This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Like most everyone else at this time of year, we’ve made all kinds of resolutions for 2014. We’re not going to buy any more of those delicious salted caramel truffles to keep in our desk drawers, for example, and we’ve vowed to pull the yoga mat out more than once a month. Maybe we’ll even use the yoga mat for something other than a comfy lounge floor cushion. Maybe. Whatever your aspirations for the coming year, January is a great time to set goals. Here are our top ten New Year’s resolution ideas for book lovers.
1. Join a book club – Not only will you get to chat about books with people who love them as much as you do, you’ll make new friends while discovering different titles and genres. If there isn’t a book club local to you, try starting your own or join one online.
2. Read some classics – We know. It’s hard enough keeping on top of brilliant new releases without throwing oldies into the mix, but vowing to read just one or two classic novels won’t take up too much time and it’ll expand your reading knowledge. You might even find a new favourite.
3. Read the book before watching the film – How many of us have said we’ve read the book when secretly we’ve only watched the film? Ahem. We’ve all done it at least once, right? This year, we’re going to make a concerted effort to read books before their film counterparts hit the big screen. 2014 is an excellent year for adaptations and it’s always fun to compare the two.
4. Shop at local, independent bookshops – We enjoy the perks of Amazon as much as anyone. Instant downloads? Free next day shipping? Load that cart up. That said, this year we’re going to spend a little more time at our local, independent bookshops when shopping for new titles. They need our support and, frankly, we can think of worse ways to while away the occasional hour. Your friends have resolved to spend more hours at the gym? Pfft, we'll take bookshops any day.5. Go to book signings – There’s always a special air of excitement at a book signing. You get to meet popular authors while supporting their work and meet fellow fans of your favourite books. Win, win!
6. Sample a new to you genre – Whether you’re a romance fiend, a horror junkie or a YA obsessive, pick a popular book (one that everybody has been raving about) from a genre you’ve never read and give it a go. You might surprise yourself.
7. Review books you loved on Amazon or Goodreads (or send the author an email) – You don’t have to be a book blogger to write helpful reviews. A quick star rating and a line or two from you on Amazon or Goodreads can make such a difference. Really, really loved a book? Drop the author an email to tell them so. It will probably make their day.
8. Take part in a reading challenge – 50 books in a year? A book a week? Devour every Dickens? Whatever your time limit and taste, there’s a reading challenge out there for you. Set your goal and decide on a special prize that you’ll award yourself once it’s completed.
9. Don’t feel bad about spending your free time reading – It’s Saturday night and you’ve been invited out by friends, but all you really want to do is stay home and slip between the pages of your latest book. We’ve all been there. In 2014, we’re all about more Saturday nights at home with hot chocolate, an excellent read and zero guilt.
10. Complete a random act of literary kindness or two – Pay off a random person’s library fines, donate your favourite books from childhood or send flowers to a moping friend from her literary crush. Literary karma is the best kind.
What are your New Year’s resolutions?
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