My Bookish Resolutions For 2023
Hello readers and writerly friends!
Welcome back to my blog! If you haven’t read my latest two blog posts, they’re linked at the bottom of this page! This week, we’re discussing my 2023 bookish goals and resolutions. What are your goals for 2023? Leave me a comment below!
Some of these are repeat goals and some are new. Last year, my only goal was to read 22 books and I nailed it! This year, I decided I wanted to do more than just read, but I wanted to keep them simple and SMART —- specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. I’ve given myself 5 goals to strive for in 2023
My bookshelf filled with more knick-knacks than actual books. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Read all of the TBR books on my shelf in 2023
In 2020, I went through a book purge and got rid of almost 200 books! As a result, my bookshelf seems to be filled more with rocks, figurines, and knick-knacks, than actual books, but oh well. This year, my primary goal is to read all of the books on that shelf. I started chipping away at it in 2022, and as I completed a book, I either kept it or donated it to the library. There’s 36 books to be read on my shelf. If I can read 34 books in 2022, then this year, I can clear the shelf!
Finish the Wingbound Trilogy by Heather Trim in 2023
As you can see from my #shelfie, the series is waiting patiently on my shelf. In 2023, I plan to finish this series, starting with Wingspan in January!
Set up a cozy reading space in Winter-Spring of 2023
My partner and I just moved into our apartment back in August 2022, and we don’t yet have our living room furnished. In 2023, I hope to get some big furniture pieces that are comfy, cozy, stylish, and together make for a great reading spot as well as watching our favorite films.
Get a new bookshelf in 2023
Part of the furniture plan for 2023, is to get a new bookshelf. I think we’re going with a mid-century modern or industrial themed living room with cozy accents, so this shelf has got to go. Besides, I want to use this shelf to store our towels in the bathroom. Our current shelf is flimsy at best.
Read a 2023 release early in 2023
This may be tricky to get my hands on, but I definitely want to try and read Yellowface by R.F. Kuang asap! I have never read an early release and it didn’t seem possible to get my hands on a copy at the end of 2022, so maybe once it’s out I can snag a copy and write a review on it as early as possible! Keep your eyes out for that!
That’s all for my 2023 Bookish Resolutions! I hope you enjoyed reading this post! I know this goal list was far shorter than 2020 and 2021. It’s been a crazy couple of years! But now that I’m back in the practice of reading and writing daily, I hope I can achieve these goals and I am certainly looking forward to trying! What are your 2023 bookish goals or resolutions? Did you complete or make progress towards your 2022 goals? Let me know in the comments below and as always, thanks for reading!
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Past Blog Posts:
10 Tips For Planning Your 2020 Reading Challenge
Not into New Years resolutions? Think you’d do better with a challenge? Well the good news is there’s something that works for everyone! This list of 10 tips will set you on the right track for you 2020 reading challenge!
Photo by Ann Poan.
Make time for reading
First and foremost, carve out a special time each day to read. Even if it’s for only 30 minutes at first, you will find yourself more interested in reading that you initially thought possible. Us the pomodoro technique to read in 25-minute intervals, to break the looming task down just a little. The easy part is setting the goal and doing the planning, but the follow-through is where it really counts, and unfortunately that part isn’t quite as easy. Set alarms to go off when you’re supposed to start and stop reading and make sure your reading area is conducive to relaxation and enjoyment.
Pro tip: Don’t forget Audiobooks! They totally count as reading and are a multitasker’s best friend! You can listen to audiobooks at the gym, in the car, or doing little chores around the house, to name a few activities.
Outline your own reading challenge
Reading challenges appear in many different forms: monthly Bookish bingo challenges, pre-made monthly lists, or like the Goodreads challenge, a set number of books you will try to read by the end of the year! Pick an existing challenge to participate in and figure out which books you want to read in 2020. Make them their own little list or shelf and be sure to leave room for extra books that you might need to get you out of reading slumps.
Pro tip: I always read romantic thrillers or horror novels to get me out of reading slumps! Usually it’s fantasy that puts me in a slump (even though I love the genre to death). Figure out what your go-to genre is and line up an reading slump emergency kit!
Get creative with your goals
Just because Goodreads has the yearly reading challenge and helps you keep track of the amount of books you read, doesn’t mean your goals have to strictly be a number. Consider what other goals would be helpful for your growth as a reader or writer. For example, one of my goals this year is to write a review for every book (or series) I read. I want to get into doing book reviews regularly and this is an excellent way for me to build the habit while challenging myself in a new, fun way. Another couple of examples is to only buy a new book when you’ve read one you currently own, join and IRL book club, or to get into reading audiobooks by reading one each month!
Organize your TBR
We ALL have that one shelf where we’ve boughten all kinds of books that we may or may not have the intention of reading. Whether you’ve got an actual bookshelf or your Goodreads virtual bookshelf, your amazon wishlist, or a handwritten list of books, keeping your TBR organized is key to accomplishing your reading goals in 2020.
Join a read-a-thon in 2020!
Read-a-thons are reading challenges that happen year-round and are hosted by book bloggers, booktubers, bookstagrammers, and bookish brands such as Owl Crate and Book Box! Joining the bookish fun is a great way to get involved, stay motivated, and make new friends along the way!
Photo by Content Pixie.
Prep your shelves
If you are in fact hoping to reach your goal of reading a certain number of book in 2020, you’re going to need to not only plan out your reading list, but also your shelves. See if you can find a reading challenge you’d like to participate in and pair the books on your shelf to the prompts in the challenge. You’ll get a good idea of your reading challenge this way and if you’re having trouble matching books to the challenge, it might be a good sign it’s time to pick a different challenge.
Track your progress effectively
Find a tracking method that works for you. I find the Goodreads reading challenge to be a great motivator and a great way to keep track of the books I’ve read. Plus, it gives you all sorts of statistics at the end of the year , like what books you read, longest to shortest in page count, most and least popular from your books, and it even keeps track of your reviews! However, you don’t have to use Goodreads. You can take the old-fashioned route and design a pretty progress tracker for 2020 that will inspire you to complete it!
Pro tip: Pintrest is a fantastic resource for finding any kind of habit tracker out there! Just type in “reading tracker” or “book tracker” in the search bar and you’ll be met with a plethora of fun designs you can use to track your own reading progress!
I SO look forward to this goal all year long and it continues to motivate me each year, even when I find myself in reading slumps or lacking motivation.
Connect with the bookish community
Reading brings people together! Get involved in the bookish community online and in real life to build strong connections with like-minded people and keep yourself motivated throughout the year and the reading challenge. Having a bookish BFF is an awesome way to keep yourself reading all year long! There are all kinds of fun, bookish things you can do in real life as well. You can start a book club together, buddy-read, host silent reading parties, or trade book recommendations!
Pro Tip: Bookstagram and reading groups on Facebook are both great ways to get engaged with the online reading community! See if your local library or community college has a book club you can join or start!
Set up a rewards system that works
If you read my guide on how to cure writer’s block for good, then you might know what I am about to say. Don’t neglect your other goals (saving money, losing weight, quitting smoking etc) by rewarding your good bookish behavior with toxic behavior. Set up a sustainable rewards system that doesn’t interfere with your other goals.
For instance, I am trying to cut out sugar AND stop impulse spending. So, what kind of reward can I set for myself? Weekly watch time for my favorite shows, nights out with friends, and every time I hit a major milestone for my reading challenge, I’ll allow myself to get ONE new book. This doesn’t interfere with my goals of consuming less sugar or saving money because my smaller rewards such as the nights out or TV time, effectively get me to my bigger milestones and better rewards.
By setting up a tiered rewards system, you keep steadily increasing motivation to finish out your goals and reach those rewards, all year long!
Pro Tip: If you chose to track your progress with Goodreads, they show you all sorts of fun statistics at the end of the year! This on it’s own is pretty exciting for me!
Check in an evaluate your reading challenge
Keep your reading challenge flexible and open to change if needed. Set monthly reminders or as often as you need them, to check-in and reevaluate your reading challenge. Don’t be afraid to raise or lower your book count goal accordingly, if you realize the current one just isn’t a good fit. Sometimes I just don’t meet my goal and instead of feeling sad about it, I just scale it down to something more pragmatic. Sometimes I easily surpass the goal, and likewise, I have to scale it accordingly. Remember the main goal of the challenge is to have fun so don’t get hung up on goals and deadlines, and just enjoy reading.
If you made it this far, I have an awesome freebie for you! Sometimes reading slumps are inevitable, but you can pull yourself out of your next reading slump with these surefire tips! Click here to get your FREE Reading Slump Emergency Kit!
What are your reading goals for 2020? Did you make your Bookish New Year’s resolutions yet? Comment below and let me know what you thought of this list and if there’s anything you’d add to it!
Click here to read my 20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020 blog post.
—Payton
20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020
I know around this time of year EVERYONE makes new year’s resolutions, but I can’t stop myself from jumping on the bandwagon and neither can you. There’s something so fun about bookish resolutions and goals and how they take the pressure off writing goals. So without further ado, below are my 20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020. The first few items are specific books I want to read but I promise it’s not just a list of books. I have real resolutions here, people!
1. Read 30 books.
This year, my goal was to read 20 books and I read 23 so I think it’s safe to say I need a little more challenge in my life. However, I don’t want to make it too difficult that I fall into a reading slump—so 30 it is. Check out the books I read in 2020 here.
Photo by Payton Hayes.
2. Finish the Lord of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
In the summer of 2019, I started The Lord of The Rings Trilogy and burned through the first two books rather quickly. However, when it came to reading the Return of The King, I’ve gotten sort of stuck in the pages following the battle of the Pelennor Fields. I’d like to finish it early in 2020 to complete the series and officially check it off my list!
3. Read Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
This is the year. This is it—I can feel it in my bones. I am going to read the whole Harry Potter Series this year. I’ve spent my life avoiding spoilers but this year I am going to read it a joint the wizarding world once and for all! I think I might also watch the movies—you know, for good measure.
Photo by Payton Hayes.
4. House of Night Series by P. C. and Kristin Cast
I have all the books and I’ve only read three. I think it’s time to cross this beast of a vampire series off my list as well. I remember enjoying the story but somehow, we got separated and I think it’s time to go back to it. It was particularly special because it’s set in Oklahoma, the state I currently live in, so it hits kind of close to home—in a good way.
Photo by Payton Hayes.
5. Angel Fire Series by L. A. Weatherly
I started Angel Burn a while ago but have yet to finish it. The premise was awesome and totally up my alley—angels that have gone rogue, angel hunters, and a condition called angel burn—what’s not to love about that? It’s a new, refreshing take on the overdone angel story and I definitely want to read it in 2020.
Photo by Payton Hayes.
6. Starcrossed Series by Josephine Angelini
Wow, can I just start this one off by saying her name is so perfectly fantasy? I mean if she was named that by her parents, then she’s super lucky and unique (what can I say, I love unique names) and she already fits in her genre, but if she came up with that name as a pseudonym, then I think she’s even more genius than we give her credit for.
Also, I would really love to read this series. I started it when it was more like a choose-you-own-adventure game on Figment.com. Yeah, remember that site? The good ole days. Anyways I already know I’ll love it because I’ve read part of it before and I hope to pick it back up in the new year.
Photo by Payton Hayes.
7. Grisha Saga by Leigh Bardugo
I have a love hate relationship with this series because 1) I genuinely do love it and 2) I hate that I’ve somehow manage to get all the way through the second book before realizing I was reading it out of order. No wonder I was so confused! Why do I keep doing this? I read the Barney the Bear-Killer series by Pat Sargent out of order in third grade and the Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan (mostly in order) in the eighth grade. Even so, I’d still like to read this series because the world building and premise is so beautifully and expertly done.
8. Classics
Photo by Payton Hayes.
Good, now that we’ve gotten through the particulars, I’d like to include some odds and ends. I plan to read more classics, starting with the ones I have on my shelf and was supposed to read in high school and college. Professors, don’t come for me, please. Anyway, I think there is a lot to learn from classics and controversial or not, I’d like to read more of them for my own growth as a writer.
9. Sarah J. Maas
I think it’s finally time I jump on the hype train and find out what all the fuss is about when it comes to Sarah J. Maas Novels. I’ve heard of the Throne of Glass Series and the Court of Thorns and Roses series and I just think it’s time to pick them up and give them a read. The covers are so lovely and there’s a badass female protagonist, so what’s not to love?
10. Review more books
If you’ve been around this blog for any period of time, you can tell my book review section on the book blog is severely lacking. In 2020 not only do I want to read more books, but I want to review them as well. I think thinking critically about novels is important to understanding the bigger picture part of them and not getting completely wrapped up in the little parts of the story.
11. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
I reeeeeally really want to read this series. I’ve been admiring it on other bookish people’s shelves for a couple of years now and I think it’s about time I not only picked up the series but read it. The covers are stunning and the premise just gets me every time. I need to read this series now!
12. Killer Unicorns by Diana Peterfrund
Earlier this year, I read Errant by Diana Peterfrund from the Kiss Me Deadly YA Supernatural Romance Collection and I was blown away. Hello? Killer unicorns, badass girls in pants and skirts taking down the toxic men in their lives, and the theme of following your heart and standing up for yourself? These are all things I love in a YA fantasy novel, only I didn’t realize it until I’d read Errant. The story is phenomenal—the world building is so perfectly done, I felt instantly transported to Munich.
13. Join an irl book club
I know there’s a psychology book club at my school but this might be the year I charter and star up the official book club there, or at least join a club if I can find one. I’ve always wanted to be part of a book club and be around like-minded individuals where we can just nerd out about books and reading.
14. Stay up-to-date on bookish current events
This year, I’d like to read more books that were recently published and better yet, 2020 published novels. I’d like to do better job of keeping up with the current bookish trends and reading what everyone else is reading so I can be part of the discussion too!
Photo by Payton Hayes.
15. Get another bookshelf
As you can see, where I am lacking in books, I make up for it in dragons. If I am going to complete half of these resolutions, I am going to need another shelf and more books. The question is…where do I put it?
16. Read from a genre I don’t enjoy
Treading carefully around a reading slump, I’ll say this doesn’t exactly entice me, but I know it’s good for something. I’d like to read more from a genre I don’t particularly enjoy to broaden my horizons.
17. Give myself permission to leave a book unfinished
I don’t mean leaving half-read novels lying all over the place, but I think it’s important to know when to put a book down and to know it’s okay to do so. I haven’t put a book down since 2018, when I read Elusion by Claudia Gable and Cheryl Klam. I had to stop reading this book because after months, it just wasn’t pulling me in. I’d made several attempts to get into the story, but I just couldn’t. I don’t blame the authors—I know this is just a fact of the bookish world that we can’t love everything we read. I think this year, I’d like to take that freedom to let books go with me into my reading practice.
18. Read a book to buy a book
Okay, so maybe I got ahead of myself by saying I am going to need more books and another bookshelf because this year I’d like to read more books than I buy. I’d like to make a considerable dent in the bookshelf I currently have as well. I am notorious for having a mile-high TBR List and continuing to buy new books. In 2020, I’d like to set up a rewards system so every time I read a book I can buy a new one.
19. Participate in a reading challenge
I think it would be fun to take part in a reading challenge such as the gargantuan Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge, where you read the 339 books referenced in the early 2000’s TV show, or booktober where you read one spooky book every week throughout October.
20. Develop better reading habits
And last but not least, I’d like to develop a better relationship with reading. I want to get out of the mindset that I can only read when I am in the mood for it and I want to make time to read regularly. I’ve made peace with the fact that that means I might have to let some things go—move over, Netflix. But I genuinely do want to make reading a priority in my life in 2020.
And there you have it! Those are my 20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020. What do you think? Do you have any bookish resolutions for the new year? Comment below and let me know what you thought of my list!
Further Reading
—Payton
5 Actionable New Year's Resolutions For Writers in 2020
1.Share your writing with others more often.
Photo by Ivan Samkov.
It can be hard as a writer to be vulnerable and open to criticism, but it is crucial to our growth and improvement to feel comfortable putting our work out into the world, despite what others say. Always use your best judgment when dealing with criticism to determine if it was constructive or just negativity. But by opening up and letting the world into our stories, we grow and gradually become used to having other eyes on our work. Coming to terms with this is essential for aspiring writers desiring professional writing work.
2. Try a new writing style or medium for telling stories.
Do you usually write in a certain POV or tense? Do your stories typically take on a humorous or satirical tone? What voice do you normally write in? Is your target audience the same every time? Change it up by writing new stories in different ways.
Another way to freshen up the writing process is to work with different methods of storytelling. Of course, audio-visual mediums can be used for storytelling and often are, but I’m specifically referring to the written word—poems, plays, short stories, novelettes, novels, articles, blog posts, and reviews. Consider writing in a different medium to explore and learn new techniques, styles, and practices.
3. Watch, read, and write stories in genres you’re unfamiliar with.
This one likely requires some research but by branching out into a new genre, you learn all kinds of different storytelling techniques and styles that were gated by your own genre. By stepping out of your comfort zone, you open up your craft to new growth. Diving into new genres can seem unappealing at first, but you’ll find all kinds of hidden gems in other genres and the challenge will breed new creativity.
4. Make creativity part of your everyday routine.
I written extensively on consistency and building in time for writing but the gist is this: writing every day makes you a better writer because a) practice does make perfect and b) it acts like exposure therapy by bringing you face-to-face with the fear associated with the writing process (fears of inadequacy or imperfection) often enough that you get used to it and overcome this obstacle.
Photo by Ivan Samkov.
As someone who was incredibly busy and believed in the idea that creativity strikes only at certain time, I used to think this was impossible, but I can assure you it is achievable. Consider one of the previous options such as writing in a new medium. By writing new blog posts for this blog, all the time, I am exposing myself to the writing process and therefore making it increasingly easier to write in my passion projects.
The blog takes off the looming pressure of trying to achieve constant perfection and allows me to just write freely. Then, when I sit down to write fantasy, it’s easier every day, and since I’m all warmed up from writing blog posts, I can produce better quality work.
5. Learn to enjoy the writing process and not just the end result.
How does that quote go? It’s all about the journey, not the destination? Writing is EXACTLY like that. Our novels and stories are for others to enjoy and the process itself is for us to enjoy. It’s the intimate, scared process of bleeding onto the page, of pouring out our souls, and manufacturing stardust into the written word, and therefore it should be enjoyed.
Writers should completely and fully feel the fear, pain, sadness, confusion, satisfaction, happiness, excitement, and fulfillment, as well as all the other emotions that come with writing. They should wholeheartedly appreciate and understand the process of taking a fleeting thought and sculpting it into a living, breathing idea that takes root in the mind of others. They should value and hold dear the writing process because it is as integral to their being as air to the human lungs.
Photo by Ivan Samkov.
It’s never about the destination, the end product—because it’s not meant for us—it’s meant for our readers. It is however, about the process, the journey, the steps we take to get there and everything we experience along the way—the learning, the reckoning, the weaving of words to form a story. Most writers have a love hate relationship with the writing process and this is as it should be. However, we should also recognize the value and the wild, seemingly untamable beauty in the process.
Alright, let’s liven things up a bit, shall we? Sorry to get all mushy about writing on you there for a second. It’s something I hold dear to my heart so any chance I get, I am going to take the time to discuss the writing process.
That’s it for my 5 Actionable Writing New Year’s Resolutions for 2020! I really love all of these goals because they’re practical, actionable, and sustainable. I know those seem like buzzwords people just toss around, but I do really think these writing resolutions are ones that we all can stick to year-round!
What do you think of my writing resolutions? Do they overlap with your own writing resolutions? What would you add to this list? Comment below and let me know what you think!
Further Reading
—Payton
Bucket List For Writers (Things Writers Should Do WAY Before They Kick The Bucket)
I’m a writer! I love lists! I love buckets! Okay, that third one might not be quite so true—I mean who loves buckets? Apparently, Shayla Raquel, the editorial blogger I borrowed inspiration—and this list—from. Shayla says Catherine Smith of Sooner Not Later first came up with this idea and she even completed 52 bucket list items in 2015. Low whistle. 😏 Impressive.
A lot of the goals on Shayla’s list are actual goals I have on my own bucket list so I thought it would be fun to put my own spin on it by scratching out what I’ve completed and adding my own items as well. Check out Shayla’s list here. I’m going to have to get creative to cross off green eggs and ham as a vegan!
Make sure to read until the end to get your free PDF version so you can start crossing off items right away!
Travel
- Go on a writing retreat
- Visit Stratford-upon-Avon to see where Shakespeare lived
- Take a weekend getaway to Walden Pond and live simply for a while—no cell phones!
- Set off on a literary pilgrimage to a site where your favorite author lived or spent his/her time writing
- Visit a printing plant to see how books are made
- Go to a book signing and show support for a local author
- Visit a famous bookstore in another state
Go to a writer’s convention
- Visit a bookstore or library in another country (like Dublin, Ireland’s “The Long Room”)
- Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Spend a day in the Library of Congress
Experience
- Do something weird just to write about it
- Start a book club or writing workshop
Write an in-depth book review
Start a personal library
- Go to the late show at the circus
Create art out of books that are falling apart
Read at least one book from every genre
- Cosplay as a book character and see if friends can guess it
Read a ridiculously difficult book, like Ulysses(Not my line, but OMG! I’ve never read anything truer in my life.)
Take a character quiz for your favorite story
- Start a savings fund for self-publishing
Try editing a book
Bookish Buys
Collect a series
Buy old books at garage sales—and barter!
- Get an autographed book
- Purchase a real inkwell and quill
- Go to a book signing and get a selfie with the author
Visit a library
Buy a beautiful leather (or vegan leather) journal
- Pick up a vintage polaroid camera
Have a movie marathon based on the books you love
- Buy a first edition copy of a bestseller
- Purchase a handmade book
Buy a typewriter
Write On
Get an article published
- Write under a pen name
Write a poem
- Submit to Writer's Digest
Write fan fiction
- Send fan mail to your favorite authors
- Write a comic strip or graphic novel
- Write 100,000 words for one project
- Guest blog for someone famous
- Write in a genre that you hate
Write a letter to your future self
Self-publish a book
- Send your ready-for-publication book to at least three traditional publishing houses
Personal Development
Find a mentor
Write an affirmation statement that expresses all your strengths as a writer
Buy a book for a child
- Read The Elements of Style
Donate any unused or forgotten books to a local library
- Donate copies of your book to a worthy cause
- Join at least three writing associations
- Mentor a teen who is interested in writing
Create a productive writing space
Trade manuscripts with a close writer friend and critique each other
Subscribe to a "word of the day" email
- Tutor students in English
- Write a private self-help blog for yourself
Literary Eats
Host an Alice in Wonderland tea party
- Eat a cake that’s designed like a book
- Make green eggs and ham
Visit a coffee shop you’ve never been to
- Have a midnight dinner like in the Night Circus
Have second breakfast
Throw a Great Gatsby-themed party
Does a Great Gatsby-themed/Roaring 20's themed prom count?😂
My friend Hailey and I at our 1920’s/ Great Gatsby themed senior prom. Photo by Hailey Donaldson.
It looks like I’ve still got some things to check off my own list! Have you done any of the items above?Comment below and let me know what you think of the list! Don’t forget, the concept goes to Catherine Smith and Shayla Raquel for originally doing this bucket list for writers! Check out Shayla’s list here and Catherine’s Facebook page for Sooner NOT Later here.
If you love this writerly bucket list as much as we do, click here to download the printable PDF version so you can start crossing off items right away!
And that’s it for my writerly bucket list! Have you crossed any of these off of your own bucket list? What did you think? Did I forget anything! Let me know in the comments below!
Thumbnail photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters.