This week I’m linking up with Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday. Check out her blog for a new prompt every week. Today’s topic:
Bookish Goals for 2024
1. Cut back on reading challenges.
I love the idea of reading challenges, but I’m not very good at following through with them, then I feel bad that I did so terribly! This year I’m only planning on doing three: Goodreads Reading Challenge, 20 Books of Summer, and R.I.P. in the fall. These are my favorites, and the summer one is especially good for me because it includes all genres and I have extra time to read.
2. Improve my NetGalley ratio.
You know the expression, “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach?” That’s how I was with NetGalley requests, especially in my earlier years of book blogging. I downloaded way too many books, without the time to read them all. My current percentage stinks β it’s around *cough, cough* 55%. I would love to raise that up to at least 65% this year.
3. Spend more time with the book blogging community and less time on social media.
As far as “reach” goes, Instagram (Bookstagram) is a bust. I don’t see the point of spending a lot of time on book content posts that don’t reach Bookstagram as a whole via hashtags. I know it’s all about the mysterious algorithm, and even accounts with huge followings are struggling with this, so my little account doesn’t stand a chance. I’ll still post and visit Instagram occasionally, because I do have a small core group I like to interact with. Threads is ok, though I’m not very chatty, so I don’t engage there much.
4. Read more nonfiction.
This one is difficult for me, because unless it’s nonfiction that reads like a novel, like MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL, I tend to lose interest after a few chapters. What helps me is listening to nonfiction on audio, so I may try doing that more this year.
5. Buy less paper books.
Hardcovers, especially, are so pretty, and I love seeing them on my bookshelves. However, I’m running out of room! I’m going to *try* to limit physical book purchases to my BOTM and Aardvark subscriptions, as well as favorites I want for my keeper shelf. I also have a thing about books with spooky houses on the cover, or gothic novels, that I can’t help buying.
6. Master “short and sweet” reviews, and write them immediately after finishing a book.
I love to read, but I don’t always love writing reviews. I end up putting it off, then weeks later I struggle to put my thoughts together. If I knew I only had to write a brief yet thoughtful review, I wouldn’t be such a procrastinator. Let’s face it, some books are easier to review than others. Sometimes books I don’t enjoy as much are easier to deal with, more to say about them.
7. Start a couple of series that have been on my TBR pile forever.
Possible contenders: THE CROSSING PLACES (Ruth Galloway, #1); HAUNTED GROUND (Nora Gavin, #1); IRON LAKE (Cork O’Connor, #1); or A IS FOR ALIBI (Kinsey Millhone, #1).
8. Listen to more audiobooks.
Recently Audible had a good deal to rejoin for four months, so I reactivated my account. I’m not sure how long I’ll keep it, but it was a bargain to get four cheap credits, plus have access to their “Plus” catalog. I also have a Chirp account where I find a lot of audiobooks under $4. There’s the library too, but I don’t like the pressure of finishing before the due date. I’m a slow listener.
9. Stop aimlessly scrolling/playing on my phone and read instead.
I’m looking at you TikTok. Not much else to add to this one, except put down your phone, Diana. Sheesh!
10. Update my LibraryThing account.
I’ve mentioned this one before, but I’m slowing adding all of my “Read” books with reviews from the last seven years to LibraryThing. Around 2017, I quit posting there, probably due to lack of time. I like their platform, I’ve had an account forever, and it’s a good supplement to Goodreads, so I want to be active there again. Plus, they have an fun annual Christmas card exchange. My profile is HERE if you want to connect.
What are your bookish goals this year? Do we have any in common?
Thanks for stopping by!
β ππ²πͺπ·πͺ
Book of Secrets 
I relate so much to your thoughts about social media and even scrolling on social media. My mindless scrolling is IG Stories. One of my goals in 2024 is to take a week off from screens including writing and blog work, and I think I can make it happen next month so I’m excited to see how it goes! :) Best of luck with your goals.
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I really need to get started on Library Thing. Thanks for the reminder! I’ve really loved reading more nonfiction lately, so I’m hoping to keep that up this year too!
My TTT
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Good luck with your goals.I don’t have less with my phone but should do that too.
My TTT
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A great list of goals.
I need to read more of my own books. I have to be careful with Netgalley and I am not doing too badly with 2 outstanding books and 1 pending request.
I have to review a book straight after I have read it otherwise I will just forget it. I have bad baby brain and together with sleepless nights its a lethal combination π
Have a great week! And good luck with your goals!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
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These are all great goals. Good luck with them.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
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Great goals, Diana. I think social media has a lot of us scrolling and not even realizing how much time we spend. Your second goal is one I also have. My percentage is 65%, but has been there for years. I am going to try and request less this year. Good luck will all these bookish goals.
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Fantastic goals, Dianaπ
I hear you about Instagram. Iβm on there because I have to be but now Iβm having fun designing my posts. Itβs about books so I have no interest in creating pretty pics of them. I use already created images and overlay the covers, hopefully conveying a message about the content. And, like you, I enjoy interacting with a core group of book friends.
May I also throw a vote for the Cork OβConnor series? Treat yourself to the audio version for this oneβ¦David Chandler is outstanding.
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I’ll look for you on Instagram, Jonetta!
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I love the stop aimlessly scrolling on your phone goal, I need to do that too! Good luck!
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Good luck with your goals, especially increasing your NetGalley ratio. I know how much discipline is needed to do that.
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I think you have worthy goals! Good luck with them. Many of them made me nod my head. One thing, if you don’t mind, let me encourage to put Elly Griffiths’ books with Ruth Galloway at the top of your list. I love, love that series. Just saying….LOL!
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Netgalley can be dangerous. I’ve finally managed to curb my impulses, but it’s hard! LOL
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
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I relate so much to number 6! I just started a blog so i’m still discovering how it’s done, but it’s been a disheartening realization to see that it’s so much easier to rant about a book i didn’t like than it is to rave about my new favorite…
Happy reading :)
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Great goals I also have a hard to time sticking to reading challenges – sometimes I find them too restrictive for my reading. I’m also working on listening to more audiobooks this year.
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All of these are great!! I am not doing any challenges this year, with the exception of reading for the Goodreads challenge. Have a great week!
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I need to get myself to stop aimlessly scrolling so much too
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It’s hard not to doom-scroll on your phone some days. I’ve been known to watch a YouTube short, and 30 minutes later I’m still watching YouTube shorts. Not exactly productive!
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/goals-for-2024-book-and-blog-goals/
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Such a sensible list of goals! I’d get a lot more reading done if I stopped the endless scrolling, too… good luck!
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I don’t do very good at challenges either, so I stopped doing them. I did like the Cloak and Dagger and a few others though…
I like Instagram but haven’t updated it in ages, and honestly who has time to make the pics look nice :)
I think short and sweet reviews are great, and would like to do more of them myself!
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We have a few in common this year…I decided to cut back and not do any reading challenges this year even though I do love them, and I also really want to read more nonfiction, too. Good luck with all of these! :D
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Girrrrrrrl…if you figure out how to put down TikTok and pick up a book, let me know.
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Great goals! I’ve been the same with writing blog reviews lately. In the last few years, I’ve gotten really good at posting quick reviews on Goodreads right after I finish a book. That way, I can at least remember my general thoughts when I go back to write a “real” review on my blog. It’s been super helpful, although I still haven’t gotten back into the groove of regular reviews on my blog. Oops! LOL. Good luck with all your goals!
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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Great goals, Diana! For me, I’d like to complete my target goal for the Goodreads Reading Challenge since I wasn’t able to last year. And cutting down on social media is definitely high up on my list, too.
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Oh #9 is a big one for me. I waste so much time doing nothing and it’s not like I’m even enjoying it. These are all great goals! I finally got my NetGalley ratio to a non-embarrassing but honestly what helped the most was getting review books on audio from my library. I got a bunch listened to that way! Good luck!
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