This week's topic for January 7th is:
I'm going to do this TTT a little bit differently than the rest in that it'll be in the form of a letter to myself. When it comes to motivation, there's nothing more fun than talking to yourself and throwing insults.
Dear Jackie,
Before you say anything else, let's get one thing clear: DON'T make a resolution to be more organized! It's a nice thought and you certainly could afford to learn some new organizational skills, but you make this resolution every year because it's one of the first things you can think of and it never works out. You know this, I know this, let's save the both of us the trouble and skip it altogether.
You just graduated college last year, and I know you're still unsure about how to be an actual Responsible Adult, so here are just some general goals I thought of to help you through your year. As they said in Pirates of the Caribbean, you can think of them more as guidelines than actual rules (but you're still going to feel pretty shitty if you don't meet these goals, so try your best anyway.)
1. More Discussions/Personal Posts
Shoot for the Moon: At least two discussions per month
In a generation where oversharing and saying anything on your mind without a filter are the norm, I can see why you'd be cautious to voice your opinions online, especially when there's always going to be someone against you, whether your opinion is right or wrong (Note to self: You CAN have wrong opinions. The point in discussions is to learn other people's views, not shut them down.) Jackie, you've always been timid and afraid to say what's on your mind because you feel like you'd be a bother to other people, but I think it's time to change things. In the real world, you have to be assertive to be successful, so toughen up and speak up! Discussion posts would be so great as a learning tool because on top of figuring out what you think of the topic, you can also learn what other people might think about it. One discussion post a month would be great; two discussion posts would be even better.
2. Meet New People
Shoot for the Moon: 100+ followers (GFC or Bloglovin') by the end of the year
From your past experiences,you already know any that online friends can be just as valuable as, if not sometimes more than, real life friends. You've already made some meaningful connections with friends in other fandoms, so why not in the book fandom? Just remember that as nice as it is to have a million followers, you can't get them without any effort. Reply back to comments. Have actual conversations with other people. Don't ignore them after one interaction and forget about them. Always be grateful.
3. Explore New Genres
Shoot for the Moon: Read more comtemporary, literary fiction, and nonfiction
There's nothing wrong with having a favorite genre, whether is is fantasy or contemporary or romance or young adult. Don't let anyone make you feel less of a person for it. That said, how many times have you turned down a recommendation or heard great things about a certain book only to think, "Hm, that sounds great, but it's not really my thing"? Instead of saying no, let's try to say yes more often this year. Who knows what books will surprise you this year if you just give them a shot.
4. Be Brave!
Shoot for the Moon: Try to ask one publisher for one physical ARC this year.
I know, I know! The idea of even just emailing a publisher or author is absolutely frightening, especially when you don't want to be a bother, but you know what? You never know how they'll respond unless you try. You're still new at this, so you don't even have to think about this goal until the second half of the year, but when you do, just remember that it's not the end of the world if they say no. (They probably will). Hey, at least you tried. In the meantime, you should take some time and learn how to use Edelweiss or something.
5. Make The Time To Read Books
Shoot for the Moon: Meet your goal of 75 books on Goodreads
When people tell you that they don't have the time to read books, you always tell them that you can make the time to read books. In between classes, when you're eating lunch, right before bed. There's always time to read books if you want to read books. Make sure you follow your own advice so you don't turn into a hypocrite! Last year, you managed to read to read at least 70 books, not including rereads. Do you think you can read 75 new books in 2014? You better. [Insert vague threat here]
6. Host My Own Giveaway
Shoot for the Moon: If you're really gung ho, try to do more than one giveaway
Hosting a giveaway definitely sounds fun, but it'd be really stupid of you to spend too much money on something like that when you still have to worry about paying off student loans. But wouldn't it be nice if you were able to get a stable job this year so that you'd feel comfortable to do one? Yeah. Let's leave it at that.
7. Attend At Least One Bookish Event
Shoot for the Moon: Save up for BEA 2015?
BEA 2015 would be a long shot, but it'd be really nice to visit the East Coast at least once, especially when you have a few friends there you'd like to see. You'll never be able to go if you give up right now! Never say never! On a more local level, I'm sure the Bay Area will have plenty of events for you to consider as well.
8. Don't Be A Quitter
Shoot for the Moon: Make it to your one year blogiversary
I know you have the attention span of an ant, but if you quit now, this failure will haunt you for the rest of your life. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but book blogging is a nice hobby to have, and you need a hobby. Think back on your three years of figure skating lessons back in elementary school. Don't you regret quitting that all the time? Do you want a repeat of that? I didn't think so. You don't have to take things too seriously though. Just have fun!
9. Try Not To Be Too Competitive
Shoot for the Moon: Don't monitor your follower count every day.
It's okay to admit that you're a little envious of bloggers with a thousand followers and a million physical ARCs, but don't be discouraged about that. You're just starting out after all! Besides, you've been there, done that with your Tumblr experience already. While it was fun having so many followers and notes, it was pretty stressful trying to keep up with everything, wasn't it? Didn't Tumblr become so much better after you stopped caring about collecting the highest number of followers and notes? Make sure you never forget that when it comes to your book blog.
10. Do What The Doctor (Reid) Tells You
Shoot for the Moon: Laugh more, every day.
This isn't book-related at all, but I saw this tweet by Criminal Mind's Matthew Gray Gubler, and it really spoke to me. If I could spend a quarter of my day just laughing, I'd be living a happy life. Favorite this tweet and keep it in the back of your mind for the rest of the year. Let's make this year count.
There will be times, of course, when you'll completely forget about these goals. After all, no one actually takes New Years Resolutions all that seriously. Chances are high that you won't be able to fulfill all of these goals. And that's okay. Don't be discouraged. As long as you try throughout the year, you'll come out a better person by the time 2015 rolls around. Good luck.
With love,
Jackie
Before you say anything else, let's get one thing clear: DON'T make a resolution to be more organized! It's a nice thought and you certainly could afford to learn some new organizational skills, but you make this resolution every year because it's one of the first things you can think of and it never works out. You know this, I know this, let's save the both of us the trouble and skip it altogether.
You just graduated college last year, and I know you're still unsure about how to be an actual Responsible Adult, so here are just some general goals I thought of to help you through your year. As they said in Pirates of the Caribbean, you can think of them more as guidelines than actual rules (but you're still going to feel pretty shitty if you don't meet these goals, so try your best anyway.)
1. More Discussions/Personal Posts
Shoot for the Moon: At least two discussions per month
In a generation where oversharing and saying anything on your mind without a filter are the norm, I can see why you'd be cautious to voice your opinions online, especially when there's always going to be someone against you, whether your opinion is right or wrong (Note to self: You CAN have wrong opinions. The point in discussions is to learn other people's views, not shut them down.) Jackie, you've always been timid and afraid to say what's on your mind because you feel like you'd be a bother to other people, but I think it's time to change things. In the real world, you have to be assertive to be successful, so toughen up and speak up! Discussion posts would be so great as a learning tool because on top of figuring out what you think of the topic, you can also learn what other people might think about it. One discussion post a month would be great; two discussion posts would be even better.
2. Meet New People
Shoot for the Moon: 100+ followers (GFC or Bloglovin') by the end of the year
From your past experiences,you already know any that online friends can be just as valuable as, if not sometimes more than, real life friends. You've already made some meaningful connections with friends in other fandoms, so why not in the book fandom? Just remember that as nice as it is to have a million followers, you can't get them without any effort. Reply back to comments. Have actual conversations with other people. Don't ignore them after one interaction and forget about them. Always be grateful.
3. Explore New Genres
Shoot for the Moon: Read more comtemporary, literary fiction, and nonfiction
There's nothing wrong with having a favorite genre, whether is is fantasy or contemporary or romance or young adult. Don't let anyone make you feel less of a person for it. That said, how many times have you turned down a recommendation or heard great things about a certain book only to think, "Hm, that sounds great, but it's not really my thing"? Instead of saying no, let's try to say yes more often this year. Who knows what books will surprise you this year if you just give them a shot.
4. Be Brave!
Shoot for the Moon: Try to ask one publisher for one physical ARC this year.
I know, I know! The idea of even just emailing a publisher or author is absolutely frightening, especially when you don't want to be a bother, but you know what? You never know how they'll respond unless you try. You're still new at this, so you don't even have to think about this goal until the second half of the year, but when you do, just remember that it's not the end of the world if they say no. (They probably will). Hey, at least you tried. In the meantime, you should take some time and learn how to use Edelweiss or something.
5. Make The Time To Read Books
Shoot for the Moon: Meet your goal of 75 books on Goodreads
When people tell you that they don't have the time to read books, you always tell them that you can make the time to read books. In between classes, when you're eating lunch, right before bed. There's always time to read books if you want to read books. Make sure you follow your own advice so you don't turn into a hypocrite! Last year, you managed to read to read at least 70 books, not including rereads. Do you think you can read 75 new books in 2014? You better. [Insert vague threat here]
6. Host My Own Giveaway
Shoot for the Moon: If you're really gung ho, try to do more than one giveaway
Hosting a giveaway definitely sounds fun, but it'd be really stupid of you to spend too much money on something like that when you still have to worry about paying off student loans. But wouldn't it be nice if you were able to get a stable job this year so that you'd feel comfortable to do one? Yeah. Let's leave it at that.
7. Attend At Least One Bookish Event
Shoot for the Moon: Save up for BEA 2015?
BEA 2015 would be a long shot, but it'd be really nice to visit the East Coast at least once, especially when you have a few friends there you'd like to see. You'll never be able to go if you give up right now! Never say never! On a more local level, I'm sure the Bay Area will have plenty of events for you to consider as well.
8. Don't Be A Quitter
Shoot for the Moon: Make it to your one year blogiversary
I know you have the attention span of an ant, but if you quit now, this failure will haunt you for the rest of your life. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but book blogging is a nice hobby to have, and you need a hobby. Think back on your three years of figure skating lessons back in elementary school. Don't you regret quitting that all the time? Do you want a repeat of that? I didn't think so. You don't have to take things too seriously though. Just have fun!
9. Try Not To Be Too Competitive
Shoot for the Moon: Don't monitor your follower count every day.
It's okay to admit that you're a little envious of bloggers with a thousand followers and a million physical ARCs, but don't be discouraged about that. You're just starting out after all! Besides, you've been there, done that with your Tumblr experience already. While it was fun having so many followers and notes, it was pretty stressful trying to keep up with everything, wasn't it? Didn't Tumblr become so much better after you stopped caring about collecting the highest number of followers and notes? Make sure you never forget that when it comes to your book blog.
25 to 35 percent of my day is spent laughing
— matthew gray gubler (@GUBLERNATION) December 29, 2013
10. Do What The Doctor (Reid) Tells You
Shoot for the Moon: Laugh more, every day.
This isn't book-related at all, but I saw this tweet by Criminal Mind's Matthew Gray Gubler, and it really spoke to me. If I could spend a quarter of my day just laughing, I'd be living a happy life. Favorite this tweet and keep it in the back of your mind for the rest of the year. Let's make this year count.
There will be times, of course, when you'll completely forget about these goals. After all, no one actually takes New Years Resolutions all that seriously. Chances are high that you won't be able to fulfill all of these goals. And that's okay. Don't be discouraged. As long as you try throughout the year, you'll come out a better person by the time 2015 rolls around. Good luck.
With love,
Jackie
