So far this year, I’ve made more money from reading than writing.

As the year started, I re-dedicated myself to my flailing “Reader Blog” with a bang. In 3 months, I read and reviewed a whopping 35 books so far! My aim is to get to at least 100 for the year, so that’s 8+ per month.

I started off the year top-heavy as I’m sure life will get in the way, so I’m already 1/3 of the way there — woot!

…Only, one small problem: that doesn’t leave me with a whole lot of time to do my own writing!

The thing is, “writing” isn’t just actually creating and typing up a story.

As an indie author, writing is about 20% vs. the marketing and selling your soul which is 8,000,000%. And yeah, I’ve had zero energy for that lately! So my sales dipped. Ah, well.

On the plus side, a few authors whom I wrote reviews for were kind enough to “buy me a coffee” via my Kofi page:

Mind you, this is given AFTER I’ve already posted the review, and there is absolutely ZERO obligation to pay a dime because — as I’ve explained at length — I do not believe in paid reviews.

So when someone does decide to show their appreciation, it’s always awesome to get even the tiniest amount (or even a social mention, or even a simple thank you!) when you weren’t expecting it, as you know it was given from the heart!

The Gig Industry

Apart from these authors who donated, my slew of reviews also helped me to land a few paid clients who wanted my help as a “beta reader“. I received great reviews — probably because I’m opinionated so my “beta-read” is like a deep-dive developmental edit!

I had flirted with the gig industry years ago, but ultimately decided it’s not for me as the money just isn’t worth the time.

Now, I reactivated my gigs with the intention not to make money at all (though that’s nice) but to connect with other authors, and I have no regrets.

I’m sure I’ll deactivate my gigs again when my actual full-time job gets too demanding, but (thanks to my limited social life at the moment) for now there was a sufficient window to squeeze in a few beta-read jobs, and I’m glad I did.

It’s been a thrill to read some truly AMAZING works-in-progress. I can’t wait to see them fully launched onto the world, and to know I had a part to play in refining it!

Anyway… it all goes to show, I’ve recently done a fair amount of contributing to the writer world… even though I’ve barely written!

I know this isn’t sustainable, because obviously my Hart & Cole characters are NOT pleased, but it’s been great to sit back and just READ for a change.

The “Accountability” of Reading

I love reading. Like, really love reading.

As a child, I always had my nose stuck in a book, and that was me right up until adulthood. Then, my degree and its endless reading lists soon made me feel guilty about everything that I read for fun.

My reading waned, faltered, and eventually tapered off into the odd book every blue moon. Every few months I had a spurt, and then it died down.

Last year — new motherhood, global pandemic — was the absolute WORST in terms of my reading, and that’s what drove me to take a stand! For the love of reading!!!

Now, having a “Reader Blog” holds me accountable to “show the goods” .

Every month I post my Reads wrap-up to social media, and throughout the month I post my reviews to my website’s Reader Blog and Goodreads. By creating a space to hold my reviews, I am asking for help to keep me on track as well.

Reading as “Research”

There’s so much joy in reading.

As a writer, it’s also so important to read — both in your genre and beyond it — to stay inspired.

I’ve done so much research, without even thinking of it as “research” via the 35 books I’ve read for the year thus far. And I intend to do so much more!

So even if it means my Writing side will suffer for awhile, my Reading side has been neglected far too long and needs a little love.

If you’d like your book to be considered for a Review (at no cost, and also no guarantee I’ll choose it, or that it’ll be 100% positive!) read full Policy here, and then fill out the Review Request form here.

If you’d like to donate to my Reader Blog, to help me continue supporting other writers, you can do so via my Kofi page here.

You can also check out my other services for writers here: