2021 goal: Reading 50 books

The arrival of a new year always seems like an ideal time to set a few constructive personal goals. Because writers are readers by nature, my attention gravitates towards books (as it generally does).

Even if the COVID-19 pandemic persists for a matter of months into 2021, making bookstore browsing difficult or even impossible, I’m grateful that library access is still a thing.

 

No pandemic’s gonna bridle a bibliophile.

This 21^st century global coronavirus plague has been terrible for so many. I’m not making light of the losses and struggles we have faced.

But I am thankful that reading has persisted. Opportunities to procure new (to me, at least) volumes have continued. Our local library is tiny, but it’s linked to libraries all over our state. Seldom does anyone find a title unavailable via inter-library loan.

Throughout 2020, I happily added intended reads to my online hold list. When those titles came in, I biked (at least in cooperative weather) to the local branch to pick them up. I also ordered a few titles online and downloaded others to my tablet. 

In the summer months, I read 28 books (see list in included image). Most of these were fiction, but not all.

My opinions on some of the titles included in my summer 2020 reading list are mixed. Some were fabulous. Inclusion does not necessarily imply endorsement.

 

Here’s the 2021 goal.

For the coming year, I’d like to read 50 books (or more). That boils down to almost one book per week. I think that is doable, particularly if I make it a stated goal.

 

My 2021 reading list may include both fiction and non-fiction.

That means I might page through biographies, histories, mysteries, and much more.

I’m not counting children’s books (although I’m reading plenty of these lately, with a toddler grandson hanging around my house at least a few days a week). I also won’t count dictionaries, instruction manuals, thesauruses, cookbooks, atlases, encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, blogs, and other read-by-piece volumes or sites. Also, I’m not counting the Bible,  devotionals, or poetry books, which I read in small sections at a time.

 

I’m talking cover-to-cover here.

And I’m not counting any of my own books. That’s not reading (except when others do it). For the author, it’s all about writing and editing and rewriting and proofreading. I have set some professional writing goals for the year, but this one is about reading others’ work.

Who’s willing to hold me accountable on this goal? You can check back here at Working in Words to see how I do.

I invite you to join me in this year-long pursuit!

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Adapted by this user

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Does writing mojo depend upon readership?

Do writers write to be read, or because we have something to say?

That’s not a trick question. But it might be a two-edged sword. Maybe we write for the sake of expression, but we surely appreciate readers. And I think perhaps we write best when we believe someone will actually read the words we produce.

But a real writer will write anyway.

It’s like the orator who stands at the podium and speaks, with or without an audience. Or the vlogger, who posts an extra informative video online, not knowing if anyone will tune in his time. Or the singer, who belts out a big song whether anyone is listening or not.

If an owl hoots in the forest, but no one hears it, is he any less of an owl?

But isn’t the speaker, vlogger, or singer invigorated by interacting with the crowd?

I know I am energized and inspired when people post engaging comments on articles I've published or features bearing my by-line. My writing mojo improves when readers publish pertinent (especially positive) reviews of my books. 

Readership is worth a lot.

(If you’re reading, I hope you can feel the love, right about now.)

Book sales, subscriptions, page views and ad clicks help to pay our bills. But if readership is the only reason we write, we might be missing something.

Are you disappointed by the number of page-loads one of your blog posts has received? Wondering why the shares/pass-alongs aren’t where you want them to be?

Stay strong, wordsmith.

Write on. It’s more about the writing than the numbers. Your authentic and creative expression count more than readership statistics. Those will come. And sometimes they will surprise us. Often, my most-read pieces are not my personal favorites.  But perhaps those words spoke to readers more than I’d expected them to do.

Image/s:

Adapted by this user

 from public domain image

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. Please visit my Amazon author page as well.