It’s that time of the year again. Early January, a new blank page of paper and a lot of wishes and expectations for the upcoming 12 months. I’m not one to make a lot of reading, blogging and writing resolutions, but it’s been a bit of a tradition here on the blog to try and settle some soft, fun and hopefully attainable goals for this new year, so… let’s get to it!
My reading resolutions for 2021: how did I do?
It’s been a pretty good year, reading-wise. I discovered so many new-to-me authors and fell for so many new books, as well. I’m pretty happy to say I found some new favorite books of ALL times and I can’t wait to annoy you all forever with them. Sorry. Or not really.
Read all about our favorite reads of 2021 here!
Let’s take a look at some of my reading resolutions for 2021 and how I did with these…
- Read 60 books.
❌ I thought that, by aiming lower than the 70 books I read in 2020, I could make it. Turns out: I can’t read 70 books a year anymore, I can’t read 60 books a year anymore, either.
What can I say? My life has changed and so has my reading rhythm. I’m not going to say I’m not sad about it, or terribly disappointed, because I really am.
I also know that this just means I will have to get more exigent about the books I pick up to make them all matter.
On the bright side, I found out about so many favorite books this year, so this is another proof that numbers don’t matter as much!
- Keep on reading diverse books and boost diverse voices as much as possible.
✅ I think I did pretty great with my reading this past year, as well, trying my best to pick up diverse books and review them on the blog, too. I’ll be honest: it’s been really easy because there are so many INCREDIBLE books out there.
My new reading goals for 2022
This year, I don’t want to aim too high. It’s so easy to get burned out with it, especially when you’re constantly surrounded by readers in this community. It’s so easy to feel irrelevant when you see people reading 100+ books a year and you can’t do the same. So… I’m trying to be gentle with myself and with my goals, too.
- Read 50 books
I’m lowering my reading goal again and… it has to be okay. This year, I’m hoping to read books I’m genuinely excited about and just focus on quality, not quantity. Hell, maybe I’ll even try and re-read some favorites, something I rarely ever do!
That’s it. I don’t want to aim too high and to put too much pressure on my reading this year: I just want to read and to enjoy it. Maybe I’ll try to branch out a little more and to step out of my comfort zone, who knows!
My blogging resolutions for 2021: how did I do?
It’s been an overall good year, blogging-wise as well. While my blog didn’t grow as much as I would have liked it to – YES I’m admitting it, YES I’m talking about blogging statistics, it should be okay to!, I still managed to create some content I’m really proud of and, most of it all, to keep this little blog of mine something I’m really proud of, too. So that’s a win!
Let’s take a look at my blogging resolutions for 2021:
- Join the discussion challenge
✅ I did it again! I’ve been having a blast coming up with new topics to discuss on the blog and I think I especially loved writing about blogging in the past year. Here are some of my favorite posts:
- Reflecting On 7 Years Of Blogging: Lessons Learned, Wins, Fails & Goals (+ INTL GIVEAWAY!)
- Blogging VS. Social Media: why having a book blog still matters
- 5 Really Easy Ways to Support Book Bloggers (they deserve it all)
- 5 Things You Need to Know Before Starting A Book Blog
- Work on monetizing my blog
✅ ❌ Since I didn’t set a clear, measurable goal for this one, I’m going to say: the answer’s a bit yes and a bit no. While I’m a million miles away from dropping everything to become a full-time blogger, I have managed to earn a little something. It’s clearly not enough to cover my hosting fees, but it’s not nothing, either, so… that’s a start.
- Blog at my rhythm and while prioritizing my happiness always
✅ I think with 7 years of blogging under my belt now, I finally got this and learned to relax a little bit… maybe because I also feel like I don’t have as much time as before to dedicate to this, either.
I’m slowly learning to let it go when I can’t meet my weekly schedule, or when I’m very slow at blog-hopping and I’m trying to focus on writing blog posts that make me feel happy and fulfilled. I didn’t feel too burned out in this past year, so it’s a real win!
My new blogging goals for 2022
Confession time: I’m a bit lost with my blogging goals. I want to aim high, higher than my reading goals because I care about this platform SO much and I want to see it grow. Yet, I also don’t want to do too much and burn myself out, either. So… let’s try and see what I want to do in 2022:
- Participate in the discussion challenge
It’s a bit of a routine here now on the blog, but I LOVE this challenge so much. It’s hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight, two amazing bloggers I adore! I always love coming up with new discussion topics every month and I hope to manage to do that even more this year!
Check out this post for more info on the 2022 Discussion Challenge!
- Keep on writing at my rhythm and what I love
This is the same goal as last year: I just want to continue to prioritize my happiness, to write what I really enjoy and, most of it all, to not burn out while blogging.
- Work on my newsletter
I’ve been having a hard time finding rhythm and reason for this newsletter of mine. While I love the idea of communicating with you all in a more personal way, I also heard on my survey that a lot of you don’t care for newsletters very much. So… I’m thinking about it. It’s one of my goals!
- Find my rhythm with social media
It’s a blogging goal, since my social media is related to my blog and my brand as a whole. I’ve been having such a hard time with it, often feeling overwhelmed, out of place or just burned out by social media as a whole. Still, I know that social media is an important part of the community’s landscape now and… I want to try more. I want to find a real rhythm with my bookstagram, maybe try to tweet a little more and to put myself out there more, to see if I really enjoy it.
Related: Blogging VS. Social Media: why having a book blog still matters
- See if I want to do more
Keeping this one in mind. I’ve been thinking about creating something more, lately. A book club, specific products for readers and bloggers -which, apparently, you all would be interested in! Maybe I won’t end up doing anything at all, or maybe I’ll launch something super exciting this new year. Nothing is set in stone, but I want to think about the possibilities!
My writing resolutions for 2021: how did I do?
2021 has been a whirlwind of a year when it comes to writing… in a great way, surprisingly.
After getting rejected for Pitch Wars in late 2020, I didn’t expect this, so I’m pretty happy. It hasn’t been flawless: there have been moments when I hated all of my work, moments when I wondered why I bothered. Yet, despite these and the rejections, I’ve been pretty happy with my progress and my mindset with my writing this past year.
Let’s take a look at my 2021 goals:
- TAKE. MY. WRITING. SERIOUSLY.
✅ I’d say that’s a yes? Even if I failed at times, I feel like, most of the year, I managed to commit to my writing a little more, so I’m pretty happy about that! I also managed to reach out for some feedback, something that has really been scary and not easy at all and… it ended up okay.
- Apply to Author Mentor Match
✅ I did. I failed (again). Yet, managed to put myself out there again, that has to count for something, right?
- Edit my contemporary sisters WIP
✅ ❌ It’s a half-win, I’d say? I started the second draft of this WIP this summer and I’m still working on it. Yes, I’m a slow writer. So… I’m currently doing it, does this count as a win?
- Finish one draft or something new
✅ I did it. I finished writing another messy, unreadable first draft! It’s a YA mystery with Dynasty x American Royals vibes. It needs A LOT of work, but, for now, I’m pretty happy that I managed to write something new again.
My new writing goals for 2022
If there’s an area I feel like I want to aim high, it’s this. Writing. I feel like I’ve grown a little as a writer this past year and I want to continue down this road and prioritize this because I love it so much. Here are some of my goals for 2022!
- Finish Draft 2 of my contemporary sisters WIP
This should be do-able, as I’m currently working on it… I just need to NOT give up!
- Write another full draft of a book
Oh that would be great? Whether it’s taking a book I already wrote and tackle a second draft or try something new entirely… I just want to write.
- Try to put myself out there with my writing a bit more
I have an issue: I’m seriously terrified of putting myself out there. I did it twice, with Pitch Wars and Author Mentor Match and that was a fail, so maybe that didn’t help. Every time I take a step forward, I also take another step back… it’s a never-ending dance. I want to try, little by little, to talk about my writing a little more and to insert myself a little more into the writing community. I heard it’s a lovely place.
Related: What I Learned From Not Getting Into Pitch Wars
- Seriously think about my writing
Am I going to query, for real? Am I going to face rejection once again with Pitch Wars and/or Author Mentor Match? (Pitch Wars is more likely, given that I don’t have a manuscript ready and AMM is, like, in January, aerm). Hell, am I going to throw everything and try to self-publish a book?
Who knows. Guess I’ll see when 2022 takes me, but it is one of my goals to think about this, seriously.
My personal resolutions for 2021 & 2022
Last year, I didn’t really make any personal resolutions, aside from trying my very best. I mentioned some personal goals I have in my birthday post and, to be completely honest with you all, I don’t want to give myself a lot of personal goals, either. If my only goal is to get through the year and to do my best, it should and will be okay.
📌 Pin My reading, blogging & writing resolutions for 2022 on Pinterest!
Are you making any resolutions for this new year? I’d love to hear all about it so let me know in comments!
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My goals for 2022 is to take blogging slower and I also lower my reading goals as I want to explore other hobbies 😀
Ahh yay, that’s such a great goal! Wishing you all the best! 🙂
I love all of this! I think I need to read Crier’s War this year.
The goal to prioritize your happiness is so important. Definitely something I always have in the back of my mind!
OH YES you do! Crier’s War is fantastic, I hope you will love it. Thank you so much, Kristin!
I’m keeping it easy this year. 70 books, more from shelf, get galley ratio manageable, be consistent on social media, Try to write more discussion posts.
Ahh that’s good! Easy and attainable is always the best thing to do 🙂
I love you Marie, but I can already see how you’re going to struggle with how to assess the goal “See if I want to do more” when you do this kind of post next year haha it’s not really quantifiable, is it? I get it though and I adore your passion for this blog and the community you’ve built with it. I love seeing you be creative with it and hope you’ll thrive and get closer to that goal to monetize more. You’d definitely deserve it <3
Wishing you all the best for your 2022 resolutions!
😂😂 I know it’s not really quantifiable, but I just wanted to make myself a little note here about that 😂 I’ll see where the year takes me, anyway! Thank you so, so much for your support always <3
I got you, always! <3
There looks to be more wins on your list of goals for last year, which is amazing! 💞
Good luck with your goals this year!! 😊
Thank you so, so much!! 🙂
Last year, my only resolution was to say yes to more things. And during the year, it actually helped and worked out because it was ONE resolution that I could use to make decisions. Basically say yes to things. This year, it is to work on myself so that I’m closer to the person I want to be. This is also vague but I tried to make one that helps me while choosing between options.
All the best with your 2022, Marie!
Ah that’s fantastic, I’m so glad it worked out okay for you. I hope you’ll fulfill your resolution this year as well! Thank you so much, wishing you all the best as well! 🙂
Good luck with your resolutions for this year! I’m still figuring out what exactly I want my 2022 goals to be, but I think that one thing I want to shoot for is posting consistently to my blog. I’ve also been in the blogging realm for quite a few years (seven years is fantastic by the way!!) but my consistency fluctuates a LOT. I also want to be more deliberate about making time to read this year — last year I set a Goodreads goal of 52 books but only read 41. I think I can hit that target this year!
Happy new year 🙂
claire @ clairefy
Thank you so, so much, Claire! I hope you’ll be able to be more consistent with your blog this year and will be able to read more, as well! Wishing you all the best!! 🙂
My brain isn’t fully in 2022 yet so I’m still working on my plans! I have some personal goals, one of them being to take better care of my physical and mental health. I also want to try and tackle my TBR (let’s see if that works) and I would love to finally properly outline and rewrite either one of my current WIPs. I also feel you on taking my writing seriously! I struggle a lot with consistently working on bigger projects so for the past years I’ve only really written during NaNoWriMo. I really hope I can develop a system and put more time and intention into writing because I love it a lot. Your Ya Mystery sounds right up my street btw, I really hope that at some point you can share more because I’d love to hear about it!
I hope your 2022 is gentle and magical!✨
Ah this is such a good goal, taking care of yourself is so important. I hope you’ll prioritize yourself this year! <3
Thank you so much, that's so kind of you to say 🥺🥺 I'm kind of extremely shy about my writing but someday maybe I'll share more of it, thank you, this means so much 🥺
I wish you all the very best for this year!! <3
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and it’s brave to put your work out there for mentor match. I feel you on the social media stuff. I was never good at it. I really should try harder, but I find it to be such a toxic place. Good luck with all your goals, Marie!
Thank you so much Sam, it means a lot! <3 I get it, I find it hard to be there,too, sometimes. Thank you!! <3
Good luck! You reminded me that I need to sign up for the discussion challenge. I do terrible at it, but I love reading everybody else’s posts.
Thank you so much!! Ahh yes you should sign up, it’s such a fun challenge 🙂
These are some really great goals for the year! My goal is to read 100 books and focus on falling back in love with YA and fantasy!
Ahh thank you Kat! I wish you all the best with your goals! 🙂
Congrats on achieving all your goals, I think you did really well and worked towards every goal which is always a win in my book. I didn’t read as much as I usually do or blog as much as I intended but I had good moments with each one regardless. Congrats on the discussion challenge, I think it is a great way to encourage writing more discussions. They can be very rewarding posts. Best of luck with all your goals going forward and I hope you remember to be kind to yourself too. p.s. you could never annoy us by talking about books 😂🥰🥰
Ah thank you so much Sophie! 🥺 I’ll try my best! I hope you’ll have a wonderful year and that, if you’re setting goals yourself, that you’ll do GREAT! <3
Good luck with your goals for 2022! 💕 I’m happy to hear that you found many new favorites in 2021 and had a good time, that’s always what’s most important 🥰 I love your discussions so much, very excited to see that there will be more to come this year 😊
Thank you so much! 🥺🥺
Good luck with your goals, Marie! I know you can do it 😊 My main goal for this year is to just do my own thing with blogging and reading and not let any pressures from the wider online book community get to me,
Thank you so, so much, Louise! Wishing you all the very best with your goals!! 🙂
I love your goals for this year, Marie! I especially want to help support you in your writing goal (as mine is similar). If I can do anything that you think would be helpful, don’t hesitate to let me know!!
Oh thank you, Nicole, you’re too kind, I’d love that!! <3 I'm here for you, too, to help you keep your motivation and reach your goals. Let's support each other and scream at each other both congratulations and GO WRITE you can do this, this year 😂🥺
YES, I love this kind of support. Let’s do it. 🖤
Great goals! Especially like your writing goals 😀 Good luck!
Thank you so much! 🙂
Good luck with your 2022 goals! And congrats on applying to AMM – I know it can be a huge step to put yourself out there for something like that. Just remember, you can’t let the fact that it didn’t work out dissuade you – I know it sounds trite, but it really is true that rejection is a major part of the writing profession. We need the thickest of skins – so keep going!!
Oh thank you so, so much Nicole, your words mean so much. It is such a major part of writing, you’re right and it’s something to get used to, too. I’m hoping to grow from it more and more! Thank you! <3
I remember when I first started my blog I felt like I was reading SO MUCH, but the last few years I haven’t been able to read much like I did before either. If it wasn’t for audiobooks, I wouldn’t even complete my Goodreads goal the last few years. Life happens and changes, but at least we’re still reading something versus nothing! That counts. 😀 Good luck with your goals this year! <3
Ahh same here, I noticed just how much I read when I first stared and how it’s decreased, now. It makes me a bit sad, but that’s life and hey, we’re still reading, you’re right! 😀 Thank you so much, Ashley! <3
so proud of you for putting yourself out there with your writing, even if it didn’t result in what you wanted! i hope you won’t be afraid to continue doing that this year too, your words deserve to be heard <3 and i feel like so many people read less books this past year! i'm glad that you're focusing on quality over quantity, though—i'm trying to do that as well and it's been really great to have that mindset switch!
Thank you so much for your kind words, May, this means so much <3 It's a bit disappointing, at first, when you realize you read less, but I hope I can keep on thinking about quality over quantity, that's what matters the most! :)