Are you stuck in a reading rut, always gravitating toward the same genres? Expanding your literary horizons can be exciting and rewarding, and a reading journal is the perfect tool to guide your exploration.
In this post, we’ll show you how to use your journal to discover new genres, track your progress, and reflect on the books that surprise and delight you.
1. Set a Goal to Explore New Genres
Start by setting a goal to read a certain number of books from unfamiliar genres. Use your journal to:
- List the genres you’d like to explore (e.g., fantasy, historical fiction, non-fiction).
- Create a tracker to log your progress.
- Note your starting point: Which genres do you already read regularly?
2. Research and Add Recommendations
Your journal can also serve as a hub for new book recommendations. Dedicate a section to:
- Titles you’ve discovered online or through friends.
- Award-winning books from genres you’re exploring.
- Classic or foundational works that define a genre.
3. Reflect on Each Book
After reading a book in a new genre, use your journal to reflect on the experience. Ask yourself:
- What did you enjoy most about this book?
- How did it differ from the genres you usually read?
- Would you explore more books in this genre?
4. Create a Genre Tracker
Track the genres you’re reading with visual tools like:
- Pie Charts: Show the percentage of books you’ve read from each genre.
- Bar Graphs: Compare how many books you’ve read in different genres.
- Color-Coded Logs: Assign a color to each genre and mark them in your reading log.
5. Join a Genre Challenge
Use your journal to track a genre exploration challenge. For example:
- Read one book from 12 different genres in a year.
- Focus on a single genre each month.
- Explore genres by pairing them with seasons (e.g., cozy mysteries for fall).
6. Track Your Favorites
As you explore, you’ll likely find new favorites. Dedicate a page in your journal to:
- Books that stood out in each genre.
- Authors you’d like to revisit.
- Themes or tropes you discovered and enjoyed.
7. Use Prompts to Deepen Your Exploration
Prompts can help you reflect on your new genre discoveries. Try these:
- How did this genre challenge your usual reading preferences?
- What themes or styles were unique to this genre?
- Did this book inspire you to explore the genre further?
8. Stay Open-Minded
Not every book or genre will resonate with you, and that’s okay. Use your journal to note what didn’t work and why. This helps refine your preferences and guide your future explorations.
Ready to Start Exploring?
Our Bibliophile’s Bliss Reading Journal includes templates for tracking genres, reflecting on books, and organizing your reading goals. Whether you’re diving into fantasy, science fiction, or memoirs, it’s the perfect tool to support your journey. Download your free sample here and start exploring new genres today!
Exploring new genres is a great way to broaden your literary horizons and discover stories you might not have encountered otherwise. With a reading journal as your guide, you can track your progress, reflect on your discoveries, and fully enjoy the adventure of stepping outside your comfort zone.
Happy journaling!
