I’ve done the Goodreads challenge every year since 2011, and I’ll be doing it again in 2020. It’s a simple challenge—just how many books you plan to read during the year.
Over the years, my target has ranged from 150 to 200 books, and I’ll be aiming for 150 books again in 2020.
I will supplement that with some personal targets, similar to last year. I want to keep expanding my reading, which means proactively deciding to read debut and new-to-me authors. I set a target of 50 last year, and hit it (just!). Some of those authors I probably won’t read again, but there are many I want to add to my ongoing reading list.
Another 2019 target was to read 50 or more self-published or indie-published books.
There are some great self-published books out there, many from authors who initially published through a big-name publisher but who have now moved to self-publishing. As an added bonus, self-published books are often a fraction of the price of traditionally published books (yet the author earns as much or more per copy). So that’s another great reason to support self-published authors!
My final personal target for 2019 was to read at least one book on writing craft and one book on marketing each month. I didn’t do so well on these challenges, but think they’re important, so will try again in 2020.
So my personal reading challenges for 2020 are:
- 150+ books read in total (which does include novellas).
- 30+ books from debut or new-to-me authors.
- 50+ self-published books.
- 60+ books off my to-read piles (ebook and paperback).
- 12+ marketing books.
- 12+ books on writing craft.
Obviously, some books will count for more than one challenge—a self-published book on writing craft from a new-to-me author will count four times 🙂
