Amanda has long been a friend and follower of my blog, so when she tweeted to me a couple of weeks ago about this challenge she was planning to co-host (with Andi) I thought I’d love to get involved. As of late my blog has been a little neglected and I’ve always loved challenges and events that get me excited to chit chat with fellow readers. I’ve missed the first few days of the challenge, but figured better late then never! Plus, what better way to start the new year than with some concrete reading goals? So here goes!

My Bookish Blog Related Goals for the Year…

Read More! Okay, maybe this goes without saying, but due to the new job (ie. literary agent) I’ve been a bit busy reading writer submissions. I love this, don’t get me wrong please! But I also want to get back to why I love this part of my life so much, which means reading more books that aren’t “required reading.”

Blog More! As I said, my poor little blog here is feeling a bit lonely. So my goal for the year is to have a minimum of three posts a week and I’d really like at least one of those to be Turkeybird interviews (hint, hint authors), the other to be a review and the third to be something else book related like a book trailer or new release feature.

Read More Craft/Writing Books. For Christmas I got a couple of really fantastic writing books that I think will help tremendously in my career as well as with my own writing/blogging. I’d love to have a goal to read at least one every two months. I’d like to do one a month, but let’s be honest here…I need to keep my head above water too.

Be Okay with Saying No. This starts to bleed over into everything. I am naturally the type of person that loves loves loves to help any and everyone. It’s not that I don’t know how to say no or am incapable, it boils down to me being an overachiever. Well, between the new job, my brilliant clients, a blog I love and not to mention my family and personal commitments, I simply don’t have nearly the amount of time I used to. It’s painful for me to tell people “no” without a long explanation or offer to help another time, but I’ve got to learn some restraint.

Get All of My Clients Books Out Into the World. I don’t plan on talking about my clients or their books much on my blog (it just feels too pushy to do so). But this goes without saying, I adore each and everyone of my clients and their writing. I’ve got big plans to get them each out there in the world and my goal is to mark each of those plans off and end 2014 with a bang!

Live. And Write About It. I used to share a blog meme once a week where fellow book bloggers talked a little about different topics and their lives. When I started it I honestly didn’t think anyone would really care about the things I enjoyed or didn’t, but surprise surprise it was one of my most looked forward to features. In fact, I miss it a bit. I love getting to know the bloggers I love beyond their book preferences and in a way I think it helps better know what to pick up and read. The feature may not be resurrected, but I am already planning a few “what’s happening with life” type posts. Not only because I want to share, but because I want to live!

Enjoy Book Expo America and NYC. This may go without saying, but I’ve been the last two years and both years were whirlwinds. One for the blog and this past year for work primarily. Now that I feel pretty comfortable attending I’d like to go and really enjoy being there without feeling like everything is rushing around me. This may be easier said than done, but I’m going to give it my all!

Read. A LOT. To These Two Kiddos. It’s no secret, I ADORE reading to Littlebug and Turkeybird. This year Turkeybird and I read The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes, among other books, there was something so special about this book though. A connection between the two of us and this incredible book. I want that more often and I’m going to try harder to look for just the right books for each kiddo so that we can have these experiences more often.

Listen to My Heart and Be Brave. Sometimes a book isn’t the right fit. Maybe it’s not the right time or the right place. No more regrets about letting go something I thought I might love. I want to enjoy everything I read, whether because I learned something, connected in some way or simply lost myself in the words. Those are the types of books I want to read and fall in love with. It’s also the way I want to live my life coincidentally.

So much! But so much of it is attainable. I’m truly looking forward to a spectacular 2014. As many of you know my 2013 was hard in so many ways (really good as well), but I am ready to move forward. This is going to be THE year! I cannot wait!

What plans do you have for 2014? How are you planning to make this the best year of your life thus far?

Original article: Winter Break Book Blogger Challenge – Goals for 2014

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