My 2016 Bookish Resolutions
08:00First of all, I'd like to say happy new year! Many do believe that new year's resolutions are stupid and these people have got it pretty correct because time is an illusion created by a capitalist society and we are under no obligation to define our lives around the calendar made by mere mortals , but today I'm going to start off this year with things I hope to achieve.
LET'S GET STARTED!
1. Write more discussion posts
For the majority of the year, I think most of my posts have been reviews. This has been great for me, because I adore writing reviews, and my style has improved loads. But, I think discussion posts are much more interesting to read, especially to non-bloggers, so I’d really like to write more. They’re much more time consuming to write and edit, but I’d love to share my own opinions and views more on the blogosphere!
2. Be more open
I’m naturally a really private person in real life, but on here, on my blog, I want to share a little bit more about myself to you! Blogging is the place where I want to be different to how I am in person, so being more open with my emotions is very important for me.
3. Make more friends
I have made some wonderful friends through blogging over the past year, but I want to make even more! I’ve met so many lovely people, so it would be awesome to make even more friends. On this note: feel free to come say hi! I’m trying to expand, and talk to people a bit more too, because I get a bit shy. I really love meeting new people though, so this is a very important goal for me ☺
This one also works for the reading challenges - this will be my first year taking part in reading challenges other than Goodreads, and I’m really excited to get started! But, I’m a little bit worried that I’m not going to be able to finish, so I’m aiming to actually not forget about them! I’m hoping to be consistent in reading the right genres of books (I’m doing horror and diverse reads) over the course of the year so I might actually be able to complete them ☺
4. Be more daring
Because 2015 was my first year of blogging, I’ve definitely tried to stay in my comfort zone. This blog has been my little safe haven, so I’ve only done things that I’m completely sure I can carry out, and that I’m completely sure will be a hit. I’ve only stuck to what I’ve known - in 2016, I want to expand my blog, and the only way to do this would be to step out of my comfort zone slightly!
5. Be consistent
This may seem like a bit of an odd one, but for me, this is really important. In 2015, I feel like I might have said things yet not followed through with them, or I might have not done things I said I would have done. In the new year, I want to make sure I stick by what I say, and do the things that I want.
This one also works for the reading challenges - this will be my first year taking part in reading challenges other than Goodreads, and I’m really excited to get started! But, I’m a little bit worried that I’m not going to be able to finish, so I’m aiming to actually not forget about them! I’m hoping to be consistent in reading the right genres of books (I’m doing horror and diverse reads) over the course of the year so I might actually be able to complete them ☺
6. Schedule more posts in advance!
Literally every blogger tells us to do this, but I’m just so bad! I always aim so, but I’m so busy, so it never goes to plan. I’m hoping I’ll be able to get organised over Christmas, but I’d like to keep this up over 2016, because I’d be able to publish much more posts. This will probably the biggest challenge for me out of this list, but I really hope I will be able to keep up with this.
What do you hope to achieve in 2016? Do you have any personal goals or reading goals? Or maybe you don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions, and you’re just going to see how the new year goes!
Hello! I'm D - a dog-loving feminist from the UK. You'll probably find me with my nose in a book or playing my clarinet
36 comments
"time is an illusion created by a capitalist society" <-- this had me laughing for so long. XD I would love to see more discussion posts here! I'm wondering if I should do a GR challenge this year because I failed last year, but I'm still joining a diverse reads challenge! :D
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you hold my anti-capitalist, cynical views, Alyssa! XD Thankyou! Don't feel too much pressure - the most important thing is reading the books you love, not reading a certain amount :)
DeleteYeah I saw, I think we're taking part in the same one! It will be interesting to see what you read for the challenge so we can compare books, motivate each other and stuff :)
Thanks for the comment, Alyssa!
Scheduling posts definitely does help. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't do it! I would find it so difficult. However, I also know people who prefer to post whenever they have a post ready, so it's best to do what you feel most comfortable with!
ReplyDeleteI'm also trying to be more daring this year, and I'm looking forward to it lots!
Good luck with your goals, Denise!
I know - I've scheduled a few posts for when I go back to school (this one included), and it's very helpful. Yeah, I like publishing as soon as I've written because then I still have the enthusiasm from when I wrote it to share with others. Thanks, Lucy!
DeleteThank you, Lucy! Good luck with aiming to be more daring. I hope you have a happy new year!
Happy new year Denise!! :D I hope you'll do great with all of these resolutions. I would love to read more discussions from you! :D
ReplyDeleteMarie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books
Thankyou, Marie! You too! I really would like to write more discussion posts, and I have lots of ideas I'd like to share, it's just finding the time to write them all...
DeleteThankyou, Marie! You too! I really would like to write more discussion posts, and I have lots of ideas I'd like to share, it's just finding the time to write them all...
DeleteThese are some great resolutions and you have a lovely blog! I can't wait to see what's in store for next year <3
ReplyDeleteThankyou so much, Gianna! That means so much <3 I hope you have a great 2016!
DeleteThankyou so much, Gianna! That means so much <3 I hope you have a great 2016!
DeleteI should probably also try to write some discussion posts. I think I just suck at this though. I don't know why. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteScheduling is definitely a great thing! I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have a few posts as a "backup" or something like that. Especially reviews, haha. :D
I wish you good luck for all your challenges & resolutions! All the best for 2016, Denise! ♥
Yvonne @ A World Between Folded Pages
I agree, they are a lot harder! I want to try and write more to improve the way I write them, because they are really interesting to read. I know - I do find it handy, so I really need to get into scheduling some posts! I do have a few review drafts, but it takes so long to edit them...
DeleteThank you, Yvonne! I wish you the best 2016 ♥
I always use this time of the year before I go back to work to schedule a few posts to keep me going through till Easter. It really is so handy, more time for reading. The idea of discussion posts sounds great!
ReplyDeleteBecky; www.rebeccamarie.co.uk xxx
Yeah, I've been trying to do that. I go back to school on Monday though, so there isn't much time left! (I've been really busy too though). I'm trying to get ahead!
DeleteThanks for the comment, Becky :)
Very nice resolutions and goals! I personally love reading and writing discussion posts so I look forward to yours. Good luck on scheduling posts! It's really helpful to also have back-up posts, not really scheduled but just there, for weeks it's incredibly busy so you can just post that and remain active :).
ReplyDeleteThanks! I find them really interesting to read (and make a change from reviews, too), so hopefully I'll be able to get into it a bit more. Yeah, I do have a few in my drafts but they're the posts I don't love as much, so I'm a bit hesitant to publish them. I'll have to get to work so I can stock up!
DeleteThanks for the comment, Jess! Best wishes for 2016 ♥
Definitely awesome resolutions! I really need to do a few of those, too. Especially 'be consistent' and 'write more discussion posts.' I've been awful lately about having good content and maintaining my blog! I do have the scheduling thing down, though, and I gotta tell you, it makes life soo much easier! I write my reviews as soon as I finish the book (usually) and schedule them in advance, then I don't have to do anything else :)
ReplyDeleteI make sure everything I publish is 'good content', so that's not really the case for me! I think I'd rather not post as often, but everything I post is - in my eyes - quality content. I've been trying to do that, but I don't review every book I've read, so it's hard! I'm also really busy with school so I don't really have the time
DeleteThanks for the comment, Jessi ♥
Yes! These are amazing resolutions!! Haha, I definitely understand what you mean by being consistent. Last year I joined about 10 book challenges, and I pretty much failed at ALL of them. XD Same with the scheduling posts, I try to do it, but there's never enough time for me. :(
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Denise! <3
I've tried not to join too many this year, because I know that I won't be able to complete them all! I will try really hard though - one of them is just for fun, so it doesn't matter how many you read. My kind of challenge! XD
DeleteI totally agree - it's so hard to find the time and motivation. I don't know how everyone manages to do it!
Thanks, Maisa! ☺
These are some great resolutions! I definitely want to schedule more posts in advance, and write more discussion posts - they're always so fun! And definitely yes to making more blogging friends - in such a short time I've already met so many amazing people and I can't wait to meet more! :) Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI know - discussion posts are probably my favourite to read, so it would be great for my readers to be able to read more of them on my blog too. I know - I've met so many people in my short amount of time blogging, and I'm so grateful for all my lovely new friends. Thanks, you too!
DeleteHappy New Year, Denise! Those are some great resolutions and a lot of them seem to be in common with almost every other blogger I've seen.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck in the new year! :)
~Sophia @ Bookwyrming Thoughts
Thankyou! I've seen a lot of people with similar things - it's funny, because I first drafted this post in November! :D
DeleteThanks, you too ♥
That introductory paragraph is just hilarious XD You're killing me, Denise! KILLING ME! I also need to write more discussions, read more, blog more, schedule more. MORE, in general, I guess. I also need to keep up on commenting...I'm always so late! ❤
ReplyDeleteThank you, Erin! I have to admit, I was smirking whilst writing it, haha XD
DeleteThat's so true! We're always pushing ourselves to do more, and there always seems to be people who can do so much. Good luck with commenting back!
Book blogging friends are the best friends ;) All your goals sound great and completely achievable. Good luck with them!
ReplyDeleteTotally! Some of the people I've met through blogging are like my family ♥ Thank-you, Bec! Good luck with yours, too (if you made any) :D
DeleteThese are great resolutions! I loved your opening. I study Sociology, so that was right up my street! Hope you stick to all of them, I'd love to see how you did at the end of the year haha! I also want to schedule more posts in advance too! When I'm at uni, I get sidetracked with work and forget/can't be bothered to read and post on my blog! Hoping to change that this year!
ReplyDeleteThank you! (I would really love to study sociology - it seems so interesting!) Thanks! I'm going to try to aim to write a wrap-up post, but I've been pretty bad at keeping up with them, haha. That's exactly the same with me! I'm always too tired to read after school and revision... blogging is out of the question! I really do need to get better for days like these.
DeleteThanks for the comment! ♥
I am one of those people who don't believe in making resolutions, but I do have some goals of my own I am hoping to achieve in this year. I should really work on discussion posts for the reasons you mentioned too! I tend to write a lot of reviews and just throw them out into the void. Prescheduling is my best friend as well <3 Don't know where I would be without it!
ReplyDeleteThat's so true for me, too! I often feel a lot more scared publishing discussion posts, because it could cause a backlash of controversy, and it has much more of my actual thoughts in. I really need to get into prescheduling!
DeleteThanks for the comment, Olivia ♥
Good luck with all of your personal goals for the blog this year! Discussion posts are so much fun to write, and I would love to see them on your blog. You shouldn't be afraid of causing controversy, most of the bloggers around seem to be very polite even in discourse :D
ReplyDeleteAentee at Read at Midnight
Thank-you! It is scary though - I don't want to cause offense to anyone, though I do have strong opinions! I've been pretty slack recently and I haven't been able to post, but I'm hoping to post soon.
DeleteThanks for the comment, Aentee
We have a lot of resolutions in common, like making more blogging friends and scheduling in advance! Good luck with ALL of your goals!
ReplyDeleteScheduling will be a challenge for me (I've completely failed so far), but I'm still hoping to get into it soon!
DeleteThank-you! You too :)
Thanks for commenting! I read and respond to every comment, so make sure to check back to see my reply. Have a nice day! ☺♥