This year I started my Christmas CCR (Christian contemporary romance) reading early to have books ready to discuss on our StoryChats @ InspyRomance podcast/YouTube. My usual process is to write a book recommendation after I read each book and schedule the post on my blog. When I’m reading a book for a StoryChats spotlight episode with the author, I’ll write notes in my phone on different story points that could form the basis for an author interview question.
The last quarter of our StoryChats recording schedule was tight. We recorded three months of episodes in five weeks. The tight schedule changed the usual rhythm of how I read, write a recommendation, and schedule a blog post. I was reading fast, taking notes on the story, and moving onto the next book. I also read non-CCR books as part of my reading marathon.
To change things up, I decided to create my own electronic Christmas Reading Journal that would form the foundation for StoryChats discussions and my Christmas blog post book recommendations. I used my Apple pencil with my iPad because I’m a ‘learn as I write’ person. The story context sticks longer in my brain if my notes are handwritten rather than an obscure typed note in my phone. I fell behind on writing and uploading my Christmas book recommendation blog posts, but I had my Christmas Reading Journal pages to rescue me and refresh my memory.
I thought I’d share a few pages from my Christmas Reading Journal for books by Inspy Romance authors that were mentioned or discussed on StoryChats. I hope you can read my handwriting (I’ll add a link to each blog post, just in case…). I’ll blog my full 2023 Christmas Reading Journal soon in my countdown to Christmas posts.
Mama Dated Santa by Amy R. Anguish
You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh
Christmas Ella by Angela Ruth Strong
Can’t Fight the Mistletoe by Jaycee Weaver
Do you have a reading journal (or track your reading in some way)? Do you have a preference for handwriting and/or typing and/or dictation? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Happy St. Nikolaus Day! I keep track of my yearly reading on Goodreads, plus I have a file on my computer for ARC authors with reviews and notes, especially for series. Happy Writing.
Posting reviews on Goodreads is the best I’ve done after reading a book.
I track the number of books I read, which includes name of the book and author, but I don’t makes notes at all about the books! I also post reviews of the books I read on Bookbub, Goodreads, and anywhere else I can, like ChristianBook and Barnes and Noble.
I don’t keepntrack of my reading, I never seem to find the time, but I would probably handwrite if I did, I always make lists by hand.
I love the record cards you’ve made, and recording the first line and another quite from the story is great, it gives you a real sense of the book. Thanks for sharing.
I keep track of the books I read on Goodreads as well as write reviews. I also keep track of the book names and authors that I read each year in a composition notebook. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Hi Renate, It’s St Nikolaus Day already? I don’t know where December is disappearing… I post NetGalley ARC reviews at Goodreads (because NetGalley asks for review links and prompts me to do it) but I tend to forget to post there. A file for ARC notes is a good idea. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Linda, Goodreads is a useful resource for tracking books. I should use it more often. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trudy, My note taking is focused on what I might need to remember later for StoryChats. My book recommendations are more story setup focused than they used to be prior to StoryChats. There are ‘read’ books in my Kindle account that I can’t remember reading, and I’ll draw a blank even after reading the book description to try and refresh my memory. My book recommendations definitely help me remember the story details. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Ruthie, Yes, finding the time to track our reading is the challenge. The Kindle app helps by marking books as read. I recently discovered via Avid Readers Facebook group that I can sort Kindle books into different collections. I think about doing it, then I think about how many books are in my account, and how long it would take to organise, and I end up doing nothing. One day…
I’m glad you liked my journal cards. It’s fun to indulge in the almost lost art of handwriting. I do a lot of my writing brainstorming work using pen and paper. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Debra, I used to have a diary where I’d track my reading by author and title. Each year I’d update a section of the new diary to include my paperback wishlist that I’d tick off as I bought the book or read it from the library. I was very good at making duplicate paperback purchases if I didn’t regularly update my diary. Now I’m spoiled by Amazon telling me that I’ve already bought the book. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I keep track at goodreads. If I wrote no one would understand what I wrote. I cant even read my own writing at times. (like minutes I take then wonder what I wrote)
I didn’t know about a book journal. If I had to read as much as you do and in a short time I know personally it just wouldn’t happen.
Hi Jenny, My handwriting is terrible when compared to when I was younger. At university I could speed write my exam essays with neater handwriting than I can do now. StoryChats is a good incentive to stay on top of my story note taking. Thanks for commenting. 😊
This is so fun! Thanks for sharing.