Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. I thought this would be a fun way to share a condensed version of potential rambles and thoughts that I have.
This Week’s Theme:
Top Ten Reso-goal-utions For 2015
Initial Thoughts:
Looking Back to 2014:
The previous years’ reso-goal-utions were focused on: expanding the library, get into ARC reviews, start/finish older series, connect with other bloggers, and be more selfless. I think the overall effort was pretty fair. I definitely surprised myself with the number of books I’ve read despite the number of reading slumps (well…only because gaming will always take precedence). It was a good initial year to book blogging.
Looking Forward to 2015:
As it concerns reading:
Tackle Goodreads First Reads Books
…I’ve won several books from this program in 2014 (this trigger happiness in entering these giveaways is way worse than Netgalley), and I’ve shamefully only read two of them fully. Though I have started a few of number of them several times…I’ve always been sidetracked. I’m such a fail. So now I have moved them to my nightstand in hope that I will be slightly encouraged.
Read More CanLit
I mentioned this last week but I’d love to delve into more Canadian Literature. I’ve lived here all my life and I still feel like there’s many parts of this diverse country that I haven’t discovered yet for myself (I’m speaking fictionally of course). I’ll gladly take book recommendations for this if you kind readers know of any (that isn’t the popular names like Atwood or Munro).
Be More Critical
I still feel like there’s more work to be done to fine-tune how I engage reads. Sure, I already talk TOO MUCH nonsense in my reviews but I think there’s room to grow in my analysis. There’s a pretty notable discrepancy in when I first started reviewing to where I am now in assigning metric ratings or making comments—that is to say that I was a lot kinder initially. I need to find some common consistency.
As it concerns blogging:
Blog Growth
It’s been about a year since I started this random adventure and while I’ve sort-of-not-really found a voice in a small niche community, I still think I have a ways to go. The stretch goal is to be self-hosted—anything else there-in, I have no idea what will come of it. I’m just going to keep chugging along and grow this voice in the blogosphere until I think it’s ready to take the next step. (I already have a different domain name/tagline I’m hoping to use—which I hope won’t get taken anytime soon—once all the cards fall into place.)
Consistent Content
Aside from weekly memes (or just naming Top Ten’s), I am simply just terrible at this whole scheduling thing. I think this was the driving reason behind why it’d be nice to have another individual on board to shoot out content.
Connect Better
I am terrible at: commenting and using social media for books specifically. (But geez if it’s something regarding television, I will gladly go on a tweet or DM-frenzy).
Get on Them Features
I have so many half-baked ideas whether it be discussions or monthly projects that I just don’t know how to take the next step to creating.
As it concerns writing:
Novel WIP
Unless I’m hit with a boulder of inspiration, I only have sporadic writing sessions when something comes to mind. So I don’t think it’ll be done within the next year but I’d hope to one day share some of the randomness that goes on in my head—I promise you it’s not ramble-y as this blog.
As it concerns the bookish life:
Community Events
Stay involved with book events in the coming year. The Toronto International Book Fair was pretty fun. I’d like to get involved somehow if it does come back again. Maybe even attend a book-club in the area—the possibilities are limitless really—all I need is the gusto and zero-procrastination to follow through.
Tatted Up
So I have the basic idea for a future bookish tattoo and though I only wanted to get a sleeve at most, the scale of it might require a larger surface (back/chest). The dilemma is real. Gotta keep thinking the design I want on it versus freehanding.
Afterthoughts:
I thought about having a “Change/Coin Jar for Books”, where you only use the loose change to buy your books (put that card away). I’m pretty frugal regarding book buying habits so this doesn’t really work for me—but it might for you if you’re interested in giving it a try so you can tackle your TBRs or think borrowing-first.
Hit me up with what’s your biggest reso-goal-ution in the coming year and/or link up to your list!
Cheers,
Joey
I think you’ve got some great goals. I’m quite good at getting content out but I do want to switch it up a little bit in 2015. Take some risks! Good luck with your goals, Joey!
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I need to find out the secret of shooting out content as quick as some of you (and perhaps it starts and ends with it being less wordy haha).
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These are some good goals. My goals start and stop at ‘stop buying more books’. If my wallet could speak, it wouldn’t say anything, because it’d be dead, because I have drained every last penny from it to buy books!
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Haha just gotta find some way to limit those purchases. Perhaps only reward yourself after writing a percentage of your stories? Well…I’m sure you can think of something better than that.
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What is your bookish tattoo idea? I’ve got several so I always like hearing about other people’s! 🙂
My TTT
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I’ve only conceptualized like a quarter of how I’d want it to look. The basic premise is to capture the essence of different stories that come alive out of book. The main concept that’s in my head is a book on an obtuse angle (re: its spine) and the pages are fanned and open up into different genre depictions and/or meaningful stories/moments. I obviously haven’t thought of how to make it natural looking and not “forced looking” in terms of how a book normally opens up. Which is why I pondered having it look like words/quotes that flow into the image depiction (kind of like a spirit-y essence?)
So, yes, work in progress, massive tattoo, goodbye wallet.
I understand if that was a terribly description and you don’t see what I see LOL.
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I think I do actually. It sounds amazing, whether or not I’m picturing it the same way you are. I really love the idea of an actual BOOK tattoo. My four bookish tattoos are all inspired by books (Peter Pan, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, HP, and THG). I would love to come up with a book tattoo. Will have to think. 🙂
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I’m much less likely to do long posts about TV, but I’ll do a lot of tweeting about it. I’m playing with the idea of incorporating it more into my blog, but I kind of don’t want to THINK about TV is the thing. Hmm. This obviously requires more reflection.
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What do you watch?!? Do you watch any of these? https://alibrarianslibrary.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/2014-best-on-screen/
If so, I will tweet with you ALL DAY! 😉
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Should consider starting a forum for this instead of tweeting (unless it’s live tweeting). BECAUSE THERE’S JUST SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.
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I love thinking about TV shows (if yelling at TV is thinking). But I understand the difficulties in primetime television. You’d either have to write about seasonal recaps, or wait till the end and have to have notes ready to remember the little things that happen. Sure there’s those overarching plots but it’s the little moments which, in my opinion, mean so much more. (Journey > Destination, type of thing.)
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Excellent resolutions. Good luck with them and for 2015 as a whole.
Lynn 😀
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Thanks, and to you too!
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Ahhh! I forgot about that one, I wanted to read more Irish Lit… Only so much you can do in one year I guess… Also, I’m right with you on Goodreads First Reads. I have a few I need to get to, and I’m not winning any anymore lol I think they’ve blacklisted me! R x
My TTT: https://confessionsofabookgeek.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/top-ten-tuesday-my-blogging-and-bookish-resolutions/
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LOL THAT’S WHAT I THOUGHT TOO. I put them under the first-reads shelf and I swear I won nothing for months. And then last month I took it off and then won something again. It’s a conspiracy.
Well you could always read Irish lit, especially if you find these books from second-hand stores and the like. Who knows–you might uncover the next Hoover/Maas for you!
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Hmmm… I’m going to get to a couple of them this year and see if I start winning again!!
I’m fully intending on reading Irish lit this year, even if I didn’t include it in my goals. So many Irish authors are known worldwide and I should take more pride in that! R x
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Your goals are awesome and I can back you up in nearly all of them (I don’t really fancy getting a tattoo at this point). I wish you the best of luck!
Oh, and as for Canadian authors, I read a book this year that was set in Toronto (and might’ve been written by a Canadian? I’m not 100% sure). It’s called “All My Puny Sorrows” and I absolutely loved it. I’m not sure if it’s your cup of tea, but I recommend it highly 🙂
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Tattoos, among other things, could be just an inspirational flavour of the year type thing (maybe I’ll change my mind in a year). And so too it could apply for you.
Yeah I think going through the Giller Prize pool of books is a good place to start to delve into Canadian voices.
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I suppose Yann Martel doesn’t count as non-popular, eh? (sorry) (*slinks away*)
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Haven’t read anything; watched Life of Pi. (Not withstanding knowing he’s written other works LOL.) And we all know how amazing I am at reading books after the fact. Oops.
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I think the goal of reading more lit based on where you’re from is a great one, especially for supporting local and up and coming authors (I should look into reading more authors from my state). If you’re concerned about your future URL being taken, you could always invest in it now, and then it’s safe for when you switch to self-hosted (I goal I would love to achieve eventually too, but I feel like I can’t do that until I’ve more firmly cemented my place in the blogging world.)
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I really just want to discover the cultural voice (or what have you) of authors writing about where I live; and what truly depicts a native lands literature. Like, what would American literature be? Surely not just defined by Catcher In The Rye (oh please I hope not–I forget if you are the camp of pro-Holden or not LOL).
Yeah I was wondering if I should do that but I just haven’t researched the cost of putting a placeholder on the name when the future is so distant–who knows if I’ll be blogging in one year time!
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Ugh no definitely NOT pro-Holden, haha!
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I enter a million Good Read giveaways, too, but I only just won my first one. I’d also like to join a book club and I need to get more consistent with my posting as well!
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I wish I knew the algorithm to how they choose winners. Conspiracy theorists would say it’s not randomized! (I had a thought that the more reviews you shoot out into Goodreads, the higher the chance…but that wouldn’t make sense for me because I only have about 1-2 a month haha).
But I literally just sign up for everything, and in particular the ones that give the highest chance of winning (I particularly like the Canada only entries.)
Annnnnnd I wish I had the time to go to in-person book clubs (let alone keep up with club reads). I think it’d be a good experience! But until then, I’ll just have to settle for my non-existent online clubs on Goodreads.
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I agree/feel the same way about ALOT of what you’ve written. Being frugal is REALLY HARD btw (but props to you for being able to do it). I do have two used book stores within 2 miles of my place that sells ex-library and used books for $2 or less, which has more or less resulted in a ton of books that I haven’t opened yet. I want to become more consistent about scheduling as well. Scheduling is one thing, but chugging out content to expand your blog as well/efficiently as possible can get difficult, esp. since life gets in the way. And I also aim to become a better book-reviewer (:
Hopefully we all get what we want (and more!) in 2015!
Danee @ Fiction Function
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Unless it’s a book I KNOW I’ll read eventually (or am dying to read it), I’m pretty cost-conscious with how I buy books (perhaps because I’d love to save for hardcovers only–and that can reach skyward of $30 sometimes). The only time I can snatch deals like that is when libraries sell their older stock (but that seldom happens).
But yeah, I think for me it all starts with being grounded in how I go about my content. I mean, once you figure out the things you want to say, scheduling sounds pretty easy I’d say!
I do hope we all reach a portion of our resolutions (if not all)!
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I love that you can admit you were much kinder in the beginning of reviewing. I think honesty can actually be more important than heavily critiquing a book, but I suppose with any kind of writing the more you do, the more you find your own voice.
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Aha, I looked back at the earlier reviews I wrote and I’m thinking I was wow’d a lot easier. And perhaps the more you read into certain niche tropes (or what have you), the more discerning eye you have.
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I love the way you broke up your reso-goal-lutions into categories as a way of making sure you improve across the board instead of just in one area. So smart! I definitely need to work on a few of the same things. Hopefully, knowing others are working on the same things will keep us both motivated!
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Seeing everyone else’s resolution really amps it up! I mean, we’re kind of all connected to some extent (re: community) in achieving a few of these resolutions together.
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I have so many books I’ve won through good reads that I haven’t read yet either. One the author even emailed me and everything, I feel awful. I should definitely put reading these books on my list too!
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I know these feels too well. I’m waiting to find the right mood for each book. I mean, they’ve worked so hard for it, shipped from across the country, and it ends up dusting up on my shelf? I’m a terrible person haha.
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I’ve won a couple of books from Goodreads and from other blogs as well and I’m a guilty as you are in terms of not having read them… yet… Haha! And for some reason, I never saw you as a tattoo kind of guy. But that’s awesome!
Good luck on your goals!!!
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What did you see me as? STEREOTYPINGGGGGG.
I’m glad at least the latest book I’ve won is an ARC. At least that holds more weight because I have that feeling that it’s more important, in a way, than already published books. (But that’s kind of superficial to think about.)
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How do you win so many books from Goodreads?!?! I haven’t won a single one, ever. 😦
And as an aside, while I don’t want to abandon my blog, I would definitely be interested in helping with discussion/features. If you have some ideas you want to bounce around. 😉
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I literally enter everything (okay, most things.) That’s the only secret I have–and if it’s any consolation, I get rejected all day with ARCs. So that’s kind of a balance (although it’s probably due to negative galley ratios LOLOL).
Yeah, I need to figure out something different in terms of features–but it’s difficult stuff yo. I’ll have to stare at my recent survey results and go from there I guess.
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Great goals. Mine are a little all over the place lol
Good luck.
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Although being all over the place, at least you’ve considered them (even if for a moment)–and that’s something to keep in mind!
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You have a lot on your list but they are all good goals. I especially like the Consistent Content one. I really have to work on that. Reading local authors can be rewarding. I’ve discovered some great home grown talent this year. Good luck with your goals. 🙂
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Aside from the tattoo, I try to opt into goals that I know I can achieve, even if it’s marginal…it’s something! (Better than eat healthier–as I reach into for a bag of chips and a soda.)
Yeah, I think as a whole, I was surprised with indie authors the past year and let down by established authors. So it’ll be interesting to transition that into a genre of fiction that I haven’t really explored a great in.
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The good thing about book blogging in terms of finding a voice is that you can be flexible, and you have a great record of how your tastes and thoughts develop regarding authors or genres, etc. I also struggle with schedules–another thing to get a handle on in 2015! Happy New Year!
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Agreed. It’s already enlightening to see the different ways I’ve thought about books in less than a year–and these are all developmental changes for the better. And Happy New Year to you too!
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You have a fun refreshing voice and ambitious goals! The book-buying coin jar is a great idea! Would encourage me to use my library more!
Thanks for stopping by my blog, and I’m really looking forward to following yours!
Best wishes for the New Year!
Lauren @ Wordy Hughes
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You are too kind!
I think with goals, people put too much emphasis on starting it and then continuing it (almost forcibly–but I guess that’s the point?). I’d like to think that even if you just gave it a try, that’s at least something (regardless of it working out or not). Or maybe I’m just a lazy optimist haha.
Thanks for following along with all of my nonsense!
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Love the idea of only using your piggy bank for book spends. Now that IS something I could use! Also three cheers for a bookish back tatt 🙂 Happy New Year!
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You could certainly even incorporate other ways of funding the jar! Swear jar…douche jar (thanks, New Girl)…I’m sure there are so many other ways too haha.
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Great goals! I wish you luck. I’m pondering the change jar idea, now… But it wouldn’t really work for my ebook purchases. Hmmm.
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Perhaps you could use the change as funds for getting a new eReader or bookish things! From Etsy to rapid development in technology, I’m sure you could find something to spend all that loose change on haha.
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Best of luck with your goals. I love the penny jar idea. I’ve been trying to use the library more and more to try and limit my book spending.
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Goodreads first reads! The way I motivate myself to read them is because I know that reviewing first reads means I have a higher chance of winning more first reads. I won several in 2014 as well, and I’d read and review them as soon as I got them because I REALLY WANTED MORE. Haha. I really hope I can win more in 2015… Those giveaways are really good in England because they usually give away more than one copy and only about 100-300 people enter for each one, so the chances are not too bad!
I read Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson recently and she’s a Canadian author and the book is set in Canada! I really loved it. So maybe you can check that out if you haven’t already? Otherwise I can’t really think of any other Canadian books that I’ve read… Hmm.
I really want to do more features as well! But it’s hard thinking of original ideas and putting them into action…
Good luck with your reso-goal-utions! 🙂
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Some great goals there, Joey! I have spurts of activity both on social media and my blog, but am aiming to be more consistent in 2015.
I also like the idea of a bookish tattoo 😀
And btw, rambly or not, I would totally read you book 🙂
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I just feel like sometimes I don’t have much (if anything at all) to say on the fly. I’ll totally respond to people messaging me though haha.
The writing is a mishmash of blerghahfaijdnsajd–I have no idea what I’m doing!
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