Happy New Year! I hope you’re all ready for a fantastic 2011 here on Cover to Cover.
It’s time to publicly declare my goals for 2011. Yes, goals. No, not resolutions. Resolutions often don’t see the end of January. I’m a huge fan of goal setting (and lists- LOVE lists) and I think setting reasonable, reachable goals is much more effective than “resolving” to do something.
Onto the goals!
Reading Goals:
1. Read 100 books this year.
2. Try out new genres! Specifically, I’d like to try out paranormal and fantasy. Any recommendations?
3. Write at least 80 book reviews.
4. Buy more books whether it be for my iPad or for actual books.
5. Ask my local library how I can get involved. Perhaps joining their board, volunteering my time, helping to host programs? I want to spread the bookish love.
6. Continue sharing what I read on Goodreads and maybe check out some other bookish sites. What are your favorite bookish sites?
Writing Goals:
1. Spend less time reading about writing and instead, use that time to write.
2. Finish writing a novel this year. I don’t care how often I write, how good it is or what it’s about. I just want to complete one full manuscript this year that I can edit, tear apart and work with.
3. Just keep writing. Blog posts, short stories, poems, guest blogs, freelance pieces, lists, ideas, scenes, PR pitches, etc. Write in any avenue I get the opportunity to write in.
Blogging Goals:
1. Attend more bookish events! I have plans to attend Book Expo America and the Book Blogger Convention. I also want to attend more author signings.
2. Meet more book bloggers in person. I need more real life friends who I can discuss books with, so what better way than to take these amazing friendships I’ve made online offline? I know that Jamie, Steph and Melissa all live around the same area I do, so I hope to make plans with them in 2011! Do you like in the Philadelphia area? Let me know!
3. Review books soon after finishing them. I sometimes wait and write a whole bunch of reviews at once and I feel like the quality of the review decreases when I can’t remember the little details of why I loved a book so much.
4. Interview and feature more people in the publishing industry. I currently interview lots of authors on my blog (which I’ll definitely continue!) but I think it would be cool to spotlight agents, editors, publicists and other bookish people, as well.
5. Keep connecting with more book bloggers. My Google Reader is out of control with book review blogs and I absolutely love it. I want to meet even more awesome bloggers this year.
Personal Goals:
1. Maintain my workout schedule. Hooray! For once in my life, my goal is not to start working out. I’ve been steadily hitting the gym 3-4 times a week since September.
2. Stay involved with the PR community in Philadelphia. Attend events, network (on and offline), and continue to hold leadership positions.
3. Make it a point to mentor someone- whether it be a PR student, a new book blogger, whatever. I’d like to pay it forward since so many people have mentored me over the last year.
4. Put myself out there socially. After graduation, my friends all moved back home to various parts of the country leaving me with a pretty empty social calendar. I want to take advantage opportunities to meet new people this year.
What are your goals for 2011?
Oooh, I hope we can meet up at BEA!
@StephTheBookworm, Um, YES! We must make that a priority!
@StephTheBookworm, But also, by the way, did you register for BEA yet? Because I haven’t.
@Jessica Lawlor,
Not yet. I’m about halfway through the registration. I’m up to the point on the form where you have to pay lol.
Too bad I live overseas, because I would love to go to Book Expo America! Love the goals you put there, good luck with them! 🙂
@nina, Aw, Nina! I wish you could come too! Save up your money and plan for an international trip next year! 😉
Hex Hall and Paranormalcy are a great place to start for paranormal because they are smart and fun.
I REALLY want to go to BEA…I hope I can make it work.
@Jessica, Thanks for the suggestions, doll! I’ve heard that those two books are really great places to start.
I hope you come to BEA! I would love to meet and hang out in person!
As for fantasy type books, there are the ones I know you’ve heard about… but the reason you’ve heard about them is because they really are that good… The Twilight books, The Host (also by Stephanie Meyer), The Hunger Games, The Sookie Stackhouse books. As for ones that are a little less know, I really liked The City of Bones trilogy when I read it earlier this year. I know there’s a few others, but at the moment I’m at a loss.
@Shoshanah, Thanks so much for the suggestions, Shoshanah! I have read Twilight and I loved them! I’ve heard the Sookie Stackhouse books are awesome- maybe I’ll give those a try!
Great goals! Paranormal is pretty much all I read… I second Jessica on Paranormalcy and Shoshanah on Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse and City of Bones. I have Hex Hall and The Hunger Games on my TBR list. Also I just read Need by Carrie Jones and it was good (about pixies). There are two more in that series. Also, I’m about to read Fallen by Lauren Kate.
@Alexia Chamberlynn, Thanks so much for the paranormal suggestions! I’ve literally never read one before and I’m really nervous. I’ve heard that Paranormalcy and Hex Hall are great places to start. Thanks for those other suggestions; I’m adding them to my list.
These are really fantastic goals for the New Year – many are similar to mine but I love that yours are so community centered. I especially love your idea of mentoring someone (I would love to hear your thoughts on my blog – I’ve been kind of looking for a mentor!). I’m especially loving your writing goals. I think it is so important to just keep writing! Best of luck to you and all your goals. Keep making those lists, they really are a wonderful way to stay organized!
@Jennifer, Thanks so much, Jennifer! Would you mind shooting me an email and telling me what some of your specific blog concerns are? I’d be happy to give you my thoughts and answer any questions you may have!
My goal is to read 111 in 2011! I would love to attend BEA but I just don’t know if I can afford it.
Awesome goals, Jess! I’ll be rooting for you!
@Kelly, 111! That’s so awesome.
If you start saving now, you might be able to afford BEA or at least part of it? I think I may only go to one or two days of BEA and then the full day of BBC.
These are some awesome goals. I’ve got the same book count goal this year as you. I also have the “review quickly” goal – I’ve seen that one a lot. Best of luck this year.
@Megan Hoover Swicegood, Good luck to you too Megan!
Great goals! 🙂
For paranormal and fantasy reads I would suggest: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison, Hearts at Stake by Alyx Harvey, Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia, The Dark Divine by Bree Despain, Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and also the Alanna series by Tamora Pierce. And a bazillion more. 🙂
You’re lucky to already committed to a gym! My husband and I have big plans and then end up only going once a week instead of 3-4 times.
Awesome goals Jess! Go you with wanting to read 100 books!! My goal is 50 🙂