2017 Goals

Let’s talk about goals.

Goals are both a beginning and an end. They help us determine what we want and we base our paths off of that. Sometimes our paths change. Sometimes our goals change, but we always have them, don’t we?

Lately, I’ve been rather busy with real life goals. I’ve been trying to determine what my main goals are and then what my subsequent goals should be. I have an idea. Though, I’m not sure I can really ever have full control over those paths or goals. As some say:

One cannot tell what tomorrow will bring.

On the other hand, I do have complete control (well, almost, I suppose :p ) over my blog and its goals. Unfortunately, I fear I may have… let my blogging priorities slide in the past few months. I’m just… subsisting with my blog and that was never supposed to be the idea. It was designed to expand, to engage, to bring me happiness through interaction with other bloggers and readers. While my engagement has increased, I can’t honestly say I feel satisfied.

So, what am I doing wrong?

Well, to be entirely honest, I think it’s because I gave up on blogging goals. I gave up on striving to improve, to be better, to grow, to interact. I’ve become complacent with where I am. A shame, really, wouldn’t you say? After all, blogs are designed for growth and constant change if nothing else. Thus, I must re-evaluate what I’m doing and how I’m doing it.

---

Step One: What do I want from blogging?

Frankly, I don’t know. My blog is nothing like it was in the beginning. It was designed to be a writing blog, a platform should I ever get published (a goal I’m still pursuing, but slowly as I had a long ways to go in improving my writing.)

Now, it’s more a book review and discussion blog. It’s designed for engagement with readers, and I do get quite a few commenting on my weekly discussion posts. (Thanks to all of you!!!) Still, I’m hoping for more. I want… more.

Step Two: What is more?

Well, I know I want more followers, but more than that, I want more commenters. I want more regulars. I want to meet and discuss with more people. Not because I’m bored of the current people I engage with. No! I LOVE the people who comment on my discussion posts. I love that they differ in opinions from me and aren’t afraid to say it, but the discussion becomes deeper, more branched, when there are more participants.

This is what I want. I want deeper, richer engagement from a wider variety of people because I know there are viewpoints out there that I’ve yet to hear and I want to hear them all. After all, expanding my mind is of the utmost priority to me.

Step Three: How to achieve more?

One goal I set for myself at the beginning of 2017 is reaching 1,000 followers. At this current point in time, I’m at 694. I have no doubt I’ll reach 1,000 by the end of the year, which will be awesome! But they’re just numbers. If I don’t interact with them, they are simply faceless, nameless numbers that are supposed to give my blog meaning and notoriety.

So, while I still want to reach 1,000 readers by the end of 2017 (or earlier, if you guys want to help promote the posts you enjoy. 😀 ), I want to really focus on engaging more people to join discussions and comment on reviews of books they’ve read. That means engaging with other bloggers to bring them back to my blog to join my discussions. It means promoting more. It means being a more active member of the blog-o-sphere. Now… I just need to find the time. 😉

Step Four: Other Goals

What? You didn’t really think reaching 1,000 followers and gaining more discussioners were my only goals for 2017, did you? I’m nothing if not a high-achiever. Though… I’m not always the best mark’s man… Well, at least not on the blog. Now, on the gun range… 😀 (Yes, I do own a gun. Yes, I use it. Yes, I will answer questions if you have any, and I got pics. 😉 )

---

2017 Blog-Related GOALS

• Reach 1,000 subscribers.
• Have 10 active discussioners every week.
• Finish out Calendar Girls strong. (More on my co-hosted blog event here.)
• Receive at least 1 physical ARC from a publisher.
  • I actually just received a finished copy of Roar. (I literally almost DIED when I opened the package!) I’m reviewing it on Sunday! 😀
• Post 52 book reviews. (Check out my review schedule.)
  • If I fill my schedule up, I’ll start posting audiobook reviews on Wednesdays. 😉
• Participate in one blog tour per month. (See past blog tours here.)
  • I’ve already done Wintersong, The Castaways, Roar, and Plains of Sand and Steel. Missed January, though. Oops. :p
• Be Awesome! Duh!

If you liked this post and want to know my non-blog-related goals(trust me, there’s a lot), let me know! I just might make a post about them. 😉