Favourite Format for reading?

All other things being equal, what is your favourite format for reading? Hardcover? Paperback? New book? Old book? Leather-bound first edition? E-book?

My most common formats are paperback and ereader. That’s because they are easy to carry in the travel gear (especially the handbag!), and the paperbacks are easier to share with other people.

I like the books to be readable, but have no objection to a book that’s been read before. (e.g. A Broken Spine). I dont like it when x number of pages have been ripped out – I mean what’s the point?

I do buy hardbacks but only in specific situations: I dont prepare to share with anyone else, I like the authour and want a memento. I generally dont carry hardbacks as they are both heavy and precious to me so I dont want them damaged.

I do like listening to Audiobooks, but most of those are played when I’m trying to sleep. Right now. I’m too cheap to pay for wireless headphones, and since I’ve moved to a late model ipad and iphone, it means I dont listen to audiobooks in public.

I’m so used to sharing books with other people, I can find it hard to say “no” to people who want a specific book. Therefore I can be overtly strict over some books (I have shelves for “share but I want back”, “never share” and “I am fine with never seeing again”). Therefore leather bound and/or first editions dont get put into any mix. I may like reading them, but I’ve been burned too many times by people who swear they will bring books back and then…..dont.

So: for sharing and/or travelling, it’s paperbacks. For sentimental reasons: hardback

What about you, constant reader?

2021 Blogger Resolutions- the results!

It’s now traditional for me to set goals at the beginning of the year, then reflect how I’ve done by the end. TL;DR, I’ve not met my goals – Again!  At the time of writing (1am 29th December), I’m considering not doing goals for 2022, and certainly not so aggressive if I do.

Patrick Tomasso via Upsplash

• Increase subscribers to this blog to 1000, excluding twitter followers.

Update: whilst I’ve increased by a few, I’m certainly not at 1000

• Increase annual page hits to this blog (to 7500)

Update: I dropped numbers to somewhere between 2017 and 2018 numbers. You may be able to spot why later!

• Increase twitter followers to @brumnordie (to 800)

Update: Oh so close at 797!

• Read and review 20 books. 50% to be paperbooks or audiobooks.

Update: I read and reviewed about 14 books, with not quite a 50% rate on the audiobooks, but it’s still a work in progress

• Get my Netgalley ratio into the 72% range (from 66%).

Update: I’ve read one or two Netgalley books this year, have not requested any new ones, but not managed to improve my ratio by much

• To aid in reading the books that I already have there will be a moratorium on requesting books from Netgalley or LibraryThing, and reviewing books I already have,

Update: I didn’t request any, but I did purchase some from the bookstore! Only one new audiobook has been listened to

• Make better use of twitter, including the analytics, scheduling content.

Update: one day I may allow someone else to look over my numbers. Maybe. My scheduling software has changed a number of times, so it can be a tad difficult to get things set up, but I’ve found some workarounds

• Take part in twitter chats such as #ContentHour, #BrumHour

Update: I’ve lost some followers by not engaging enough, but have picked up more, mainly by engaging more.  In the new year, I should be taking part in at least one reading challenge, and do it beyond December/January!

• Make use of scheduling and planning software

Update: I’ve changed my schedule software around a little in the effort to make some stuff more visible. There does seem to be a bug/”feature” in my scheduling software that makes auto scheduling books more difficult, but I may well have found a workaround for that

• Release more books via Bookcrossing, either in OBCZs or via RABCKs.

Update: with the travel restrictions being eased a little, I’ve been able to release more books at local OBCZs. It’s certainly helped in lightening the load a little!  For a second year running, the Country wide Bookcrossing event has had to be cancelled – boo! It does mean that not many books escaped, but it also means that not many books came into the house, neither!

As for my previous comment about blog view:

1. I’m simply not reading (and therefore reviewing) books at quite the same level as before. However, my twitter feed has still be reminding my followers of posts (especially the older ones!) and many are still getting views
2. Putting out my themed tweets, whilst having a targeted framework and timescale, also has made me realise that perhaps I need new content. (NO!).  Therefore I need to read and review some more stuff.
3. I’m aware that to ensure that people know the blog is not technically dead, I’ve tried to be creative in some non review related posts.  This is just one of them.
4. I’ve officially retired the ‘Blog prompt’ post that’s been lurking around for years. I may well have some of the prompts lying around….somewhere…..but if I’ve not written something for it yet, it wont be happening soon!

2021 Blogger Resolutions

It’s now traditional for me to set goals at the beginning of the year, then reflect how I’ve done by the end. Following my failure to achieve these the last few years, I’ve significantly dropped my numbers, in the chance of actually meeting a couple!

Patrick Tomasso via Upsplash

• Increase subscribers to this blog to 1000, excluding twitter followers
• Increase annual page hits to this blog (to 7500)
• Increase twitter followers to @brumnordie (to 800)
• Read and review 20 books. 50% to be paperbooks or audiobooks.
• Get my Netgalley ratio into the 72% range (from 66%).
• To aid in reading the books that I already have there will be a moratorium on requesting books from Netgalley or LibraryThing, and reviewing books I already have,
• Make better use of twitter, including the analytics, scheduling content.
• Take part in twitter chats such as #ContentHour, #BrumHour
• Make use of scheduling and planning software
• Release more books via Bookcrossing, either in OBCZs or via RABCKs.

2020 Blogger Resolutions – An End Of Year Update

It’s now traditional for me to set goals at the beginning of the year, then reflect how I’ve done by the end. Following my failure to achieve these the last few years, I’ve significantly dropped my numbers, in the chance of actually meeting a couple!  Here is how I performed against the 2020 resolutions

Patrick Tomasso via Upsplash

• • Increase subscribers to this blog to 1000, excluding twitter followers

running very hot at 950+

• • Increase annual page hits to this blog (to 7000)

Despite the lower number of posts, I’ve still managed to get more views this year than what I achieved over the last 5 years, with a reasonable 7217. I’m not entirely sure what I did right! WordPress have changed the way things are done, including the editor. I cant say that I’m impressed with it overall, but much of that could be down to not liking change.

• • Increase twitter followers to @brumnordie (to 950)

Still not there – still hovering around the 778 mark, give or take. A loss in functionality has meant that I dont know exactly who I have lost or gained, but it is usually smaller authors, who dont engage with me, then unfollow when I have failed to engage them at the level they hoped. Until recently I got Google Alerts in order to seek out what I hoped would provide me with some more content, but I found myself drowning in emails, and not getting any contentI found useful.

• • increase twitter followers to @bxbrum (to 280)

I’ve relinquished posting rights to BXBRUM, so have not been tracking numbers for much of 2020. Therefore this is redundant.

• • Read and review 50 books. 50% to be paperbooks or audiobooks.

50? Who said 50? Whatever the number, I’m not even close. I’ve not even hit 50% of the 20 books challenge I have on goodreads

• • Get my Netgalley ratio into the 72% range (from 66%).

I’ve tried to increase my ratio, but with the overall lack of reading, this is not as high as I’d hoped

• • To aid in reading the books that I already have there will be a moratorium on requesting books from Netgalley or LibraryThing, and reviewing books I already have

Done.

• • Make better use of twitter, including the analytics, scheduling content.

It’s been a mixed bag this year. Overall, i have interacted less on twitter, but the numbers on the blog make me wonder. I have tried more targeted tweets, so romance novels in Feb, Christmas in Nov/Dec. Something seems to be working.

• • Take part in twitter chats such as #ContentHour, #BrumHour

See above. To be honest, I’ve not been as active in chats as I should have been. The things I wanted to talk about simply weren’t happening

• • Make use of scheduling and planning software

See above

• • Release more books via Bookcrossing, either in OBCZs or via RABCKs.

LOL. Not happening. I’m using my apartment foyer as a pseudo-shelf, leaving the occasional set of books out. They *are* going, but I’m struggling to workout what people like (as opposed to “i’m bored, I’ll read anything” syndrome.) Odd choices e.g. Mort by Terry Pratchett has gone, Joan Collins went and came back, a Debbie MaComber Christmas Romance apparently never left!

2019 Blogger Resolutions – the results!

It’s now becoming traditional for me to set goals at the beginning of the year, then reflect how I’ve done by the end. Following my failure to achieve these the last few years, I’ve significantly dropped my numbers, in the chance of actually meeting a couple!

Patrick Tomasso via Upsplash

• • Increase subscribers to this blog to 980, excluding twitter followers

  I managed to get to 950, so am considering this a win!

  • Increase annual page hits to this blog (to 6500)

  Not quite there, though my numbers have increased on the last few years to over 6100 views.

  • Increase twitter followers to @brumnordie (to 950)

  Not there, hovering around the 760 mark

  • increase twitter followers to @bxbrum (to 250)

  Nearly there, hovering at the 230+ mark

  • Read and review 60 books. 50% to be paperbooks or audiobooks. I’m going to take part in 2 challenges this year, keeping m6 numbers low, but I see the two tying in together quite nicely.

  Not even close. LOL. See other posts

  • Get my Netgalley ratio into the 70% range (from 65%).

  Upped to 66%

  • To aid in reading the books that I already have there will be a moratorium on requesting books from Netgalley or LibraryThing, and reviewing books I already have

  I Haven’t requested stuff of netgalley or librarything for a while (except the stuff I’m auto approved for).

  • Make better use of twitter, including the analytics, scheduling content.

  Something I must do better at. I’ve been capturing analytics data for a year now, I just need to take time to digest what the numbers are telling me.

  • Take part in twitter chats such as #ContentHour, #BrumHour

  My participation dropped off in the second half of the year, but I feel I did get a level of support when i did take part

  • Ensure about and contact details are maintained and up to date

  The new Unconvention twitter feed is as up to date as I can make it. .I’m still not accepting submissions, so I’ve not reintroduced my email address on my blog

  • Make use of scheduling and planning software

  Because of taking part in the 2019 and 2020 Bookcrossing Uncon, I’ve paid to upgrade my scheduling software, and have been making use of the service more. I’ve also set up google alerts to help me find different content to share, which I hope people are finding interesting. I’ve also started to make more use of my Pinterest boards

  • Do more posts about sewing, my cross stitch and quilting in particular. I’m not putting numbers on this.

  I’ve done few personal posts about sewing, but I have tried to be a bit more vocal in sewing groups and sharing other people’s content.

  • Comment more on other people’s blogs – I’m not going to put a number on this as it’ll be a nightmare to track. Just “do more”.

  I’ve commented on a couple of posts, “Pinned” a few more, but that’s about it

  • Release more books via Bookcrossing, either in OBCZs or via RABCKs.

  Certainly doing this! My flat currently looks like a second hand book store with all the books that need to be taken to various shelves around the place.  Telford Train Station and Moor Street Station seem to be the most voracious.

   

 

 

 

 

 

2020 Blogger Resolutions

It’s now traditional for me to set goals at the beginning of the year, then reflect how I’ve done by the end. Following my failure to achieve these the last few years, I’ve significantly dropped my numbers, in the chance of actually meeting a couple!  The post for 2019 results will be out soon so here are the 2020 resolutions

Patrick Tomasso via Upsplash

• Increase subscribers to this blog to 1000, excluding twitter followers
• Increase annual page hits to this blog (to 7000)
• Increase twitter followers to @brumnordie (to 950)
• increase twitter followers to @bxbrum (to 280)
• Read and review 50 books. 50% to be paperbooks or audiobooks.
• Get my Netgalley ratio into the 72% range (from 66%).
• To aid in reading the books that I already have there will be a moratorium on requesting books from Netgalley or LibraryThing, and reviewing books I already have,
• Make better use of twitter, including the analytics, scheduling content.
• Take part in twitter chats such as #ContentHour, #BrumHour
• Make use of scheduling and planning software
• Release more books via Bookcrossing, either in OBCZs or via RABCKs.

 

 

Sometimes the simplest tools are the best

A variation of the below first appeared as a comment on the following blog post, Where Abby Glassenberg responds to a follower’s email.

 

Why I Run My Business on a Yellow Legal Pad

 

Work TO Do lists

Once in a while I go looking for electronic tools to help me out on things like “to do lists”. I have tried things like Evernote etc., but have never managed to settle on any one piece of software in particular.

I’ve got out of the habit for various reason, but one of the things I did (back before we used Portable Computers with wifi at work, haha), was have a notebook to take notes of meetings, and I would also have multiple post it notes somewhere….During meetings, generally when I was bored, or my mind was skittish with too much to do, I’d write my to-do list on the post-its. Easily movable, ditch-able, etc. Great for working!

At work I now use the “check flag” option on emails, which creates an annoying pop up, or create a specific task, again for the annoyance factor. Surprisingly effective, at least for me, in order to get work stuff done one way or another.

Personal To Do Lists

I have yet to find an equivalent for home, though I am currently looking at the hardback diary sitting on my table, barely used. My handbag is already heavy – for some unknown reason, and I don’t want to add more stuff in to make it even heavier.  My iPad already comes with me.

I use the “notes” app on my ipad to start writing anything up to a blog post.  I never get a full blog post on the notes app – there are things like spelling and formatting that get to be done on a computer with a writing app before the post ever gets published.

What do other people use to do things like to do lists? The thing that put me off with Evernote is that it seemed to need a permanent connection to the internet in order to work properly.  There didn’t seem to be a “off line” version, where you could store your info locally and have it sync the next time you were on the wifi.  Am I wrong in this?

Blog Posts and Media Content Packs

When I had more blog posts to schedule, I made use of an excel spreadsheet, with a sheet per month, and I added in posts (either complete or ideas).  It allowed me to get into some kind of predictability – a book review post on alternate days, a book related essay alternate Sundays, a craft related post alternate Fridays.  Having used up my stock of posts, I have no more post to schedule that far in advance. Posts now come out within a few days of me writing them.  There is currently no formal schedule (sorry).

However………I do have a version of a media content pack, to help me with content.   It provides me with several things:

• a list of post titles and links.
• Each post should be marked against at least one category. e.g. Romance. Historical. Textiles.  Therefore if I want to tweet about a specific subject (e.g. May holding Free Comic Book Day, so lets talk about comics), I can find my posts about Comics and focus on them……
• A sheet per month (similar to the above) which reminds me of anything specific, such as a specific day or month. e.g. June 2019 will be dedicated to a friend talking about Persephone Books; 13th May is Daphne Du Maurier’s birthday, so should I be reading or writing about her books during that week or month?; etc.

 

Bullet Journals

In looking for images for this post, I was reminded of one thing I’ve never really gotten into – Bullet Journals.  What do you know? Love em? Hate em? Cant do without?

So you, Constant Reader

What tools to YOU use to keep things on track?

 

Challenge 2019: working in my Twitter

Last year I changed the way I tweeted about stuff, including my own content. Despite reading only 30 something books, and therefore posting less review posts, I actually saw an increase in traffic to my blog.

A change in how how my twitter scheduling software handled future tweets also meant that i had to actually put more thought into what I tweeted.

I have also tried to create some kind of content calendar for 2019, that might go some way to helping.

So, my general themes for 2019 are as follows (this Will change!). This does not take into account any reading challenges, Readathons or general background chatter I pick up on.

Jan – #Blogging. Last year retrospective; this year predictions; 2019 plans;

Feb – #Romance (For Valentine’s day, right? #Romance);

March/April (#SpringReads); #Blogging

May – Comics and Graphic Novels (Free Comic Book Day is 1st Saturday in May, Star Wars Day is May 4th. #Comic #GraphicNovel) ;

June/July – Summer Reads (Cos it’s #Summer!); Italy; France

August – Quilting (The FestivalOfQuilts is held in Birmingham each August. #Quilt #Sewing); #Sewing; #Needlework;

September – Golden Age Crime (Not only Agatha Christie, but Ngaio Marsh, Tey, Wilkie Collins etc. #GoldenAge, then #Poirot #Marple, #Alleyn etc); Crime related articles

October – Spooky (in time for Halloween etc) #halloween #horror #Spooky;

November/December – Christmas themed stories and articles (You know why!) #Christmas; next year predictions; last year retrospectives; summarise reading challenges etc

Anyone else want to join me? Any suggestions for topics, especially around January?

Challenge: A Change in my Twitter

For the last few years I have been setting myself yearly challenges for my blog, which I nearly achieve, but not always. One big area I want to improve on is to increase my blog and Twitter followers, increased blog page views, and better use of scheduling, hashtags etc.

Over the Christmas period I decided to mainly tweet about my Christmas themed book reviews from the last few years. I’ve not been blogging much over the last few months, but the stats have been chugging along nicely..no zero view Days!

Anyway I sat down on a Thursday in early January to auto schedule the next batch of 30 tweets and….blanked. I had several pages of draft tweets to choose from, but really couldn’t decide what to choose. I’ve been tweeting my Christmas stuff for the last two months, it’s no longer Christmas, so what should I do?

I chose to schedule nothing that day, though technically my engagement numbers would drop. Thursday afternoon I started looking at my overall stats, especially the pages that had low numbers over the last year or so. I noticed there were some themes, some of which tie into themes in the wider world. Therefore I’ve decided that I’m going to breakdown the year, and tweet reviews that seem to tie in. It’s not going to be prescriptive or anything – if I read a romance novel in September I’m not going to wait to next Feb to review it for instance, but this will help me have a soft guide as to what I should be tweeting about. I’m still struggling for January though.

Jan ; #Blogging

Feb – Romance (For Valentine’s day, right? #Romance);

March/April (#SpringReads); #Blogging

May – Comics and Graphic Novels (Free Comic Book Day is 1st Saturday in May, Star Wars Day is May 4th. #Comic #GraphicNovel) ;

June/July – Summer Reads (Cos it’s #Summer!); #Historical

August – Quilting (The FestivalOfQuilts is held in Birmingham each August. #Quilt #Sewing); #Sewing; #Needlework;

September – Gold Age Crime (Not only Agatha Christie, but Ngaio Marsh, Birmingham Library etc. #GoldenAge, then #Poirot #Marple, #Alleyn etc); Crime related articles

October – Spooky (in time for Halloween etc #Spooky);

November/December – Christmas (You know why! #Christmas)

 

Anyone else want to join me? Any suggestions for topics, especially around January?

2019 Blogger Resolutions

It’s now becoming traditional for me to set goals at the beginning of the year, then reflect how I’ve done by the end. Following my failure to achieve these the last few years, I’ve significantly dropped my numbers, in the chance of actually meeting a couple!

Patrick Tomasso via Upsplash

• Increase subscribers to this blog to 980, excluding twitter followers
• Increase annual page hits to this blog (to 6500)
• Increase twitter followers to @brumnordie (to 950)
• increase twitter followers to @bxbrum (to 250)
• Read and review 60 books. 50% to be paperbooks or audiobooks. I’m going to take part in 2 challenges this year, keeping m6 numbers low, but I see the two tying in together quite nicely.
• Get my Netgalley ratio into the 70% range (from 65%).
• To aid in reading the books that I already have there will be a moratorium on requesting books from Netgalley or LibraryThing, and reviewing books I already have,
• Make better use of twitter, including the analytics, scheduling content.
• Take part in twitter chats such as #ContentHour, #BrumHour
• Ensure about and contact details are maintained and up to date.
• Make use of scheduling and planning software
• Do more posts about sewing, my cross stitch and quilting in particular. I’m not putting numbers on this.
• Comment more on other people’s blogs – I’m not going to put a number on this as it’ll be a nightmare to track. Just “do more”.
• Release more books via Bookcrossing, either in OBCZs or via RABCKs.