I love the analogy of reading/writing being like inhaling and exhaling. I could also replace reading with life there. Living and writing feel like inhaling and exhaling. Experiencing and making sense of the experiences. Writing pictures.
Joining the echo, Substack is probably my schmökern too.
Keep the schmökern in mind as we journey through this year, Kezia. It had wandered from mine during a particularly busy few days this week, you've reminded me and nudged me back. So, thank you :)
Ah, I'm trying to read a more varied range of books (not just self-help & memoir!) this year, too. I'm trying out a local book club -- and I've also started using The StoryGraph. Would love to make more friends on there, I'm @jasraj on there.
(For those who don't know already, it's an indie Goodreads-alternative; you can import your Goodreads catalogue, too)
I love this reminder of the inhale~exhale of writing/reading... it feels so much lighter to think of reading as part of the writing process vs totally separate from it <3
Thank you Nika! Yes my German friend said it has real images of cosiness, and taking your time, and picking up a book not to read from cover-to-cover, but just to look through and enjoy. I love it! Thank you for being here 3<
Im still with goodreads as I enjoy the communtiy aspect of it there, that you can message and comment on friends posts - storygraph does unfortunately not offer that yet. However I am very fond of storygraph and their stats!
I’m also feeling in 2024, a “hunger for all things creative... Like an arty sponge I am simply devouring words ~ illustration ~ music ~ beauty, in all their forms.” So how am I “schmorken”? By reading on Substack simply for the joy of it. 🤓🥰
I use Goodreads and Storygraph in parallell haha 🙈 Because as much as I dislike Amazon, I find the Goodreads has a more user friendly view of your TBR and read books. And also, I follow some reviewers on Goodreads that I find have similar taste as me 😕 The stats and book review infos I love though!
Somewhere that I can't find now, you asked if there was a way to organise the TBR on Goodreads. There is! You click "batch edit" in your to-read shelf (on laptop, not in the app) and the drag and drop the books to the order you wish. And then you can sort the shelf by "order". That's how I think about what to read next, I drag books back and forth on my Goodreads TBR... 😂
Oh darn it, if only I had a little more patience and hadn't deleted my Goodreads! That sounds super. But...I would 'waste' *even more* time then, perhaps! Storygraph does let you order your next 5 reads, so maybe I will have to settle for that now. Thank you Elin, always xo
I’ve switched from Goodreads to The Storygraph too, and I especially enjoy their stats. I love the idea of reading predominantly joyful fiction and hope you’ll share some recommendations later in the year.
I've never used Goodreads, always been a pen and paper reading record tracker. I love the act of writing the name of the author and title in my yearly notebook on completion of a book, it's a lovely way to say goodbye to one world/idea but know it's still with me.
I always aim for 50ish books a year, one a week or thereabouts. I'm inhaling books in this season though so this may push out. I read for an hour nonfiction in the mornings and then as much fiction as I can in the evening before nodding off.
I find the more I read the more I feel inspired to write. It is a wonderful duo 💫
I've been using StoryGraph for a couple years but for some reason can't seem to let go of GoodReads, so I track with both. I'm not sure what it is that's keeping me attached, but I think I'll have to examine that soon and decide whether to finally cut ties.
I too broke up with Goodreads; a few years ago now, at the same time I broke up with Amazon. It was a bit of a toddler-tantrum type break up - I lost all my lists as I flounced off swinging my teddy bear 😅
Love this post, Luisa...my kindred wobbler and Little Free Librarian. Interestingly, I've devoted January to reading. Writing-on-demand (a personal, weirdly constricting schedule put in place by me in 2023) was NOT making me happy.
Also coincidentally -- my friend -- I, too, have been questioning Goodreads. I've been a member since 2013 and of late, I find it's filled with terrible reviews 'written' (I swear!) by bots. Essentially, I use it to record my book lists. I did the Reading Challenge last year and failed miserably b/c I was writing too often, rather than reading. Ha!
I've written my Endnotes for RVR. The piece apologizes to fellow my Substack writers b/c I feel like I'm failing in the whole mutual/reciprocal support aspect of this space. I am not a full-time writer. This isn't my career nor do I wish for it to be -- I've lived half my life without a computer or 'the world wide web.'
Screens irk me. And webs are for capturing things -- I generally avoid ensnarement. 🕷😉🕸
As for schmökern, I'm a sucker for anything with an umlaut. I rail against trendy words, though -- like hygge -- so, I'll likely keep my usage of this marvelously intriguing word to a minimum. I'd hate to fit in.
We are living parallel lives on other sides of the globe and I LOVE IT ❤️
Anytime I feel I should 'do a little more' online I have genuinely been thinking "What would Jessica say?" (And you almost always answer "Step back!") 😊
I could just cry with how much we FEEL everything.
I am realising that I am not a full time writer either, as you say (barely a part time one) and I have so many interests, in so many varied areas, that I can't restrict myself to one. And to do 'well', we undoubtedly have to throw ourselves into just one. But that isn't our gig, and that's okay.
I think this whole post, now, was actually me trying to say "I'm going off reading now, so may not be writing here much in the coming days/weeks/months 🤣
Reading is really high up in my values for 2024, alongside building my back strength and finding confidence as a runner. Those are my priorities, and yes, we must trust them as such.
You are a total beacon, a lighthouse for me, always xo
Hi Luisa, thank you for introducing me to StoryGraph. I’m there if you want to be friends! Swisscesca24 (I think! - just signed up and my brain seems to have holes in it since having Covid over Christmas). xx
Oh I just discovered Schmokern today on Instagram! What a fab word 😊. But I’m not a big fan of the “book goals”. I prefer to just read. Some months I devour books, others not so much. Also, big thanks for the goodreads alternative, I’ll be adding that to my new things to try in 2024 😍
There is so much content here to breathe in, soak up and imbibe.
I need my journal and pen.
But visually it's so beautifully presented - the images, the para breaks, the whole elegant package. It's soooo inviting.
I think I'm going to love subscribing here...
Prue, you're making me blush :)
I just love elegant design and presentation and wish I was as skilled.
Very grateful as I didn't know I was skilled in that area, but I do try very hard to think about *all* the elements :) Thank you x
This was a beautiful morning read, thank you!
I love the analogy of reading/writing being like inhaling and exhaling. I could also replace reading with life there. Living and writing feel like inhaling and exhaling. Experiencing and making sense of the experiences. Writing pictures.
Joining the echo, Substack is probably my schmökern too.
Writing pictures, oh the joy...!
Keep the schmökern in mind as we journey through this year, Kezia. It had wandered from mine during a particularly busy few days this week, you've reminded me and nudged me back. So, thank you :)
Ah, I'm trying to read a more varied range of books (not just self-help & memoir!) this year, too. I'm trying out a local book club -- and I've also started using The StoryGraph. Would love to make more friends on there, I'm @jasraj on there.
(For those who don't know already, it's an indie Goodreads-alternative; you can import your Goodreads catalogue, too)
Thanks Jas! Have just shared a voice note (from my beach) about how I'm planning my next few creative weeks to be. You may enjoy it: https://writingaroundtheedges.substack.com/p/this-writerly-life-voice-notes-1?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2 💗
Thank you for sharing, I'm going to have a listen on my drive shortly 😊
I love this reminder of the inhale~exhale of writing/reading... it feels so much lighter to think of reading as part of the writing process vs totally separate from it <3
Mmm yes Kristen! Have a look at this Note just shared too, you may enjoy the piece by Madeleine Dore:
https://substack.com/@luisaskinner/note/c-47707052
I have made a The Story Graph account only a few days ago and I'm looking forward to use it!
I'm also from Germany and I love the word you picked.^^
Thank you Nika! Yes my German friend said it has real images of cosiness, and taking your time, and picking up a book not to read from cover-to-cover, but just to look through and enjoy. I love it! Thank you for being here 3<
Yes, that's exactly the vibe the word 'schmökern' gives me too!
Im still with goodreads as I enjoy the communtiy aspect of it there, that you can message and comment on friends posts - storygraph does unfortunately not offer that yet. However I am very fond of storygraph and their stats!
thanks for a lovely post! :)
Yes, maybe the two together?! (Oh dear!) Thank YOU 3<
I’m also feeling in 2024, a “hunger for all things creative... Like an arty sponge I am simply devouring words ~ illustration ~ music ~ beauty, in all their forms.” So how am I “schmorken”? By reading on Substack simply for the joy of it. 🤓🥰
That is a MARVELLOUS way to look at it!
Thanks for helping me to see it so clearly. I’m in joy. 🤗
I use Goodreads and Storygraph in parallell haha 🙈 Because as much as I dislike Amazon, I find the Goodreads has a more user friendly view of your TBR and read books. And also, I follow some reviewers on Goodreads that I find have similar taste as me 😕 The stats and book review infos I love though!
Somewhere that I can't find now, you asked if there was a way to organise the TBR on Goodreads. There is! You click "batch edit" in your to-read shelf (on laptop, not in the app) and the drag and drop the books to the order you wish. And then you can sort the shelf by "order". That's how I think about what to read next, I drag books back and forth on my Goodreads TBR... 😂
Oh darn it, if only I had a little more patience and hadn't deleted my Goodreads! That sounds super. But...I would 'waste' *even more* time then, perhaps! Storygraph does let you order your next 5 reads, so maybe I will have to settle for that now. Thank you Elin, always xo
I’ve switched from Goodreads to The Storygraph too, and I especially enjoy their stats. I love the idea of reading predominantly joyful fiction and hope you’ll share some recommendations later in the year.
I've never used Goodreads, always been a pen and paper reading record tracker. I love the act of writing the name of the author and title in my yearly notebook on completion of a book, it's a lovely way to say goodbye to one world/idea but know it's still with me.
I always aim for 50ish books a year, one a week or thereabouts. I'm inhaling books in this season though so this may push out. I read for an hour nonfiction in the mornings and then as much fiction as I can in the evening before nodding off.
I find the more I read the more I feel inspired to write. It is a wonderful duo 💫
Beautiful to record on paper Stephanie! There are a few of you here (and the rest of us are curious too!)
I've been using StoryGraph for a couple years but for some reason can't seem to let go of GoodReads, so I track with both. I'm not sure what it is that's keeping me attached, but I think I'll have to examine that soon and decide whether to finally cut ties.
I could do with a bit of that cautiousness, I'm always so quick to cut ties! And I do like a tidy, minimal phone screen 🤭
I'd settle for a happy medium! 😅
Oh, the dream...🤣 Yes!
I too broke up with Goodreads; a few years ago now, at the same time I broke up with Amazon. It was a bit of a toddler-tantrum type break up - I lost all my lists as I flounced off swinging my teddy bear 😅
Oh Wendy 👏🤣 That's just my style too!
I'm amazed I had the patience to transfer mine over 🤣
Do you still track your reading now, using a notebook or other online way?
I’ve been keeping lists all over the place, not very organised at all. I’m just about to take a look at storygraph...
Love this post, Luisa...my kindred wobbler and Little Free Librarian. Interestingly, I've devoted January to reading. Writing-on-demand (a personal, weirdly constricting schedule put in place by me in 2023) was NOT making me happy.
Also coincidentally -- my friend -- I, too, have been questioning Goodreads. I've been a member since 2013 and of late, I find it's filled with terrible reviews 'written' (I swear!) by bots. Essentially, I use it to record my book lists. I did the Reading Challenge last year and failed miserably b/c I was writing too often, rather than reading. Ha!
I've written my Endnotes for RVR. The piece apologizes to fellow my Substack writers b/c I feel like I'm failing in the whole mutual/reciprocal support aspect of this space. I am not a full-time writer. This isn't my career nor do I wish for it to be -- I've lived half my life without a computer or 'the world wide web.'
Screens irk me. And webs are for capturing things -- I generally avoid ensnarement. 🕷😉🕸
As for schmökern, I'm a sucker for anything with an umlaut. I rail against trendy words, though -- like hygge -- so, I'll likely keep my usage of this marvelously intriguing word to a minimum. I'd hate to fit in.
We are living parallel lives on other sides of the globe and I LOVE IT ❤️
Anytime I feel I should 'do a little more' online I have genuinely been thinking "What would Jessica say?" (And you almost always answer "Step back!") 😊
I could just cry with how much we FEEL everything.
I am realising that I am not a full time writer either, as you say (barely a part time one) and I have so many interests, in so many varied areas, that I can't restrict myself to one. And to do 'well', we undoubtedly have to throw ourselves into just one. But that isn't our gig, and that's okay.
I think this whole post, now, was actually me trying to say "I'm going off reading now, so may not be writing here much in the coming days/weeks/months 🤣
Reading is really high up in my values for 2024, alongside building my back strength and finding confidence as a runner. Those are my priorities, and yes, we must trust them as such.
You are a total beacon, a lighthouse for me, always xo
I just adore you, Luisa! 💚
I actually just started using Goodreads, but I might need to look into Storybook. Thanks for the suggestion!
Storygraph
See which you like best! StoryGraph feels a little more friendly and comforting to me 😊💗
Hi Luisa, thank you for introducing me to StoryGraph. I’m there if you want to be friends! Swisscesca24 (I think! - just signed up and my brain seems to have holes in it since having Covid over Christmas). xx
Yay! Think I've found you 🤓✨️📚 x x
Oh I just discovered Schmokern today on Instagram! What a fab word 😊. But I’m not a big fan of the “book goals”. I prefer to just read. Some months I devour books, others not so much. Also, big thanks for the goodreads alternative, I’ll be adding that to my new things to try in 2024 😍
Fab word isn't it 😊 Fills me with ease...xo