Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This week is a freebie, so bloggers can take Top Ten Tuesday in any direction they want. Every couple of years, we look at bookish goals/resolutions (last post was 2020), but this year I am making bookish promises to myself. Promises feel so much harder to break than goals/resolutions.
Top Ten Bookish Promises I Am Making for 2022
To read more from my TBR Pile than I did in 2021: Fourteen of the 51 books I've read so far this year have been from my TBR Pile, but I want 2022 to be 50/50. Participating in blog tours is so much fun, but reviewing because you have to makes reading almost like work. Believe me, in 2022 I will be doing plenty of that.
To catch up on one favorite series: When I get busy, my favorite series books that are hiding in my TBR Pile get forgotten. I am thinking I will go with the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series by my friend Marilyn Meredith. I caught up on her Rocky Bluff PD series this year.
To read one of the oldest books from my TBR Pile: My TBR Pile travels back to probably 2010 with some books. Who knows if I even want to read them anymore? The only way I will find out is if I dig them out of the closet and open them up.
To be okay with not finishing books I don't enjoy: This is so tough for me, because as an author I know how much writers put into their stories, and then there is the cost of packaging and shipping. I feel totally guilty when I don't review a book. I chose well in 2021, because I don't recall struggling with any books.
To write one First Chapter Review a quarter: I wanted to write one every week in 2020, but didn't do it. I know with a packed schedule next year, even once a month is unlikely. Once a quarter is manageable.
To not sign up for a single reading challenge except the Goodreads Challenge: I love challenges, but they don't love me. The Goodreads challenge is the one challenge I have any success with. I think that is because it is easy to track because I post my reviews there anyway. If I have to remember to go to another person's blog and post what I've completed, it's not happening.
To read one leadership book this year: I have a few here, but they aren't always my thing. I started Atomic Habits, so I might finish that one.
To get off some VBT mailing lists: I signed up for several when I actively participated in them regularly. Now, I just want to focus on my TBR Pile and maybe one or two VBT companies to support. I love free books, but I'm committed to not taking on more than I can handle in 2022.
To re-organize my works in progress: I have several picture books in various stages--partially completed, completed waiting for editing, edited that need to be submitted, etc. I'm not happy with my current filing system, which is a bunch of files in Word. I've already cleaned up my old files for other aspects of life. Next year, I want to organize my writing files so they will be easier to manage.
To re-think my publishing goals: I have to admit, 2020 was a kick in the teeth. Three of my four books went out of print when the publisher closed (thanks, COVID). To republish them requires almost more effort than it is worth considering two of the illustrators aren't easily available and it will require an additional monetary investment I'm not sure I want to make right now. Is that awful of me? I almost feel like I should let them go and start over.
My middle grade novel is 3/4 finished, but I am totally rewriting the women's novel I am co-authoring with my sister. Only so much time in the day, so which way do I go? I'm willing to self-publish the middle grade novel, but there is a bit of a learning curve with that. I so admire authors who really know what they want to do and get it done.
That's it for my list. I look forward to visiting other bloggers today to see what direction they took this week's freebie.
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13 comments:
I think these goals are super reasonable! Good luck with them.
Thanks, Lydia.
I got to the breaking point with VBTs last year. Deciding not to do them any more has been so liberating! It's made my reading life less stressful and much more enjoyable. I do need to take myself off all the mailing lists, though. Every time I see a tempting tour, it shakes my resolve, LOL.
Good luck with all your promises!
Happy TTT!
I'm sorry about your publisher going out of business! That sucks. Good luck with the book you're working on right now. And I totally need to make that same #1 promise and read more books next year from off my own shelves. :)
Susan, unsubscribing from the mailing lists is what I find hard. What if there is a tour I would really want to partake in? Also, I feel like my blog should have some current books, so am I gipping my readers by cutting it off?
Thanks, Lark. It has been tough not having three of my four books in print. Truly contemplating my writing career and how best to balance it with my real estate career is overdue. At least this event helped move me closer to making a decision.
Thanks for stopping by.
Nice set of goals! I too tried to read more TBR books this year and will be trying again next year. I think I had a good 50/50 or close enough to it this year. So that was good!
Thanks for visiting my TTT!
I did sign up for several reading challenges, two that encourage me to read my own books either from my physical bookshelves and the other from the virtual TBR list. I also need to let go of the guilt of not finishing a book, I have a really hard time with it. I always try to finish a book. I signed up for quite a few blog tours over the last few months (trying to boost visibility to my blog), and different blogging companies, trying to figure out which ones are going to work best for me. I already dropped one company and scaled way back on another, still trying to figure it all out. I have not made my goals for 2022 yet, I was focusing a bit on the challenges. I'm really sorry about your books going out of print. Love this post. https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2021/12/top-ten-tuesday-free-little-library.html
Good for you for setting goals for 2022! Sorry to hear about your publisher - I can't imagine how frustrating that must be!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I'm sorry to hear those books went out of print. I know what you mean about blog tours too. I have never done one and I've wondered at times, but I was always afraid I'd get carried away. :) And that I'd feel the same way, that I was reading for obligation- as a mood reader, I'd struggle with that.
Wishing you great success with your goals in '22!
Good for you, Jessica. Hope you can make more headway on your TBR pile next year.
Cindy, that's why I first got involved in book tours--blog visibility. Hope you can figure out what works best for you.
Thanks, Nicole. I'm glad to see some of the other authors from that company getting their books back into print.
Greg, I think you have a great following. I hope you keep reading for fun and because you enjoy it.
Thanks for visiting, everyone.
I love ARCs, but when you do too many they can definitely feel like a chore. Good luck with all your goals!
I also hope to read more from my TBR Pile than I did in 2021. Great list!
Alicia, you are so right. Good luck with your goal to read more from your TBR Pile next year, Lectrice.
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