Reading Goals

I’m an avid Goodreads user, as you know. I always set up the yearly Reading Challenge. I’m lowkey addicted at this point XD

My 2022 goal is to read 50 books, but maybe I’ll be able to surpass that this year. Since I’ve begun setting reading goals intentionally, I’ve read a minimum of 50 books a year (since at least 2013; I didn’t count before that, so I have no idea!). 

Last year I tried to set that goal for 60, but I had to alter that in the middle of the year. (Though, I did come within a few hundred pages of the last two years, so that’s still good!) I think part of what slowed me down a little was that last year I wanted to beta read more (and I did!), but beta reads don’t count toward that Goodreads challenge 😉

So, since I do still want to carve out some time to intentionally beta read, I’m going to start with 50 this year and see what happens. I may adjust it up in the middle of the year if I’m tracking really well. Either way, I would still like to do at least 14,000 pages like the last six or so years. 

Sidenote: Do any of you track your beta reads? Do you make goals for those? What does that look like for you? I’d love to be a little more intentional about this process, too! 

Of the 50 books I want to hit for 2022, I of course am renewing my annual goal of reading 12 non-fiction books (at least 3 of which should be devotionals). And because I’m currently writing a novella, I’d like to read more novellas this year to prepare for that. So, I’d like to finish the Villain’s Ever After series. I also want to finish the Harry Potter series this year (only 2 books left to go!) and then I want to start on the rest of the Keeper of the Lost Cities books, too.

So, those are just a few of my reading goals for the year! What about you guys? Anything I should read? What are your 2022 reading goals?

GraceBought Goals

Eep, so GraceBought turns four next month! I’m super excited! This has been such a fun experience and it’s a joy to interact with you guys <3 Thanks for hanging around in my little corner of the world.

GraceBought is still in the chill zone for me right now, but I do intend to continue the weekly book reviews and monthly WWWednesdays. Those are a fun part of my month and a great way to recap what I’ve been reading. I love hearing what you guys are reading, too!

Something I am looking forward to toward the end of this year is being able to update you guys on some of my writing projects more, so GraceBought may pop onto the radar in the fall or winter as I begin to build a platform toward my novella. 😀 Stay tuned!

Writing Goals

As with last year, I’m pouring on the gas on the writing side of life right now. There are lots of things going on in this area for me.

First, I’m planning to attend four writing conferences this year XD I will be at Mt. Hermon in March for the first time, at the Blue Ridge conference in May also for the first time, and returning to Realm Makers in July! The fourth conference is a smaller one put on my YDubbers that I’ll be attending in August. If you’re going to any of those (or have been in the past), I’d love to meet up with you (or hear about your experience!) I will also, of course, be attending the annual StoryEmbers virtual summit (this will be my third year!) in April!

For education, I’m continuing as a student in my second year of the Author Conservatory (whoot whoot!) (For more on my thoughts on the program, see my review here!) and I’m still participating in the monthly themes in our Young Writers Workshop, too. And, I want to finish at least one of the two writing craft books I started last year (that I didn’t finish XD). 

Last year I completed my novel My Sister’s Fate using Author’s training and feedback. And this year, I’m working on a new novella that I intend to self-publish sometime next year (more details on that to come!). So, one of my big goals this year is to plot and draft the novel by the summer and then revise and edit it by the end of the year. 

Personal Goals

I always dread this part XD Because I feel like such a bore when I get here. I’m pouring so much effort into my writing right now (and I have the best job EVER), so I don’t really do much outside of that and reading and serving in my church. 

One of my big personal goals this year is to begin saving toward buying a house. I still haven’t moved closer to my church community, so I’m still making that drive twice a week right now, but I’m prayerfully learning to consider whether or not I should just stay where I am until I’m able to buy a house. 

I will continue serving in my church orchestra because I love having a place to play my trumpet and to worship through music. I work part time at the church, too, so I get to serve the music ministry in that way as well.

I’m going to try something new this semester, though, and instead of attending the women’s Bible studies weekly as I have done for the last several years, I’m going to attend a college group Bible study with some students who are in my Sunday school group. My goal is to get to know them more deeply and compare the two styles of study to see if I’d like to go back to the women’s group in the latter half of the year or wait to do that until I’m able to move closer. I may also experiment with a smaller discipleship group this year and experience that. 

And of course, I still love writing letters! I don’t think I want to set a number of letters per month for this year, but I do want to still make a point to engage with my lovely writer pen pals and my grandparents. And for traveling goals, since I love to travel, I want to take one trip to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and baby nieces, at least one to visit my grandparents, attend a wedding for my dear friend, and one Christmas trip to my college town to continue our annual tradition there and meet with my old church friends.

~*~

Alright, enough about me! What are some of your 2022 goals? Share below and let me know!

Here’s to another year with GraceBought! It is my sincerest hope that you can find something here that makes you smile and encourages or helps you, whether through a post of my crazy, random thoughts, a book review, or something else! Thanks so much for walking with me through this and may your 2022 be the best year yet!

Love always,
Coralie