2 Year Blogoversary

December 31, 2017

 

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of Death by Tsundoku! It’s hard to believe we’re about to jump into 2018. I am so glad that I’m still here and writing blog posts. This is a big milestone for me in the sense that I know I’m still young in my blogging adventure. The momentum isn’t slowing down yet.

Lessons Learned

I feel like I’m supposed to have something amazing and profound to share with you all after two years. But, let me tell you, I’m still learning. I have so much left to learn, too! Here are a few additional things I’ve learned this year:

Blogging should never be a chore. If you are feeling like blogging is pulling you down, take a break! You don’t need to run on all cylinders at all times. Blogging should be a fun way to connect with others about what you love, not a source of stress.

The book blogging community is forgiving. No one is upset with you for going on hiatus or missing a post you promised. Perhaps a little disappointed, or maybe even concerned for your well-being. But everyone only wants what is best for you.

Working directly with authors is incredibly rewarding. There is nothing better than helping an author get the word of their book out there. I love chatting with them about their process. But most of all, I appreciate knowing they are people just like you and me.

Habits matter. Okay, while I technically learned this last year, I only picked it up at the end of the year. I still had a lot to learn, and I have a lot more still. My favorite bloggers are consistent. And you only gain consistency through habits.

Never be afraid to ask for help. We are all figuring this out one step at a time. I love meeting new bloggers and learning from them. Over the past year, I’ve gotten stuck a few times and I’m always surprised how many people show up to support me. We are never alone.

 

Hopes for Year Three

Last year, I set some ambitious goals for myself. Not only did I have some resolutions, but also hopes and ambitions for the next year of blogging. Here are my hopes for 2018:

Expand upon by series posts. I currently have three different series of posts I intermittently use as a platform for my blog posts. Between the Lines is a series focused on better understanding books, trends in writing, and the labels associated with these. Building Better Book Clubs is my favorite series focused on all things book club related. And my newest series is Solving for Tsundoku, a series of posts about making peace with the piles of books. I really love these posts, but they require a lot more effort from me than a basic book review. I hope to write at least two posts from these a month next year.

Deepen my existing blogger friend relationships. There are so many amazing book bloggers in the world! Alas, there is only so much time. My goal for 2018 was to develop a bigger book blogging community. This year, I choose to focus on deepening those relationships instead of expanding to more.

Achieve an 80% feedback ratio with NetGalley. I am known to drink a bit too much bubbly and go on a NetGalley requesting spree. With the help of Evelina’s State of the ARC and some willpower, I hope to finally achieve the golden 80%. I’m only at 54% right now, so I’ve got some work to do…

Make my blog a source of solace and joy. There were some moments this past year where my blog felt more like a chore and a source of anxiety than it felt like a positive force in my life. Never again. I know this next year will be challenging. My life is going to change a lot. Never do I want to lose sight of the joy blogging, reading, and reviewing brings me.

 

THANK YOU

Finally– thank you SO MUCH for being here. It means the world to me that there are people who listen, respond and push me to be more than I thought I could be. Thank you for being a part of my journey. Thank you for participating in everything I do. Thank you for sticking around through my rough spots and my amazing moments.

There are more people to thank here than I could possibly consider. But those who are extraordinarily meaningful to me should be called out directly:

To anyone I didn’t mention directly– you are amazing and wonderful and meaningful to me as well. I don’t know what I’d do without you all! I hope that we all continue to grow together. Leave a comment below and I’ll work hard to include you in my goals for 2018 to deepen relationships. Let’s do this together.

Happy reading,

Jackie B.

Jackie B Forman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


What do you think?

  • What do you think of Death by Tsundoku? What are your loves, likes, and dislikes? What do you want to see more of in the future?
  • What lessons did you learn from blogging this year?
  • What are your hopes for 2018?

40 Comments

  • whatthelog January 1, 2018 at 4:36 am

    Congrats Jackie!! I love your goals for your third year of blogging 🙂

    • Jackie B January 4, 2018 at 4:24 pm

      WENDY! Oh my gosh! I have missed you soooo much. Thank you for stopping by and offering well-wishes. I am super excited for year 3 and I cannot wait to see what the blogosphere has in store for me. 😀

  • Annemieke January 1, 2018 at 11:56 am

    Congrats on your two years. Here is to an amazing third year and a great 2018!

    • Jackie B January 4, 2018 at 5:36 pm

      Thank you so much, Annemieke! It’s been quite an adventure. I’ve loved getting to know you this past year. Hopefully, things will only get better, right? 😀

      • Annemieke January 5, 2018 at 1:34 am

        Yes, yes they will. 😀

  • Helen Murdoch January 1, 2018 at 4:43 pm

    Congratulations on two year of blogging! It’s such a fun community to belong to; I am glad you are enjoying the experience.

    • Jackie B January 2, 2018 at 10:18 am

      Thank you so muchm Helen! I agree– this community is tons of fun. I find that the longer I blog, the deeper my relationships become, and those are wonderful. I don’t know what I’d do without this amazing community!

  • Grab the Lapels January 1, 2018 at 7:46 pm

    Woop woop! You made it over the deadly one-year hump! Many bloggers come in for a year, burn brightly and furiously, and then disappear because they take on too much. So proud of you! And thank you for your kind words. Something is happening this year that has caused people to thank me for my blogging friendship . . . it’s got me all emotional.

    • Jackie B January 5, 2018 at 12:03 pm

      Thank you, Melanie! You have a point there– there is so much you could do in this space, it’s easy to jump in and try everything at once and BAM: burnout. I definitely have felt that a few times, but reassessing my goals has helped me realign there. I’m hoping that this means I’ll be sticking around for a long time now. 😀

      You are soooo worth thanking! You are one of my favorite people to interact with because you understand literature, are willing to take controversial stances, and also have fun at the same time. I have found only a handful of others who fit that mold. Most of them are one of those three and nothing else… and that isn’t partoicularly fulfilling to me. Keep up the awesome work! 😀

  • Jessie @ Dwell in Possibility January 1, 2018 at 8:13 pm

    Happy blogiversary, Jackie!

    • Jackie B January 2, 2018 at 9:50 am

      Thank you, Jessie!!! It’s super exciting to reach this milestone. 😀

  • Anna @MyBookishDream January 2, 2018 at 11:49 am

    Happy Blogoversary!! 😀 Two year is seriously exiting!

    • Jackie B January 2, 2018 at 6:21 pm

      Thank you, Anna! It’s really exciting to me. I can’t believe I’ve maintained the momentum to get here, honestly. But it’s interacting with amazing bloggers like you which keep me going. 😀 Sometimes, when I have a bad day, just blog hopping makes me feel a ton better.

      • Anna @MyBookishDream January 3, 2018 at 12:16 pm

        I have been blogging for over two years now and I can’t believe that I have stuck with it for this long. I’m usually terrible when it comes to keeping up with a hobby, but apparently blogging is an exception. Interacting with other bloggers is amazing and definitely my favourite part of having a blog! 😀

        • Jackie B January 5, 2018 at 10:37 am

          Blogging is really rewarding once you have a community. I love spending time getting to know other bloggers well. Social media has never really connected with me, but this definitely has. Strange how that works.

          I hope you keep up your steady blogging and you enjoy it. 😀 Happy new year!

          • Anna @MyBookishDream January 5, 2018 at 10:55 am

            It’s the same for me, social media just never really connected – though one of my resolutions is to use twitter and actually talk with people there. 🙂
            Thank you! Happy New Year!

            • Jackie B January 5, 2018 at 10:57 am

              Oooh, I wish you luck with that. I keep trying it, but nothing ever sticks for me. O_o If you find something which magically works, let me know! XD Perhaps I can learn from your soon-to-be successes!

              • Anna @MyBookishDream January 5, 2018 at 11:03 am

                Hahaha! XD I will let you know, though I don’t promise it will be a success!

  • Laila@BigReadingLife January 2, 2018 at 4:58 pm

    Happy blogiversary! We are one year apart but I also started mine on December 31, so Big Reading Life is 3! There were moments during 2017 when I wasn’t sure I’d continue but I think I’ve gotten through the rough patch and now I’m in a good groove again. I’ve learned it’s a cyclical thing, and like everything, change is the only constant! Good luck with your goals for 2018!

    • Jackie B January 5, 2018 at 12:05 pm

      Happy blogoversary to you too, Laila! I’ll be over shortly to send all the well-wishes personally to your blog. 😀

      I am with you on blogging bying cyclical. As Melanie has pointed out above, the first year for me was the hardest. At this point I understand my own habits and passions enough to stick with it. I’m not always doing what I want to, or doing my best (as my December month in review shows!) but I don’t see myself giving up any time soon.

      Here’s to many more years of blogging together!

  • Poulami @ Daydreaming Books January 3, 2018 at 11:50 am

    I’m late to the party but haaappy blogiversary!!! <3 Here's to 2018!!!

    • Jackie B January 5, 2018 at 10:36 am

      Thank you so much, Poulami! Better late than never, right?! I hope 2018 is amazing for you. 😀

  • Amanda @Cover2CoverMom January 4, 2018 at 6:38 pm

    Jackie. I do not know what to say right now. I am seriously sitting here with tears in my eyes. I needed to read this post so much today. Coming back from hiatus has been really hard for me because I not only feel out of the loop, but I feel so guilty. Guilty for abandoning my blogger friends, guilty for abandoning my blog, guilty for not trying to do more even though my personal life was crazy… Thank you so much for the shout out Jackie. You really made my day.

    • Amanda @Cover2CoverMom January 4, 2018 at 6:39 pm

      Your blog let me post a longer comment!!!! Maybe it has forgiven me?!?!

      • Jackie B January 5, 2018 at 3:59 pm

        <3 <3 <3
        Well it's true! The relationship I have with you is super important to me. And you shouldn't feel guilty. You said you were going on hiatus through the end of the year. You stopped by occasionally and checked in, even writing posts once in a while. You didn't abandon us. You took a break! And that's important. Blogging is not your job, not your social life, not your family, not your self-care. All of those things should always come first. Your hiatus is exactly what you said it would be. And you came back!

        I know catching up again will be challenging, but don't think of it that way. It's just like seeing a bunch of friends you haven't seen in a while. Before you know it, everything will feel as it did in July.

        Missed you.

  • Lashaan (Bookidote) January 5, 2018 at 11:29 pm

    Congratulations Jackie on your 2nd blogosversary!!! I look forward to all the awesomeness you plan on sharing with us in your third year. I do love the lessons you’ve learned and the things you plan on looking into now. Here’s to an even better year of blogging!! 😀

  • Kristina January 7, 2018 at 6:30 pm

    Yaaay happy 2years !! I hope to reach that anniversary aswell someday and not stopping blogging along the way ..​ Thank you so much for thoses pieces of advices !

    I wish you goodluck for this new year & all your goals ! ​

    • Jackie B January 12, 2018 at 8:55 pm

      Thank you so much, Kristina!! I will admit, there are definitely times when blogging can be a challenge. Just make certain that you don’t forget this is a hobby! I find that when I get stressed over my blog it’s because I am holding myself to too strong of expectations. In the end, blogging should ALWAYS be fun. And it’s the community which makes it for me. I love my blogger friends!

      I wish you luck this new year as well. Keep up the great work blogging!

      • Kristina January 12, 2018 at 8:58 pm

        Yes! You are correct, thank you ❤️

  • Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity January 7, 2018 at 11:37 pm

    Congratulations on two years, Jackie! I hope there are many more years to come in your blogging future 😀

    I definitely agree with your point about blogging being a chore. When it reaches that point I think it can quickly become make or break so recognising that feeling and taking a hiatus to get refreshed is the best thing. I have never taken a hiatus in my (nearly) five years, which I think is why I have been feeling burnt out recently. In hopes to reduce that feeling I’ve decided to cut back to posting once a week. My comments have been piling up, which makes me anxious, and I’ve been having a hard time making two posts a week that I am proud of AND that I think people want to read. Hopefully cutting back will help with everything. And who knows, maybe I will increase that again once I have my mojo back.

    Anyway, I look forward to your series posts, and all the things in your blogging future <3

    • Jackie B January 12, 2018 at 9:24 pm

      Thank you so much, Chiara! Your well wishes mean a lot to me. <3

      Yes! I am completely with you about the anxiety from piled up comments! I get the most anxiety from it when I am using the WordPress reader for following WP blogs. It only holds so many comments, so I can easily lose some and never see them at all if I get behind! It's distressing.

      I'm glad to see you reevaluating your time spent blogging. I try to have two posts a week, but I don't beat myself up if I don't make it. I hope that taking a step back will reenvigorate you!

  • Evelina @ AvalinahsBooks January 8, 2018 at 2:36 am

    This makes your blog slightly less than a year older than me 🙂 time flew, didn’t it… I feel like we’re still back in the start of 2017.

    Nobody does go upset over you taking a hiatus… But they might forget you. That’s what I’m mostly worried about 🙂 although I know you wouldn’t, and neither would I forget you 🙂

    Oh wow, so our NetGalley ratios are similar xD (mine’s about 52% if I remember correctly). Although I feel like mine’s harder to reach cause I still have tens of books waiting xD

    Awwwww you are welcome! Needless to say, you do the same for me <3 you're one of my closer friends, and considering I've never really even met you, that says a lot about my life?? xD

    Congratulations on reaching this lovely milestone, and I hope you will still reach many, many more!!!

    • Jackie B January 12, 2018 at 10:27 pm

      I am totally with you! Where did 2017 go?! It’s like I blinked and we’re in 2018 all of a sudden. Mind. Blown.

      You have a valid point. When people go on hiatus, I do sometimes forget about them. And that makes me sad. But I almost always get a reminder through a comment or twitter or seeing them on another person’s blog and I find my way back. This is why I kept posting, even if I wasn’t replying to comments in a timely fashion. gotta keep your presence somewhere!

      I would *never* forget you. <3

      Ha! I love that our Netgalley ratios are similar even though you have read a BILLIONTY more Netgalley ARCs than I have. You're a mad woman on that site! Or, were? Are you still using it to request ARCs in some backwards informal way? Or are you just working on increasing the ratio and getting caught up while you bury yourself in Edelweiss requests? 😉

      Thank you for all the well wishes! I hope we both have many more amazing years of blogging together. 😀

  • theorangutanlibrarian January 11, 2018 at 8:20 pm

    Happy Bloggiversary!! I love these lessons- and I couldn’t agree more- it’s so important to take breaks and honestly, the community is just wonderful, so don’t worry- everyone totally gets it. And I absolutely love your goals!!

    • Jackie B January 13, 2018 at 9:18 am

      Thank youuuu! It’s super exciting to have reached the two year mark. I cannot believe how time has flown by…

  • kingdylbag13 January 30, 2018 at 1:17 am

    Wow, that’s crazy!!! I’ve only been blogging for 4 months or so. I can’t even imagine my blog that far into the future!

    • Jackie B February 1, 2018 at 1:26 pm

      Welcome to blogging, King Dylbag! Blogs are a source of love, frustration, and passion for so many of us. You’re only starting your journey. I’m sure you’ll soon be looking back at your 2-year anniversary, as well.

      Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

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