So long, 2021! We dealt with a lot of reading slumps, but that didn’t stop us from adding more books to our TBR list. Our reading goals for 2022 are going to look a little different, and they’re definitely going to involve the books we already own. Our writing goals are going to look a little different, too, including a 52-Week Challenge we’re setting for ourselves. We’re sharing the details below, so you can join us and we can all up our writing game in 2022.
Another Book on the Shelf’s Duo on their Reading Goals
Let’s kick things off with our new reading goals for 2022. As you know, this is an annual tradition for us and it helps to keep us focused on our reading amidst all the other distractions in the world. We may hit these goals, we may not, but either way we are putting a new target up.
Jette’s 2002 Reading Goals
I did manage to hit my goal of 30 books this year so I’m feeling confident. Though maybe over-confident? My goal for 2022 will be 30 books again but with an asterisk. The real goal is 50 books with 20 of those being graphic novels or comics. I have a stack of graphic novels I want to read and Hoopla (an amazing app that lets you borrow comics from your local library), I know I can hit my goal.
I need to get over the idea of “saving” or “drawing out” the reading of graphic novels. I read quickly so I can crush a whole one in a day but that feels like I’m not savouring the experience enough. I need to realize that the reading experience with a classic print book versus a graphic novel is different and speed is totally okay.
My other reading goal is to work through my TBR. My Kobo and my physical book shelf are bursting at the seams. I plan to make a list of all the books I currently own and want to read so I can work my way through it in 2022. Now if only I could manage to not buy new books… LOL
Gen’s 2022 Reading Goals
I did not hit my reading goal for 2021. I set it at 60 books thinking it was a challenge within reach, having surpassed that number in 2020. Alas, I did not anticipate the reading slump and brain fog that 2021 would deliver. I’m very close to hitting 50, and I’ll manage if I finish my current read before midnight on the 31st. The appeal of that nice round number might serve as enough motivation for me to pull it off.
I considered setting my goal for 2022 at 50. It seems like a reasonable compromise and one that’s within reach even if I end up on the reading struggle bus again. But I have some long books that I’d like to read in 2022 — one of them being the absolute monster that is Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon — so I’m setting my goal at 40. This will give me some space for the long books while taking the pressure off. The Storygraph lets you set page count goals as well, so I might do that. That is if I can figure out what a reasonable number of pages would be…
Top 6 Books Another Book on the Shelf Is Looking Forward to Reading in 2022
Jette’s Top 3 Books for 2022
The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Hawkeye: The Saga of Barton and Bishop by Matt Fraction and David Aja
Gen’s Top 3 Books for 2022
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Another Book on the Shelf 2022 Writing Goals
Ray Bradbury said, “If you can write one short story a week—it doesn’t matter what the quality is to start, but at least you’re practicing, and at the end of the year you have 52 short stories, and I defy you to write 52 bad ones.”
We’re taking his advice and giving ourselves a 52-week writing challenge. But we’re not limiting ourselves to short stories. Both of us are trying to branch out in our writing, so we’ve decided that anything goes — short screenplays, essays, comic book scripts — as long as it’s writing, it counts. We’ll use prompts if we need some inspiration. We’re also going to be pretty loose with the guidelines. The only stipulation is that we have to write one thing every week and hold each other accountable.
Jette’s 2022 Writing Goals
Honestly, writing in 2021 didn’t really happen. I did outline two full fanfic stories so hopefully I’ll actually get writing those in the new year. My main focus is just going to be writing – whatever it is. That’s why I love the 52-week challenge Gen and I have given ourselves.
The only true goal I have is to turn my convenience store vampire story into a graphic novel script. This is an idea I’ve had for years. I can remember Gen and I in the lounge at the gallery and it coming to life. I’ve written it as a novel and tried to force more than what I envisioned it to be. I realized I was seeing it as a tiny graphic novel and it didn’t have to be a full 300-page story so I’m going to work with a friend to get it illustrated and maybe it will be fully complete in 2022!
Gen’s 2022 Writing Goals
In addition to the 52 weeks of writing, my goal for the beginning of the year is to finish the first draft of my YA novel. I had hoped to finish it by the end of the year, but now I’m aiming for the end of January or February.
I have some other ideas that I want to develop and another finished manuscript that needs overhauling. As part of the 52 weeks of writing, I plan to experiment with form and style, and try my hand at writing screenplays and essays.
My overarching goal for both reading and writing is to drop all the rules. I’m going to follow where the vibes take me. I’m going to let myself write something terrible. It’s time to embrace the messiness of the creative process.
Another Book on the Shelf’s Exciting 2022 Plans – Stay Tuned!
With all those books and writing plans for 2022, we can’t wait for the new podcast episodes coming out soon. First, we’ll be talking about Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney, our current book club book. After that, we’re diving into Chloe Gong’s Our Violent Ends, the sequel to These Violent Delights. We’ll be back with some of our favourite podcast series like Book to Screen with The Martian and more.
A few other lofty goals we have include relaunching our Patreon and starting a graphic novel book club. We are also hitting our 100th episode so we might have to plan something fun for that!
Here’s to 2022 and all the books and writing to come!
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