1. Keep Up With Reviews
There was a time when I reviewed books right after I finished reading. This kind of fell by the wayside after being computer-less for a month due to virus things. Every time I get caught up, I fall behind again. This past holiday season was especially harsh, so I have quite a bit to catch up on. In order to catch up and continue to keep up on reviews, I want to set up two days a week in which I write the reviews needed. I haven't decided which days these will be because I don't have a set schedule at work. I do know that it won't be Monday or Tuesday, I always work on those days. But I'll definitely have the days picked out after jury duty next week (yay!).
2. Reading Goal = 104 Books
I know 104 probably seems like a completely random number, but it averages out to two books a week. I've been able to obtain this goal two out of the last three years, so I'm gonna go for it again.
3. Read More Evenly Between Genres
I tend to read an overwhelming amount of Urban Fantasy. While the name of the blog is Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog, and Urban Fantasy is my favorite genre, I want to try to read more evenly between my favorite genres because I books more evenly than I read them. Although I only tend to read one to two Paranormal Romances a month, I tend to buy three or four, so I have a lot more of them laying around waiting to be read.
4. Read More Steampunk and Dystopian
I really enjoy what I have read of these two genres and have bought a number of titles, but I tend to pass on them for Paranormal novels when choosing what to read next. So I want to try to read a couple more of each this year.
5. Read More Sequels.
I have a crazy bad habit of reading the first book in a series and then never going back. Even after I absolutely loved book one, and even after I've bought the next two or three or five books in the series. I'm particularly guilty of buying all three books when a series releases books one through three in consecutive months. I always tell myself I'll go back, but them I start another new one. Most of the series in which I've read past book one are series that I've continued to receive for review. I think it's because I tend to enjoy book one the most, because the introduction to the world building and the characters are my favorite parts. But I really need to go back to some of these great series, both because I really enjoyed book one and because I own through at least book three of the majority of them. So I'm going to break them up by genre and makes lists of the four in each genre I absolutely have to read this year.
Urban Fantasy
Shadowglass by Erica Hayes
Flesh and Blood by Kristen Painter
Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler
Paranormal Romance
Scoundrel by Zoe Archer
When Pleasure Rules by J.K. Beck
Storm's Heat by Thea Harrison
Firewalker by Allyson James
Paranormal Young Adult
Shadowspell by Jenna Black
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
Betrayal by Gillian Shields
6. No Review Requests of Author Events During the Holidays
This resolution is only to be followed if I am still working in retail next holiday season. This past year has shown me that I can't juggle everything during these crazy months, so if I'm still in retail I'll be closed for requests between Black Friday and New Year's. You may still e-mail me during this time with a request if the book releases after this time, or to schedule something after this time. The only exceptions will be author's that I already have a relationship with that may have books releasing during this time period, but it won't be a guarantee. I know this is eleven months in advance, but it's just a precaution.
Sara,
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a pretty good list of resolutions.
The one I made was not to force myself to finish a book that is just not working for me. I have way too many books on my tbr pile to spend a week trying to get through one.
Have a great day.
Michelle, I did much better with that this past year (it would've been a 2011 resolution had I made them), so I hope I continue. Happy New Year!
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