Since 2017 will be my first full year blogging I figured that it would be fun to set some goals for myself for a few reasons. First, because I want to look at this a year from now and see how I did. I’m not one to set personal resolutions because they always fail, then I feel guilty, so I gave up years ago. But I feel like I need a little accountability as a book blogger, so why not? Secondly, I want to be able to reference this throughout the year and kind of check on myself so to speak. Finally, I knew next to nothing about book blogging when I started last summer and now that I’ve learned a few things, I am a tiny bit wiser. 

Tackle my review requests

This is one that I feel the most guilty about, I have quite a few requests from indie authors that I’ve fallen behind on. I took on way too many and I’ve closed myself to any additional requests until I catch up on them. If you’re an author that’s waiting on me still and you’re reading this, my apologies. I promise I will get to your requests as soon as I can. January is crazy and jam packed, but after that my schedule is a bit more open so please just be patient, I haven’t forgotten about anyone! 

Highlight more indie authors

I love reading plenty of books from powerhouse authors and I always will, but I want to make more of an effort to support indie authors as well. Even if that means simply featuring them as part of my Saturday Shoutout series, that’s alright with me. 

Netgalley 

I think almost every single book blogger can agree with this, but I’ve got to get my Netgalley shelf under control. It’s shameful, but I’m not requesting anything new until I make a huge dent in my TBR there. Except if it’s something from Bookouture because I have no willpower and I’m auto approved. 😂🙈

Personal TBR 

I want to read at least one book every month from my personal TBR, not just because it needs to be reviewed ASAP. I want a no pressure read, I did start this whole thing for fun after all. 

Piggy bank

I’ve seen many other people starting this all over social media and I want to try it as well. All you do is drop a dollar in a jar or bank every time you finish a book. Easy peasy, right? Had I done this last year I would’ve had an extra 271 dollars!!

Discussion posts

I have tons of what I think, are great ideas for discussion posts but I never actually take the time to post them. Between actually reading the books, then reviewing them, I always brush it off. I’m going to shoot for one discussion post per month. 

Goodreads Challenge 

I exceeded my goal of 200 this year so I set the bar high and went with 300 for 2017. Overly ambitious? Absolutely, but I work best under pressure. Besides, on the Third of the year I have three books done so I’m on track!

Don’t be scared to DNF 

I have a serious fear of missing out so normally I force myself to finish a book even if I hate it. Last year I only stopped reading one. This year? I’ve already stopped one 😂 There are just way too many amazing books that I’m dying to read to waste my time on one that’s not working for me.

Say No

I need to say no more instead of being a yes man. Or woman. But I always volunteer for blog tours and say yes to review requests even if I’m not sure, that stops now. It’s all too overwhelming, and again this is for fun. It’s not my job, I do it for free and I don’t have to read anything, the world will keep on spinning just fine if I say no.

TBC Challenge 

TBC is a Facebook group made up of readers, bloggers and authors. It’s amazing and they have a challenge that I’m really excited about. There are prompts for how to choose each book, but I won’t bore you with those, just the 20 books I picked to complete the challenge. Some have been in my TBR forever, some I just discovered, but I’m really excited to read them all! (Let me know if I should read any of these sooner rather than later) 

The Sisters by Claire Douglas

My Husband’s Son by Deborah O’Connor

Follow You Home by Mark Edwards 

Taunting the Dead by Mel Sherratt 

Bloq by Alan Jones 

The Guillotine Choice by Michael Malone

Her Husband’s Lover by Julia Crouch

Between You and Me by Lisa Hall

Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton

The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell

See How They Run by Tom Bale

Dear Amy by Helen Callaghan 

Dying for Christmas by Tammy Cohen

Flowers for the Dead by Barbara Copperthwaite

The Curvy Girls Club by Michele Gorman

Alchemy by Chris James

Before I Let You In by Jenny Blackhurst

Burying the Honeysuckle Girls by Emily Drake Carpenter 

Tell Me a Lie by CJ Carver 

Did you set goals for yourself this year? Do we have any in common?