Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This week is a freebie, so bloggers can take Top Ten Tuesday in any direction they want. Every couple of years, we look at bookish goals/resolutions (last post was 2020), but this year I am making bookish promises to myself. Promises feel so much harder to break than goals/resolutions.
Top Ten Bookish Promises I Am Making for 2022
To read more from my TBR Pile than I did in 2021: Fourteen of the 51 books I've read so far this year have been from my Tbr Pile, but I want 2022 to be 50/50. Participating in blog tours is so much fun, but reviewing because you have to makes reading almost like work. Believe me, in 2022 I will be doing plenty of that.
To catch up on one favorite series: When I get busy, my favorite series books that are hiding in my TBR Pile get forgotten. I am thinking I will go with the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series by my friend Marilyn Meredith. I caught up on her Rocky Bluff PD series this year.
To read one of the oldest books from my TBR Pile: My TBR Pile travels back to probably 2010 with some books. Who knows if I even want to read them anymore? The only way I will find out is if I dig them out of the closet and open them up.
To be okay with not finishing books I don't enjoy: This is so tough for me, because as an author I know how much writers put into their stories, and then there is the cost of packaging and shipping. I feel totally guilty when I don't review a book. I chose well in 2021, because I don't recall struggling with any books.
To write one First Chapter Review a quarter: I wanted to write one every week in 2020, but didn't do it. I know with a packed schedule next year, even once a month is unlikely. Once a quarter is manageable.
To not sign up for a single reading challenge except the Goodreads Challenge: I love challenges, but they don't love me. The Goodreads challenge is the one challenge I have any success with. I think that is because it is easy to track because I post my reviews there anyway. If I have to remember to go to another person's blog and post what I've completed, it's not happening.
To read one leadership book this year: I have a few here, but they aren't always my thing. I started Atomic Habits, so I might finish that one.
To get off some VBT mailing lists: I signed up for several when I actively participated in them regularly. Now, I just want to focus on my TBR Pile and maybe one or two VBT companies to support. I love free books, but I'm committed to not taking on more than I can handle in 2022.
To re-organize my works in progress: I have several picture books in various stages--partially completed, completed waiting for editing, edited that need to be submitted, etc. I'm not happy with my current filing system, which is a bunch of files in Word. I've already cleaned up my old files for other aspects of life. Next year, I want to organize my writing files so they will be easier to manage.
To re-think my publishing goals: I have to admit, 2020 was a kick in the teeth. Three of my four books went out of print when the publisher closed (thanks, COVID). To republish them requires almost more effort than it is worth considering two of the illustrators aren't easily available and it will require an additional monetary investment I'm not sure I want to make right now. Is that awful of me? I almost feel like I should let them go and start over.
My middle grade novel is 3/4 finished, but I am totally rewriting the women's novel I am co-authoring with my sister. Only so much time in the day, so which way do I go? I'm willing to self-publish the middle grade novel, but there is a bit of a learning curve with that. I so admire authors who really know what they want to do and get it done.
That's it for my list. I look forward to visiting other bloggers today to see what direction they took this week's freebie.
