How to Create a Reading Journal
This is a different type of entry than usual. Since it’s the beginning of a new year, I thought I’d share something I’m doing that may interest or inspire others.
Believe it or not, 2025 is the first year I’m keeping a reading journal—well, officially, that is. Last year, I unofficially began. Call it old age, but I’ve heard many people much younger than myself make the same complaints.
The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth
I’m going to make a confession. I love reading. I love books. I’m addicted. There, I said it. My love of books started in childhood; although, teachers practically prevented that from happening. I know it’s weird that educators would stand in the way of a youth wanting to read, but that’s what happened. Scouts honor.
History
See, my school had a wonderful library which seems to be a rarity these days as my child’s elementary school didn’t have one. Now, they will argue that they do, but I’ll let you decide. They had a room with books. It wasn’t that large, but it was decent. Then, they moved computers into the area for state testing. To add the computers, they had to remove books. They started referring to it as the “media center.” Grades began with library days, but that tapered off. Students weren’t allowed in the room when testing occurring, and testing was always occurring. When testing wasn’t in session, the room was locked. The only time that it was opened for students to check out books was thirty minutes before first bell for thirty minutes, and that was only if they had a teacher available to unlock the door and check out the books. So, does that sound like a functional library?
My school didn’t have that problem. My love of reading really kicked in around third fourth grade. Before then, I was given books to read. I didn’t choose them for myself. As a result, I didn’t always enjoy what I read. Thus, I didn’t gravitate to the pastime. But back then, we had book fairs, and I loved the book fairs. My parents didn’t, and usually, I only allowed one or two books. Then, I would have to wait for weeks until they arrived. It was such a bother that often I just didn’t bother.
When I was in fifth grade, my classes were upstairs, and this made all the difference in the world. The library also was located on that floor. It made going extremely convenient, and if I completed my classwork early, I was allowed to go. But there was a problem. The library was divided by grade levels. So, if I wondered to a section that wasn’t my grade, I got verbally reprimanded. And when I would complain that I could read it, the teacher would point out a difficult word and ask me to read it aloud and the definition. If I didn’t know back on the shelf it went like they had never heard of a dictionary. I had enough sense to look up words that I didn’t know. I also knew how to ask my parents or another adult what words meant. The problem was I would never learn those words if I weren’t exposed to them.
Now, some of you may be thinking, maybe the subject matter was too advanced for me, and the teachers were protecting my wee little innocent mind from corruption. Well, if the Little House on the Prairie series was corrupt, my soul was doomed to hell because those are the books I wanted to read. Their interference was a true turn off.
In junior high, I joined a book club, and this was my savior. Books were delivered monthly to my front door, and I didn’t have to jump through hoops. I quickly became addicted and looked forward to the first of the month.
I didn’t notice it back then, but many of the books I read, I soon forgot them once I finished. I didn’t really have anyone to discuss them with, so I read them and they went on a shelf. I arranged them by order and my favorites. But then, book clubs began to fade away like so many other things of yonder year, and my life got busy with other things. However, my love of reading never faded.
Fast forward to present. I became a member of Booktok. One of the best things about Booktok is that readers make recommendations. Another great thing is people actually discuss books. The number of books I read in a year increased. But then I found that I was confusing books, characters, and plots. Or I would look at a title on my Kindle and couldn’t remember having read it.
The Inspiration
Enter YouTube. I’ve been using planner for years. Around the time that the world broke, I discovered that a planner community existed, and many of those planners kept book journals.
In 2024, I decided to write small summaries to trigger my memory about books so I could discuss them later. But then, I thought, if I was going to do that, why not fully invest. So, began my journey to find a reading journal. They are plenty, and some of them are quite expensive. However, I couldn’t find one that meat my needs.
The Plan
First, I wanted the ability to add, remove, or rearrange pages. That meant I needed a disc-bound planner. Yet, a lot of the disc-bound planners I found had a lot of pages that I knew I wouldn’t use. I would be throwing away money. Therefore, I decided to create my own—which cause I didn’t do it right, almost became more expensive than if I just bought one premade. The only difference is now that I have it mostly set up, I will be using this journal for years. It’s not a one and done.
I took ideas from others that I saw online such as particular reading challenges and a battle of the books page. But it’s also a place track my reading stats, my wish list, my TBRs, and author series.
How to Create the Journal
Decide the system you want to use (e.g., bound, coiled, disc-bound, electronic, etc.)Decide the size (e.g., pocket, mini, classic, big, A5, A6, B5, B6, etc.)Determine the medium you want to use to decorate. This is important because if using a paper system, some inks (and decorations) will bleed through the paper or not adhere properly.Determine the type/weight of paper you want to use. Remember, pages do not have to be white and can come pre-decorated.Decide how you want to decorate your journal. Do you want to add miniature covers of the books you read? Will you use watercolors, stickers, inks, etc.?Decide what you want to track. Do you want to track stats (e.g., how many pages read, how many hours read, how many hours listened to audiobooks, etc.)? Do you want to track the genres you read, authors, series, etc.?Do you want to do reading challenges (e.g., book bingo, cover color, alphabet, season, 50 state challenge, etc.?)Will you use it for book club participation?Do you want to list who recommended the books?Do you want to monitor where you’re getting your books (e.g., brick and mortar book stores, Libby, library, thrift shops, rescues, free library, Amazon, etc.)?How long do you want to use it? Do you want to start a new one each year or add to the current one?Finally, watch videos of other people sharing their reading journal to get an idea of what and how you wish to create it.So, that’s a wrap on today’s topic. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button, and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.
If Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild.
Demon Rodeo is available now on Amazon. For video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on my Instagram and Amazon.
Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance set in the rodeo world. These are not your typical cowboys. It’s a widely diverse cast of characters and a mashup of genres that aren’t always seen together. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser, this may be a book for you.

Order
⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852
⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7
Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.
If you’re not following my blog, Creole Bayou, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.
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Are you searching for a sexy book boyfriend? You’ve come to the right place.
Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out. Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game. Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin. Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin. Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.About the Author:
Hi, I’m Genevive, and I am a contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.