Reading Goals for 2020

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Reading is as vital to my career as writing. Establishing reading goals for 2020 along with my personal, professional, and spiritual objectives means scheduling a plan.

I like what Stephen King says: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”

I’ll add my own quote: “How can a writer compose meaningful projects without reading about the world we live in and the people who make things happen?”

Not to be quoted, but reading keeps me sane or as close to normal as a creative person can venture.

Reading Goals for 2020

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Here is a list of my reading categories and why I value each.

  1. Blog posts that instruct me in the craft of writing, social media, and the publishing industry keep me abreast of the happenings and updates in my career. If I were a doctor, I’d be reading medical journals.
  2. Blog posts on the topics of health, beauty, fashion, and exercise help me look and feel my best. My body is meant to last only one lifetime, so I want to make wise choices.
  3. Bestselling novels are a mix of entertainment and a workbook. I love to get lost in a character’s life and problem while admiring the techniques used to keep me glued to the page. Word of mouth recommendations is a clue the story will be amazing. My writing genre is romantic suspense, but I love a solid story outside of my genre. Reading the books my granddaughter (age 13) enjoys gives me deeper insights about her likes and plenty we can discuss together.
  4. Nonfiction books range from craft, Bible, cookbooks, travel, adventure, gardening, history, marketing, and spiritual growth and development.

I believe books open our minds to journeys we might never take.

  • We learn.
  • We form opinions.
  • We laugh.
  • We cry.
  • We’re angry.
  • We’re appalled.
  • We’re entertained.
  • We establish our morals.
  • We become well-informed people.
  • We learn about world history and culture.
  • We build relationships through discussions about what we’re
    reading.

Include reading in your daily routine. What are your reading goals for 2020?

Comments 14

  1. My Reading Goals Are:
    Bible – I read through it every year with my husband. It’s a time together we grow closer to God and each other.
    Fiction – I love reading suspense, but also love stories set in Scotland
    Health – I’m learning more and more how I can be more informed, more educated and manage my health in a way that’s best for me.
    Writing – I’ve always wanted to write a book. I’m an audible storyteller so I just need to figure out how to capture that in written form.
    Cyber Security – this one is my least favorite, but likely super important. I work in CS so it’s always better for me to continue to learn more so that I can do my job to the best of my ability.
    Agile – another career reading as I’m a Scrum Master and always looking to improve my craft.

    Reply

    1. Kelli, what a great list. I value reading the Bible in a year with your husband. Of course reading suspense makes me happy. 🙂 Like you, my health, diet and exercise, is super important. Our bodies are holy temples. Writing – I can give you some guidelines if you’d like to email me at diann@diannmills.com. Cyber Security is an area we all need to learn. What is a Scrum Master?

      Reply

  2. Reading goals this year include:
    -books on creativity (research for a course I’m creating)
    -a Bible study focus each quarter (currently studying Ezekiel)
    -Christian suspense (a genre I hope to break into, but absolutely love reading!)
    -writing craft (soaking up the tools of the trade)
    -biographies (not something I’ve read a lot of but would like to delve into more)
    -books that make me look at a topic from a different perspective

    I aim for about 100 titles each year which is completely doable with audio books in addition to print books. I keep a spiral notebook with me when I’m reading, or take a quick dictation on my Notes app if I’m listening on my phone.

    Reply

  3. My goal is 50 books + reading the Bible through. I have become without intention, a study reader. That means I keep highlighters, black pen and even color markers handy in my comfortable reading locations at the house. I dissect the material. It forges it in my memory. because I do it all the time, it naturally increases my writing depth.

    Reply

  4. I am encountering such reversals, that working time takes much of my time, and that includes, not reading as much as I usually would. I agree, those who write, need to read. Reading is like having
    a variety of conversations each day, week, or month.
    I have five books which I must read, as a part of improving, and upgrading my writing. I have read through the Bible a few times. Last year,I focused on the first five book books of the Old Testament, focusing especially on Moses, and learning from him. This year, I am focusing on Joshua, and on the
    minor prophets.

    Reply

    1. Frances, time is an important element for all of us. I’m reading a 365 day devotional based on the Torah. I guess the biggest reason why we need to fight for time to read is so that we can apply what we learn.

      Reply

  5. I read 234 books last year. I want to slow down some this year. I’m working on #10. I work in my church library so I get pretty much 1st dibs on new books. I will slow down as our books have slowed down. I still have my kindles. That is where I’m getting most of mine these days. Love reading. It was my first pleasure that I remember. Mother read to me, I think, when I was still a fetus. That was one of the many things she gave me, the love of reading.

    Reply

  7. Reading Goals for 2020 :
    1. Entire Bible in a year with commentary
    2. 50 books..
    half fiction, half non-fiction
    3. read at least one writer’s blog a day
    4. compile a list of future reads
    5. join and contribure to a local writers’ group

    Reply

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