Book Blogging Resolutions 2021

The year is nearly over, I want something easy to write, and I’ve already been making plans for next year? So why not write a blog post about it?

2020 has been a massive improvement for my contributions to the bookish community. I tried booktube and didn’t enjoy it but my following on Twitter and Instagram has grown. I’m talking to more people, or at least trying to – I’m awkward, okay? – and my follower count has grown. I finally put some paid work into the blog on top of that and I’ve been making sure to update much more regularly

And it’s paying off!

As I write this, I have 164 followers on this blog. I’d like to try to get a few more before the new year ends but I’ll be talking about goals for this blog next year later on.

For now, let’s get started on my reading!

Buying Books

Next year I seriously need to cut down.

I finally had the income to buy a lot of brand new books and book boxes earlier this year. But I don’t have that income anymore and until I manage to get a new job, I need to be sensible. So my plan is to say I can’t buy more than 4 books a month and this will include pre-orders. I’m saying pre-orders will count for both the month I order them and the month they arrive so that’s some major limitations.

That’s not to say that I won’t wind up going over some months. This is me, I can’t resist books. And when I have the money I probably will splurge sometimes. Or just go crazy in the charity shops. But if I am going to splurge it can’t just be ‘I just want to buy a book so I just get one that looks okay’. I need to actually want them!

But I definitely want to be buying less.

Reading My Owned TBR

So, my owned TBR has gotten a little out of control?

I still own way more books I’ve read than I haven’t read. But the box is overflowing and only the other day the hardbacks fell over and knocked loads of things down…yeah….wasn’t happy about that.

With all my book buying this year, both my physical, audiobook and e-book TBRs have grown and I need to be getting through them. I also pay for Scribd which I like using for more books and then there are my two library accounts for local libraries…

Chances are, I’ll be getting a lot of books on top of the ones I can see in my pile anyway so I need to be making a concentrated effort to get through those too.

I’m already saying help me over the amount I have, welp.

Read More Star Wars

I adore Star Wars and have since my Mum introduced me and my siblings to the films as kids. She loves them too so it’s a shared passion.

The older extended universe books never appealed to me. But now writers I know and enjoy are writing books set in the universe and I want to read them.

I’ve read Doctor Aphra and I have Dark Disciple to read – I’ll probably be on the pile it’s in during January so good start – and I know my library has a bunch of the ones I want to read in e-book.

I’m determined to finally start getting through them this year and finding lots more Star Wars to love.

P.S If you’re curious about my Star Wars opinions – just ask me what I think about Anakin Skywalker. I have some very passionate opinions there.

Read More Romance

I did a post about this a little while ago and I’m definitely going to be making the effort to read more romance next year. I have a good few books to get to now that people keep recommending me.

I’m hoping next year I’ll grow to love the genre and that maybe my most anticipated releases will wind up including some…

Be More Willing to Request Proofs

I’m an awkward pup as I’ve said before. And with the growth of my blog, I have started requesting some outside of Readers First, NetGalley and newsletters but it’s slow going.

I want to finally get at least one proof next year that I’ve emailed the publisher about. Something about it just feels so special, y’know? It would make me feel like I’m really working with the community.

I’m also hoping to participate in a few more blog tours and things so fingers crossed!

Grow the Blog

My blog has grown a lot this year. I’m still in shock, if I’m honest.

I’m going to continue to pay for my domain and the WordPress stuff. I might start looking into self-hosting but when I do that, I want to be able to design my own blog and it look good. And I still need some practice there. So maybe not just yet.

But if I could get to 250 followers next year? That would be amazing. It’s a bit under 100 new followers so I’m pretty confident it’s achievable. I just have to keep working at it.

And to keep to my regular posting schedule!

That’s it!

Have you decided on any bookish or blogging goals for next year yet? I’m curious as to what you guys have come up with so let me know down below!