Chrys Fey's Blog, page 17
January 10, 2022
A Look Back At My 2021 Reading Challenges
Please Note: This post is pre-scheduled. I’m caring for a loved one receiving treatments, so my replies to comments and return visits to bloggers will be delayed. I will get to it eventually, though. Promise. Thanks for your understanding! And prayers and healing vibes for positive results to the treatments would be much appreciated. ❤️
I love reading challenges!
Last year (2021), I participated in FOUR different reading challenges. The most I've ever decided to participate in, and I joined them at all different times throughout the year. Because I participated in so many, I wanted to highlight them and the books I read in a post. I'll share them here in the order of when I joined them.
I hope you enjoy viewing my 2021 reads/challenges.
GOODREADS CHALLENGE:
I set a Goodreads goal to read 30 books. Thanks to graphic novels, short books (middle grade and YA), and picture books, I exceeded this goal. I read 95 books.
REMINDER: All reading counts as reading. Graphic novels are real books. Picture books are real books. Reading graphic novels, short reads, and picture books certainly do count toward reading challenges. Don't let anyone tell you that only novels of 300+ pages count. All reading is valid.
You can view my Goodreads challenge here.
***
ALPHABET BOOK CHALLENGE:
HOSTED BY @FABLESANDWREN AND
@STARLIGHTBOOKTALES ON INSTAGRAM
THE GOAL: Read a book that starts with each letter of the alphabet (J, V, X, Z had to be somewhere in the title to count). There were also a few extra challenges like: a color in the title, one-word title, starts with the same letter of your first name, and #, which I took to mean a number in the title/subtitle.
Here’s my completed graphic we were given to use to share our progress to our Instagram stories:
THE BOOKS I READ:Read more »
January 3, 2022
Read With Fey: Challenge For Writers + 10 Years Blogging!!!
Please Note: This post is pre-scheduled. For the next couple of months, I’ll be caring for a loved one receiving treatments, so my replies to comments and return visits to bloggers will be delayed. I'm even behind on December's and November's comments. So sorry! I will work on those today and ones that come in for this post when I'm able. Thanks for your understanding! And prayers and healing vibes for positive results to the treatments would be much appreciated. ❤️
READ WITH FEY: CHALLENGE FOR WRITERS
Created by me (Chrys Fey), the Read With Fey challenge is for writers at all levels. The goal is to read *10 non-fiction books for writers during 2022.
Challenge Starts: January 1, 2022
Challenge Ends: December 31, 2022
Goal: Read *10 books for writers by the end of the year.
*Are 10 books too many? Set your own goal!
Just because I’ll be aiming to read 10 books doesn’t mean you have to!
However many books you read is an accomplishment.
Why Should You Join?
Every book you read could inspire you, educate you, and give you SPARKS. And you can read at your own pace.
Why Else Should You Join?
Every book you read for the Read With Fey challenge can count toward your personal reading goals.
Which Books?
Any books for writers! The books can be about marketing, publishing, the craft of writing, basically any non-fiction book that’d be useful to you as a writer. All formats (eBook, print, audio), re-reads, library borrows. It all counts!
For ideas on what to read, check out my Books for Writers list on Bookshop.org by clicking here.
How To Join:
There is no formal sign-up form, so ANYONE, ANYWHERE, and at ANYTIME can join in WHATEVER way they choose.
You can, however, join the Read With Fey challenge on The StoryGraph here to track your progress.
Or you can make a Goodreads shelf for the challenge, a spreadsheet on your computer, a checklist in your journal, a blog post(s), or whatever you want to do. This challenge is flexible for YOU.
However you decide to do this challenge, please consider announcing your participation on social media as a post or story, tweet, blog post, YouTube video, etc. If you do, a link back to this post would be much appreciated.
Hashtags for social media: #ReadWithFey #ReadWithFey2022
The StoryGraph: Because reading challenges on The StoryGraph only work right now with prompts and not a set number, I created three optional bonus challenge prompts. These bonus prompts DO NOT have to be completed, but to help you add any and all books you read to the challenge on The StoryGraph, I made a bonus prompt called “Use This Bonus Prompt For ANY Book For Writers.” You can use it multiple times, even to add all of your reads if you have to. By reading one book per bonus prompt (three books total), you will technically have the challenge on The StoryGraph completed. lol
To add a book to your challenge, first mark the book as read with a date for 2022. Then on the book’s page on The StoryGraph, scroll down until you see “Add to Reading Challenges” on the left sidebar. If you joined Read With Fey, you’ll see it listed there. Click on it and then select the bonus prompt that qualifies. Only select one.
I’ve never hosted a reading challenge on The StoryGraph before. There was a bit of a learning curve, and I hope they’ll make a set number goal as an option in the future, so I’ll see how I like it. 🙂
Click here to join the Read With Fey challenge on The StoryGraph.
Click here to check out my Books For Writers list on BookShop.org.
Read more »December 13, 2021
Best of Write with Fey 2021 (& 2020)
BEST OF WRITE WITH FEY 2021:
For Writers:
10 Things All Authors Should Know
Writing About Minor Characters Who Are People of Color / Vlog
Traditional Publishing - Pros and Cons / Vlog
A Better Alternative to Goodreads - The StoryGraph
Don't Shame Readers for What They Read (or Writers for What They Write)
Interviews:
Ad Astra Interview / Olivia and Fiona Discuss Banned Books and Intersectional Feminism
Interview with Esme Brett, Creator of #RomancestagramBall on Instagram
Marketing/Promo:
What Happened When I Had a Free (Companion) eBook During My Blog Tour?
New Release Marketing Conclusions
Book Recommendations:
Diverse Children's Books and Adult Books on Anti-Racism
Graphic Novels, Picture Books, MG & YA Books, Adult Romance
Book Chat Fun - The Perks of Being a Wallflower
History:
Indigenous History Month / Florida & Seminole History
Windover, A 7,000-Year-Old Pond Cemetery / Research
Causes to Support:
How to Respect and Support Indigenous Peoples
Causes and Donations - Books, Animals, and People / PART 1
Good Causes to Support / PART 2
Other:
Why did I write a story for Thorn in the Disaster Crimes series?
Dear IWSGers - An Announcement
I realized I never did a "Best of" post for 2020, so here it is!
2020:
For Writers:
Every Author's Path Is Their Own
Don't Make Light of Another Writer's Plight
Writers. Should. NOT. Tell. Other. Writers. What. Tense. Or. POV. To. Use. It's. NOT. Your. Choice.
Dear “I’m Still a Nobody” Author
What Should You Know About the Writing Life? / Vlog
Marketing/Promo:
Depression/Burnout:
Write a Letter to Your Fear / Except from Keep Writing with Fey
How Tarot Cards Helped with my Depression
Other:
NOT INADEQUATE / A Post about Self-Defense and Abuse
Real-Life Memories in Flaming Crimes / Vlog
Writing About Pregnancy and Intimacy in FROZEN CRIMES
Whom Would You Want To Be Stuck with During a Blizzard?
Why Did I Write a Prequel to 30 Seconds? / Vlog
5 Secrets about 30 Seconds / Vlog
December 5, 2021
5 Tropes about Mental Illness You Need to Stop Writing / Guest Post By Natalie Dale, MD / A Writer's Guide to Medicine
5 Tropes about Mental Illness You Need to Stop Writing
By Natalie Dale, MD
Tropes exist for a reason. They are familiar, comfortable, and can provide a shared vocabulary with readers. In a skilled writers’ hands, tropes can be deployed or subverted in unique and original ways. But when it comes to mental illness, there are a few tropes that, even in skilled hands, have the potential to be quite damaging. This list is by no means exhaustive–I didn’t even begin to touch on tropes regarding specific conditions, such as ADHD, Autism, OCD, Schizophrenia, and Tourette’s–but it contains some of the most damaging and prevalent tropes regarding mental illness. In this post, we’ll discuss five prevalent tropes regarding mental illness and how to avoid them in your writing.
5) Evil ECT
“Just lie here, bite down on this strap while I stick these electrodes to your head.”
“But I don’t want–”
“I promise it won’t hurt a bit.”
*Flips switch* *muffled screams*
In this trope, a character is strapped onto a table, electrodes placed on their head. Without warning or consent, electricity floods through them. Their limbs jerk and they grimace or cry out in pain. It’s horrifying to watch or read about. And it’s not how ECT works, at least not anymore.
Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, is a procedure that uses electricity to treat serious mental illnesses, ranging from treatment-resistant depression to catatonia. It is an incredibly effective treatment that can alleviate symptoms in as little as six sessions, or about three weeks. By comparison, most medications for depression take at least six weeks to take effect.
The stigma surrounding ECT comes from the early days of the procedure, when higher doses of electricity were used, and without anesthesia. Back then, side effects could include everything from permanent memory loss to fractured bones due to the incredible strength of the convulsions caused by the high voltage. Invented in the 1930s, the procedure as it was performed back then was barbaric at best. Then again, during that same time, doctors were touting cigarettes as a “healthy choice.” Medicine has come a long way since then.
Nowadays, people receiving ECT do so under general anesthesia, as they would for a surgical procedure. They’ll be given a muscle relaxant to minimize convulsions, a mouth guard to prevent them from biting their tongue, and supplemental oxygen through a face mask. Throughout the procedure, their blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen levels are closely monitored. The electrical activity of the brain is also measured using an electroencephalogram, or EEG.
Read more »November 29, 2021
Book Chat Fun - The Perks of Being a Wallflower
NOTE: I am going through something right now, so I won’t be replying to comments or returning visits so quickly. Thanks for your understanding!
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
“We accept the love we think we deserve.”
― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
I first read The Perks of Being a Wallflower in 2013 after the film adaption came out (September 2012).
The Perks is a great example of voice. While reading, Charlie's voice (which is the alias of the narrator in the novel who gives all the other characters aliases, too) comes across as young, innocent, and a quite naive. He doesn't understand a lot, but he understands certain things in his own way. The voice is written simply, which is perfect for his character and his age (he's a freshman in high school). He's a character who is deeply shy and full of guilt and suffers from depression and PTSD. He's also very caring and thoughtful, which leads him to do things to make others happy even if it's reckless for himself. You get all of this while reading.
The book is composed as letters to an anonymous person he only refers to as "Dear Friend," so it also is a great example of structure.
I loved all the books and songs that were mentioned throughout the story.
Read more »November 14, 2021
One Woman’s Road to Independence / Guest Post by C. Lee McKenzie / SHATTERED Release + Giveaway
C. Lee McKenzie has a new release out called SHATTERED, and she's sharing an inspiring story with us.
Welcome, C. Lee!
One Woman’s Road to Independence:
A Brief Account of a Paraplegic who Returned to an Active Life in Sports
by C. Lee McKenzie
In her daily exercise program, she included pull-ups, push-ups, catching and throwing a ball, bicep curls, extended arm raises with weights, shoulder shrugging. All of these contributed to keeping her body healthy and in shape, but her legs still couldn't bear her weight, even if she used a standing frame. However, standing on her feet was one of her goals, and she never lost sight of it.
She learned to crawl face-first into her chair, and to recover if she slipped and fell. In her biography, she expressed gratitude for all those upper arm exercises that gave her the quadricep strength she needed.
Swimming was very important, both physically and emotionally. In the water, she had buoyancy and a sense of freedom of movement.
She progressed from not being able to stand, to using the standing frame, to doing squats, to kicking up from a prone position. But there were setbacks and while she'd removed the leg braces, her leg strength wasn't improving, so she had to return to exercising with the braces again.
She found that she could maintain the strength she'd developed by working out three times a week, but if she upped it to four, she started to see improvement.
Pain management was always part of her daily life. She took nerve pain blockers three times a day and quickly learned that it took at least half an hour to get on top of that pain.
Today Karen Trolan is a successful business person and still an active sportswoman. Her struggle to regain independence after her accident was an inspiration, and I think deserves to be shared. After reading her story, I certainly can't consider quitting when my goals seem unattainable, and I appreciated her book. It gave me excellent first-hand details that I used to write Shattered.
Amazon . B&N . Kobo . SmashwordsNineteen-year-old Libby Brown is on her way to the winter Olympics for her shot at the Gold. But on a last practice run, an out-of-bounds snowboarder collides with her, and she wakes up in a hospital unable to move her legs. Terrible accident they say, but was it? Or did someone want her off the U.S. slalom team? Libby must find the truth or remain shattered forever.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
More About the Author and Her Books
Website . Goodreads . BookBub . Instagram . Twitter . Facebook . LinkedIn
I'm a native Californian who grew up in a lot of different places; then landed in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I write most of the time, hike and practice yoga a lot, and then travel whenever I can.
In my young adult books, I take on modern issues that today's teens face in their daily lives. My Evernight Teen Publication, Double Negative was voted as one of the best top ten Young Adult books, 2019. My other books, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Sliding on the Edge, Sudden Secrets and Not Guilty are out to four and five-star reviews.
If you visit my website and sign up for my Email Connect (emails two times a month)there's a free short story for you! Please stop by.
Thank you for sharing Karen's story with us, C. Lee!
Please leave a comment for C. Lee!
November 1, 2021
How to Respect and Support Indigenous Peoples / National Native American Heritage Month
For a good half of this year I committed myself to learning about the history of Indigenous peoples native to North America (like the Seminole nation that is native to the Floridian land where I now live), as well as Native American wisdom and their way of life. They were here before us and have learned (through force) European ways, but settlers then and Americans now know little about them and their ways. It’s time that changed.
In this post I am sharing resources I've found that can help you begin your journey of honoring and respecting Indigenous peoples.
First, it has to be said...
EDUCATE YOURSELF:
Nowadays, in the Age of Information, there's really no excuse for ignorance when there's so many resources out there and with how Google is accessible through the help of libraries and schools and Wi-Fi hotspots. Not to mention that libraries are there for this exact purpose. Only through educating ourselves will we ever be able to grow. Only through educating the next generation will anything change for the better. This doesn't just go for teachers, who should be allowed to teach our children about the true, full history of America (the things that have been erased or covered up or ignored), but this also applies to parents, guardians, and grandparents, even aunts and uncles. In other words, everyone.
Resources:
- Indigenous Resistance Homework - This is a PDF with questions that can help you to begin your Indigenous education journey.
- How to Talk About Native Nations: A Guide from Native Governance Center
- A Self-Assessment from Native Governance Center
READ:
You can participate in the #NativeLiteratureChallenge2021 hosted by @NativeGirlsReading on Instagram. It may be November, but you still have time to read a book or two. With this challenge, you don't have to complete every prompt. You can check out suggest for each theme on The StoryGraph here.
Also check out these book recommendations:
40 Best Native American Authors to Read in 2021 (article)
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Why Indigenous Literatures Matter
Bad Indians: A Tribal Memoir
The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Traditions
Sister Nations: Native American Women Writers on Community
Firekeeper’s Daughter (fiction)
FOR TWILIGHT FANS:
Are you a Twilight fan (or do you detest Twilight)? Donate to the Quileute Nation, either way. Why? Stephenie Meyer appropriated from the Quileute Nation who live in Forks (the setting of Twilight) in her series, and she never gave them any compensation for it.
Move to Higher Ground is a project to help the Quileute Nation relocate their tribal school out of “a tsunami zone at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.”
Read about the cultural appropriation in Twilight: https://filmdaze.net/twilight-sagas-issue-with-indigenous-culture/
Learn more about the Quileute Nation: https://quileutenation.org/
Donate To:
Move to Higher Ground: https://mthg.org/
FOR TEACHERS:
Check out these articles:
10 Tips to Decolonize Your Classroom
Lessons Learned in Teaching Native American History
"In many schools, students are learning that Native American tribes no longer exist, or they gain the impression that Native Americans continue to live in teepees—misconceptions and biases that are damaging to modern Native communities." [1]
Read more »
October 24, 2021
ATTN ROMANCE BOOK LOVERS: Interview with Esme Brett, Romance Author & Creator of #RomancestagramBall
I am really excited to present this interview to you featuring Esme Brett. I discovered her Instagram account (@Feminist_Romance) last year. Right away I was entertained by her IG stories and enjoyed her book recommendation posts. I dare say she's the Queen of Romance Book Recs, which you get a taste of in this post with several book recs by Esme. As a fellow romance reader and author, I also appreciate her thoughts on intimacy in romance books.
I wanted to host Esme on my blog so she could tell you about ALL that and a fun event that brings romance readers from all backgrounds and from all over the world together.
What event?
#RomancestagramBall!
1. Hi, Esme! I am really excited that you’re here today to talk about #RomancestagramBall and romance books. First, can you tell us about your journey as a bookstagrammer?
Kia ora! Hello! Thanks for wanting to talk to me, I’m honoured.
I’ve been plugging away on my bookstagram account for a few years now. I started it because I was listening to Smart Bitches podcast and wanted someone to discuss the show with, but no one in my real life knew where to start. Through Bookstagram I’ve found people who know their Rakes from their Cinnamon Rolls, and their Kleypas from their Cole. It’s heaven.
My page has changed a lot. I used to be review based, but now I just recommend books I love and talk about romance in general. I’m a passionate defender of thoughtful critical reviews (and doing so is hard work! Reviewers are a valuable part of the romance ecosystem!) but when I started writing myself, I needed to swap hats.
2. What types of books do you read/review?
I read mostly historical and contemporary. Less fantasty, but I’m dipping my toes into the Immortals After Dark series right now. In terms of my faves, I like books that take a trope and distil it down to its most gorgeous form, and then squeeze my head with it. Scarlett Peckham, Sierra Simone, Kennedy Ryan, and Talia Hibbert excel at this.
For tropes my favourite will always be grumpy and sunshine, especially when it’s a grumpy female protagonist, like The Rakess, and Take a Hint Dani Brown.
3. I loved Take a Hint Dani Brown! You created #RomancestagramBall, a virtual ball on Instagram for romance book lovers. How’d you come up with this event?
WELL. It’s a big story! Buckle in.
TW: size, weight
I’m a size 18, so most clothing stores don’t carry my size. After the first lockdown in Aotearoa New Zealander last year, international shipping stopped and I couldn’t buy clothes online like usual. I had some in-person work things I had to do and no clothes fit.
I was sobbing in a changing room of a department store trying to squish my curvy self into things that were just not made for me and getting increasingly upset about it. I love fashion and I love colour, but I wasn’t even being picky in this store. I was trying to squish myself into hideous polyester business pants and navy tunics.
I should point out — I know as a size 18 I have a lot of privilege still. I’m what some refer to as a “small fat”. But that is still size-not-sold-in-stores fat, and get-stared-at-for-eating-in-public fat.
Anyway, after that unsuccessful shopping trip I was miserable. I got home and ransacked my closet, but all I had that fit me were fancy dresses, which were pointless for work, but great for feeling fab.
So I put on a ballgown for no reason other than wanting to feel beautiful, even just for five minutes alone in my bedroom.
I was trying to hit the back button on all the bad vibes that shopping trip had left me with.
Then I did my hair and my makeup, and I took photos with cute books.
It worked, I felt better.
I realised that there were so many beautiful things languishing in closets because we always think we ‘need a reason’ or an occasion to wear them. When really, there’s no better reason than just feeling (to use a very Kiwi parlance) “flash”.
I knew l so many of my friends had been inside for a long time because of the Panorama, and would probably be onboard with making a “flash” occasion of our own.
So the romance ball was born.
Read more »October 10, 2021
The Role of Food and Beverages in Fiction, Part 1 by Tyrean Martinson / Guest Post / NEXUS
It has truly been an honor and a blast working on The Rayatana Series (Liftoff and Nexus) by Tyrean Martinson. I love watching these characters grow and the stories take shape. There's action and adventure, mystery, budding romance, and nailing-biting moments. Oh, and let's not forget space, distant planets, and aliens (Tuigseach). Really, what's not to love? Amaya is a strong, young, Black woman caught up in a great adventure. I definitely have favorite characters, like Tanwen and Bay; two more tough women. I am looking forward to the next!
But first...check out Book 2: Nexus!
The Role of Food and Beverages in Fiction, Part 1
A Guest Post by Tyrean Martinson
Food and beverage are both necessary for life. We need them to live. In fictional worlds, food and beverage show us our characters are normal people who have needs like we do. However, food and beverage can fill many different roles in fiction, in any genre.
Food and beverage offer familiar comfort for the readers and for the characters. If a character has a favorite comfort food or beverage, readers might relate more strongly with the character. This comfort food or beverage could be anything: coffee, tea, vodka, milk, cookies, popcorn, chocolate, pizza, Romulan Ale, or awak. The type of comfort food is going to share some insight into your character’s life and deepen a reader’s understanding of who they are.
The character might “always” indulge in special foods or beverages at certain times of the day which can signal to the reader when the character is in a certain mood, or when certain things might take place. The comfort food ritual might even be interrupted by the antagonist or by circumstances outside of the character’s control, and this might add to the character’s dilemma in the novel.
Food can also be a shaping influence on a character. Certain smells may remind him/her of childhood or certain memories. Imagine: cotton candy, popcorn, apple pie, or cornbread. Do you have memories associated with those? Characters might, too, and this deepens the characterization or helps readers understand the background of your characters.
In The Rayatana Series, Amaya is thrown into a war between alien races. Awak is a hot beverage that seems like a blend of coffee and tea, with similar stimulating properties. At first, she’s worried about drinking and eating alien substances, but that dilemma is solved by the end of the first novel and awak is a comfort beverage in the second.
This post is one of three about The Role of Food and Beverages in Fiction!
Next, we’ll look at The Role of Food and Beverage in Politics at H.R. Sinclair’s Blog and M.J. Fifield's blog.
Held for crimes against the Neutral Zone, Amaya’s team may fall apart while she wrestles with her powers.
BLURB: Amaya is supposed to bring peace to the galaxy. Which is tough when she’s being held for crimes against the Neutral Zone. Her imprisonment is on her own ship with her own crew. But close quarters create tension.
Honestly, her role as Rayatana is a mess.
She may never get to use her powers for anything good. Not if her teacher continues to keep secrets, and not if her powers keep harming others. Putting her mother in a coma should put her in prison, but she has a mission. She wants to bring peace to her people. She needs to become the Rayatana.
Book Links:
Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon AUS / Amazon Canada
Smashwords / Apple / Kobo
Nexus: The Rayatana Book 2 is available all online, retail, and all ebook platforms. Published by Tyrean Martinson with Wings of Light Publishing, LLC. Young Adult - Science Fiction/Adventure/Sweet Romance.
ISBN for Kindle: 978-1-7357695-5-4,ISBN for Paperback: 978-1-7357695-6-1, and ISBN for EPub: 978-1-7357695-7-8.
What Readers Are Saying About Nexus: The Rayatana, Book 2:
“This is a terrific read! The world-building is incredible with a fascinating array of characters, settings, and technology. All of that creates a wonderful backdrop for Amaya's powerful story. As the story opens, Amaya and her friends are facing a trial for violating the laws of the Neutral Zone. Amaya has to learn who to trust, who to listen to, and how to believe in herself. You'll find yourself caught up in the magic of the story in no time. A fabulous read!” - Jemi Fraser, Author and First Reviewer
Official Author Bio and Links:
Tyrean Martinson is a word hunter. She forages for words both sweet and tart in the South Sound of Washington State. An eclectic writer, she writes speculative fiction, contemporary and historical fiction, short scripts, devotions, writing books, song lyrics, and poetry. She has been a fencer (long ago), a kickboxer (for a short minute), and an action-movie fan. Tyrean is a life-long book lover, a Christ follower, and walker. Once upon a time, she was a Girl Scout who sang too loudly, and now she’s a podcaster and praise team member. Since childhood, her imagination has been swept away by fairy tales, science fiction, tales of overcoming the odds, and redemption arcs.
Tyrean’s Writing Spot Blog: https://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/
Tyrean’s Tales: https://tyreanstales.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyreanmartinson/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TyreanMartinson
Tyrean’s Tutoring Website Words Take Flight: https://words-take-flight.com/
October 4, 2021
A Better Alternative to Goodreads: The StoryGraph
Many authors and readers dislike Goodreads for several reasons.
1. Amazon owns it. Yup. That explains a lot, doesn’t it?
2. It’s become a place for scammers.
In fact, on the top of the Author Dashboard, Goodreads has a message for authors that says, "we are currently investigating a small number of bad actors who have attempted a reviews-based extortion scam against some authors on Goodreads."
3. The community can be toxic. This doesn’t just goes for readers/reviewers but authors behaving badly, too.
4. The website is confusing and hard to navigate.
(They recently changed how book pages look in an effort to make them more user-friendly, but the rest of the site is still the same.)
Do you want to escape one or all of this?
But do you still want to have a great platform where you can build your TBR list, review books, check out book reviews, and set up a reading challenge?
Don’t worry. I’ve got you.
THE STORYGRAPH
Why is it amazing?
- Black woman-owned
- Independent platform (no multibillion corporation using your data in nefarious ways)
- Website and app available for free in the App Store
- Sleek, uncluttered look
- Personalized recommendations based on your preferences
- No paid placements (book recommendations are not influenced by ads and budgets)
- Your reading habits displayed in neat pie charts (see below)
- A better reviewing system
- You can rate with .5, .75, and .25, so if you’ve ever had to specify a 4.5 rating in a review on Goodreads but had to choose between selecting 4 or 5 stars, you don’t have to do that on The StoryGraph.
- A special content warning section that is extremely important. They are prominent and easy to see, not buried in reviews like on Goodreads, if a reviewer even thinks to add content warnings in their reviews.
- Easily upload your Goodreads data so you don’t lose anything!
UPLOADING YOUR GOODREADS DATA:
1. On Goodreads, navigate to your “My Books” page on your Goodreads profile.
2. In the left-hand sidebar, click on “Import and Export” under “Tools.”
3. Click “Export Library.”
4. When you’re signing up for The StoryGraph, they will ask you about and walk you through the steps of importing your Goodreads data. It’s super easy!
5. If you’ve already signed up and need to import your Goodreads data, sign in, go to “Manage Account,” scroll down to “Goodreads Import.”
This is what I see when I first log-in on The StoryGraph app:
This is what my “Profile” looks like:
This is what my “stats” show for 2021:
NOTE: The “stats” button can be found on the sidebar of your Profile. You can change the stats depending on what you want to see. You can change the year and even view a specific month.
AUTHORS:
What about author profiles?
This is a new-ish platform. I personally asked if they plan to have author profiles (like Goodreads does), and I received a reply in the affirmative. I don’t know when they’ll implement this, but you can enjoy all the reader/reviewer benefits in the meantime.
This is what a book’s page looks like on the app:
NOTE: You book(s) may not have reviews here yet, but The StoryGraph is gaining in popularity, more and more people are switching over to it, and as this happens and Goodreads data is imported, your books will eventually start accumulating reviews.
If you like the sound of ANY of this, what are you waiting for?
Join The StoryGraph now!
QUESTION: Are you on The StoryGraph? Let me know if you join and what you think of it! I, obviously, love it! Do you want to sign up now? I hope so! 😀
You can find my profile here and follow me.
