Setting Goals: 2021 Bookish Resolutions

Happy New Year to my extended bookish family!

I can’t even tell you how good it feels to be finally putting 2020 behind me. Fuck you 2020! Talk about a complete and utter dumpster fire of a year. And while I’m not so naive to believe that everything is suddenly going to get better, I can’t help but feel a surge of hopeful energy.

And so, because it’s that time of year and your girl loves setting new goals, let’s get into my 2021 bookish resolutions.

Oh, and some good news: ~technically~ the new decade started yesterday so we can officially put 2020 to rest and wipe the slate clean moving forward. Phew!

Bookish Resolutions at a Glimpse

☆ Relax my Goodreads Reading Challenge
☆ Broaden my literary horizons
☆ Minimize my physical TBR by reading back listed books
☆ Actually read more classic literature
☆ Finish the first draft of my WIP

★ Relax my Goodreads Reading Challenge

Okay, yes – I’m 100% recycling this resolution from 2020. The thing is, I’ve definitely become disillusioned by the whole concept of reading challenges. Pushing yourself to meet goals is great and all but the pressure? The stress? Not so much.

In 2020 I set a goal of reading 50 books. Was it easily achievable? Hell yes – but that’s the beauty. I was able to read more for pleasure and it was GLORIOUS. I even managed to break my personal reading record, finishing up the year at 80 books. Which is why I’m doing it again in 2021.

★ Broaden my literary horizons

I think we can all agree that 2020 was a hard year – but it taught us a lot. Between staying home, lock downs and the Black Lives Matter movement I learnt that, in the grand scheme of things, my problems are actually quite trivial. Which is why I want to branch out and read a little more diversely in 2021.

Through the power of literature I want to explore and experience different cultures, different genres while supporting independent booksellers and diverse authors.

★ Minimise my Physical TBR by reading back listed books

2020 was the year of back listed reading. I read a LOT from my physical TBR – books that had been cultivating dust bunnies on my shelf for years. And it felt good. I slayed my dragons, one book at a time.  I think we’re all guilty of buying more books than we actually read but I want to keep this momentum going. My goal for 2021 is to get my physical TBR down to 30 books or less. For context, right now it’s sitting at about 60… Most of them being Shadowhunter books.

★ Actually Read More Classic Literature

Alright, it’s time for a confession: last year I definitely didn’t read enough classic literature. I think I’d set a goal of reading 6 classics and I’d barely scrapped away with 1 – 2 if you count Journey to the River Sea. But let’s be real – it was 2020 so I’m not going to beat myself up. With Melbourne in lock down for the most part I was constantly reaching for old favorites and those tried-and-true comfort reads. [I’m looking at you Twilight… Which is sort of a classic in its own right???].

Anyway, this year I’m looking to do a little better. I’m aiming to read 5 classics. And, as long as it’s certified classic literature, they can be re-reads or new reads.

★ Finish the first draft of my WIP

Remember way-back-when in September when I told you I’d FINALLY started the novel I’d dreamed of writing??? Yeah so I never made it past the third chapter [the love interest isn’t easy to crack, okay?]. Especially since Christmas is always super hectic working in retail.

But I’ve actually got the entire novel plotted from start to finish. I spent ages really honing the plot and characters – all I’ve got to do is write it. Which is what I actually hope to do in 2021. No procrastinating, no wallowing just some good ol’ fashion Butt in Chair [I can thank Alyson Noël for that one].

In case you were curious, I’d pitch it as a poignant, summer contemporary with a focus on healing, anxiety and found family.

So there you have it; my bookish resolutions for 2021. I just want to take a moment to thank every one of you for your unwavering support and friendship through what was a very difficult year. Interacting with you in the comments honestly made all the difference and I’m so thankful for this community. I’m sending you all my love and a BIG virtual hug.

Stay tuned for some way overdue end-of-year posts. I’ve got The Reading by Starlight Awards heading your way as well as some wrap ups and 2021 reading plans. But for now, Happy New Year! And don’t forget to share your own resolutions in the comments below.