So. We’re here. Somehow, we (and by “we” I mean those of us who 2016 hasn’t literally and physically mowed down) have made it to the other side of the year of the Garbage Fire. I… don’t have high expectations for this one either, if I am being totally honest, but maybe that’s a good thing? Like, when the book hype monster makes you sad… well, no one likes that. And so this year and I have started off hype-free. That isn’t to say I am not looking forward to some things, because I am (more on that later!) but… you understand.
Let’s first take a look back on 2016 and see what exactly happened around here! Last year, I did this post where I rehashed the past year’s resolutions to see how I did. I had not done terribly! Let’s see how this year went, shall we? (If you need the full post, here you are!)
- Read a few books on my shelves- or at least the ones I pre ordered
Well… I did read a few books from my shelves, no question. But that is using the strictest definition of “a few” so… I mean, I’ll take it. ✔️ - Not to request a shit ton of ARCs before BEA
I didn’t do too badly with this, actually. I did request a couple, but not many. I was rather proud of myself on this one! I learned from my mistakes, wooo! ✔️ - Speaking of BEA, maybe not break my suitcase this year
Suitcase is in tact. I did, however, cry in the hotel lobby when my books would not fit in it. #SabrinaToTheResuce. ✔️ - Shattering Stigmas. Bigger and better.
Oh. Hell. YES. Did you see it? It was a thing of beauty, if I do say so myself! ✔️ - Come up with something new. This is incredibly vague, but if I knew what to do I wouldn’t need the resolution.
Erm. No. Well… nothing big, anyway. I don’t think? ❌ - Write more stuff/Finish Old Stuff
Well, I won NaNo again, so I did write new stuff! I didn’t revise the old thing though so… it’s half and half, I guess? ❓ - Deal with my shelf “situation”
Look, I didn’t say how I was going to deal with it. I bought a new shelf, and I feel like that should count for something. I also gave away some books. So even though they’re still pretty crowded… for now I consider it a victory. Sometimes, we need small victories, right? ✔️ - Meet ALL the people
I DID! I met So. Many. People! It was glorious!! ✔️ - Something Hunger Games
Technically, YES! I started The Indecision Games! Which we will talk more about later too 😉 ✔️ - No, seriously, calm down. The world will not stop turning if I miss a post or forget a few comments.
I think I actually consider this one a minor win. I mean, I didn’t totally calm down, but I did a little! I took a few tiny breaks. I posted less because well… I could! And when I simply did not have the time to do something, sometimes it had to wait, and that was even okay! YAY! ✔️
That is a solid 8.5 out of 10, friends. I daresay it doesn’t get much better that that! 😀
ONWARD to 2017
I guess I should start by coming up with a few new resolutions or something, eh? Okay. I will try, but these are probably not going to go well- again, low expectations 😉
- Try not to take everything so damn personally.
I take so much of blogging to heart. So much of the publishing industry to heart. This year has been a rough one for me- when I had started to form relationships with publicists, when I felt like I was kind of finding my place, those few moved on- and I was lost in the shuffle, I suppose. It hurt my feelings, honestly, even though logically I know it shouldn’t. But I wondered what I was doing wrong- what wasn’t working, what I could improve on, etc. And maybe… maybe there is nothing. Maybe I cannot control what other people do. And I have to live with that.
This also applies to BEA, which I am probably not going to end up going to this year, since bloggers are now apparently the pariahs of the book world. Damn us and our free publicity, I mean really, how could we? ::Eyeroll:: But again, I didn’t do that, I have no say in that, so I have to come to terms. This is something I am bad at in general, not just bookishly. So, it’s a work in progress. But these things have hurt my heart and I need to let them go. - Do more things that I want to do just because they are fun– not because I feel like I have to.
I have wanted to make The 100 gifs and videos and junk since Season 3 ended- and I have made like, 3 gifs. Because I spend all my time doing things I “should” do rather than what I want to do. That needs to change. - Still be able to see my bookish people.
The thing that broke me about BEA was that I loved so much being a physical part of the community and not just an online one. But who knows, there can be alternatives! I will be seeing a few of my loveliest lovelies in less than three weeks, and I am so very excited about that! So we just need to work harder now to make things happen! - Find a future path.
This is kind of a personal one, but also kind of bookish. I have been loving being bookish for so long now, but I also am at the precipice of needing to decide what to do with my life– like in terms of making money and such, having an actual plan, whatever. And maybe books are part of that equation- maybe they aren’t. I don’t know, but I’d like to find out. - “Whatever the hell we want!”
I mean, fine, these words weren’t Bellamy Blake’s finest moments, but I mean it in a different way. Lately, I felt like I have lost some of my… spark. And I don’t like that. I don’t know if you can tell, but if I can, that means there is a problem. I want to write weird stuff again, if I feel like it. Or serious when I want it to be. I just want to have fun with blogging. All the time. Every time.It also means not posting if I don’t want to. And more importantly, not feeling bad about it. Not feeling bad if it takes me two weeks to finish commenting because I was sick, and I am tired. Because… no. I need to not let that dictate me.Also, more of reading whatever strikes my damn fancy. If I see it on the shelf and want to read it, I should probably just read it. Whatever the hell we want. And I am scaling back on #bookstragram because it pisses me off and why do I want to do something that pisses me off? If it strikes my fancy, I am game. Until then…. meh.
And that is it! Only 5, because… “whatever the hell we want” 😉
Blog Stuff in the New Year!
I have some things I want to do, some things I am looking forward to, and some questions for you all! So… let’s do it!
Thing #1: The Indecision Games!
Above, I referenced this, and you will be glad to know that I actually have already read some of the books! And if you want to see the full list of your tributes, it is right here! Sadly, I have a couple bloodbath contestants already, but, I also have some frontrunners for victors, too! My goal is to finish the whole thing by the end of 2017, so stay tuned!!
Thing #2: Shattering Stigmas Part THREE!
YEP, that’s right, it is going to be the third year of this, I can hardly believe it! I mean, I haven’t officially asked my co-hosts again (consider yourselves formally asked, friends) but I certainly hope for it to be even bigger and better than before! I am also thinking of moving it to September- a lot of people I spoke to thought that might work better for schedules. Mid-September, perhaps, after schools have started and things are calmer? I know August can be hard for vacations and going back to school and such. So, do feel free to share any thoughts you might have!!
Thing #3: Shannon & Holly‘s The 100 Week!
This is not the graphic for that, because I haven’t made one, but a link to just everything “The 100” on the blog. Anyway, Holly and I wanted to do something fun before the Season FOUR premiere in less than a month, so we decided to have some fun leading up to it! It’ll be the last week of January, and if anyone wants to play too, let us know! 😀
(Kidding, kidding! ?)
Thing #4: Monthly Recaps.
Okay, here’s the thing: On one hand, I do enjoy doing these, because I like to have a space to talk about “housekeeping” stuff, and share books (and thank people!) and share posts I have found fascinating. But on the other… it is so time consuming. So I am going to ask you guys a few things:
1. Do I even bother at all? This is where a poll comes in handy!
Loading ...2. If I do, does anyone have ideas on how I can make it a little… less time consuming?
Because seriously friends, I can’t spend 4 hours on one post! Do you know of any ways I can share links like, in a collection perhaps? That way, as I collect them during the month, I can put them in a… place, and embed it? Is this a thing a person can do? I don’t know.
Thing #5: Commenting
Commenting is hard. I love it. It is one of my favorite things about blogging. But you know what else I love? Sleep. And my sanity, and general health and well being. This past week I have been so, so sick, and yet half the damn time I kept worrying about the comments I hadn’t responded to yet, the emails I hadn’t replied to, the Tweets I hadn’t answered. I could not get out of bed, and yet… I felt so rude! So I decided I wanted to just talk about it. I feel like we don’t, generally. We say it’s good to “comment back” but I think we frequently don’t take life into account.
So I will always strive to answer you, to visit your blog in return. Always. But I will also cut myself some slack if I can’t for some reason. I get literally giddy-excited every time I get an email saying I have a comment- I love hearing from you all. And I love chatting back. ButI think this illness kicked my ass especially hard because I wasn’t taking care of myself at all. And I need to. So I hope that you’ll forgive me if I miss one here or there, or if it happens to be two weeks after the fact. I promise, I am trying my very best- and I love each of you and find your thoughts to be incredibly valuable!
So… Happy New Year, loves! What are some things that you’d like to do this year? Hope it is a fabulous one!!
Happy New Year! And don’t worry about this comment 😀 sleep is incredibly important.
It seems like 2016 wasn’t such a bad one at all, considering your achievements 🙂 I know it has been one of the best years in my life, personally. Feeling a little guilty about that! The world doesn’t share my opinion, I guess ?
Wish you luck with your new resolutions 🙂
You did great on your last year’s resolutions! I am bummed about BEA this year. It was the first year I would have been able to go and so wanted to get the whole experience including meeting all the peoples. Oh wells. I like monthly recaps but no idea how to make it less time consuming 🙁 Commenting is so hard. I have issues worrying about it too. I need to comment back/ reply or I obsess over it. It is so silly!! I need to be ok with letting it go a little when I need to. Good luck with these ad Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Shannon. Instead of BEA, try looking for smaller author events or conventions in your area or near you. There’s an entire, active group on FB dedicated to author events! https://www.facebook.com/groups/authoreventsaroundtheus/
And while you may not get free books for attending, you can network with authors.
Good job on the resolutions and good luck with the new ones! 😀 I should try and do that…
Happy New Year! Good luck with your resolutions. I really liked Shattering Stigmas last year, so I’m glad you’re doing it again. I also wish I knew how to make monthly wrap-ups less time-consuming. I like writing them, and I love reading other people’s, but making all those links and graphics is tedious.
Happy New Year, Shannon! I have never been happier about a year ending. I mean 2017 is not looking all that great because TRUMP, but I sincerely hope it’s going to surprise me in a good way.
In the mean time, I will be fighting for what I believe in by being there for the people who will truly need me and everyone else by their side.
Wishing you all the very best with your new resolutions! <3
You did so well on your resolutions from last year! I also definitely want to not take things as personally this year. Yay for another year of Shattering Stigmas! <3 Since BEA is no longer accessible for bloggers, I'm trying to find smaller bookish events to go to throughout the year where I can hopefully meet people. Happy New Year, Shannon! Good luck with all your resolutions this year! 🙂
P. S. No pressure re: this comment. 😉
Resolutions are hard so I am impressed you managed to get a solid 8.5 out of 10 for yours last year. That’s life goals for me right there. I think the key is not being too specific on the how you’re going to do it and just saying what you’re gonna do it. I like your goals for this year as well, different to a lot of peoples and show what you want to do this year and not what everyone thinks you should be doing.
Don’t feel bad about not replying to comments. I mean, I know I feel exactly the same when it’s two weeks later and I finally have a couple of hours and look at my inbox. The comments will still be there once you’re better. I think people can forgive you for not being bothered to look at a screen when you’re sick.
These sound like good resolutions! And definitely cut back on anything you’re not enjoying, especially the time-consuming stuff. As far as saving time on commenting, maybe skip replying on your blog and go straight to the other person’s blog? Or whatever works. Good luck! 🙂
I think you did great last year, love your breakdown! Shattering Stigmas- love that and NaNo is an awesome accomplishment. As for your resolutions- I agree. Blogging should be fun (we don’t get paid after all) and you gotta do what YOU want to do.
Go Bellamy!!! Man he looks so young there! I want to send that “float yourself” GIF to Trump. And what are you guys up to? Ooh I can’t wait. Less than a month! I can’t WAIT to talk 100 with you guys again. Bellamy was a great villain wasn’t he??
Monthly recaps- I don’t do ’em because I do Sunday Post and that’e enough! Too much work lol. I do like reading yours though because they’re fun, but I say do whatever works for ya. I try to go with if it’s a chore or I dread putting a post together, then that post can float itself (ha ha). And you’re a fab commenter so don’t sweat it- life gets in the way. I need to be a better reply- er and that’s one of my goals this year. 🙂
Great post Shannon!
N’AWW, I’M SO PROUD OF YOU AND ALL THESE GOALS AND RESOLUTIONS!! I am 100% supportive of cutting back. I did it last year and I didn’t die!! Especially with the comments! Because sometimes we don’t have 938 hours in a day to do all the things, right??? Occasionally now, I even reply and don’t comment back (but that’s like not regular because I still want to return all the love and support!!) but just to catch up when I need it. It’s hard for we overachievers to cut ourselves some slack buuuuuut….like we don’t want to be DEAD IN THE DIRT. So definitely take care of yourself!! *smothers you kindly in a pillow fort and gives you cupcakes*
As for the recaps…I also felt the same way last year haha. I fixed mine by doing monthly recaps? I’m only a bit worried because my monthly recaps are like MAMMOTH but at least I don’t freak out ever week with all the effort it takes to put them together. I just freak out once a month. ? Kidding! I actually really enjoy it haha.
I’M SO GLAD THE INDECISION GAMES WORKED FOR YOU I TAKE FULL CREDIT FOR THAT. (Shh I’m just kidding.??)
And I honestly need to be with you on your #1 goal with not taking everything personally. *gulps* I end up doing that a lot when I see authors getting run over by thirty four freight trains on twitter because they’ve done something their fandom doesn’t like (even if it’s like just written their book differently to what the fans wanted!! because that’s no fair!! it’s the author’s story!!) But anyway, I need to CHILL on that and not worry about it so much.? And I HEAR YOU WITH THE PUBLICISTS. I swear the ones I actually manage to build enough of a relationship that I don’t have to reintroduce myself each time always change jobs. ? So inconsiderate omg.
Here’s to a good 2017!!! I hope there is cake and sleep and really great books for you!!
When it comes to commenting back, I don’t really care if people comment back on THEIR blog. I know it takes up time for people and it’s not usually necessary, unless I ask a question. As for visiting my blog, I love that, but i understand if people can’t sometimes. It’s not like I’ll stop visiting/commenting because a blogger didn’t comment back the same amount? Yeah, definitely give yourself some slack and focus on taking care of yourself!
I love the idea of doing whatever the hell you want though. I’m trying to do that more in 2017 – I began a little in 2016. That basically means reading more of what I already own/want to read, posting non-book/entertainment things, and just broadening my horizons!
-Lauren
Honestly I don’t have high expectation for 2017 either, but I guess we’ll both see what happens. You did awesome on your 2016 goals though! And your 2017 goals sound great. I am also trying to find my future path and trying to figure out some way I can make money that involves books since that’s my passion, so I completely understand that goal! But it’s turning out to be very difficult. Maybe we’ll both have epiphanies and lots of luck with that this year 🙂
Shannon, you did so well on your resolutions for 2016! Very nice. By the way, I really hope you find ways to do whatever the heck you want. I like that resolution a lot. I am pretty interested in your experiences with publishers. I have never talked to any of them, and get anxious just thinking of writing an email to ask for ARCS. I know with the BEA thing, it is pretty sad that a lot of publishers don’t take bloggers seriously. It makes me upset just to think of book folk not supporting each other. We’re the nerds. We’re supposed to be nice.
I’ve been mulling over some sort of rotating theme for updates–like focus on the books I read one time, then focus on sharing great links and thoughts they’ve inspired another time, then focus on reflecting on my writing/blog life?
I LOVE Shattering Stigmas, and I’m so glad you’re keeping it going. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help out.
I really, really, really believe that the first goal of blogging should be to have fun, so I think everyone should take on or abandon whatever they choose. Guilt has no place here!
Happy 2017…we all can hope, right?
Wow, you totally aced at your new resolutions! It’s especially impressive because people usually make them and then completely forget about them quickly 😀 But you did it! And these new resolutions sound really good. I feel the sadness about book bloggers being under appreciated and kind of ignored of their worth >.> But oh well, we will find new ways!
Happy New Year! Hope you’ll have an amazing 2017! And wow, great job on those resolutions.
I think it’s definitely ok to cut back a bit on blogging and commenting. It should stay fun, right, and sleep and your own health are important too!
Oh, The 100 week, I’m already looking forward to that 🙂
Aww BEA tears! That’s why I was so happy that BEA was in Chicago. I just brought my carry-on to and from home each day. Twas glorious! I don’t plan on doing BEA either but am super stoked to learn more about this Blogger con!
Girl. You spend 4 hours on your monthly posts? You are a goddess. I personally like reading and writing monthly posts. I think you can probably shave some time off by only highlighting certain parts. Like I have a paragraph dedicated to my life, one paragraph dedicated to my blogging goals, and then the books I’ve read in that month. Maybe ask people what parts they like best?
YOU DID AMAZING IN 2016 GIRL!!! ♥
*sigh* I keep thinking, well at least 2016 is over and yet . . . things are scarier every day. At least we have books!! I completely agree with doing more things because they are fun! We need more joy, more fun!!
And yes, take time for you!! True story that the world will keep spinning even if can’t always post or comment or, heck, just because you don’t want to.
I don’t know what to hope for in 2017 but maybe just to survive and read a few good books
All my ♥
I’m so thankful that 2016 is over. Maybe I’m completely naive (yes, we all KNOW that I am, but let’s just pretend maybe I’m not for a minute or two…) but I just keep thinking that there’s no way 2017 can be AS bad as 2016. It has to be better. Right? RIGHT?!?!? Anyway, thanks for the laugh!! I think 8.5 out of 10 is pretty darn amazing!!! Great job, chicky! 🙂
Great goals for next year Shannon! Here’s to hoping you can tick them all off with great gusto! I’m sure you can. And I totally get you on the blogging front with commenting – I love reading other people’s stuff but after about half an hour of it I’m like, #dead. Well done for surviving 2016!
Way to go on your resolutions from last year! I don’t usually make them, but I may make a few for this year. I also love your Shattering Stigmas feature so I am so happy you are continuing with that. And I agree with you on the whole commenting thing. I still reply to comments, but lately it has been taken me longer to do it and I feel so guilty. I hate that. Guilt be gone!
Shannon I am feeling you so much with your resolutions and I wish you the best of luck! I reckon we tend to pressure ourselves into a corner sometimes and we’re stuck wondering why we’re even bothering with things that suck the fun out of blogging. The Indecision Games sounds like so much fun and yay for Shattering Stigmas! Commenting…hahaha I’ve dropped the ball on that one but you know, mental health and all.
Don’t stress about us. (I know, easier said than done, right?) I mean, of course people want you to reply and/or comment back, but it’s not like there’s anyone counting your responses to make sure you’re keeping up. If you completely ignored your readers they might (eventually) abandon you, but that’s obviously not the case, so cut yourself some slack!
2016 has felt a little unreal, particularly the last few months. But here’s to 2017 and (hopefully) less people being mowed down literally and physically. I envy everyone who does NaNo, I never manage to start so that’s definitely a goal this year! Trying not to take things personally is such a good goal. I spend hours obsessing over the tiniest things and it’s stopped me from doing a lot of things! Sounds like you’ve set yourself up for a great year!
Happy New Year Shannon! It’s fantastic that you were able to accomplish so many of your goals this past year! Hopefully you do just as well this year. 🙂 And OMG I absolutely adore your Indecision Games posts and your Shattering Stigmas feature so I am so glad they will be returning again this year. xD Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous post! <3
Happy new year Shannon! 2016 was such a shitty year but in terms of blogging, you were fabulous! If you’re Hunger Gaming it up this year too, I’ll throw my useless hat in the ring. My whole life now feels like a get off my lawn edition. I stopped doing recaps for the same reason though Shannon and typically ditched posts that were too time consuming. I was spending more time blogging that I was reading and just simplified everything. I’m a much happier blogger now, relaxed and carefree. Here’s to an awesome 2017 Shannon ❤️
Congrats on all the things you achieved last year! I like doing these year reviews. 😀 And I love your recap posts, but if they’re too much work, or you don’t always feel like doing them, maybe you could only make them semi-regularly, and just do them whenever you feel like it? That’s what I do at least, but then we all know how often I post generally haha. Ah, good luck in figuring out what to do professionally! You’re awesome, so I’m sure you’ll find something awesome! And YAY The 100, that sounds fun!
Happy new years to you & good luck with your resolutions this year – I love reading recap posts, they’re one of my favorite memes. You can try doing them every two weeks maybe? Great post!
I adore your resolutions. I mean, obviously??? Totally know what you mean. Totally know what you mean about taking things personal. I’m a prime-time overreacter. It’s such a serious shame about BEA tbh. Because it’s not like bloggers are important. anyway, I hope there’s going to be a separate future blogger event for us to all meet up, sometime. I need to figure out my shelf situation, too! Hee. It’s so Hoarders-esque in the best/worst way. AND you got me addicted to preordering. I literally have two coming (Starfall && Caraval). lolz.
I’m a horrible commenter, too. I’ve been so horribly busy with school && the Spring semester starts later this month, so it’s gonna snatch my time again. SIGH. Adore this post, of course! <3
I’d say you rocked your 2016 resolutions/goals! And all the YES’s to #2 and #5 for 2017! Do what you want, read what you want, skip what you don’t want… hells yeah. That’s pretty much my life mantra. LOL I mean, I don’t see anybody paying me to blog (maybe the check is in the mail?) so I do what I want. And if it’s not fun I’m doing it. Screw what everyone else is doing, what’s “expected”, or any kind of pressure at all. It’s books, it’s blogging… it is not life and death, it does not pay my bills, and I do it because I enjoy it. ‘Nuff said. 🙂