What I’m Doing With My Blog

I haven’t given too much thought to my blog lately. But now is as good a time as ever to think about what I want to do and where I want to go.

I’m happy blogging for myself and no one else. That being said, I always want to change for the better. If you have any suggestions as to how I can improve, feel free to let me know.

I know I’m not being too specific, but vagueness is my weakness. I’ve had people call me out for being too general. I can’t help it. I like hoarding secrets.

I also don’t want to promise anything yet not deliver on my promises. Safe to say, I have plenty of ideas I want to explore and stories I need to share. Storytelling is a basic need.

In 2013, I created this blog on a limb. I want to make it a fun place for me and for all of you. I’ll update it as often as possible. I’m 99.9 percent sure I haven’t gone two days in a row without posting something. I’d like to keep that streak alive.

In terms of content, I’ll continue to read and review books. I post my reviews on WordPress and on Goodreads.

I’ve been making blog graphics for a while now. I like how they look, so they won’t change much. Visual interest is never a bad thing.

For a number of reasons, I love sharing poetry on here. Going forward, I would love to experiment more with different styles.

If and when I publish something somewhere else, you best believe I’m letting all of you know. Key word being if.

I also love lists. So expect to see more of them from me this year.

I haven’t posted a short story in the longest time. Maybe I will once every blue moon. I tend to submit to contests or competitions first.

Please don’t hesitate to comment and speak your mind. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

A Q&A About Books, Goodreads, And Reviews

Why do you read?

I need to escape from reality or else I’d lose the little sanity I have left.

Why did you make a Goodreads account?

I didn’t want to rely on my memory to track the books I’ve read. Especially since I’m not getting any younger.

What do you look for in a book?

A good story. Great writing doesn’t hurt either. I like characters I can relate to, resonate with. Give me character development or give me fictional death.

What made you start writing reviews?

It wasn’t enough to read books. So I decided to review them too.

What are your reading goals for 2018?

They’re similar to the resolutions I made in 2017. I want to read every day. I’d also like to expand my bookshelf a bit. I tend to read more fiction than nonfiction, so I want to dip my mind further in the latter.

What are your reviewing goals in 2018?

I’m a bit behind on getting my reviews up, so if I can catch up that’ll be ideal.

Happy reading!

A Q&A About Reading Habits

Lately, I’ve been wondering about my reading habits, which led to the creation of this post.

What’s your policy on finishing books?

I try to finish every book I start regardless of whether I love it or not. As a kid I abandoned stories more easily, but I’ve gotten better at sticking with something if I start. It helps that I pick up books I want to read now.

How often do you read?

Daily.

How much do you read?

As of right now, I strive to finish 50 pages every day.

When do you read?

Mornings because I prefer reading in natural light. Sometimes I’ll have one reading session in the morning and another in the afternoon. If I’m busy during the day, I settle for evenings or nights.

Do you read one book or multiple books at a time?

One book at a time. If I have to read more than one, that’s fine. I tend to do so when I’m in school. I’ll read a book for class and read something else for fun. Way back when, I used to read a fiction and nonfiction book simultaneously. But my nonfiction game has been nonexistent nowadays.

Is there anything you do before or after reading a book?

I wash my hands prior to and update my GoodReads status if I remember. Key word there is remember. Sometimes I forget because I’m old and getting older with each passing second.

Now I’m curious about other people’s reading habits.

How To Remember What Books You’ve Read

Unless you have a perfect memory, it’s tough to remember all the books you’ve read. But how can you keep a record of everything your eyes have pored over or skimmed? 

You want to remember the texts you read, don’t you? Imagine thinking you finished a book but not being entirely sure you did. It almost feels like a bookshelf falling to the ground.

Here are ways to remember the amazing, terrible, and mediocre books you’ve read. 

Use Goodreads. 

Goodreads is a godsend, especially since you can access it on a computer, laptop, or smartphone. I can’t believe I took nearly 18 years to make an account. If you’re looking for an online website where you can track books you’ve read and what you want to read next, get on Goodreads.

Keep a reader notebook. 

On the other hand, who doesn’t love using a physical notebook to record all the books they’ve read. I write down the author and title along with when I started and finished the text. I also tried getting into journaling about the books I’ve read to help myself with writing reviews after I’ve finished reading something. But so far, I don’t find myself reaching for that journal very often. Habits are hard to build.

Create an Excel spreadsheet.

Spreadsheets are fun, doubly so if they’re colourful. If you don’t want to make a Goodreads account but want a digital log, an Excel sheet might work well for you.

How do you remember what you read?

The Struggles Of Being A Reader

If you’re a reader, you know the struggle is real.

Some of my struggles include:

• Going to the library and asking the librarian to find the books you want to borrow.
• Looking for a book in stores and not being able to find it.
• Struggling to find a comfortable reading position. 
• Trying to find the right edition of a book on Goodreads.

If at first you don’t find what you’re looking for, fail, fail again.

You Are A Reader

You are a reader.

Regardless of how many books you’ve read this year. Regardless of what genre and age category those books fall into. Regardless of how long those books are or even how long it took you to finish them.

I realize the Goodreads Choice Awards winners were announced yesterday. I can’t say I’m surprised at the books that won or even the ones that were nominated. And I don’t think it will surprise you when I say I haven’t read well, ninety-nine percent of them. That number probably isn’t accurate. I’m not a mathematician. I’m a reader, a writer, a lover of words, not numbers.

You aren’t any less of a reader because you didn’t read the nominees or winners. Also please know you aren’t strange or stupid for not liking a book that won.

You aren’t any less of a reader for any reason. But you aren’t a reader if you don’t read. In which case, our friendship doesn’t exist.

How I Feel About Book Recommendations‏

I can dedicate an entire post on book recommendations, so I’m doing exactly that.

Giving book recommendations:

I give because people ask. Also, I’m predisposed to philanthropy because I am generous by nature. Ask anybody who has had the pleasure of benefitting from one of my many unselfish acts. That being said I don’t expect everyone to love what I love or dislike what I dislike.

As a side note, I’ve acquired different tastes over the years. So a book I enjoyed three years ago may not be as enjoyable now. Case in point, I rate books on Goodreads based on my feelings of the book during and right after reading.  Meaning I may not feel the same way about a book as time goes on. In my opinion, the 5 star rating is not and never will be an accurate representation.

My experience has made me wish people were more decisive. You’re choosing a book, not choosing someone to spend the rest of your life with.

Receiving book recommendations:

I’m open to receiving them so long as the giver doesn’t try to shove it down my throat. In most cases, subtlety is an effective approach. If you really want me to read something, mention it in passing. Do not make the title or author your most used phrase in conversation.

As you can tell, I tend to give book recommendations more than I receive them. Then again, if you think I’ll enjoy a particular story or novel, feel free to let me know.

I can’t think of anything else to add. If or when I do, I’ll be sure to shove it down your throat.

Pick One: Social Media Edition

Two options. Pick one. It’s as simple as that.

I don’t use all of these so I definitely have my own bias in certain cases.

Also, I did my best to pair similar apps/services/sites together so if you’re looking for an alternative, you may be in luck.

All opinions are my own. I’m not going to bother explaining why I picked one over the other and shove my sentiments down your throat. We like what we like.

WordPress or Blogger?

WordPress.

Instagram or Tumblr?

Tumblr.

Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook.

Hotmail or Gmail?

Hotmail.

Google Plus or LinkedIn?

LinkedIn.

Pinterest or StumbleUpon?

Pinterest.

About.me or Ask.fm? 

About.me.

Goodreads or Wattpad?

Goodreads.

Dropbox or Google Drive?

Google Drive.

Evernote or Simplenote?

Evernote.

YouTube or Vimeo? 

YouTube.

Flickr or DeviantArt?

Flickr.