As many of you are well aware, trying to organize your review pile can seem like a full-time job. With the physical books received, combined with ebooks obtained by request, as well as blog tours, it seems like the pile keeps getting bigger and bigger... and harder to keep track of.
I have been blogging what I would consider to be full-time (posting reviews regularly) for over a year now. From day one I have always kept track of all of my blogging dates, etc. on my iPhone. I needed something that was ALWAYS at hands reach... and my phone is. I used the calendar for alerts of specific posts, as well as the Notes app to keep track of my books for review. Well, let's just say my Type A personality has had a bit of trouble with this. I made up a spreadsheet instead with all of the columns necessary... but since I have a computer at home and another at work (without internet access, none the less) it was hard to keep up to date on the spreadsheet since I couldn't always access it. Ugh. After several missed books (the release date passed by and I hadn't yet read the book), plus my calendar app on my iPhone acting up on me, deleting random entries and causing me to be late on posts, I went back to the old school planner. I figured this would solve all my problems... everything in one location.
Well... let's just say I'm not in love with this idea either. It's bulky to carry around with me, and I already miss the electronic alerts I'm so used to getting. I just can't seem to figure out a method that really fits me and my lifestyle. I'm beyond frustrated about this whole topic, and I thought what better than writing about it and getting opinions from the people that know best... other book bloggers!!! :)
So here are my questions:
- How do you organize your review pile?
- Do you list books in a spreadsheet? If so, what information do you include?
- Do you use a physical daily planner or calendar type book?
I think it would be much easier if I was home and had everything in one location... but the fact that I work means that part of the time I'm checking emails, signing up for blog tours and receiving books for review from home, another huge portion while at work, and the rest is on my iPhone while chasing around my toddler or doing other free-time-type activites. So I need something that can always be with me. My iPhone app was perfect... until it messed up and deleted important information. I can no longer rely on it for such an important task. Now I'm so lost...
Thanks so much, my amazing bloggy pals, for helping me out with this problem!! I look forward to learning from the best! :)
Oh, girl. It is SO a full-time job. I was just complaining to my friend Jen that this should BE my full-time job. :P
ReplyDeleteI'm a spreadsheet and physical calendar kind of girl. Actually, it's a workbook, not just one spreadsheet. I have one for nearly every aspect of blogging. What I've got to read, what I've already read, scheduling WoW posts, giveaways, etc. And still I feel unorganized. :(
But I'm learning to only do what I can and not set such high goals for myself. Easier said that done, but I'm trying. :) Still, sometimes it just seems like I should go back to reading for the pure enjoyment of it. I say to myself, "So what if you have to actually wait till day of release." And then I freak out and think, "Wait? WAIT?!? No freakin' way." Yes, I'm a little nutso. We're friends...I can admit that, right? :P
For some strange reason I just knew you would be a spreadsheet girl like me. :P Sooo... Is this spreadsheet on your phone? Is it on a complete you bring with you from work to home? That's my biggest issue. Id love to keep my spreadsheet, but I have to print it constantly since it changes so often. I'd love to figure out a better way...
DeleteThanks for your advice! :)
Computer, not complete. Sorry... Darn iphone autocorrect...,
DeleteNope...I don't do anything with my phone except listen to audiobooks...besides the normal phone stuff, anyway. I use an Excel workbook that I email between my personal email and work email, depending on where I was when I last worked on it. I used to just print it out all the time, but it got so big that I was afraid for the trees. :) It's weird because I have several friends who keep track of this stuff in a Word document, but I just find an Excel spreadsheet to be so much more customizable and sortable. Which works really well for me because I change the way I organize things quite often. :P
DeleteLOL. I think "my friend Jen" up above there would be ME. So hang on, I've got to see what other Jen said about organization.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm NOT a spreadsheet person at all. I do keep a spreadsheet of books I've read because I want to do a year-end stats post. But I hate that spreadsheet.
I find I do need a master list because some review books are on my kindle and some are on my shelf and one is on my phone.
I just keep a list of review books in a Word document. It's chronological by release date. I note the release date, the publisher, and whether I got it from Net Galley or Edelweiss. Once I've read and reviewed the book and posted my review on GR (and NG or EW) I delete the book from the list.
I also have a (paper) blog calendar where I plan my posts and note down tour stops that I've committed to. I may start setting up a separate blog calendar on my iPhone.
Another thing that really helps me is I set up Collections (like folders) on my Kindle by month. So all my May review books are grouped together. That helps me a lot.
Hmmm... Thanks so much for the pointers!! It seems like you have a great little setup there. Maybe I should stick with the paper route. It's so difficult trying to figure out the "best" way to stay organized. Ugh!
DeleteI'm a physical calendar and subject notebook person. I have a physical calendar book with month and week pages where I keep track of each post. For each post, I have the book, author, if it's a blog tour, book blast, review request, etc plus which device it's on (Kindle, Nook, Book). I also make sure the scheduled stuff (book name and type of post - blog tour, blast, review, etc) is on my Google calendar which is on my phone, too.
ReplyDeleteThe notebook is separated by different types of requests with the date I received/answered the request and the same info as for a scheduled post. Then I cross off as I get to them.
So far, these methods have worked best for me but I'm at home most days, so having to cart the physical calendar and notebook around isn't really an issue for me. I'm sure in 6 months, I'll probably find a different method and change again. Who knows!
Blogging is a full time job. But a great one!
I agree!! I'm giving the planner a chance now, but the lugging it around part is getting tougher. I appreciate your input! Thanks so much! :)
DeleteI seriously need to organize my ever growing pile. Starting with making time :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
I hear ya! It's definitely a time-consuming hobby we have! ;)
DeleteI should organize my to read list better than I do now.
ReplyDeleteBut I think I my to read list is smaller now (I am trying to be realistic) and for this moment I only buy books from a serie I already started. So, than is organizing a lot easier. And I only need to check when a book is published.
Mariska
Wow, that does sound easier! Thanks for the advice! :)
DeleteI'm glad I saw this, I was about to write my own blog post about this (I might still do that if you don't mind? I'm new to blogging and reviewing but so far I have a stack of 15 e-books to read/review as well as books I have bought etc. So far I have put everything into a spreadsheet - Title, Author, #pages, Publisher, publish date, date I finished reading, date I posted review, if I posted to AZ, GR etc. I have this at home, and email it to myself so I have it on my phone, at work if need be.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing I am struggling with is finding time to read everything I want to read as well as review, and then find time to blog non-review items. Wow I am overwhelmed, but enjoying it all the same.
You most definitely should write a post about it. Book blogging is amazing because there is such a huge community of people just like you that are always willing to share tips, pointers, and opinions. It's amazing what you can learn from your bloggy friends. :)
DeleteIt's actually great that you're overwhelmed so quickly, if that makes sense. Book blogging can definitely get overwhelming if you take on too many reviews. So now that you see what it's about, you can set a pace for yourself that is realistic and obtainable. I got overwhelmed too... and honestly still am at times. It's hard to get out once you get too deep, as new books are being released every day.
Best of luck to you! And thanks for sharing your thoughts! :)