Monday, July 26, 2021

Tips and Tricks - How to Discord


Bout of Books is on Discord!

If you’re already on Discord or you’d like to connect with us there, you can join with this link. We’d love to have you with us!

For those who are brand new to Discord, it’s a place where you can create communities. We’ve created a Bout of Books server (i.e., community) that is invite-only through the link above link. Our Discord has topic-based channels, such as #readathon-info, #reading-in-place (where sprints happen!), and #choose-your-role, that you can use to communicate with fellow readers.

We have a channel called #how-to-discord in case you have questions on how to use it. We’re lucky to have fellow #BoutOfBooks-ers who are familiar with Discord and can help us newbies find our way.

Because Discord allows roles to be assigned to users, Kelly and Amanda have @cohosts. If you need to notify us of anything in any channel, you can mention us using that role. Bout of Books experts will also be assigned the @expert role, in case you have a question that experts can answer.

When you join our Discord, you have a few ways to customize your experience in our community. You can:
  • Change your display name 
    • On computer: right click your profile image and choose “Rename”
    • On mobile device, swipe left until all profiles are visible. Choose yours and click “Manage user”
  • Navigate to the #choose-your-role channel to:
    • Choose pronouns to display on your profile (this is optional)
    • Choose the “sprinters” role if you want to be notified when people run reading sprints
  • Introduce yourself on our #introductions channel
If you like reading sprints, be sure to choose the @Sprinter role! When someone wants to run a reading sprint, they can mention and notify everyone with the role. In the #reading-in-place channel, we have a Discord bot called Sprinto to help us run sprints.

To start a sprint, you have to enter a command, following this formula:

_sprint at :XX for XX

So:

_sprint at :15 for 20

Means that your sprint will start at the :15 for 20 minutes.

To join an active sprint, follow this formula: 

_join XX

Where “XX” is your page number. If you’re on an ebook or audiobook, you can use whatever number makes sense for you. Kelly has, for example, used the Kindle location number for hers.

When the sprint is over, you can report your new number, with this formula (replacing XX with your number).

_wc XX

The Sprinto bot will report your page count as words (because it’s supposed to be a writing sprint bot!).


There is so much to do on Discord that this barely scratches the surface. And that’s okay! We’re still new to creating community on Discord and we’d like you to help shape what it ultimately looks like. If you have questions, hop on our #how-to-discord channel and ask. If we don’t know the answer, someone else might, or we’ll search online until we have it. Join us

Monday, July 19, 2021

Bout of Books 32 Call for Experts

 We need YOU.


The #boutofbooks-ers community is mighty. But your hosts are not always able to jump in, answer questions, and cheer everyone on. Also, why limit the fun to Kelly and Amanda?

That's where Bout of Books experts come in.

What makes a person a Bout of Books expert, you ask?
  • You've participated in AT LEAST four Bout of Books prior to Bout of Books 32
  • You love Bout of Books and want to make sure everyone knows how awesome it is
  • You're willing to commit some of your free time to helping us
  • You love connecting with fellow book lovers and cheering them on
If you're chosen as an expert, you get to visit #boutofbooks-ers' blogs and comment on their posts--tell them how awesome they are and how well they're doing. WHO DOESN'T LOVE SPREADING LOVE?!?!?

NEW THIS TIME: Experts may be asked to help out on the Bout of Books Discord during the read-a-thon.

We will be closing this form on August 2nd. If you're interested in helping us, make sure you get on our list before then!


Want to help spread the Bout of Books love?
Bout of Books is coming!