I bought 8 books at a used bookstore today. I had ‘stopped by quickly.’ Shaking my head as the lady rang me up, I told her when it came to bookstores I’m like an alcoholic walking by a bar. I’m going in. And I’m getting drunk. In this case drunk on literature 😬😂
I love stats! The 19th c historian in me just loves a bit of empiricism. Thanks for sharing. I’ve decided to keep better track of my own reading this year so I have a 🤓 question. How do you record your data?
This is so interesting, Kate, thanks for sharing! So, it appears you read ~22 client manuscripts in 2022. I tabulated my 2022 leisure reads (no day job books here) and have read 21 books. This gives me a point of comparison, and also a deeper appreciation of agents' bandwidth, and why it's such a big thing for an agent to request a full. It's certainly a big commitment of their time! Which means agents have to be picky. Sucks from the PoV of us authors :( but it makes perfect sense, and now I think I understand it better.
(Sorry for the late reply. I've been out with a cold.) I actually didn't read 22 client mss. I read fewer than that, but most of them several times. Yes, I count that because it's my game and my rules. :) The list doesn't count, though partials and unfinished drafts and proposals, which would add in a lot more client reading time. You point, of course, still stands.
At the start of 2022, I had 63 physical books on my TBR shelf. I vowed not to buy any new books until I cleared the shelf. I read 70 books in 2022 and am starting 2023 with ... 57 books on my TBR shelf. Every time I say I'm going to buy fewer books it turns out that I'm a damn liar.
(But also I think buying books is an objectively good thing to do in the world, so I'm not really trying that hard, I suppose)
I bought 8 books at a used bookstore today. I had ‘stopped by quickly.’ Shaking my head as the lady rang me up, I told her when it came to bookstores I’m like an alcoholic walking by a bar. I’m going in. And I’m getting drunk. In this case drunk on literature 😬😂
I love stats! The 19th c historian in me just loves a bit of empiricism. Thanks for sharing. I’ve decided to keep better track of my own reading this year so I have a 🤓 question. How do you record your data?
Just in a Google sheet! It’s helpful I can even update it from my phone.
This is so interesting, Kate, thanks for sharing! So, it appears you read ~22 client manuscripts in 2022. I tabulated my 2022 leisure reads (no day job books here) and have read 21 books. This gives me a point of comparison, and also a deeper appreciation of agents' bandwidth, and why it's such a big thing for an agent to request a full. It's certainly a big commitment of their time! Which means agents have to be picky. Sucks from the PoV of us authors :( but it makes perfect sense, and now I think I understand it better.
(Sorry for the late reply. I've been out with a cold.) I actually didn't read 22 client mss. I read fewer than that, but most of them several times. Yes, I count that because it's my game and my rules. :) The list doesn't count, though partials and unfinished drafts and proposals, which would add in a lot more client reading time. You point, of course, still stands.
Ah yes: rereading!! Makes perfect sense. Quality vs quantity ❤️
Yes. Absolutely. I interned for an agent for almost a year a decade ago. Very picky and selective with reads. Time.
The Alice Network and Himawari House are among my favourite books ever! Going to check out the other books on your list.
Wow, 71 books??! That's amazing!
At the start of 2022, I had 63 physical books on my TBR shelf. I vowed not to buy any new books until I cleared the shelf. I read 70 books in 2022 and am starting 2023 with ... 57 books on my TBR shelf. Every time I say I'm going to buy fewer books it turns out that I'm a damn liar.
(But also I think buying books is an objectively good thing to do in the world, so I'm not really trying that hard, I suppose)
Ok I LOVE the nerd level analysis presented here!! I need to start doing this, haha! Read about the same amount but I don’t have this kind of data.
"lol/sob" is my new favorite
Appreciate this, Kate! 🙏🏽Stay gold!
Those are quite the charts!. Thanks for sharing. I also can't stop buying new books :)