Last Updated on July 29, 2022 by ThoughtsStained
Hello, lovelies! Welcome to another Bookish Breakdown installment, my monthly wrap-up post. In these Bookish Breakdowns, I discuss life generally for the past month. Also, I share last month’s reading, as well as life musings, blog hopping links and intention updates!
July was a mixed bag, but it was much better than June. I spent most of July recovering, resting and regaining my strength. Finally (I think) I am feeling like myself again. I returned to work fully in the last two weeks of July and I’ve managed it, which I couldn’t do during the first two weeks. So, hopefully August is a much more “usual” month for me.
However, I did just find out my Dad has COVID. 😪 He’s having a pretty rough go of it, according to my Mom, so any good vibes appreciated.
Let’s check in on how I did creatively this month.
Bookish Breakdown: Reading
What I Read
Two main factors kept me from reading more this month: still recovering from COVID and (honestly, more prevalently), playing Horizon: Forbidden West, which has taken up a lot of my time. Still, I’m really proud of myself for actually getting through a research book in Valkyrie: The Women of the Viking World. And, though it took me a lot longer than I wanted, I also read Northern Wrath by Thilde Kold Holdt.
What I Hauled
Nothing this month!
Reading Challenges Update
What: Yearly challenge tracked via StoryGraph of how my books I want to read.
Goal: 50 Books
Status: 17/50 Books
What: A personal challenge to read at least one antiracist book a month (or 12 a year).
Goal: 12 Books
Status: 3/12 Books
What: I want to do a better job that of reading books written by (or featuring protagonists) that aren’t the publishing “standard”, i.e, white, male, able-bodied, straight and based on Western cultures or Christian/Catholic religions.
Goal: More books that break away from that “standard” than books that do.
Status: 10/25
What: Hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight where you write and share your bookish discussion posts!
Goal: 24 Discussion Post (Chatty Kathy Level)
Status: 14/24 Posts
Posts:
- Let’s Talk Bookish: 2022 Reading Goals
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Blogger and Audience Relationship
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Changing Book Ratings
- Book Bloggers, Why Aren’t We Kinder to Ourselves?
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Maintaining A Blog Aesthetic
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Updating Old Content
- When A Reader Fights Reading
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Evolution of Book Blogging
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Book Blogging Joys and Pet Peeves
- The Importance of Commenting on Book Blogs
- Reading and Mental Health
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Rapid Fire Book Blogging Takes
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Book Blogging Friendships
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Tracking Your Reading
Bookish Breakdown: Blogging
What I Posted
After having an abysmal blogging month in June (for good reasons), it was so nice to return a bit to it in July! Here’s what I posted this month.
Read Around the Blogosphere
I also got caught up on blog hopping, which was so refreshing. Some of my favorite posts from the (past few months) are below!
Other Bloggers’ Posts I Loved
- Kate @ My Tita Kate shares how to write bi-lievable bi characters and gets A+ points for the glorious pun and the fantastic post. I also really appreciated her finding your blogging voice post!
- Fadwa @ Word Wonders’ list of f/f relationships (400+ books !!) will never not blow me away.
- Sumedha @ The Wordy Habitat shares her experience with creating and maintaining a blog aesthetic! Also, her SEO post is A++.
- I really enjoyed author K.M. Allan’s piece, grieving a writing life.
- Inah @ Fueled by Chapters shares 100 queer recs to read all year long!
- I really discovered Mint @ Mint Loves Books and I’m a big fan of their discussion posts, like their recent five tips to break a reading slump! Also, their post about outgrowing YA, I connected with a lot.
- I loved Katja’s everything I know about writing post.
- Go check out the results of Pages Unbound 2022 Book Blogger Survey!
- Sara @ Stories and Sidequests wrote an amazing post about not reading and why that’s okay that everyone should read. Immediately.
- Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books shares how she finds the books she reads and I really enjoyed this post!
- Amber @ The Literary Phoenix shares a super thought provoking post about exclusionary language and racism that I’ll be mulling over for a while.
Intentions Check-In
As you saw from my intentions post, I tried to narrow in my focus this year. So, I check in each month below. Mostly, so I don’t lose sight of what I’m hoping to achieve, change and celebrate! Bookish Breakdown felt like a good place to do just that.
^^ At least, that’s what I usually do. Not this month. Maybe next.
TBD
TBD
TBD
Looking Forward
Thanks for reading this month’s Bookish Breakdown. The summer has been a really different one for me, one I hope not to repeat any time soon. August looks to be an interesting month, due to some things with my day job (and applying for a promotion), so I’m hoping to get some things done before the semester starts again. Until then!
🖤
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![Not me needing to repost this announcement because my first post had a typo. I promise I can actually edit! 😅
REPOST of original message below:
I've been thinking a lot about publishing and the barriers it places, particularly on traditionally underrepresented and marginalized writers. As an editor, I wanted to try and break down those barriers a bit.
So, going forward from now and forevermore, if you identity as a queer, BIPOC or disabled writer, you'll receive 10% any full manuscript edit. No need to self-disclose how you qualify. I will trust you at your word!
Another stigma (that's being broken!) that still exists is that self-published authors write at less quality than trad--pubbed writers. We all know this is bullshit! But, to help support my indie badasses, your first edit with me for a novel you plan to self publish will be 10% off.
**Please note these discounts are for full manuscript edits, including: developmental edits, copy edits and proofreading.**
Curious? DM me or email me through my website, linked below!
Link here: https://thoughtsstainedwithink.com/editorial
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Sending best wishes to you and your family and a massive air hug <3 Hoping your Dad will recover quickly.
Aww, thank you so much, Mint. It really means the world. 🖤
I’m glad you’re feeling better and July was better than June, but sorry to see your dad has COVID. I hope he has a speedy recovery!
Thank you so much, Kal! I hope your own July was much better (and, if not, that August is kind to you).
Glad to hear that you’re recovering and I hope that your dad recovers soon as well! It’s a ~trying~ time, to say the least. I hope your August is much better than your July.
P. S. Thanks for linking my posts!!
I hope so too, Sumedha. 😂 But thank you! And always, your posts are just SO GOOD.
Hope your August is better than your July and that your dad recovers soon!
(Also, thanks for linking my post 😊)
Thank you so much on all counts, Sara!