Bookish Rants or Raves: Getting Organized!

Filed in Bookish Rant or Raves , The Crazy Lover Posted on January 13, 2011 @ 1:01 pm 17 comments
Ok so, a while back I talked about Bookish OCD, now I want to talk about keeping yourself organized when it comes to writing down the books you’ve read, need to read, review, etc…
I’ve found myself trying to be organized more and more. Last year I started keeping a spreadsheet of the books I read through 2010 and even though I stopped adding to it about halfway through the year, I did catch up in the end.
This year I started a 2011 spreadsheet and I’m actually adding the books I need to read for review and the order I plan to read them. I’m hoping to be more organized this year than I was in 2010 and stick with it. Goodreads and LibraryThing have both been amazing in helping me keep track of my books as well as FictFact, that helps me keep track of the series I read.

I can’t seem to be able to take notes while reading a book though. I feel like I need to get lost in the story instead of worrying about the review. I might add a stick note to a page if I feel there is an awesome quote there I can use, but that’s about it.

One thing I adopted, love and can’t live without is Google Calendars. I have a calendar for all events I have scheduled for the blog (Author Appearances) and another calendar with the review I have already written and when I plan to post them. Google Calendar is a life saver for me. I constantly forget which review I was planing to have up when, so i just pop in there and check it out hehe.

Another life saver for me is Google Forms. I have taken upon myself to use it in everyone of my giveaways and it makes my life SO much simpler! 

My favorite thing about all these tools from Google is that they are accessible from any computer, just by logging into my Google account and that makes the whole difference for me.

What about you guys? 
How do you keep track of the books you read? 
If you are a book blogger, how do you keep track of the reviews and things like that?
Do you take notes while reading?
Any organizational tips?

I’d love to know!

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17 Comments

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  • Dana Alma January 13, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Hey nena! Great informative post. I just love Google doc too an docs. I always find what I need, or just make it. I am the "post-it girl", when I review, but I 95.5% of the time get swept up in the story and have to go back and re-read anyway. Keep them coming.
    See ya,
    Dana
    Readaholics Anonymous

  • Alisha (MyNeedToRead) January 13, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    I can't have a book (or my reader) on me without also having my little "book diary". I write down little thoughts that may occur as I read (and prove exceedingly useful come review-writing time), ideas for blog posts, character names/descriptions, and whatever other info that I know I'd otherwise forget eventually. ^_^ It's my baby! (here's a photo of my old precious)

    For the TBR and keeping track of what I've read…GoodReads is my LOVE. I update as much as possible, so my reading records are nice and accurate. FictFact is indeed also awesome (and it's "Release Calendar" is a winner!).

    Scheduling my posts…that's an organizational work in progress. I used to just read, write, then post a day or two later. Now that I do many more pre-release reviews, I have to keep track of how long to hold on to content before I post it. So far the standard Mac calendar is what I use…but you've intrigued me with this Google Calendars, Larissa! I'll have to give it a try.

    -Alisha

  • Man of la Books January 13, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    I actually downloaded a WordPress calendar to my blog which helps me organize as well as being used as an editorial calendar.

    I also start a new DRAFT post whenever I finished a book (you can sort to see only the drafts).

    Good deal though – good job on getting organized.

    http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

  • Blodeuedd January 13, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    I love being organized so I get books, and then I pick a date when the review will be up. Then just before that date I start reading, finish, and write the review.

    If I start taking notes I think I would loose the will to read. But that is also why I do try to review as quickly as I can, else I forget.

    Oh and goodreads, love it for books I have read. And shelfari for books I will read

  • Celine January 13, 2011 at 2:23 pm

    I have tried to take notes while reading, but I just found it distracting and taking away from the reading experience. I have a little notebook where I write down my deadlines and reminders. Since I have a new phone I've started to use the organiser on my phone, and I'm really enjoying its convenience now.

    But I'm terribly lazy. I never write reviews before their due dates or save my ideas as drafts. Maybe I should start doing that though (:

  • LSUReader January 13, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    I use a simple Excel spreadsheet to keep track of the books I read, by title & author and if the book is electronic or paper. Kudos to you folks who have to keep track for reviews.

  • Sheree January 13, 2011 at 4:41 pm

    There's always Goodreads for putting down what I have (to be read) and what I've read (although I would just give a rating instead of a review).

  • Bea January 13, 2011 at 5:35 pm

    Goodreads has been a big help for me too. I'm rather proud of how well I've kept it up and maintained my records.

    I've also adopted Google calendar for keeping track of reviews, interviews, etc. I started a Google docs spreadsheet for tracking review books to read and reviews to write but I haven't been very good about using it.

    Organization has never been one of my better skills and I'm constantly trying to improve.

  • Larissa {Larissa's Bookish Life} January 13, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    @Dana

    Thanks! Goodreads and Google docs are awesome! hehe

    @ALisha

    ooooh book diary… hmmm Im planing on starting one! I ordered a couple premade ones =D

    I can live without my Google calendar! LOL hope you enjoy it!

    @Man of La Books

    I do the drafts thing too =D

    Thanks!

    @Blodeuedd

    hmmm i like that! I need to start doing it as well! =D

    I agree! I need to get swept away in the book =D

    @Celine

    I feel the same way!

    well, I hope we can both get more organized this year!

    @LSUreader

    oooh cool!

    Thanks! =D

    @Sheree

    oooh interesting! thanks for sharing! =D

    @Bea

    same here for me! Im trying to be mnore organized, but it doesnt come easily for me =/

  • Candace January 13, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    I'm horrible at taking notes but I do write my reviews as soon as I finish a book 90% of the time. No later then the day after.
    Google forms don't seem to work on my computer well cause I use a netbook, but I really wish they did! Goodreads and shelfari is pretty much what I use to keep organized. I do keep a calendar with events, but I find I do better just prepping a post and setting the date. I check my prepped posts everyday so I keep track of events going on in the near future.

  • Larissa {Larissa's Bookish Life} January 13, 2011 at 6:56 pm

    @Candace

    Im trying to write my reviews more promptly, hope I can keep that up LOL

  • Raonaid Luckwell January 13, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    I've started a spread sheet in '09 to keep track of my monthly reads. Goodreads use to help with that but they ticked me off on bashing reviews on authors, so I let it go. Now I just use the spreadsheet and hope that I update it

  • Larissa {Larissa's Bookish Life} January 13, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    @Raonaid

    aww pity it didnt work out for you with GR… but spreadsheets are awesome LOL

  • Jenny N. January 13, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    I keep track on goodreads. I update it with books I've read and ones that I have on my shelves. For reviews once I have 3-4 books that I've read but not written for then I won't start another book until I get those reviews written. So far its worked fine for me.

  • Larissa {Larissa's Bookish Life} January 14, 2011 at 6:19 am

    @Jenny

    I try to do the same… only allowing myself to start a new book when I've written the reviews hehe =D

  • heatwave16 January 14, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    I have an app on my Android phone called Bookworm. You scan the barcode of your book using your phone's camera, and it gets all the book's info, and saves it. It helps with inventory, and I always have my phone with me if I need to check.

    Doesn't help with reviews, but its a free app, & its easy to use.

  • Larissa {Larissa's Bookish Life} January 15, 2011 at 9:51 am

    @heatwave

    Thats an amazing app!!! sooo cool =D

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