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!
August was intense, friends. It’s one of those months where I feel like it lasted a million years, yet cannot believe September is upon us. Here’s a few quick highlights:
- Interviewed for a promotion (didn’t get it)
- Discovered Dovah has seasonal allergies (like her dad) and severe anxiety (like me!)
- Participated in an Among Us collab to celebrate my partner hitting 200 followers on Twitch
- Saw ADTR with some besties and my partner and it was glorious
- Started a new semester (both school and work) and had my ass handed to me
Overall, it wasn’t a horrible month! Particularly creatively. 👀
Bookish Breakdown: Reading
What I Read
Friends, WHO AM I AND WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH ME!? We went from reading 0-2 books a month to reading TEN this month. TEN. I’m honestly still floored. Half of these were for research (it was so nice to start diving into period taboos). Five for pleasure and one for school (reading Beowulf).
All in all, a FANTASTIC reading month.
What I Hauled
I did get some ARCs this month, but I have not done well enough to track them. I plan to try and get myself in order with that for next month’s Bookish Breakdown!
Reading Challenges Update
What: Yearly challenge tracked via StoryGraph of how my books I want to read.
Goal: 50 Books
Status: 27/50 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: 13/25
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: 16/24 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
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Unhauling Books
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Blogging Balancing Act
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.
Posts Published August 2022
- Northern Wrath
- The Messiness of Being Multifaceted
- Celebrating My Freelance Editing Anniversary!
- An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors
- Counting Writing: Or, Perhaps I’m Too Harsh On Myself?
- The Monsters We Defy
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Unhauling Books
- Two Steps Ahead (But Should I Be?)
- Novels and Narrations No 20
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Blogging Balancing Act
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
- I really enjoyed Kal @ Reader Voracious’ post on managing ARC stress, though the guilt at my own ARC pile is…not something we need to address, right now. 😅
- Though I don’t use Medium much, I did discover Fleurine Tideman on there and I really enjoy their articles. Most recently, I enjoyed their posts on SEO optimization, writing misconceptions and not staying in a niche.
- Bree @ The Long Voyage writes about where to find context and trigger warnings and I really appreciated this summation!
- R.K. Brainerd IS PUBLISHING HER NOVEL AND I AM SO EXCITED. Plus, new website launch!
- Amber @ The Literary Phoenix shares thoughts on cancel culture that was very well thought out and discussed, I think.
- I really enjoyed Aamna @ The Ink Slinger’s post on why representation is important, especially for younger readers and writers.
- Shealea @ Shut Up, Shealea’s interview with Filipino author K.S. Villoso was so enjoyable to read!
- Learn more about Latinx Bingo here, in part hosted by Cande @ Cande Reads!
- Sign ups are open to participate in SciFi month’s 10th year!
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.
I’m still trying to get this sorted. But, ever since getting COVID and recovering, I have done a lot better of working on things I want to, so I am getting closer!
HA, haven’t worked on any of this yet. Maybe this month? Well, wait, that’s a lie. I did unhaul some books to start reorganizing my bookshelves, so that’s a win to start!
Writing will becoming a priority soon, I feel it!
Looking Forward
Thanks for reading this month’s Bookish Breakdown. I’m excited for September, since it should calm down a bit with the day job. Plus, I have some things to look forward to, like getting my hair redyed. And, I should get to meet a new niece or nephew here by the end of September! So, lots to look forward to.
What about you? How did your August treat you? Anything to look forward to? Let me know!
🖤
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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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Great breakdown—it looks like you had a good month of reading! I really enjoyed reading your LTB about the “Blogging Balancing Act” especially what you mention about bloggers being kinder to themselves (something I need to get better at doing to combat the guilt I feel when I don’t find time to post or engage)! I hope you have an amazing September 🙂
Thank you so much, Dini! Your comments always absolutely make my day and this one is no exception! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and it was a good reminder to give yourself grace! I’m rooting for you this September!