The Nonfiction Challenge

While my blog is called I Am Nonfiction, it can be said that I do not read much nonfiction, unless assigned for school. Most of what I have found is dull and uninteresting. However, many people I know love nonfiction and I’m wondering if I’m looking in all the wrong places. So this is my quest for good nonfiction, preferably books that teens can enjoy too.

I’m not sure if people will be interested, but I thought that I would post about this and see if other would like to join. My rules are below, but you can add more if you’d like.

The rules:

1. Read ten nonfiction titles and review them. No audiobooks. You must read them.
2. Sign up with the Mr. Linky at the bottom with a link to your post about this challenge. If you don’t have a blog, no worries. Just say you’re interested in the comments form.
3. With each review I post for one of my nonfiction books, there will be a Mr. Linky for you to post yours.
4. Reviews do not have to be on a blog. You can use Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.
5. This challenge will end August 4th, 2010. You can join anytime before then.

My plan is to read one book a month. I haven’t found any interesting titles yet, so if you have suggestions, I would love to hear them. As I said before, I’d like to find ones that teens can enjoy too, since this is a YA blog and all.

I wish you the best of luck if you’re participating.

Bloggiesta: Wrapping Up

Okay, wrapping up Bloggiesta.

So I accomplished some of the things I wanted to do. But really failed with the reviews. Basically, starting last Thursday, I've been in a review slump and unfortunately Bloggiesta didn't help much. However, I was able to write one review. I also changed my subscription to FeedBurner and added an RSS icon in the sidebar and a link to subscribe via email on the bottom sidebar (I might add the actual form later, but it just didn't look so great with the layout). But I won't write out all the things I did, I'll give you a list:

Friday I…

• Removed contests that have ended on my sidebar.
  
• Wrote my review for The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart.
  
• Found some great tips for my blog.
  
• Wrote a post stating my policies in reviews, contests, interviews, and gust blogs.
  
• Made a Gravatar.

Today I…

• Planned a bit.
  
• Did some planning and wrote a post about a new blog feature (post not published yet).
  
• Wrote a post for said feature.
  
• Moved around the links on my header.
  
• Replaced the old RSS/Atom (I still don't know the difference) feeds with my FeedBurner feed.
  
• Wrote a Summer Reading Goals post (scheduled to be posted)
  
• Tried and failed at making a favicon.
  
• Began my review for I Know It's Over by C. K. Kelly Martin. (and stopped because I got uninspired.)
  
• Posted my review for The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart on Goodreads.
• Added Meta tags.
  

Total Time: 11 hours.

(You can see my original Bloggiesta post to see what I did and did not accomplish too.)

Well, 11/48 isn't so great, but my goal was 10 so I'm content. Still have a lot of reviews to do, but school ends Wednesday so more time. I should just take a week off from reading, but the thought is so impossible…

Anyway, I had a lot of fun at Bloggiesta. Thanks to Natasha at Maw Books Blog for the idea and to all those who participated or watched! :]

Bloggiesta Update # 1

Okay, a Bloggiesta Update, in which I tell you what I have been doing in the last 10 hours.

Friday, June 19:

6:00 pm – Start! (And posted the post saying I'll be in Bloggiesta)

6:20 – 7:20 – Looking at tips for blogs and fixing my comment settings (thanks Natasha)

7:25 – 8:20 – Writing a review for The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart.

8:23 – 9:30 – Writing my policies.

9:40 – 10:10 – Looking at more tips and getting rid of finished contests.

Saturday, June 20:

1:00 – 1:30pm – Planning what to do today

2:00 – 2:25 – Writing this post.

Time Done: Nearly 5 hours. (my exact will be on my ending post)

I still have quite I want to accomplish, but I won't be home until later tonight. Perhaps an all-nighter? I shall see later. My goal is to get at least 10 hours.

To see what I want to do, check out my original post with the To Do list!

Bloggiesta is hosted by Natasha on Maw Books Blog.

Blog Update: Bloggiesta!

So, via Twitter, I've been following Natasha @ Maw Book Blogs. When I heard about Bloggiesta, I had to join in! If you are too lazy to click the link, the Bloggiesta began this morning (Friday, June 19, 2009) at 8 am and ends Sunday at 8 am. That's 48 hours! Bloggiesta is a Challenge to improve your blog. And while I'm new, I've got a few thigns I want to do. So, I'll be posting a To Do list down below and checking things off when I get them done. I'm not sure how much I can complete but I'll try!

If you're intrigued, come join Bloggiesta and follow updates on Twitter using #bloggiesta in the search bar.

Reviews to Do:

• Just One Wish by Janette Rallison
  
• I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin
  
• You Know Where to Find Me by Rachel Cohn
  
• Such A Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess
  
• You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay
  
• The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
  
• Need by Carrie Jones
  
• The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
  
• How Not to be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler
  
• The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
  
• This Is What I Want To Tell You by Heath Duffy Stone
  

Interviews to Plan:

• Think of questions to ask [___]
  
• (If you're interested in doing an interview and/or gust blog, email me!)
  

Special Posts:

• Library vs. Owning
  
• Hardback vs. Paperback
  
• Which Bookseller?
  
• Summer Book Goals!
  

Blog Work:

• Finish Blogroll (email if you would like to be added)
  
• Work on Sidebar
  
• Write Review/Contests/Interview Policy
• Delete old contests
• Fix comment settings 
• Change to FeedBurner
• Add Meta tags
  

Start time: 6:00 pm EST (I count when I started writing this post)

And Go!