Top Ten Tuesday for August 20, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. <~~~Click Here to learn more and join the blog hop!

Top Ten Tools & Tricks for  Book Bloggers

I've been book blogging since before I really understood the concept, but it's only recently that I've gotten consistent about it. That's due in large part to figuring out some tricks and tools that make it easier to include this puzzle piece into my overall all over the place life. Here are ten things that make my life easier as a book blogger. 

10. My Goodreads phone app--I could not keep track of my TBR list without it. And I loooooove going to Barnes and Noble and adding books by simply scanning the barcode. It's the little things, people. 

9. YA Stands chats--every other Thursday I cofacilitate a chat with my fellow YA Stands bloggers where we talk about all things YA and wonderful. It's an awesome place to find out what people are reading and to meet readers and writers with similar interests. Occassionally shenanigans ensue. You should check it out. The next one is on Thursday, August 29th.  

Find out more about YA Stands HERE. 

8. Blog memes--Thursday's Children, What's Up Wednesday, and Top Ten Tuesday keep me up to date on what's going on in this community. I like to check out what people are reading and which books provoke visceral, intense reactions in their readers. Basically I'm nosy about what you peeps think are cool book wise so I can read them, too. It's a lot easier than, first of all finding TIME to go to Barnes and Noble, and then reading the back of all the books with pretty covers. 

Gawd I love book covers. 

7. Well-read friends--There are certain peeps on my twitter timeline that when they start to talk about a book, I pay attention. For some of them it's because we have very similar tastes in books, for others it's because they are thoroughly entrenched in the publishing industry and have their fingers on the pulse of what's pulsing. 

Get your mind out of the gutter, people. This is a family show. 

6. NetGalley--Seriously, what did people do before NetGalley? I'm not sure. I definitely didn't get my hands on ARCs without a lot of legwork before I stumbled onto that site. 

5. My incredibly supportive husband--I'm really not sure why he puts up with me. This has absolutely nothing to do with book blogging specifically, but, well, he does a lot of ish around the house so I can stay up all night reading and complain all day about how tired I am. So I figured he could use a shout out even though he never EVER reads my blog. 

Like, ever. 

4. Insomnia--I have a 1 year old and a full time job. The only time I have to read is between midnight and 6AM. Luckily (I think?) I'm usually awake until around 2 or so. Last night it was 2:30 because I was aaaaaalmost done with OPENLY STRAIGHT and I *had* to see how it ended. (I won't spoil it for you.)

3. Google Calendar--I'm a little calendar dependent. In terms of book blogging I use my Google Calendar which syncs to my phone and my work calendar to keep track of reviews I've set deadlines for, Book Birthdays, dates I already have stuff reserved on my blog (like author interviews) and also so I can remember to tweet about posts I've pre-blogged. I set reminders for myself that pop up on my phone so I can remember who I am and what I'm supposed to be doing. It works most of the time. 

2. Conferences--when I go to physical conferences I can't come home without a bag full of new books. And any time I participate in the online writing community, my TBR list grows by leaps and bounds. 

1. My inspiring book fiend of a daughter--I read GOODNIGHT MOON four times tonight. And I'm kind of okay with that. 

Okay, what tools do you guys know about that I should be using? I'll take all the help I can get.