It has happened, I’ve given in! I’ve made resolutions for the year 2022, which are neither quantifiable nor necessarily something one can track, but I’ve still made them. I’m someone who very much decides things on a whim, so setting goals for an entire year is super off-brand for me. Nonetheless, there’s a couple things I’d at least like to work towards in 2022 and seeing all my friends and fellow bloggers post their amazing resolutions and goals, I figured I should join in as well. Seen as I don’t like to put undue pressure on myself though, I’m going to try and see this more as a list of intentions than things I *have* to accomplish.
READING
I’ve set my reading goal for 2022 to 45 books on Goodreads as well as Storygraph. I know that the latter offers a lot of different challenges to participate in, but I don’t want to make this too hard for myself. The goal I chose is lower than the number of books I read in 2021, but still something I consider challenging with my work and life schedule otherwise. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to spruce it up a little.
Read more diversely!
This is genuinely always a goal of mine, but with the reading experiments and the restraints that came with that in the second half of 2021, I have to admit that everything was a bit … white. In the books I’ve chosen for myself, I’ve noticed more authors of color, but I still want to up that number (only 12 out of the 50 books I read were written by non-white people).
It’s not just that though! I’d also like to have a wider variety of characters in terms of sexuality, body image, mental health, disability, etc. in my future books. I’ve never shied away from reading LGBT+ content, but last year seemed a bit bland in that department as well.
Read more books in German!
German, for those of you who don’t know, is my primary language. I don’t particularly enjoy reading in that language, but I feel like I may be prejudiced from my time at school? I want to give this a try and chose nothing too overwhelming. I’m aiming to read 1-3 books max.
BLOGGING
As I’ve mentioned in my “Year in Review” post (which you can check out here), I have a very solid and consistent blogging schedule. I usually have about 3-5 posts up per week, but I can see that changing a little bit in 2022. No worries, the Sunday Trailer posts will keep coming. They’ve been a staple for years now, but there’s likely going to be a shift otherwise.
Which regular features will change?
Well, I won’t be doing Thursday Movie Picks anymore, because while I enjoyed myself this past year, I’m just not that much of a movie person. I feel way more at home with my TV shows, but even in that department, I’ve watched a lot less in 2021 and have no idea where I’m going. I just don’t think I have the appropriate amount of movies in my personal watchlist that would justify continuing with it. There was a point where I just constantly reused films.
Also, I am a little unclear on the whole Marvel Wednesday posts. Granted, they took a break on several occasions anyway, but while I’m aware of the planned Marvel releases for 2022, I don’t know if Disney+ will stick to Wednesdays for their shows (I did prefer Fridays, if I’m being honest) or when exactly they’ll air anyway. And there’s just not enough new movies or content to talk about weekly. So, let me know in the comments if you’d like me to continue with my episode and movie recaps! I’m sure I can fit it in, it’s just a matter of interest, which has waned considerably with each release since WandaVision.
What’s planned? What is new?
Seen as the reader compatibility series/the celeb book club is so well received, I already have two more posts planned. However, I also want to broaden and develop that feature, because I feel it fits the “Life and Other Disasters” brand so well. Initially, I wanted to read the favorite book of each actor from a show or something like that, but logistically, that didn’t pan out. I just don’t have the pull to get the information from the cast directly and the internet only provides so much. I do hope to grow the feature regardless and have some more ideas. If there’s an actor/actress/musician/youtuber/celeb you’d like to compare reading tastes with, let me know and I’ll see if I can add them to my list!
I also need another weekly or at least monthly feature I can participate in, but I haven’t found the right fit for me yet. I might go with something TV and movie related again, but I was actually thinking of maybe looking for a writerly link up! Back in the day, I used to participate in some tags for writers and even created my own. The thing is, potentially, I might have to create something for myself. This is still open as of now, but would any of you writers be interested in a monthly tag to help explore your WIP and characters? If there’s something like that out there, feel free to point me in the right direction ,but otherwise I’m really considering creating one of my own.
WRITING
Writing, as in doing anything for my works in progress, my personal novel-projects, in 2021 was … uhm … how can I put this? Non-existent?
I actually outlined something for NaNoWriMo, but then didn’t follow through and hated every word I ever wrote. I do miss the rush of creating my own characters, dialogue and worlds and I really, really, really want to make a conscious effort to just write in 2022. It doesn’t have to be anything quantifiable as in a certain number of words, it doesn’t have to be writing every day, just something. Anything. A chapter maybe!
There’s one story in particular that’s haunting me and that I’d really like to get on the page, but I have to start from scratch, because I’m not happy with the way the first chapters are now. It’s annoying how hindering it can be when you have written several thousand words and you can’t bring yourself to toss them, even though you know it’s necessary, ultimately putting you in a stalemate with yourself. I did create some nice aesthetics though …
Life and Other Disasters 
For me it’s ‘read more Croatian books’. It’s kinda sad that I know barely anything about the literature of my own country – I think being forced to read them in school definitely has something to do with that.
I’m glad the trailers post is staying – it’s very fun and useful 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
I hope you’ll manage to read some Croatian books then, Tanja! It’s a shame that school has turned us off our own country’s books haha but we got this!
And thanks so much for letting me know you appreciate the trailer posts!! ❤ Always makes me happy to hear they’re useful to people.
LikeLiked by 2 people
These are great goals!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you! I wanted to pick stuff that was achievable haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great goals! My work in progress was very much not in progress in 2021 either…also one of my goals 😂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hahaha glad I wasn’t the only one! I hope we both will be motivated enough to get some words on the page in 2022.
LikeLike
I would also like to try and read more books in Dutch, but I find that somehow the ‘writing style’ doesn’t work for me always. In most cases I just can’t get into it for some reason. But maybe I just have to get used to it again?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t know why it’s so hard, but the style of writing isn’t for me either in German? I want to try though and maybe it’s really just about finding the right author.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are all fantastic goals, I don’t know where to start! Sooo let’s talk about the books, first. I love your goal of reading more books in German. I’ve been put off by reading books in French because of all of my classes, just like you and I haven’t read a book in my language for SO long now, I wonder if I even remember how to do so haha. I think that could have been one of my goals as well! I hope you can do that and will find some great reads.
I love the idea of you creating a monthly tag for writers! I remember the ones you used to do… a while ago, they were a lot of fun to participate in and this might be what you need as well to get back into your story. I hope you will, too… and tell me more about it, of course ahah 😉 I also look forward to seeing what you’ll do with the reader compatibility series, it’s such a fun series!! 🙂
Wishing you ALL the very best!! ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You should totally read something contemporary in French. Maybe it will surprise you haha I have one classic, one historical fiction book and one new release in German on my shelf. I’m really looking forward to getting those in this year.
I’m not yet 100% sure what a monthly writing tag would look like, but I want to try something. I want to have more original content on the blog for sure and I did enjoy the write tags before. (I’m not sure if I maybe put some on private, because I privated a lot of info on my wips to be honest).
Wishing you all the best as well and thanks again for being so supportive! ❤
LikeLike
I am hoping to write and publish as much, if not more, than I did in 2021. Or at least have as successful a 2022 as I did a 2021 in the writing department. I also want to find more time to read, though I don’t know if that’s possible given how busy life is these days. And I plan to move into a new apartment, so I hope to find a good place and move in without too much trouble. Wish me luck!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good luck with all your endeavors, Rami!
LikeLike
Thanks! And you too! May we both reach the end of 2022 in better places than where we were at the start.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Best of luck with all your goals! 💕 Making goals can be so fun, even if my success rate with them is a bit rocky 😂 reading more diversely is definitely a goal I like to prioritise when reading, there are areas I would like to improve on throughout 2022. I hope you end up enjoying the books you check out in German!
I think it is amazing that you post 3-5 times a week. I hope the changes go well for you and you focus on the content that makes you happiest. 💕 I think the writing tag sounds really cool– definitely posts I would really love to read. It would be fun to participate, although I haven’t got much to be able to comment on as my progress for my WIP is very minimal. 😅 I do think it is inspiring to see people talking about their writing though so it could help me. Best of luck with your writing this year!! 💕
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Sophie! I already have 3 German books I “need” to read at home, so at least I’m set for the year and won’t have to make more purchases haha
And thanks for the support. It’s not always easy to come up with content, but that’s why I like regular features. I hope I can come up with something that others will want to join in on doing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck with your 2022 resolutions! 💕 I definitely want to read more books in German as well, I haven’t done that in ages 😅 I really want to read Cornelia Funke’s fourth Reckless book (it finally came out!) and I think Kerstin Gier also had another book coming out last year 👀 What books are you planning on reading?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank youuuu ❤ I hope your resolutions and goals will all come to fruition as well. As for the German books, it’s a mix haha I have Narziss und Goldmund by Hermann Hesse (cause I couldn’t resist the movie tie-in), Stella by Takis Würger (which is a historic novel set around WWII, but a recent 2019 release) and the anniversary release for the Knickerbocker Bande by Thomas Brezina. Not sure if he’s well known in Germany, but he and his books are HUGE in Austria. Almost every child of my generation and beyond grew up with his stories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t wait to read Where the Crawdads Sing and watch the adaptation! Happy Reading year!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I loved Where the Crawdads Sing and am looking forward to the adaptation as well. I talked about it in my book review, because I think the casting choices are super interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are great goals 🙂 One of my biggest goals for 2022 is to read more diverse kidlit (picture books and middle grade). I have a lot on my TBR that I’m excited for, so I think I should be able to meet my goal. Good luck on yours!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great goal! I can’t say I know much about kidlit, but having something specific in mind is always helpful when setting goals. I hope your year started off well and that’ll you find amazing reads in 2022.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are great goals for the new year! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I hope I can stick to them 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get what you mean about not reading many books in your native language. There’s an extensive catalogue of Welsh books, but I find it so hard to commit to reading them.
I am also here for the continued features. You know I’m advocating a Chris Pine compatibility post. The marvel content was also golden and I must admit I have no idea what’s in the line up for this year for them haha.
I’m not one to typically set resolutions and any ones I have are more life-related than reading. I think my philosophy with reading is to just enjoy what I read and not feel pressured to keep up with the latest trends.
Also what are your thoughts on storygraph?
Love these resolutions and good luck with them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so sad, because I have the German books at home. They’re literally on my shelf. I just need to actually read them.
Chris Pine is duly noted! You know I already got started on the list (but he’s not going to be one of the two upcoming ones haha).
As for Marvel, I got you covered. The show dates are still all TBA, but in terms of movies, we have Morbius (might be Sony?) on January 28, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on May 6, Thor: Love and Thunder on July 8, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part 1 on October 7 and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on November 11. I can also tell you that the release of Moon Knight, She-Hulk, Ms Marvel, Secret Invasion and I Am Groot are planned for this year. I suppose there’s also the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special in December.
Storygraph is sorta growing on me, but I’m still struggling with the desktop version. The stats are amazing though. I’ll dm you.
LikeLike