Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. This week’s prompt is Online Resources for Book Lovers (what websites, podcasts, apps, etc. do you use that make your reading life better?).
Hello Readers! October is flying by, but the cooler weather and pumpkin-spiced-everything is nice. 😉 I’ve been filling up my drafts folder with October and November blog posts, preparing myself to have more free time to write for Nanowrimo next month, and I have to admit, I’ve enjoyed it! I wish it was something I could stay on top of. Maybe that will be a goal for 2022! Who else is planning on joining in Nanowrimo?
When I first saw the prompt for this week, I felt momentarily overwhelmed. But once I started thinking about all the bookish online resources I use daily, this post came together quickly. 🙂
Let’s take a look at what I chose!
1
Goodreads
Goodreads has its faults, but I haven’t found another book source that’s more encompassing of everything I want and need regarding books. I also use StoryGraph, but to me, it doesn’t replace Goodreads at all. Goodreads needs a major update, and I have used the Beta version of the latest update, but it’s still lacking in some areas. I find myself switching out of the Beta and returning to what I’m comfortable with. (Btw, friend me by clicking below!)
2
Another source that has its problems is Instagram or Bookstagram. When I first joined into the Bookstagram community, it was fun and felt like a kind of bubble. But then Facebook bought Instagram and the algorithms got messed up and not as many people see my posts anymore. It kind of killed my momentum and I don’t seem to have the desire to make Reels, which dominate the top of the feed. So while I still use Instagram, it’s more of an enhancement to the blog and a way to connect with other bloggers and authors. (Follow me and let me know you’re on Instagram so I can follow you back!)
3
Book Riot
I think I’m signed up to almost every Book Riot newsletter they have: YA, Recommendations, Mysteries, Nonfiction, SFF, Library, Deals… Their website has great articles, bookish news, podcasts, and they have the Read Harder Challenge, which I’d love to attempt one day.
4
Authors
One of the best sources of bookish information is my favorite authors! I’ll check out their websites, sign up for their newsletters, follow them on Instagram or Twitter so I can stay up to date with their latest books and maybe get early copies, free books, bonus material, or discounts. A few of the authors I like to follow are Maggie Stiefvater, Katherine Center (especially her newsletter), Cassandra Clare, Priscilla Oliveras, Adrienne Young, Ibram X. Kendi, and Camilla Isley (she has great bonus material and free books in her newsletter). I’ve attended a book signing with Maggie Stiefvater, as well as a writing session she hosted.
5
Publishers
Publishers’ newsletters will often have giveaways, sign-ups for advanced copies, or advertise sales, so I make sure and sign-up for their emails. I will also follow them on Instagram or Twitter to get the latest news.
6
Netgalley
Netgalley is my primary source for Advanced Readers Copies. It’s a blessing and a curse.😍 It’s very easy to find yourself tapping that request button for every book you’re remotely interested in, only to be overwhelmed when you get approved for more titles than you expected. After many years of using Netgalley, I’m finally getting better at pausing and thinking before I hit request. Now I ask myself if it’s a book I’d purchase and that seems to help me make the tougher decisions. There’s also Edelweiss (or now I think it’s Edelweiss+ ??), but I’ve never signed up for it because it confuses the heck out of me. Although, I’ve heard readers say once they figured it out, they liked it better than Netgalley?? I know there are a lot of blogs and articles comparing the two or instructing readers how to use them. If you’ve recently written one of those posts, feel free to share the link in the comments!
7
Reading Challenges
This is my fourth year to participate in the Popsugar Reading Challenge. Ever since I’ve discovered it, my reading has diversified and my comfort zones have been stretched. You can check out what I’d planned to read in My Popsugar 2021 Reading Challenge post and what I’ve actually read in My Popsugar 2021 Mid-Year Reading Challenge Update. I also like to set a reading goal on Goodreads and participate in smaller challenges throughout the year, like the Trope-ical Readathon. I’m currently participating in the Classics Club Spin!
8
Shelf Awareness
Another great source for new books, bookish news, or ARCs is Shelf Awareness. I try to read their newsletter every day.
9
Paperbackswap
One of my favorite sources for used books is Paperbackswap. I’ve been using it for years. I add books I want to unhaul, gain credits when I mail them, and pick out new-to-me books with those credits. I pay $20 a year to have an extended wishlist of 500 books, so when the books on my wishlist come up, I get notified and I have several days to accept them. My wishlist is HUGE, which means I usually end up getting offered several books a month. Click on the link below to join!
10
Nanowrimo
This resource is for writers, but many readers have dreams of being writers, right?! I’ve participated in Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) in November (and some Camp Nanowrimo sessions in April or July) since 2013 (skipping one year, I believe). And if you’ve ever had visions of writing your first book, I recommend Nanowrimo as a great place to start. If you have kids or teens who like to write, I recommend the Young Writers Program, as well. I taught a creative writing class for teens with their Young Writers material (free online), and used the materials along with my class, learning a lot myself. 🙂
Do we share any resources? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
I used to use Goodreads all the time, but rarely do anymore. I still added it to my list. However I also love Alicia’s add on of the blogging community being a resource! Wish I’d thought of that. 🙂
The blogging community is a good one!
Yes, well… NetGalley was great to begin with, but over the past couple of years, they’ve been elbowing out all the international reviewers who don’t live in “normal” countries. That’s why I had to go over to Edelweiss and I’ve had much more luck there. It really isn’t as confusing as you think, and I believe that there are publishers who will send out physical copies of books to the “normal” countries.
Hmm. I haven’t heard of that. Definitely something to think about.
Great list of resources! I’ve signed up for a couple. Does paperbackswap extend to Canada? I am trying NaNoWriMo once again. Hope to do better this year. Haven’t tried Net Galley – will check it out. Thanks!
No, sadly, I think Paperbackswap is only in the US. But I’ve heard there are things like it available in other countries. Yay for participating in Nanowrimo! Good luck with it. <3
Great list! I find Author Twitter and publisher newsletters to be a great help.
I’m on Twitter, but I don’t use it as much as I wish I did. 🙂
LOL… usually I use it more than I wish I did. 😉
Haha! I hear ya!
What a great list Dedra. I had not heard of Shelf Awareness, so will spend some time checking it out today.
I hope you get to check it out!
I read yesterday’s newsletter. It looks like a good site. Thanks for sharing it.
Oh yay!
These are all great resources! I probably use Goodreads the most.
Me too! I’m on it several times a day. 😉
Goodreads is definitely my go-to bookish resource. And author newsletters is a close second. I love not only the latest book news from my favorite authors but also the extras they share: freebies, what they’re working on, their private lives, etc. I use Netgalley now and then but finally quit on Edelweiss. I didn’t find it nearly as user friendly and I was approved for much less at Edelweiss.
Oh ok. It’s nice to hear an alternate view on Edelweiss. Just thinking about trying to figure it out and switch over from Netgalley gives me anxiety. 😉
Good luck with Nanowrimo! I know people poo-poo on GR, but I like it. I am not starting over somewhere else. NG is my downfall. It’s where I request too many books. LOL! I guess I find a lot of book stuff on Twitter, but honestly, it’s because of the bloggers I follow
You’re right! We should stick with what we’re comfortable with. It definitely does stress me out thinking about changing from Goodreads. I do wish they would hurry up and update it, though. 😉
Good luck with NaNoWriMo!! I’m impressed that you’ve gotten yourself ahead so that you can focus on writing in November.
Thank you! This year I’m not writing something new. I’m editing a previous Nano project so I want to be as organized as I can. 😉
Great list, Dedra! I have Storygraph as well but I definitely still gravitate more towards Goodreads as it’s just so much more complete. Bookstagram used to be *the* place for me to find new reads but I’ve really disappeared off there and hardly go on anymore! Shelf Awareness looks cool—will definitely have to check that out 😃
Same here! If Goodreads would just add half stars, it would be almost perfect. 😉 And I contemplate giving up on Bookstagram almost every day. Haha!
You have several that I have not heard of, thanks so much for sharing!! I will be checking several of these out. Here is my link: https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2021/10/top-ten-tuesday-online-resources-for.html
Yay!! Happy someone discovered something new here. <3