Welcome back to another blog hop, with #OpenBook. Here’s this week’s prompt.
How do you keep track of the books you read?
I would love to say that I have a beautiful system, honed by years of practice and backed up with a unique method of record-keeping of my own devising. If only. I worked for forty years in a job where I had to be supremely organised, which means that in my personal life, I rebel and have the untidiest working area you could imagine. But, if I tided it, I would never be able to find anything. At least, that’s what I tell myself.
The books I read fall into two categories. Only one of which is organised.
The first
are the ones that I read for pleasure, these tend to be found on the shelves in my study, together with the piles of DVD’s that I want to watch. I have no system for them, they fit into my schedule as and when they can, jostling for space with everything else that I do. I might be reading two at once, I start and stop if my attention wanders.
The second
are those books that I read as part of my duties in several review groups and blog tour organisations that I’m involved in. These are almost exclusively digital, have a deadline and are read in order.
It’s with these books that you’ll find me at my most organised, after all, I’m doing this because I want to encourage people to find a great read. In the same way that I did my job, I take this very seriously, treat the books and the process with respect and make sure that they’re given a proper read and review.
Fortunately, technology is my friend here
(I don’t say that very often).
The library page of my Kindle app shows me the status of my books to read. It tells me what I haven’t read and as I read, how much of each one I have finished. This is also where my diary comes in. I make a note about 7-10 days before my review is required to be posted, this gives me time to finish reading if I haven’t and marshall my thoughts. Then I can create the review and post it. I keep notes as I’m reading these review copies, so my thoughts are pretty easy to transfer to a blog post or Amazon/Goodreads page.
Using the Gutenberg editor for WordPress means that the format of the review post is saved, I just have to fill in the blanks and publish it on the correct day. All my reviews are indexed on my website so that I can see what I’ve been up to and refer easily if asked.
As you can see, depending on the reason, I have a very different way of dealing with reading. How do you keep track of the books that you read?
I’d love to get your comments, please leave them below. While you’re here, why not take a look around? There are some freebies and lots more content, about me, my writing and everything else that I do. You can join my newsletter for a free novella and more news by clicking this link.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this week’s thoughts, please go and check out the rest of the great blogs on the hop. Just follow this link.
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Stevie Turner
Hi Richard – the Gutenberg editor, is that for paid WordPress accounts (mine is free)?
Richard Dee
No, It’s another name for WordPress version 5 and above, the block editor. I’m self-hosted but the editor is part of the installation and free.
Stevie Turner
How do I find it?
Richard Dee
When you start a new post, do you get every paragraph in a new block? If you haven’t upgraded to version 5 (Jan 2019) for any reason, you will still be on the classic editor. Can you tell which version you are running?
Stevie Turner
That’s beyond me, I’m afraid – I’m not very technically minded and can only do the basics. Never mind, thanks for the info anyway.
Richard Dee
I’m sorry I can’t help, being self-hosted is different in a lot of ways. It’s a different company for one thing. The old editor is good, the new one is a steep learning curve but more flexible once you get used to it.
Lela Markham
Stevie, when you’re in the editor there should be a choice over on the right side between Document and Block. At some point it asks you if you want the Standard Editor or the newer version.
Richard Dee
Thanks for sharing that. I only found out that wordpress.com and wordpress.org were separate entities a few weeks ago.
Lela Markham
Richard, you and I have the same basic system. I refuse to be that organized with fiction books because I’m supposed to be enjoying myself and organization feels like a job.
Richard Dee
Ever since I retired and no longer had to wear a uniform and be responsible, I’ve rebelled and do roughly what I like.
P.J. MacLayne
Your shelves are more organized than mine, but the knickknacks scattered in empty spaces all have their own stories.
Richard Dee
That’s very true, maybe one day I’ll talk about them?
Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Your reviews are more organised than mine are, Richard. I read the book and over the next few days I write up my review as I don’t like to leave it to long and then possibly forget something. I usually only transfer these to WP two minutes before I post them. I operate on a just in time basis for my blogging.
Richard Dee
It’s the only holdover from my past life as a pilot, five minutes early and always prepared.