Blogging Goals for 2009

I'm a bit late in posting these, but here goes!

Leave more comments. I probably average 5-7 comments a day and my goal is to increase that to at least 10 a day. This probably means that I'll have to cut down on the number of blogs that I read...we'll see how that goes.

Review more than books. I'd like to try reviewing more than books. Still entertainment (not products really) like DVDs, movies, music, plays, restaurants, television shows, etc. I think this will push me out of my comfort zone a little bit more.

Be more active in promoting literacy.
The kidlit blogs are great at this, but I have noticed that the adult blogs? Not so much. I'd like to write more about the need for literacy and ways book bloggers can help out.

Pre-schedule as many posts as possible. I really need to get better at time management, and I'd like to be one of those bloggers who writes all their posts for a week at once. Will this happen? Who knows?

Give my favorite authors and books better airtime.
I want my favorite books to be obvious and I want my favorite authors who are willing to be featured on this blog to get the chance to know you. This probably means I'll be accepting less review copies.

Continue to host Faith 'n Fiction Saturdays, Buy One Book and Read it Challenge, and the LOST books challenge.

Host a new challenge focused on award winning or nominated films.

Organize and host BBAW '09. In fact, be looking for an email from me this week if you volunteered to help. I'm starting a lot earlier this time. :)

Goals relating to The Friendly Book Nook
Increase readership and reader participation.
Organize and host a focused reading challenge/event (in the works)
Reach out to influential people for Saturdays in the Nook posts.
Start podcasting.

Goals related to Inspired to Action
Build community and increase readership.
Get more involved in social justice blogging community.
Increase my own knowledge of social justice issues and find ways that Inspired to Action can make a difference in the lives of people.

Goals related to Buy Books for the Holidays
Keep blog semi-active as a source to encourage people to buy books as gifts for all holidays.

I will re-evaluate these goals in 4 months time to see how I'm doing.

Oh my word. I need at least three more hours in a day!!!!

New Year's Resolutions

I really only have one firm resolution while all the others are sort of vague ideas of what I'd like to accomplish and the better person I would like to be.

So, my New Year's Resolution is to read at least one non-fiction book a month. I love fiction and read a ton of it, but I also have a stack of non-fiction books to be read and am always saying, "I should read more non-fiction." So I will. And then I'll blog about it.

Otherwise, I hope for the following things in the coming year: to be more organized, to be more thrifty, to love others better, to be content in all circumstances, to finish what I start, to be healthier, and to know God more.

And you?

What Your Resolution Should Be

Dear Friends,

I have decided what your New Year's Resolution should be. I know we are 8 days into the year, but there is no time like the present to start. What I would dearly love to see is....
more blogging.
I know you don't have time write me very many individual emails. But that is no excuse for letting your blog slip into oblivion.
I'd like to know what you're thinking about. I'd like to know what's going on in your life. I'd like to see pictures!
So please consider making a firm decision to update your blog at the very minimum of one time per month. And please don't give me any excuses about how you're chasing after little toddlers and doing heaps of laundry and creating masterpiece dinners from scratch. I won't have it.
If you are reading this and feeling irritated and annoyed or even slightly guilty then yes, it's probably you I'm talking to...you who only update your blog once a year or leave it to collect dust over many months.
In return, I'll do the same! I'll try to make this a more interesting place to visit.
And please know...I'm only writing this because I care!

Happy New Blogging You!

Climate Crisis

Ok, well, I thought of something else to talk about. Over break, I watched Al Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth. And while it was more autobiographical than I was expecting, and less practical, it has led me to one of my new year's resolutions.

Do everything reasonable that I can to take care of the earth. I mean really it's a bit ridiculous that Americans are contributing so much to the problem. And a little scary how quickly it became a problem. So I'll do what I can to be friendly to the earth. I already do things like recycle. But I can buy some expensive lightbulbs and unplug my appliances, right? A little extra effort never hurt. Did you know that even things like eating less meat, and making sure your tires are properly inflated can assist this current problem?

Do you do anything about global warming? Any more ideas on how we can practically contribute to remedying this current crisis? Yes, I have already checked out the movie website, but I'd love to hear more.