The Read Wide Challenge 2020 (+ Free Printable!)

This time of the year is one of my most favorite times of the year. No, not because of the holidays, though I do love the holidays, but because it’s new planner time and…

READING CHALLENGE TIME!

If you’re anything like me, you’re currently scrambling to finish whatever 2019 reading challenges you signed up for. I hit my Goodreads challenge a while back. I set a goal for 60 books, and right now I’m sitting at 73, so I’m good there. But on my Read Wide challenge (a challenge I’ve created and done for the last few years), I’m ONE book away. So I plan to take care of that category this week.

I’ve really enjoyed doing the Read Wide challenge this year, and it definitely challenged me to try some things I normally wouldn’t pick up. Like as much as love non-fiction audiobooks, I had yet to listen to a fiction audiobook all the way through, so I had added that to my challenge this year. I ended up listening to Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes on audio, and the narration was great. It’s the second book in the YOU series, and I had watched the show, so the narrator (Joe) sounded very similar to the actor playing that part. So it felt familiar and easy to listen to. However, I think I’m just not a fiction audiobook listener. I read much faster than I can listen. I love non-fiction on audio, but I think that’s because it feels like a really long podcast.

But this challenge definitely makes me pick up things I normally wouldn’t naturally gravitate toward, and I discover great reads I would’ve missed. It also helps keep me creatively fresh. There’s nothing wrong with liking what you like, and reading what you want to read, but I do think we can get into reading ruts—when everything starts to sound the same. So, I’ll be doing this challenge again this year.

What I like about this challenge is that you can make it your own. What my chart looks like doesn’t have to be what your chart looks like. If you hate horror, swap it out for something else. If you only want to read widely in romance, make a bunch of romance subgenre categories. Play around with it. I’ll have a blank, downloadable chart below that you can use to make your list.

So, why should you join this challenge and what does it entail?

Why Read Widely?

So first, before we get into the nitty gritty of the challenge, why should you give it a try?

1. You will discover new genres to love or re-discover old favorites you used to love.

   For instance, I loved reading horror when I was a teenager. I drifted away from it sometime in college—though I did take an awesome Vampires in Literature course my sophomore year. This year I had both horror and YA horror on my chart, and I rediscovered how much I love a good scary book.

2. You will read things that will confirm that a genre or format is not for you, and you can stop worrying about missing out on those books.

   This doesn’t sound like a positive thing, but it really is. I had mystery on my list this year. This is a popular genre, and often the blurbs sound good to me, but I’ve discovered that in a “whodunit”, I really don’t care much who did it. If a mystery is part of a true crime read or part of a suspense read with a lot of tension, I’m into it. But if it’s a straight-up mystery novel, it doesn’t hold my interest. Now I know to pass those by.

3. You will give new authors a chance.

   It’s easy to stick with the authors we know (and as an author, I highly encourage that! lol) but there are a lot of authors out there that we can add to our list. We’re never going to discover them if we don’t step outside our normal reading zone. This year I discovered Taylor Adams (Horror/suspense), H.K. Choi (YA), Casey McQuiston (romance), Leigh Bardugo (paranormal), along with others.

4. You will diversify your reading.

   I always strive to read more diversely, but that focus can slip through the cracks if I’m not paying attention. So my column focused on diversity has helped me be more deliberate about seeking out POC authors and books that feature main characters who are POC, LGTBQ+, and/or neurodiverse.

5. If you’re a writer, it will feed your creativity.

   Reading widely is important for my writing. It puts fresh fuel in the engine. The reason why my books are often a little outside the norm in the romance genre like The Ones Who Got Away series is because I read from all different areas. I pull ideas and inspiration from all these different genres, which I think keeps things fresh (for me and hopefully also for my readers.) If I’m only reading in my own genre, my books will start to sound like everyone else’s.

6. It’s fun

   If you’re a person who loves to check off a to do list or complete a challenge, this is just straight up fun. It feels like a game, and there’s so much satisfaction when you get to color in those boxes. : )
   

My 2020 Challenge

How to Set Up Your Challenge

1. Pick your comfort zone columns

   First, you need to know that this is a personalized challenge. What my version of reading widely is may be very different from yours. So first, make sure you’re giving yourself your favorites. For instance, romance is my primary reading genre, and I also read a lot of YA and non-fiction, so I have three entire columns dedicated to those things and their subgenres. If you’re a big mystery reader, you may dedicate a column to that and beneath list: cozy mystery, noir, historical mystery, etc. This is about reading widely but not to the exclusion of reading the things you love most.

2. Pick your more challenging columns

   Even under your comfort columns, there may be some challenging subcategories, but pick at least a column or two that are going to make you stretch. For me, that’s the non-romance genre fiction column. Usually, I also have a column labeled “General Fiction”, but this year I’m changing it up and have included a “Format” column instead, where instead of the genre, I’m using a variety of formats/lengths. You can get creative with the subcategories (lots of suggestions below). They don’t have to be “official” subgenres that the library would list. Like in my Genre Fiction column, you’ll see “classic of its genre”—whatever genre that may be.

3. Don’t put things in it the chart that you know you hate

   This is not about torturing yourself. If you already know you don’t like epic historical fiction, it’s okay not to put it on there. This shouldn’t feel like homework. I encourage you to put things that you may not normally try but that you’re open to liking.

4. Make a bonus column for fun/silly categories

   I have suggestions below but get creative. You want some easy wins and categories that many different types of books could fit into so that it’s not too restrictive.

5. Add a diversity column

   I keep this simple. I list “Author” and “Main character” to mark books that were written by an author in an underrepresented category or that feature a main character who is. But I list categories below if you want to get more detailed with this column.

6. Print out your list or draw your own into your reading journal like I do.

   You can use my template or you can just make your own with a simple square stencil, some colorful pens/pencils, and a notebook. If you want a printable reading journal, I have a free one with my newsletter sign up. I also have a post on how to make your own journal if that’s your jam.

7. Choose your own rules.

   Will you let one book count for more than one category? That’s up to you. It’s your challenge!

8. You don’t need as many categories under each column I have.

   If you’re someone who reads 20 books a year, this chart is going to be too much. Choose fewer boxes under each column or less columns. I read around 70-75 books a year, so this chart having 42 still leaves me room for reading whatever outside of the challenge. Give yourself flexibility.

Category Ideas

Here are some ideas for what to put in the columns. You can select subgenres, formats, fun made-up categories. Don’t limit yourself. This is your challenge and needs to be personal to your tastes. Have a good time with it!

Genres/Subgenres:

Romance

·      Contemporary

·      Erotic

·      Dark

·      Romantic suspense

·      Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

·      Historical

·      Romantic Comedy

·      Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Speculative

·      Dystopian

·      Mystery

·      Inspirational/Christian

·      LGBTQ

·      Gothic

·      Old School/Retro (Romance from 70s-90s)

Young Adult

·      Romance

·      Contemporary

·      Suspense/Thriller

·      Horror

·      Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

·      Historical

·      Romantic Comedy

·      Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Speculative

·      Dystopian

·      Mystery

·      Inspirational/Christian

·      LGBTQ

·      Old School/Retro (YA from the 70s-90s)

Genre Fiction:

Contemporary

Women’s Fiction

Suspense

Mystery

Cozy Mystery

Hard-Boiled Detective/Noir

Horror

Gothic

Paranormal

Urban Fantasy

High Fantasy

Dystopian

Sci-Fi/Speculative

Graphic Novel/Comic

Steampunk

Historical fiction

Action/Adventure

Erotica

Time Travel

Middle Grade (and all its subgenres)

Picture Book

Inspirational/Religious  

Non-Fiction:

Memoir/Biography

True Crime

Humor

Travel

Self-Improvement

Business

Productivity

Home

Health

Cookbook/Food

On Writing (or whatever your field is)

Entertainment (about music, movies, tv, celebrity memoirs, etc.)

Science

History

Politics

Essay Collection

Parenting

Social Issues

General Fiction: 

Literary Fiction

Classics

Book Club Fiction

Short Stories

Contemporary

Historical

Family Saga

Diverse Reads:

Book by POC Author

POC Main Character

Book by LGTBQ Author

LGTBQ Main Character

Book with characters whose religion is different from yours

Book in translation

Book by an author from another country

Book with a neurodiverse character

Format: 

Short Story

Anthology

Doorstop (500+ pages)

Novella

Serial

Audiobook

Translated

Trilogy

Ebook

Hardcover

Paperback

Library Book

Indie Published

Small Press

Traditionally Published

Creative Categories:

Made Into A Movie or TV Show

Award-Winning

Banned Book

Re-read From Childhood

Debut Author

First in Series 

Book From Your Birth Year

Loved By Others

Second Chance on a DNF (did not finish)

Road Trip Story

Set Outside of the U.S./UK/Canada 

Book That Intimidates You

Written By the Opposite Sex

Retro Read (published before a certain year)

Three in a Row of a Series

Book You Should’ve Read in School

Favorite Author You Haven’t Read Lately

Legendary Author I’ve Never Read

Book I’ve Owned for 3+ Years

Book Club Pick/Book of the Month Club selection

Podcast Recommendation

Recommendation from a Friend

Recommendation from a Book Blogger/

Bookstagrammer/BookTube

Recommendation from Another Author

Book I Bought for the Cover

Airport Book

Huge Bestseller

Book about Books

Book about Food

Book about TV or Movies

Beach Read

Book That Made Me Cry

Book that Made Me Laugh

Classic of a genre

Found at the Used Bookstore

Book I Received as a Gift

Holiday-themed

Book by a Local Author

Download Your Chart and Get Started!

Blank Read Wide grid (word format)

Blank Read Wide grid (PDF)

My Read Wide Challenge if you don’t want to do your own categories (PDF)

Also, as I mentioned above, if you need a printable reading journal, I offer one for free when you sign up for my newsletter. You can easily add the chart as a page. 

Let me know if you decide to join in. Happy reading!

How to Read More Books This Summer: 15 Tips and Tricks

This weekend I came across a short documentary by Max Joseph (of Catfish fame) called Bookstores: How to Read More Books in the Golden Age of Content. First of all, it’s worth watching for the bookstores alone—so many beautiful bookstores are featured. *heart eyes* However, Max is trying to figure out how he can learn to read more because currently, he’s reading about one book a year. He goes on a quest to get advice, including tips on speed reading. But what I was struck by was that the book he wants to tackle first is Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. That book is a giant 1000+ page tome of literary fiction. And all I could think was, dude, you’re never going to become a regular reader that way.

If you haven’t developed a reading habit and aren’t a regular reader, jumping in to something so big and literary is just going to frustrate you. I think a lot of people go into the “I want to read more” project with this homework mentality or like you’re trying to fit more greens into your mental diet. Like reading is not worth doing unless you’re going to read something super difficult and “high-brow.” But for people who read all the time, reading is FUN. It’s not homework. We’re not doing it because it’s “good for us.” It’s what we do to get away from our work and enjoy ourselves. That doesn’t mean we can’t read literary books or difficult books or sad books. But just like with getting kids to read, if you want to read as an adult, you have to find things that HOOK you and won’t let go. Books that entertain you and make you want to turn the page and stay up too late.

Once kids develop a reading habit with books that are entertaining and fast-moving, then they eventually can develop the muscle to tackle harder books or classics later on. But if you just throw slow-moving literary classics at them first, then they think reading is a slog because they don’t have those reading muscles built up yet. The same goes for adults.

So if you’re looking to read more, stop dismissing genre fiction like suspense, mysteries, horror, fantasy, romance, and young adult books. You don’t have to seek out “important” books. I think all books can be important. If a book makes you think about what it means to be human, or stirs up emotions, or makes you think about love or fear or family, if a book can make you laugh or cry or feel that rush of satisfaction that comes with a happy ending, all those are valuable experiences. And if a book simply sweeps you away from your daily stress for a few hours, that can sometimes be more important than anything because it’s an act of self-care. So stop putting pressure on yourself to read the “right” kind of books and just read whatever sparks your interest and makes you turn the pages.

But if you’re not hung up on the type of books you read and are still having trouble finding ways to fit reading into your life or you want to up your reading game this summer, I’ve gathered fifteen tips to help you out.

15 Ways to Read More Books This Summer

1. Quit books you don’t like.

   Seriously, life is too short to read bad books and summer vacation is DEFINITELY too short to read bad books. If a book hasn’t captured you in the first couple of chapters, you have permission to move on. Otherwise, your reading will come to a halt because you’re not finishing the book and don’t want to move on until you do, creating a vicious cycle that will make you dread reading.

2. Keep a list of what you want to read.

   You can do this on paper or on an app like Goodreads or on an Amazon wish list, but it helps when you have a list to go to when you finish a book and know where you want to go next. This also provides a place to capture books from random recommendations from friends, websites, or podcasts.

3. Put your ebook app in the spot on your phone where you favorite social media app usually resides.

   We think we don’t have time to read, but that’s often because we squander our reading time by mindlessly scrolling through our phones. I’ve taken the social media apps off my phone (except for instagram which I put on the last page) and I have my kindle app on my main screen. That way, when I’m stuck in the grocery line or in a waiting room, I can read instead.

4. Always have a book with you.

   This is sort of related to #3 because if you have an ebook app, you always have access to books. However, our phones can be such a black hole of distraction, that I’ve come to prefer paper books over the last few years because I can’t click out of those. So, I’ve made a point to buy a big enough purse to fit a book. I also bought a Book Beau sleeve to keep in my purse so that my book is protected. It’s become a habit to slip a book in there before I go out because I never know when I’m going to get stuck waiting somewhere. Easy access makes all the difference. And if you’re going on a summer vacation, pack a few books because you may not like one or you may like one so much you finish it super quickly. Have a back up. (My husband teases me because I’ll bring like 3 books plus my Kindle on a 3-day weekend trip and he’s like, “I know you read fast but…” I like to be prepared for all scenarios.)

5. Audiobooks count as reading and are awesome for commutes, chores, and summer road trips.

   I’m relatively knew to the audiobook world, and I will say that I’m still not big on fiction audiobooks. However, I ADORE non-fiction audiobooks. I always have one going so that I can listen to a book in the car while I’m driving. I also listen a lot when I’m washing dishes or cooking dinner. It’s like listening to a really long, in depth podcast. And don’t let anyone tell you audiobooks don’t count as reading.

6. Book review blogs and bookish podcasts can keep your list growing and your excitement about books stoked.

   There are a ton of book bloggers, book review sites, and bookish podcasts out there to keep you busy. Find the ones you like and you will have a steady influx of “ooh, I want to read that” which keeps you excited about reading. These are great to listen to on road trips too.

7. Turn off phone notifications

   I know I’m always preaching about how to tame digital distractions. But if you’re trying to read and Facebook and Twitter notifications keep dinging, you’re never going to sink into the story. Don’t let your phone dictate your attention.

8. Do a summer reading challenge (or a yearly challenge)

   Some of us love to check off a box on a To Do list. I am wholeheartedly one of those people. So reading challenges work for me. That’s why I create my own each year (this year it’s the Read Wide challenge.) But if you don’t want to create your own, just google reading challenges and you’ll find all kinds of fun ones you can join. Modern Mrs. Darcy does a great summer reading challenge/guide each year as well.

9. Review books yourself

   You can do this publicly on sites like Goodreads or you can keep a private reading journal like I do, but I find that recording my reading makes me more likely to read. I enjoy writing down that I completed a book and then scribbling down my opinion about it. It can enrich the experience. Plus you can jot down fun memories like “read this on the beach in Florida.” (I have a free romance reading journal download if you don’t want to make your own.)

10. Read whatever the hell you want and not what you feel you “should”

    I already talked at length about this above, but I’m including it here for those of you who skip the blog content and go straight to the lists. I see you, skimmers. ;) Read what you want without shame. Read what you enjoy, what sweeps you away, what makes you turn the pages.

11. Start your day with reading

    Instead of scrolling through your phone first thing, keep a book on your bedside table and read for fifteen minutes after waking up. It’s a much calmer way to start the day—whether at home or on vacation.

12. Develop a daily time/habit for reading.

    We don’t do what we don’t make space for. Look for the pockets of time where you can read. Do you get a few minutes to yourself after dinner? Or after the kids go to bed? Is the morning your only quiet time? Maybe during your lunch break at work or on your commute? Find a slice of time that you protect for reading and then work on creating a habit of using that time just for that.

13. Create a distraction-free reading nook.

    This may mean you simply leave your phone in another room and keep the TV off. But if you can find some little space where you aren’t going to be fighting distractions while you read, it can make the reading time feel extra special and renewing. And if you’re going on a summer vacation, create a reading nook wherever you’re going—on the beach lounge chair, by the pool, on the hotel balcony.

14. Figure out your reader preferences

    If you’re new to this or just getting back to reading after a long break, you may not know what you like yet (or anymore.) Be willing to explore and see what catches your attention (including the middle grade and young adult sections if the spirit moves you.) Go wander the library and pull books off the shelves to see what catches your eye. If you’re on vacation, wander a local bookshop. There will be trial and error involved but that process can be fun. Make no apologies for liking what you like or disliking what some other people may love.

15. Branch out if you’ve gotten in a rut.

    Sometimes we may be avid readers but we get in a rut. For me, this usually means I need to shake up what I’m reading. That’s one reason why I love the Read Wide Challenge. It forces me not to stay too long in one lane. So don’t be afraid to pick up something out of your normal reading zone and change it up. You may discover a whole new area you like. Or maybe you read heavier books during the year and want something lighter for summer (or vice versa.)

And remember to have fun! Reading can be a great joy in our lives. I know it is in mine. But if we turn it into homework or a self-improvement exercise, we’re just going to run away and scroll through Instagram or binge watch Netflix instead. Find what you love to read. Don’t apologize for it. And give yourself the gift of getting lost in a story.

Happy summer reading!

My 2019 Planner and Journal Lineup

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First, before we get into the nitty gritty of all the planner goodness this year, I just want to remind everyone that The One You Fight For, book 3 in The Ones Who Got Away series, is out New Year’s Day! You don’t have to have read the first two to understand this one, though that will enrich the experience. I’m so excited to share this book with y’all. This one was a tough one to write because Taryn lost her sister in the school shooting fourteen years ago and Shaw, the hero, is the older brother of one of the shooters. This may be the most emotional romance I’ve ever written, but I promise you there’s a happy ending. ;)

So if you want to grab your copy now to have it on your doorstep this week, here are all the links. And right now the paperback is cheaper than the ebook, so you can get a copy for your shelf on the cheap!

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Indiebound | Books-A-Million | Google Play

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The 2019 Planner and Journal Lineup

Now, on to the planners!

If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you know that I’m obsessed with planners and journals. In a lot of ways, it’s my hobby, but they have the added bonus of actually being functional and making me more productive as well.

I’ve shown some pictures on Instagram of a few of my planners and journals for the year, but I had a number of people ask to explain what each one is and how I use it. So, ask and you shall receive! Let’s dive in.

My Every Day Hub - The Day Designer

This will be my third year using the Day Designer. Sometimes I stray, but this is the planner I keep coming back to for the day to day To Dos and scheduling. Beyond the pretty cover, this is not a colorful planner, which is a plus for me. I find that when I buy planners with color schemes, I get tired of the schemes pretty quickly. Day Designer’s white pages with gray print are perfect. I can keep them clean or I can decorate the hell out of them.

I also like that it’s one day per page. I find this helps me focus on just that day and not get distracted by the things coming up in the week.

Sometimes I use the time side to track my time. Other times I just use it to mark down if I have an appointment. But I use the To Do side daily. I also mark my daily word count in the “dollars” box. It’s a flexible system that I can change around as needed.

A clean page vs. decorated page:

My Done Planner

I went into the details of what a “done” planner is in this post, but basically, this is where I record what I’ve actually done in a week separated out by area of my life or business. I use a Happy Planner Teacher Planner and label the different areas of my life where teachers would label the different classes that they teach.

When I do something in the day, I mark down what I did in this planner. Is this necessary? Of course not. But I’ve found that it gives me a sense of accomplishment AND it also shows me how evenly (or not) I’ve distributed my time in a week. Have I ignored health stuff? Did I let my interaction with readers slip? It’s a good overview of where my time is actually going.

Goal Setting Planner: Powersheets & The HB90 Method

The Powersheets are not a traditional planner. There is no calendar in it. This is strictly a goal setting planner that guides you through a process to pick up to 10 goals for the year. You have the opportunity to update them quarterly. Then it also gives you a process each month to go through to set monthly, weekly, and daily goals. I have used this planner for two years and have one ready to go for this year. I tend to keep the tending sheet open on my desk so I can always see what goals I set for the month.

This year I also added author Sarra Cannon’s HB90 method of quarterly planning for authors and entrepreneurs. The Powersheets contain both work and personal goals. The HB90 system is strictly focused on three main work/business goals for the quarter. I have used this method for the last 5 months of this year (including the kanban board that she teaches you about in her class) and it’s been ridiculously effective for me. Sarra has a quarterly planner you can buy from Etsy and print out yourself. Her system walks you through everything to get you started. I keep these pages in my Done planner pictured above.

Honestly, I’m going to see how it goes this year, but Sarra’s system may make my Powersheets less necessary. I like that it gives me such a laser focus. However, I’ve already bought the Powersheets and still need a place to have personal/home goals, so we’ll see. I’ll report back later in the year if I’m keeping up with both of them.

Reading Journal

I have done a full post on the layout of my reading journal here. I also have a free downloadable reading journal if you want one you can print out. But I’ve kept my reading journal for three years and I LOVE IT SO HARD. Three years filled up one book, so I’m starting with a fresh Leuchtterm journal this year. The sticker on the front is a Happy Planner sticker.

And if you’re looking for something fun to add to your reading journal, check out my 2019 Read Wide Challenge!

My Movie, TV Series, and Concert Journal

This is a new addition for me. I have kept a list of movies I’ve watched and TV series I’ve completed in my reading journal for the past two years. But the simple list doesn’t tell me much. So this year, I’m dedicating a separate journal to record movie reviews, TV show reviews, and to mark down memories of the concerts I attend (because we attend a lot!) I haven’t worked out all the details of how I want to do this yet. I like the idea of writing down the names of my favorite episodes of a TV series for example. Or maybe writing down quotes. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll report back once I have a fully working system. :) But for now, I’ll be using this pretty dot grid journal that I received as a Christmas gift.

My Daily Memory Journal

This will also be a new addition this year. And y’all keep your fingers crossed for me. I’ve tried this before and haven’t been able to stick with it, so we’ll see. But I would like to keep a Hobonichi style journal, where I jot down memories or thoughts from the day and then either draw or put stickers in it. This isn’t going to be a deep contemplative journal. I already know I don’t do well with keeping up with those. This is more of a memory keeper, a simpler version of a scrapbook.

For this journal, I chose a Stalogy notebook because it’s about half the price of a Hobonichi Cousin and has similar paper. I’m keeping it in this notebook keeper since it has a soft cover.

The I-Bought-Them-On-Sale-and-Haven’t-Decided-Yet Planners

I’m weak in the face of 60% off. I haven’t decided what these beauties are for yet. One might become a planner for the family. The dark blue one may be pulled apart and merged with the Done planner since they are the same size. I got them so cheap that I don’t mind cannibalizing them to merge them into another. These are both from Happy Planner which you can buy online or at craft stores like Michael’s and JoAnn’s.

I would say “that’s it!” but that’s an understatement, I know. : ) I have a lot of planners. It works for me. I hope you found something in the mix that may work for you!

So what are you using for 2019? Anyone journaling?

The Read Wide Challenge 2019

Hi there! You know what time of the year it is?

Reading challenge time!

In reader land, this is the time of the year where those of us who set a challenge back in January are scrambling to finish up. This is when the posts like “Ten Short Novels You Can Finish in a Day” and “Short Stories Count for Your Reading Challenge” start popping up.

From what I can tell, most reading challenges are of the simple number variety. People choose the number of books they hope to read for the year (usually via Goodreads) and then work on that. I always do the Goodreads challenge. (This year I set a goal of 50 and I’m at 77 right now, so yay!) However, over the past few years, I’ve wanted to do something more detailed than just a number.

I’ve found that I can get in reading ruts, and I tend to stick to my comfort zone in book selection when I don’t pay attention. There’s nothing wrong with reading what you know you like and sticking with it. However, for me, especially as a writer, it can limit my creativity if I don’t branch out and step away from my comfort zone at times. So years ago, I created the Push Your Boundaries reading challenge to get myself reading more widely. Last year, I changed up the format a little bit and renamed the challenge the Read Wide Challenge.

I didn’t share my challenge officially last year, but I’ve been posting photos of my completed challenge all year. Isn’t it pretty all filled in? And a number of you have reached out wanting to know about the challenge. So here are some details if you want to do the Read Wide Reading Challenge for yourself in 2019!

Why Read Wide?

So first, before we get into the nitty gritty of the challenge, why should you give it a try?

1. You will discover new genres to love or re-discover old favorites you used to love.

   For instance, years ago I burned out on paranormal books because I read them nonstop. They were my favorite, but when you read in the same zone for too long, books start sounding the same. So for years I haven’t read paranormal. But it was on my list this year. I picked up Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series, book one, and wham, I was hooked. I realized I had missed sexy paranormal romance! Love rediscovered.

2. You will read things that will confirm that a genre is not for you, and you can stop worrying about missing out on those books.

   This doesn’t sound like a positive thing, but it really is. I buy books I think sound interesting but then never quite get to them. This challenge forced me to face a few genres that I thought I liked but…really don’t. For instance, the comedic celebrity essay collection/memoir. I have impulse bought so many of these on sale because, hey, I love that comedienne! But then I never read them. This year, I had a Humor/Essay box to mark off. So I read in that genre. I quickly realized (after reading two of them) that these just aren’t for me. I like memoirs with a lot of emotional resonance. Ones focused on humor just don’t do it for me. I can now save my money and stop buying them.

3. You will give new authors a chance.

   It’s easy to stick with the authors we know (and as an author, I highly encourage that! lol) but there are a lot of authors out there that we can add to our list. But we’re never going to discover them if we don’t step outside our normal reading zone.

4. You will diversify your reading.

   I always strive to read more diversely, but that focus can slip through the cracks if I’m not paying attention. So my column focused on diversity has helped me be more deliberate about seeking out POC authors and books that feature main characters who are POC, LGTBQ, and/or neurodiverse.

5. If you’re a writer, it will feed your creativity.

   This is a big one for me. The reason why my books are often a little outside the norm in the romance genre like The Ones Who Got Away series is because I read from all different areas. I pull ideas and inspiration from all these different genres, which I think keeps things fresh (for me and hopefully also for my readers.) If I’m only reading in my own genre, my books will start to sound like everyone else’s. I got the idea for The Ones Who Got Away because I read This Is Where It Ends (YA thriller) and Columbine (true crime/non-fiction) and wondered: what happens to the people who survive a school shooting? How do they move on as adults? That was the birth of the idea.

6. It’s fun

   If you’re a person who loves to check off a to do list or complete a challenge, this is just straight up fun. It feels like a game, and there’s so much satisfaction when you get to color in those boxes. : )
   

My 2019 Challenge

How to Set Up Your Challenge

1. Pick your comfort zone columns

   First, you need to know that this is a personalized challenge. What my version of reading wide is may be different from yours. So first, make sure you’re giving yourself your favorites. For instance, romance is my primary reading genre, and I also read a lot of YA and non-fiction, so I have three entire columns dedicated to those things and their subgenres. If you’re a big mystery reader, you may dedicate a column to that and beneath list: cozy mystery, noir, historical mystery, etc. This is about reading wide but not to the exclusion of reading the things you love most.

2. Pick your more challenging columns

   Even under your comfort columns, there may be some challenging subcategories, but pick at least two columns that are going to make you stretch. For me, that’s non-romance genre fiction and general fiction. You can get creative with the subcategories (suggestions below). They don’t have to be “official” subgenres that the library would list. Like in my General Fiction column, you’ll find book club fiction, magical elements, etc.

3. Don’t put things you know you hate

   This is not about torturing yourself. If you already know you don’t like a certain type of book, it’s okay not to put it on there. This shouldn’t feel like homework. For instance, I know classics and literary fiction are generally not my thing. It’s not to say I won’t ever try one of those again, but I don’t obligate myself to it on this challenge.

4. Make a bonus column for fun/silly categories

   I have suggestions below but get creative. You want some easy wins and categories that many different types of books could fit into so that it’s not too restrictive.

5. Add a diversity column

   I keep this simple. I list “Author” and “Main character” to mark books that were written by an author in an underrepresented category or that feature a main character who is.

6. Print out your list or draw your own into your reading journal like I do.

   You can use my template or you can just make your own with a simple square stencil, some colorful pens/pencils, and a notebook. If you want a printable reading journal, I have a free one with my newsletter sign up. I also have a post on how to make your own journal if that’s your jam.

7. Choose your own rules.

   Will you let one book count for more than one category? That’s up to you. I don’t but feel free. It’s your challenge!

Category Ideas

Here are some ideas for what to put in the columns. You can select subgenres, formats, fun made-up categories. Don’t limit yourself. This is your challenge and needs to be personal to your tastes. Have a good time with it!

Genres/Subgenres:

Romance

·      Contemporary

·      Erotic

·      Dark

·      Romantic suspense

·      Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

·      Historical

·      Romantic Comedy

·      Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Speculative

·      Dystopian

·      Mystery

·      Inspirational/Christian

·      LGBTQ

·      Old School/Retro (Romance from 70s-90s)

Young Adult

·      Romance

·      Contemporary

·      Suspense/Thriller

·      Horror

·      Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

·      Historical

·      Romantic Comedy

·      Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Speculative

·      Dystopian

·      Mystery

·      Inspirational/Christian

·      LGBTQ

·      Old School/Retro (YA from the 70s-90s)

Other Genre Fiction:

Contemporary

Women’s Fiction

Suspense

Mystery

Cozy Mystery

Hard-Boiled Detective/Noir

Horror

Gothic

Paranormal

Urban Fantasy

High Fantasy

Dystopian

Sci-Fi/Speculative

Graphic Novel/Comic

Steampunk

Historical fiction

Action/Adventure

Erotica

Time Travel

Middle Grade (and all its subgenres)

Picture Book

Inspirational/Religious

Non-Fiction: 

Memoir/Biography

True Crime

Humor

Travel

Self-Improvement

Business

Home

Health

Cookbook/Food

On Writing (or whatever your field is)

Entertainment (about music, movies, tv, celebrity memoirs, etc.)

Science

History

Politics

Essay Collections

Parenting

General Fiction: 

Literary Fiction

Classics

Book Club Fiction

Short Stories

Diversity: 

Book by POC Author

POC Main Character

Book by LGTBQ Author

LGTBQ Main Character

Book with characters whose religion is different from yours

Book in translation

Book by an author from another country

Book with a neurodiverse character

Format:

Short Story

Anthology

Doorstop (500+ pages)

Novella

Serial

Audiobook

Translated

Trilogy

Creative Categories: 

Made Into A Movie or TV Show

Award-Winning

Banned Book

Re-read From Childhood

Debut Author

First in Series 

Book From Your Birth Year

Loved By Others

Second Chance on a DNF (did not finish)

Road Trip Story

Set Outside of the U.S./UK/Canada 

Book That Intimidates You

Written By the Opposite Sex

Retro Read

Three in a Row of a Series

Book you should’ve read in school

Favorite Author You Haven’t Read Lately

Legendary Author I’ve Never Read

Book I’ve Owned for 3+ Years

Book Club Pick/Book of the Month Club selection

Podcast Recommendation

Recommendation from a Friend

Book I Bought for the Cover

Huge Bestseller

Book about Books

Book about Food

Beach Read

Book That Made Me Cry

Book That Made Me Laugh

Download Your Chart and Get Started!

Blank Read Wide grid (word format)

Also, as I mentioned above, if you need a printable reading journal, I offer one for free when you sign up for my newsletter. You can easily add the chart as a page. 

Let me know if you decide to join in. Happy reading!

Gifts for the Booklovers In Your Life (Or For You)

It’s that time of year again. That time when you try to decipher your relatives’ brains and figure out what they’d actually want for a holiday gift. This exercise can be downright exhausting. That’s why it’s a big sigh of relief when I get to buy for someone who is a fellow bookworm. Those are my people. I understand those people. In actuality, besides my mom, I have very few book-loving family members in my life. And my mom is a minimalist booklover. Since I bought her a Kindle years ago, she doesn’t need much else besides that and her library card. So I save my bookish gifts for my friends. And well…

Okay, let’s be real, y’all know I end up buying most of these for myself, too. I justify these purchases because for some reason, NO ONE buys me bookish gifts. Besides bookstore gift cards, I can’t remember receiving a bookish gift since childhood. I guess people assume I already have that area covered. And I do because clearly no one else is going to get them for me, lol.

So, in the spirit of buying for the booklovers in your life along with full permission to treat yourself, I’ve pulled together my list of favorite finds for booklovers. Obviously, books are a great gift for a booklover, but in case you’re looking for something in addition to that or some stocking stuffers, these may fit the bill this holiday season.

Roni’s 2018 Gift List for Booklovers

Book darts

Book Darts Line Markers - 125 Count Tin Mixed Metals Bookmarkers

When reading an ebook, you can highlight and save quotes. But what about for the print lover who doesn’t want to mark up their books with highlighters? Enter the book dart. This are tiny, light metal bookmarks that attach to a single page and point to the line or passage you want to go back and reference. I use these all the time. They are so lightweight that they won’t weigh down your book even if you mark a bunch of pages. Then, you can remove them easily when you go back and pull the quotes or reread passages. Or you can leave them in there permanently. You get a lot in a tin, so I have some references books that I keep the book darts in even after I’m done because I know I’ll need to flip through again.

A Book Beau

Book Beau - Book Sleeve Wizardy Print - Mini/Indie/XL/Jumbo Sized Protecting Cover (XL)

This is a new one for me this year, and I’m in love with it. I read a lot of print books and have a big purse for just that reason. But books (and e-readers) can get beat up in a purse or backpack. Enter the book beau. This is a cushioned pocket that keeps your book safe and is super cute to boot. They come in many different sizes, e-reader size up to fat hardback size. And besides the functionality of it, it’s a conversation starter when you pull your book out of such an adorable pouch.

Book-themed T-shirts

Out of Print Underlined Book Nerd Unisex T-Shirt (Black) X-Large

Broadcast your book love for the world to see. My favorite bookish t-shirts lately are from Out of Print. I have the Book Nerd one pictured here and the library card stamp one. You can also get a number of the designs on non-T-shirt things.

A Fancy Bookish Pen

This is one that I definitely bought for myself. I couldn’t resist a pen with the label Literary AF. (There are a few more sayings if that one’s not your style.) Easy, Tiger has fun gifts that aren’t just book-related, so I encourage you to poke around the site. This pen is not cheap but it’s refillable and well-made. It also comes in a super cute giftable box. I also love their bookmarks.

Library Kit

Knock Knock Personal Library Kit (15000)

Tired of people not returning your books when you lend them out? Here’s a kit to lay the guilt on them in the future. ;)

A Proper Journal to Record What They Read

Y’all know I’m a devotee of the reading journal. If you want tips on how to create one, see my post on how I organized mine. My pick for favorite journal, the one I use, is the Leuchtterm medium dot grid hardcover journal. I’ve managed to fit 3 years of reading in one journal (taking up about half a page per book read—and I read a lot.) It’s worth the investment. (And if you want those pens, here’s the link for those.)

As a side note, if you want a reading journal you can print out and that is already organized for you, sign up for my newsletter and get the download in your inbox.

Book Box Subscriptions

Confession: I love getting packages in the mail. If that package is full of books, I’m pretty much at peak Roni happiness. So what better to give to a booklover than a gift that gives books all year long. Not sure which kind to get? Here are some options:

Book of the Month Club

I’ve been a subscriber to Book of the Month club for 2 years now, and I have been really pleased with the service. Each month, they select five books for you to choose from. You pick one and get a beautiful hardback for significantly cheaper than the list price. Plus, you often get books ahead of their wide release, so you can be the first to read it. The selections usually include at least one thriller, one literary pick, sometimes a non-fiction, and often a quirky pick. To my great delight, this year they fixed my one complaint I had about the service—no romance. I was thrilled to see selections like The Kiss Quotient, The Proposal, and One Day in December this year. Yay, romance! So if you want to check it out for yourself or give as a gift, use my link and I think you get your first book free.

Fresh Fiction Box Not To Miss

View fullsize

Just want a big box of romance with maybe a general fiction thrown in every now and then? Then you might want to check out the Fresh Fiction Box Not To Miss. Each month you get a box of physical books and codes for a few ebooks. This is a romance focused box and is often filled with new releases. What I love about this box is that you can sign up for a monthly subscription or you can buy a single box when you’re jonesing for a surprise box of books. I don’t subscribe but I get the one-time box two or three times a year. It’s always fun opening the box and not knowing what I’m going to get.

The Bookworm Box

This box is the brainchild of author Colleen Hoover. Each box comes with a signed book and author swag. The best part? It’s for charity. So you can feel extra great about getting this box. I recently donated over 100 signed books to The Bookworm Box, so even if you don’t want to subscribe to the box but want a signed book from me, proceeds going to charity, grab one here.

Books About Books

What is it about book about books? There’s just something comforting about knowing other booklovers are out there and have things to say. Here are a few options for a few different types of booklovers:

I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life

I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

This little essay collection by Anne Bogel (of the Modern Mrs. Darcy blog) is a perfect gift for a reader regardless of their genre preferences. Each essay covers a different topic in the reading life, and my guess is every booklover will find things to relate to. For an extra treat, try this one in audio.

Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks: A Librarian's Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life

Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak In the Stacks - A Librarian’s Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life by Annie Spence

I own this one but haven’t read it yet. I love the concept though—a librarian writing love letters or break up notes to books that have meant something to her. This is another one that fits readers regardless of genre.

Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction

Paperback Crush by Gabrielle Moss

Are you or a loved one part of The Babysitter’s Club generation? Then this may be the perfect book for you. I read this recently and had such a good time going through it. Beyond being a trip down memory lane to all those books that formed me as a reader, it was interesting to learn about the progression of teen fiction from the seventies through the nineties. And if you get this one, go for the paperback not the ebook because all the photos of book covers are so colorful and enhance the experience. (Also, be warned, you’re going to want to run out to a used bookstores afterward and rummage for some of these old books.)

Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction

Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix

Have a horror lover in your life? From the same publisher as Paperback Crush and following a similar format, this book goes through the history of horror fiction in the 70s and 80s. I own this one but haven’t read it yet. I’ve flipped through, though, and am really looking forward to it. Like above, go with the paperback to get the full effect of this book. Also, I’ve read a few of Grady Hendrix’s horror novels so I have no doubt the essays will be worth reading.

Shameless Self-Promotion

You know what makes a great gift? These. :)

That’s my list for this year. Coming soon, I’ll do a post on my 5-Star reads from this year if you would prefer actual books as gifts.

So what bookish gift are you hoping to receive this year? Do you get and/or give a lot of books and bookish gifts for the holidays?