How to make a TBR: everything you need

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Dear reader, if you haven’t used a TBR already and you wish to know how to use it, you’re in the right place! Let me show you what is a TBR, why is it important, and how to make your TBR list from A to Z!

For context:

We’re all aware of the long list of reading benefits. How it helps develop your personality, improve your knowledge, boost your imagination, etc… Yet, it is not always easy to stick to it.

Beginners find it hard to pick the right book every time. Even bookworms struggle to get into new books, especially due to reading slumps or mood reading.

So it is no secret that noncontinuous reading is widespread among us. It is completely fine, except it sometimes can slow you down, and distract you from your reading goal. It also feels annoying to keep going in and out, confused and unsure how to read.

A TBR may be your solution, an effective technique that helps you manage your readings in a fun way. Let’s see how:

What is a tbr list?

A TBR is an acronym for “to be read”, a list of books a person intends to read. Readers use it as a tool to keep their readings organized and on track. They put together a list of titles based on what they like, what they read before, and the genres they wish to explore.

Simply said, it is a technique you add to your reading habit to make it easier and smoother.

Why you should have one?

In today’s world of reading, a TBR may be your reading savior. So here is a list of reasons that will convince you to get one.

When you have a TBR:

You always have what to read next and waste no time
It provides you with a lot of choices (freedom)
It makes you feel the accomplishment
You can have it in your reading journal and track your goals
It makes your path clear so you read more
You avoid reading slumps
It encourages diversity in what you read
You get a more organized and motivated mindset

And the list of benefits goes on and on, but to feel the whole experience, let us move on to the real talk!

How to make your TBR list?

If you’re planning to upgrade your reading game, this may be the best time for you to start a reading journal. You can use it to track your books and readings effectively. Then, make your TBR there where it belongs.

If you’re not into journaling, then it’s okay. You can still make your TBR on your phone, online, on your planner, or in any notebook of your choice.

The side of how it looks and where you put it is completely up to you because the essential part is its content.

Identify your goals:

The first thing I want you to do is to define your “why”. This list of books you are making, is it for a specific genre, specific period, or a general TBR? How many books do you want to include? In what languages? …etc

I personally love to make my TBRs very general, a list of books I’m interested in that doesn’t expire. I put as many books as I find, in all languages I speak. It works for me like that and I advise you to do the same if you are not sure. This way, my goal is to collect books I may enjoy without restricting or stressing myself about the due date.

Collect titles for your list:

Now that you know where you are creating your TBR and why, it’s time to find the books!

There is surely a lot of ways to collect the titles and decide your TBR content. Here are all the ways I use:

Ask friends and family

If you have any readers around you, you can ask them for recommendations. You can ask for things like their favorite books, and why they love them. And if that person is close to you, they will know what books they read will match your personality. And so on…

Watch booktubers and bookstagrammers:

As I always say, using technology for our benefit is the solution. There are so many creators out there who put on the effort to provide to their audience. Especially in the world of books and readers.

Watching people read and talk about their books or reading reviews online can be so inspiring to you. This will give you ideas about books you may like or writers you relate to. And with time, your favorite creators will be a big source of book recommendations.

Explore new areas:

Stay free and open to new styles! Look for different genres and let yourself try something new!

True that we all have a type of books we prefer, but when it comes to a TBR you want to keep it diversified and interesting. To avoid boredom, slumps, or losing that habit. So always include new styles to you.

Add more of what you like:

And yes, do not give up on what you like.

To find more books to read, think about what you already enjoy the most. You will find online lists of books similar to your favs, they are usually named books you should read if you enjoyed “—“. This is a good strategy to find titles other netizens classify as similar to what you love!

The books of your fav author:

If you had so much fun with a book, you should consider diving into the writer’s life too. Because writers are the essence of what they write. And chances are you will enjoy other books for them too.

The books that align with your learning goals:

Depending on your goals, you want to include some books that help you in the journey. For instance, if you are learning a new language, add beginner books to help you practice your reading. If you are already a polyglot, diversify your list in all languages to always have them part of your life.

Not to mention that reading alone helps improve your vocab, writing style, and critical thinking.

Advice to make your tbr work

You found all your titles, you wrote them down aesthetically, and time to start reading. Here are a couple of rules and advice you better follow to make it work:

Do not restrict it to a timeline (or at least that’s what I prefer, to avoid the pressure)
Do not force yourself to read something you dislike
It’s okay to fall behind (your TBR books are just suggestions, not obligations)
Keep it flexible and adjustable (having books on your TBR that you don’t want to read anymore is so fine)
Make it diverse (this is the key to stay motivated and excited to read)

Conclusion

Following this guide will make it so easy for you to build your TBR list. So take the first step, and take your reading journey to the next level.

If you are new to reading in general, this guide will be very helpful: How to start reading?

And if you’re an avid reader already, stick around for more content about reading life, reading struggles, advice and helpful tips.