Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "goodreads"
The Field - From Word Doc to Paperback, Part Four
Yes, yes. I’ll admit it. The last post was pretty technical. Metadata. Pricing. Websites. While they aren’t exactly sexy topics, they are important parts of the self-publishing puzzle, which is why it’s a good idea to know about them. So, today, let’s talk about a few more exciting topics.So, you’ve submitted your manuscript, your cover, and input all the important info needed to launch your eBook on various sites. Well, while you’re toiling away at your website, a busy group of people in another part of the country are converting your Word doc or other files into a polished and professional-looking eBook.
The nice thing about Book Baby (and I’m sure other self-publishing sites do it, too) is that they constantly email you to let you know the progress of your book. You can also check the status of your project on their website as well. I was very excited to get the email announcing that my proofs were ready for me to view. I will confess that when I opened the file for the first time and started to go through the pages I jumped up and down (I really did this, I’m not lying). It was an exciting feeling to finally see what I had written converted into a format for others to read and enjoy on their tablets or phones.
That part done and approved, I had to wait for the book’s official release onto Amazon and other sites in order to move on to the next step: reviews.
Readers’ Favorite (https://readersfavorite.com) is a site that works with Book Baby and allows you to do a number of helpful things with your book. You can sign up for their Press Release program, you can participate in their Book Exchange Program, and you can have your book reviewed. Now, you have to pay for the reviews, but I found this was a helpful way to get new eyes on my book and to get some legitimate reviews to use on my Amazon page and website. I paid for three reviews, having no clue what I would get.
About a week later I got all three reviews back and they were all very positive, five-star reviews! But, me being a skeptic about things, I did do some digging to find other reviews written by these particular reviewers and they weren’t just handing out five-star reviews across the board. That added to the legitimacy of their reviews, which was a good thing!
I set up a profile on Readers’ Favorite, and then took the time to add myself to a few others as well. I worked on my Amazon Author’s Profile and my Goodreads Author Program Profile (https://www.goodreads.com/author/prog...) to get my name and book out there. The more ground you cover the better.
The Field by Ian Dawson was officially launched as an eBook on July 4, 2018, and I was pretty excited. But other than my family, friends, and co-workers, how could I get others to buy the book? In a word: Publicity. In more words, stop by for tomorrow’s post!
Reading Tip of the Week: Planning Ahead for 2023
January 1, 2023, is only a mere 108 days away, and it got me thinking about my reading goals for the coming year. Is it too early to create a reading plan? Perhaps. But, with my current reading goal of 25 books almost completed – I’m at 22 read so far – I was starting to figure out my reading goal for next year.
And, planning ahead of time helps distance it from the stigma of being a New Year’s resolution.
So, let’s talk about it!
Why Have a Plan?
I used to read whatever I wanted and as many or as few books as I felt like each year. But when I started setting a yearly reading goal, it turned reading into a goal-oriented activity. It was a great way to turn off the TV and open a book since I had a set number of books I wanted to read in a year.
A reading plan can also help you stay focused and create a basic schedule to help you reach your chosen reading goal.
How Many Books?
If you’ve never set a reading goal, start with 12 books for the year. That’s one a month, which should be fairly manageable. If you’re an avid reader like myself, you can double that.
I have seen several people posting their completed 2022 reading goals on social media. One woman has read 172 books and her goal was 80!
Start with a basic number, and if you find yourself burning through books faster than you anticipated, you can always change your goal. For example, I initially started 2022 wanting to read 20 books but realized I would hit that sooner than later, so I upped it to 25.
What Books?
Simple answer: read what you like.
More complex answer: Vary what you read, so you don’t get into a monotonous cycle that makes you dread picking up a book.
I like to alternate between fiction and non-fiction, and I also will pick a theme for my non-fiction and stick to it throughout the year. For example, in 2020, I read several non-fiction books about pandemics and plagues throughout history. In 2021, I read about world history. This year, I’ve been focused on biographies about actors and actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
And in between, I read fiction.
Now, you can spin the wheel and choose what books to read and in what order at random, or you can plan out what you’ll read and when you plan to read it.
What About Page Count?
After I read a 900-page biography, I’m not ready to dive into another entry in the Game of Thrones series. I’ll usually grab a shorter book from my shelf or on my Kindle and burn through that before I start another longer book.
Variety is a key factor in keeping the reading momentum going. If you read one of your kid’s books, count it. Reading is reading, and any book you read can count toward your goal total.
Where Can I Keep Track?
You can use several sites and apps to keep track and record your progress. I use Goodreads.com, but apps like StoryGraph or Bookly can work just as well.
Find a site or app that you like and stick with it. Then work toward your 2023 reading goal, knowing that you now have the power to track and complete your stated target.
Final Thoughts
I know it’s early for this post, but, like holiday shopping, sometimes it’s never too early to start thinking about what’s coming sooner than you think.
By setting a target reading goal and mapping out what you want to read, you can set yourself up for reading success in 2023 and be even more prepared for 2024!
Happy Planning and Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
And, planning ahead of time helps distance it from the stigma of being a New Year’s resolution.
So, let’s talk about it!
Why Have a Plan?
I used to read whatever I wanted and as many or as few books as I felt like each year. But when I started setting a yearly reading goal, it turned reading into a goal-oriented activity. It was a great way to turn off the TV and open a book since I had a set number of books I wanted to read in a year.
A reading plan can also help you stay focused and create a basic schedule to help you reach your chosen reading goal.
How Many Books?
If you’ve never set a reading goal, start with 12 books for the year. That’s one a month, which should be fairly manageable. If you’re an avid reader like myself, you can double that.
I have seen several people posting their completed 2022 reading goals on social media. One woman has read 172 books and her goal was 80!
Start with a basic number, and if you find yourself burning through books faster than you anticipated, you can always change your goal. For example, I initially started 2022 wanting to read 20 books but realized I would hit that sooner than later, so I upped it to 25.
What Books?
Simple answer: read what you like.
More complex answer: Vary what you read, so you don’t get into a monotonous cycle that makes you dread picking up a book.
I like to alternate between fiction and non-fiction, and I also will pick a theme for my non-fiction and stick to it throughout the year. For example, in 2020, I read several non-fiction books about pandemics and plagues throughout history. In 2021, I read about world history. This year, I’ve been focused on biographies about actors and actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
And in between, I read fiction.
Now, you can spin the wheel and choose what books to read and in what order at random, or you can plan out what you’ll read and when you plan to read it.
What About Page Count?
After I read a 900-page biography, I’m not ready to dive into another entry in the Game of Thrones series. I’ll usually grab a shorter book from my shelf or on my Kindle and burn through that before I start another longer book.
Variety is a key factor in keeping the reading momentum going. If you read one of your kid’s books, count it. Reading is reading, and any book you read can count toward your goal total.
Where Can I Keep Track?
You can use several sites and apps to keep track and record your progress. I use Goodreads.com, but apps like StoryGraph or Bookly can work just as well.
Find a site or app that you like and stick with it. Then work toward your 2023 reading goal, knowing that you now have the power to track and complete your stated target.
Final Thoughts
I know it’s early for this post, but, like holiday shopping, sometimes it’s never too early to start thinking about what’s coming sooner than you think.
By setting a target reading goal and mapping out what you want to read, you can set yourself up for reading success in 2023 and be even more prepared for 2024!
Happy Planning and Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Reading Tip of the Week: Planning Ahead for 2024
January 1, 2024, is only one month away, and it got me thinking about my reading goals for the coming year. Even if you are still working on your 2023 reading list, you can still look ahead and create a basic game plan about tackling next year’s reading goal.
Let’s talk about it!
Why Have a Plan?
I used to read whatever I wanted and as many or as few books as I felt like each year. But when I started setting a yearly reading goal, reading became a goal-oriented activity. It was a great way to turn off the TV and open a book since I had a set number of books I wanted to read in a year.
A reading plan can also help you stay focused and create a basic schedule to help you reach your chosen reading goal.
How Many Books?
If you’ve never set a reading goal, start with 12 books for the year. That’s one a month, which should be reasonably manageable. If you’re an avid reader like myself, you can double that.
I’ve seen people posting their completed 2023 reading goals on social media. One woman reached her annual reading of 100 books on November 3, and she's still going!
Start with a basic number, and if you find yourself burning through books faster than you anticipated, you can always change your goal.
In 2022, my goal was 25 books. In 2023, it’s 30. In 2024, I might bump it up to 35 or 40.
Pick an amount you feel comfortable with and know you can reach by the end of the year.
What Books?
Simple answer: Read what you like.
More complex answer: Vary what you read so you don’t get into a monotonous cycle that makes you dread picking up a book.
I like to alternate between fiction and non-fiction, and I also pick a theme for my non-fiction and stick to it throughout the year.
For example, in 2020, I read several non-fiction books about pandemics and plagues throughout history. In 2021, I read about world history. In 2022, I’ve been focused on biographies about actors and actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood. This year, there have been many motivational books about goal-setting and planning.
And in between, I read fiction.
Now, you can spin the wheel and choose what books to read and in what order at random, or you can plan out what you’ll read and when you plan to read it.
Another thing you can do is plan to read a book series. I read the five Game of Thrones books in 2022 and 2023, and I plan to read The Lord of the Rings trilogy again in 2024.
What About Page Count?
After I read a 900-page biography, I’m not ready to dive into another entry in the Game of Thrones series. I’ll usually grab a shorter book from my shelf or on my Kindle and burn through that before I start another long book.
Variety is a crucial factor in keeping your reading momentum going. If you read one of your kid’s books, count it. Reading is reading; any book you read can count toward your goal total. This includes reading plays, screenplays, comic books, and graphic novels.
Where Can I Keep Track?
You can use several sites and apps to track and record your progress. I use Goodreads.com, but apps like StoryGraph or Bookly also work.
Find a site or app that you like and stick with it. Then, work toward your 2024 reading goal, knowing that you now have the power to keep yourself accountable throughout the year.
Final Thoughts
It’s never too early to start thinking about your goals for 2024. By setting a target reading goal and mapping out what you want to read, you can set yourself up for reading success in 2024 and be even more prepared for 2025!
Happy Planning and Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Let’s talk about it!
Why Have a Plan?
I used to read whatever I wanted and as many or as few books as I felt like each year. But when I started setting a yearly reading goal, reading became a goal-oriented activity. It was a great way to turn off the TV and open a book since I had a set number of books I wanted to read in a year.
A reading plan can also help you stay focused and create a basic schedule to help you reach your chosen reading goal.
How Many Books?
If you’ve never set a reading goal, start with 12 books for the year. That’s one a month, which should be reasonably manageable. If you’re an avid reader like myself, you can double that.
I’ve seen people posting their completed 2023 reading goals on social media. One woman reached her annual reading of 100 books on November 3, and she's still going!
Start with a basic number, and if you find yourself burning through books faster than you anticipated, you can always change your goal.
In 2022, my goal was 25 books. In 2023, it’s 30. In 2024, I might bump it up to 35 or 40.
Pick an amount you feel comfortable with and know you can reach by the end of the year.
What Books?
Simple answer: Read what you like.
More complex answer: Vary what you read so you don’t get into a monotonous cycle that makes you dread picking up a book.
I like to alternate between fiction and non-fiction, and I also pick a theme for my non-fiction and stick to it throughout the year.
For example, in 2020, I read several non-fiction books about pandemics and plagues throughout history. In 2021, I read about world history. In 2022, I’ve been focused on biographies about actors and actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood. This year, there have been many motivational books about goal-setting and planning.
And in between, I read fiction.
Now, you can spin the wheel and choose what books to read and in what order at random, or you can plan out what you’ll read and when you plan to read it.
Another thing you can do is plan to read a book series. I read the five Game of Thrones books in 2022 and 2023, and I plan to read The Lord of the Rings trilogy again in 2024.
What About Page Count?
After I read a 900-page biography, I’m not ready to dive into another entry in the Game of Thrones series. I’ll usually grab a shorter book from my shelf or on my Kindle and burn through that before I start another long book.
Variety is a crucial factor in keeping your reading momentum going. If you read one of your kid’s books, count it. Reading is reading; any book you read can count toward your goal total. This includes reading plays, screenplays, comic books, and graphic novels.
Where Can I Keep Track?
You can use several sites and apps to track and record your progress. I use Goodreads.com, but apps like StoryGraph or Bookly also work.
Find a site or app that you like and stick with it. Then, work toward your 2024 reading goal, knowing that you now have the power to keep yourself accountable throughout the year.
Final Thoughts
It’s never too early to start thinking about your goals for 2024. By setting a target reading goal and mapping out what you want to read, you can set yourself up for reading success in 2024 and be even more prepared for 2025!
Happy Planning and Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Five Ways to Plan Your 2025 Reading Challenge
It’s hard to believe, but 2024 is winding down, and 2025 is quickly approaching. With all the other end-of-year/start-of-year events, I thought now would be a good time to discuss ways to plan a reading challenge for yourself in 2025.
Over the last two weeks, I’ve talked about why it’s important to read books, and challenging yourself to read a certain number of books over the course of a year is a great way to stay motivated and keep reading. Let’s talk about five ways to plan your reading schedule for 2025 and ensure you meet your goal before 2026!
#1 - How Much Time Do You Have?
If you have a busy schedule and your free time is filled with errands and other activities, keep your reading goal small. I recommend planning to read six to eight books over the year, seeing how that goes, and then extending the amount moving forward.
If you have time to binge-watch seasons of TV in one weekend, you have time to read more. I suggest attempting to read 12 or more books during 2025. One book a month may sound daunting, but you'll quickly reach your goal once you get into the reading rhythm.
#2 - What Counts as a Book?
Reading a book to your kids? That counts. Like comic books? Those count. Reading for class? Yep, textbooks or other assigned readings count. If you prefer digital to paper, eBooks count as well.
Don’t be afraid to include all types of books and reading material in your reading challenge. You’ll find that you’ll read much more during the year than you initially thought.
#3 - Is Listening to Books Okay?
Around this time each year, I see people on social media announce they have read 300+ books, and I often wonder how that’s possible. Then it dawned on me: audiobooks! Yes, these 100% count as books read over the year, and if you can listen to them on your commute, at work, at home, or anywhere else, you can knock out a lot of books in 365 days.
If this is a more viable option for you and fits your lifestyle, go for it!
#4 – Make a Game Plan
Once you decide how many books you’d like to tackle in 2025, determine what you plan to read. Things can change over the year, but having a list of books you want to work through beforehand will set you up for success.
Maybe there’s an author you enjoy that you’d like to read more from. Or maybe it’s a genre you’re curious about. Perhaps a non-fiction topic piques your interest or a historical period.
Alternate between physical books, eBooks, and audiobooks, or stick to one medium for the whole year.
Or, maybe you’re like me, with more books than space, and you need to read through what you have!
Whatever you decide, it’s always good to have a basic idea of what you want to read over the next year so you don’t have to guess what’s next. It’s okay to change things if another book interests you, but having other books ready to read is helpful.
#5 – Track It
You can do it on your own with a list on your computer or paper, or you can use one of many reading tracking apps or sites like www.goodreads.com, where you can join their annual reading challenge and write and post reviews of the books you read throughout the year.
These reading challenge trackers also tell you how many books you have left to go and how many books you are ahead or behind in your stated challenge.
Other apps include Bookly, Bookmory, StoryGraph, TBR, and many others you can check out on your phone’s app store.
Final Thoughts
I’m a huge fan of reading, and I want as many people worldwide to read and enjoy books as much as I do. Challenge yourself to read as many books as you’d like throughout 2025 and be amazed by how much you read and learn from January 1 to December 31!
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Over the last two weeks, I’ve talked about why it’s important to read books, and challenging yourself to read a certain number of books over the course of a year is a great way to stay motivated and keep reading. Let’s talk about five ways to plan your reading schedule for 2025 and ensure you meet your goal before 2026!
#1 - How Much Time Do You Have?
If you have a busy schedule and your free time is filled with errands and other activities, keep your reading goal small. I recommend planning to read six to eight books over the year, seeing how that goes, and then extending the amount moving forward.
If you have time to binge-watch seasons of TV in one weekend, you have time to read more. I suggest attempting to read 12 or more books during 2025. One book a month may sound daunting, but you'll quickly reach your goal once you get into the reading rhythm.
#2 - What Counts as a Book?
Reading a book to your kids? That counts. Like comic books? Those count. Reading for class? Yep, textbooks or other assigned readings count. If you prefer digital to paper, eBooks count as well.
Don’t be afraid to include all types of books and reading material in your reading challenge. You’ll find that you’ll read much more during the year than you initially thought.
#3 - Is Listening to Books Okay?
Around this time each year, I see people on social media announce they have read 300+ books, and I often wonder how that’s possible. Then it dawned on me: audiobooks! Yes, these 100% count as books read over the year, and if you can listen to them on your commute, at work, at home, or anywhere else, you can knock out a lot of books in 365 days.
If this is a more viable option for you and fits your lifestyle, go for it!
#4 – Make a Game Plan
Once you decide how many books you’d like to tackle in 2025, determine what you plan to read. Things can change over the year, but having a list of books you want to work through beforehand will set you up for success.
Maybe there’s an author you enjoy that you’d like to read more from. Or maybe it’s a genre you’re curious about. Perhaps a non-fiction topic piques your interest or a historical period.
Alternate between physical books, eBooks, and audiobooks, or stick to one medium for the whole year.
Or, maybe you’re like me, with more books than space, and you need to read through what you have!
Whatever you decide, it’s always good to have a basic idea of what you want to read over the next year so you don’t have to guess what’s next. It’s okay to change things if another book interests you, but having other books ready to read is helpful.
#5 – Track It
You can do it on your own with a list on your computer or paper, or you can use one of many reading tracking apps or sites like www.goodreads.com, where you can join their annual reading challenge and write and post reviews of the books you read throughout the year.
These reading challenge trackers also tell you how many books you have left to go and how many books you are ahead or behind in your stated challenge.
Other apps include Bookly, Bookmory, StoryGraph, TBR, and many others you can check out on your phone’s app store.
Final Thoughts
I’m a huge fan of reading, and I want as many people worldwide to read and enjoy books as much as I do. Challenge yourself to read as many books as you’d like throughout 2025 and be amazed by how much you read and learn from January 1 to December 31!
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
