One Small Step, One Big Challenge
I finally took the plunge and set up my own blog. I’ve decided to challenge myself to read 100 MG and YA books in 2010, and a blog seemed like a good place to record and make me accountable for reaching my goal. Even though I don’t intend to write book reviews, I do plan to keep a list and note some of my thoughts, especially ones that provide insights into my writing.
This project seems daunting – it works out to 8 and 1/3 books a month – but I probably read close to that anyway. My 10-year-old daughter thought the challenge sounded easy, until I pointed out that I was planning to read books I had never read before. [She reads Harry Potter or another of her favourites at least twenty times a year.]
The idea came to me when I realized that the characters in my latest work-in-progess, a MG grade novel, were starting to take on a YA quality. It dawned on me that I’d been reading a lot of YA books, and they were inadvertently shaping the tone of my writing. Has that ever happened to you?
P.S. Before anyone mentions it, I have checked out Goodreads, but at this point, the blog is the step that is right for me.
– Andrea
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m so impressed! My poor little bookmark hasn’t moved off the page I parked it on for nearly a week. I’ll check out your blog. Good for you.
I checked out your blog. Wow! This is exciting. I love your challenge and I can’t wait to get the scoop on what you’re reading and what is good. I read a lot last year- nearly all YA. I keep telling myself to count how many books I read, but I don’t see to have time to count. Ha!
Andrea, I see something similar happening to me. I read more YA than MG and now I’m writing something more YA. And I’m extremely happy with the experience. (Plus I’ll have you guys to point out where my character sounds too young.)
I’m looking forward to reading your blog and chatting books with you!
Wow, what a great way to make yourself accountable. I love it! I can see that you are off and running and have complete faith that you’ll make your target. My hat is off to you!
The blog looks great, Andrea!
Thanks, everyone! I was surprised at how easy it was to set up the blog – but then of course you spend lots of time tweaking it.
Kudos to you for bold goals. I wish you all the best in this! I’ve bookmarked your blog so I can check in to see how it’s going.