So I psyched myself out of blogging by saying I was going to keep it no pressure and then managed to put a bunch of pressure on myself. It’s just how I roll I guess. So, goals for this year:
1. No pressure blogging. I am requiring my students to post once a week, so I’m going to do that as well. However, I think regular reviews aren’t it for me unless I’m feeling really inspired. To that end, I’m going to keep up with It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (because I’ve gotten great recs from it, and I like the round up nature of it) and then I’ll blog in whatever capacity I see fit after that. It’s the only way, really.
2. Expand my reading horizons. And by that I mean branch out in my reading choices. I’m not going to stop reading YA, so that means I need to seek out more adult fiction
3. Blog about teaching. I haven’t done that, and I have a lot to say! For example, I did a really cool assignment using Mulan in my summer classes, I completely redid my creative writing class this past semester, and I’m trying something new with my blogging assignments. I want to blog about them! But I haven’t. So I need to make that a priority.
I have also decided to sign up for two reading challenges this year:
Since I did so well reading books by and about people of color last year (47!), I’m going to push myself even more. For this year, I’m still doing the fifth shelf (25+ books), but I’m going to make all of those books BY people of color. I do not read enough authors of color, so I want to change that. I will link up any books I read that are about POC, but as far as counting for my individual challenge, I want to focus on authors.
I also want 50% or more of my final reads to be by or about POC. Last year I was at 45% so I know I can top that.
I have also drunk the Kool-Aid and am doing Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge. My goal for this one is to have all of my books be by or about people of color except for (1) the horror category because I’m a wimp and will be reading Christopher Pike and for (2) the religion category because I’m all about Leah Remini’s memoir.
The Englishist 
Good luck with all your 2016 goals!
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When I first started blogging, I pressured myself to do full reviews and quickly found myself blogger blocked because I HATE writing reviews. I do love the Monday meme and community. I can write as much or as little as I want about a book, so it’s low pressure. Now I try to do full reviews of professional development books I read, but I rarely manage it despite good intentions. I would definitely be down to read more blog posts about teaching. I have a list of posts I’m trying to write about teaching, but man, they take FOREVER to write. I’m right there with you in the desire to make 50% of my reading by or about people of color. I’m also very concerned about what I buy. I really want to work harder to make sure my book buying $ support authors and illustrators of color. Absolutely love that you’re making almost all the Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge books by people of color. Terrific idea! I think I’m in with that particular challenge as well. I need to print out the page so I can keep track of what I’m trying to do there.
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Yes, teaching posts do take forever to write! I think that’s why I keep not doing them. Although for the Mulan one, the assignment sheet is already written and ready to share. It’s more the discussion of my rationale and how to prep for it. As it always is. I have started doing pomodoros now–I might make blogging about teaching one of my tasks.
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I love the Diversity on the Shelf Challenge. I have seen the Read Harder Challenge being talked about, but I haven’t yet decided to do it. We’ll see if I can keep away from it. 🙂
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I stayed away last year, but this year I caved. Also! I read your blog all the time but I cannot comment because blogger hates me.
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I’m so sad Blogger hates you, but I’m glad you stop by in spite of that! I’m on Twitter though so maybe that’s a way to comment. Anyway, thanks again!
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Cheers to #3! I’m going back to school this fall and start adjuncting this summer, and I definitely want to know about your teaching approaches.
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