpful when I hosted. I just get too personally invested & would rather leave it to less sensitive/more practical folk. 🤷♀️ I do agree that the majority of participants are beautiful souls! Hosting just isn‘t for me. 6y
Chrissyreadit @BookishMarginalia thanks! @monalyisha had an amazing swap, with some frustration- I‘m bummed that she was burned, and I‘m hoping to learn so I can minimize problems ahead of time. 6y
monalyisha @Chrissyreadit You got this. 💪🙌 6y
RadicalReader @monalyisha I love your bio so accurate of book in my hand coffee in an IV!! Except mine would be sweet tea 6y
sprainedbrain Oh this sounds like a fantastic idea and I would love to participate! I‘m sorry... didn‘t realize there were issues with Witch Please. You were an awesome host. 6y
monalyisha @sprainedbrain It‘s okay! The issues were minimal; overall, it was very successful! Just not a responsibility I‘m eager to take on again. My husband made me promise I wouldn‘t, lol. I was pretty overwhelmed. 😆 I need everything to be perfect. Anything less than perfection is a travesty. I‘m working on it. 😉 6y
monalyisha @RadicalReader Thanks! I took inspiration from Lorelai Gilmore. 💁♀️ 6y
sprainedbrain @monalyisha I completely understand... I‘ve cohosted exactly one swap, and it was very stressful, and I think @mabell felt the same. We had a good result in the end, but gosh, I‘m not in any big hurry to do it again. 😂 6y
Biverson12 I think this is a great idea! I‘ve never participated in a swap before, but I often listen to music when I read so I‘d be super excited to put together a book and music for someone! 6y
LibrarianRyan @Chrissyreadit yes. I always have my list checked by the people who maintain the bad swapper list. And personally I keep a list of bad hosts to make sure I never participate in one of their swaps again. I have been fortunate that my swaps have been small and had 100% participation. But I‘m always ready to replace a package if need be, and I send out frequent check up emails. I‘m anal and I know it. 6y
LibrarianRyan To be honest I had a worse time with a traveling book. I was supposed to have my book back six months ago. But it has not even made it to the half way point because it got stuck. It‘s still stuck even though the Litten has told me at least 3 different times that it was sent. And that was way more work. Way more. 6y
monalyisha @LibrarianRyan I think my biggest issues were trying to be inclusive with international swappers (it‘s tricky), & feeling like I had to make up for disappointments (no matter how big or small — both fiscally & emotionally). I didn‘t have a lot of participants who failed to meet their commitments, but it was more than I could realistically afford. There were (GENEROUS!) volunteers who stepped in but I tried to handle too many cases on my own. (edited) 6y
monalyisha None of this is making a great case for someone taking my #mixtapeswap idea over. 😅 6y
LibrarianRyan @monalyisha I totally get that and don‘t knock anyone for that at all. I have helped send replacement packages for other swaps more than once. But I have the advantage of lots of galleys that I can use to help stuff and I keep a constant stack of “stuff” that looks fun for library giveaways. Otherwise I would be screwed. 6y
monalyisha @LibrarianRyan That‘s handy! It‘s definitely a big job & all our repeat hosts are FREAKING AMAZING humans. 💖 6y
LibrarianRyan @monalyisha that I agree with. My biggest was 36 people. 7 international. I don‘t know how the host with 400 do it. Yikes!!!! 6y
monalyisha @LibrarianRyan I had close to 100 people sign up. I was thrilled. There are definite rewarding moments when hosting, for sure. I think reading events (swaps, buddy reads, giveaways, pen pals, etc) are a thing that the Litsy community does really well. I LOVED hosting #freakyfriday & the #throwbackreadathon, & #newyearwhodis is going smashingly already this month! I think I just get nervous when money‘s involved & I‘m spearheading. 6y
Chrissyreadit @monalyisha your ideas are freakin‘ awesome. I bet you could match people individually for this the way you did newyearwhodis- and then they could decide if they want a virtual playlist or to exchange info for their own swap- then it‘s completely not your responsibility..... I love when authors have playlists with their books. 6y
Chrissyreadit @LibrarianRyan I loved your swap too! I was nervous, by the theme but now am so excited it will happen again. 6y
Chrissyreadit @sprainedbrain @mabell you had an amazing swap too! I‘m so grateful, because to be honest it was joining swaps that helped me feel connected to the reading community on Litsy- more than anything else. I only have a couple reading friends nearby and I love how this has filled a gap. 6y
Chrissyreadit @monalyisha you can also disregard - I probably come off far pushier than I intend- but I do love your ideas 😘 6y
mabell @sprainedbrain You can say that again! I would delicately call it a “learning experience.” 😂 But it was fun, and appeared to be a success! (Primarily because you were the co-host!) I‘m so glad you enjoyed it @Chrissyreadit ! 6y
monalyisha @mabell I like your way of looking at/wording things. 😉 Delicate, indeed. 6y
Avanders @sprainedbrain @monalyisha @mabell @Chrissyreadit @BookishMarginalia @LibrarianRyan I agree with what everyone's saying 🤗 hosting swaps is fun and exhilarating and wonderful ... about 95%. And then there are the few issues, and they require attention and it can be frustrating. But there are always angel littens willing to step up. *And* we're all grateful that people keep hosting bc swaps also great fun to participate in!! ♥️♥️♥️ 6y
Chrissyreadit Yes at the end of the day, it is because of participation that Litsy is the community we love- and sometimes these days I have a difficult time liking people- these swaps have consistently been fun reprieves from serious day to Day. I am grateful that instead of burning out from Litsy you recognize how to handle it. ❤️💕❤️💕 @Avanders @sprainedbrain @monalyisha @mabell @BookishMarginalia @LibrarianRyan 6y
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