Tuesday, January 8, 2019

What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading? 
By Tricia Drammeh



Ever since I was a child, I've been one of those people who always had a book in my hands. I have always loved reading. My idea of an emergency was running out of reading material. In fact, I usually keep an "emergency book" in my car just in case I break down and have to wait for a tow truck. I might be temporarily stranded, but I won't be bored. I've been known to re-read favorite books several times when I've run out of fresh material. To me, there's nothing better than the feeling of starting a new book. 

For years, I never really kept track of how many books I read per year, but it was at least a book or two per week. Maybe more! When I began writing, some of my free time was taken up by writing instead of reading. Still, I easily exceeded my annual Goodreads challenge of reading 50 books per year. 

Until last year. Last year I didn't keep track of my reading at all, so this year, I decided to keep better track. There are several ways to accomplish this, but here are a few popular options you might want to try if you're interested in keeping track of your own reading:

  1. Goodreads will appeal to those who like apps and online tracking. It's easy to keep track of what you've read (or what you plan to read) and even share your thoughts with others. On Goodreads, you can set yearly challenges, share reviews, rate books according to "star" rankings, and even keep track of what your friends are reading. There are even books clubs, fan groups, and author discussions.
  2. LibraryThing is somewhat similar to Goodreads, but the community (from what I can tell) is smaller. Some members say they find this site less overwhelming than Goodreads, as the emphasis seems to be on cataloging books rather than social interaction. 
  3. A Spreadsheet is a good option if you don't want to share your reading list with others. If you like to keep things organized on your computer, a nice Excel spreadsheet might work for you. 
  4. A Reading Journal is something I've thought about trying this year. A simple notebook would probably suffice, but if you're a creative type, you could invest in scrapbooking materials to really make your journal unique. Although I do try to leave online reviews of the books I read, I love the idea of jotting down random, for-my-eyes-only notes in a journal. 
If you have any ideas you'd like to share about tracking your reading or setting reading goals, please let me know in the comment section. I'm always looking for new bookish ideas to share!

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COMMENTS

Erika M Szabo

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
I never thought of keeping track of how many books I read but I'm known to re-read my favorite books many times :)
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Erika M Szabo via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Are you an avid reader? Tips from Tricia how to keep track of your reading list at #OurAuthorGang
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Tricia Drammeh shared this via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
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Misty Harvey

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
I personally have made a spread in my bullet journal to track my books read which looks like a bunch of blank spines for novels and as I read a book I write it on the spine.
 
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That's a great idea! I've read some of your blog posts about bullet journaling and I think that would work well for the type of written book-log I'm thinking about doing.


Misty Harvey via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Are you an avid reader and are looking for ways to track your reading goals. I've set a goal for this year that is one book for every year I am.
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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Tuesday on #OurAuthorGang, Tricia Drammeh talks about ways to track your reading goals.
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Joe Bonadonna

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Thanks for the info, Tricia. I'm sure this will help a lot of people.
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Toi Thomas

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
I've thought about keeping a reading journal, but knowing me, I'd forget to write in it. The reviews I post serve as my record of what I read. Great post.
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Thanks, Toi! I've actually started a spreadsheet (since I'm kind of a speadsheet person), but I really love the idea of a written journal. It feels more personal and fun. Unfortuntely, I keep forgetting to pick up a new journal or notebook to use for this purpose.


Eva Pasco

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Thank you for pointing out venues I hadn't known about. 
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Rick Haynes

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
An interesting read, thank you. In 2018 I also decided to read more and every night I read until my eyes close.
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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Tricia Drammeh shares her love of reading and tips on how to track your own reading on #OurAuthorGang. Great post!

And friends, if you love a book, write a review! Share the love!!
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Ruth de Jauregui

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Great suggestions, though I avoid Goodreads like the plague. Avid reader doesn't even start to explain my compulsive need to read. If I don't have a book, either new or a reread, I'm not happy. Great post, Tricia!!
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Thanks, Ruth. I have a Goodreads account, but I'm not super active there. So far, I've logged my books on Goodreads and on a spreadsheet.


Chris Weigand

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Great suggestions. I have used Goodreads for a couple of years now and am signed up for it again this year. My goal this year is to write reviews for more of the books I have read along with increasing my reading goal to 90 books.
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90 is a great goal! I set my reading goal at 25. Really, I read more than that since I'm constantly editing. But 25 represents those books I read purely for fun.


Chris Weigand shared this via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
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Toi Thomas via Google+

3 weeks ago (edited)  -  Shared publicly
Today, Tricia Drammeh talks about ways to track your reading goals. #OurAuthorGang
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Susanne Leist via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Toi Thomas originally shared this
Today, Tricia Drammeh talks about ways to track your reading goals. #OurAuthorGang
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