So you’ve decided to try making a TBR list and you’re wondering where to start? TBR lists are such a helpful tool for readers, especially when you’re trying to build good reading habits or ready to give reading goals a try. So to help you get started, here’s how to make a TBR list so you can start reaping the benefits of knowing exactly what to read next!
1. Choose Your TBR List Format
The first step in making a TBR list is to choose what format you would like for your list: physical or digital.
Physical methods include all the ways of tracking your TBR list with good old pen and paper, whereas digital formats are apps, websites, spreadsheets, and more.
Some people love recording their TBR with pen and paper as it can be easier, and it can also allow you more creativity (especially if you’re artistic). Digital methods have the benefit of being more accessible on the go (and across multiple devices), as well as allowing you more freedom in moving around or deleting titles from your list.
There’s not necessarily a good or bad choice here—you just need to choose a method that works for you. What format sounds fun to you? What format do you think you’ll actually stick with? That’s the one you should try!
2. Choose a TBR List Tracking Method
Now that you’ve chosen whether you want to go physical or digital for your list, it’s time to get down to details and actually choose a TBR tracking method.
All of the methods fall into either physical or digital mediums, but some possible options for methods you could use are:
- Reading tracker apps
- Spreadsheets (this is the one I made and use!)
- Reading journal printables (get a free printable reading journal here!)
- Note apps
- And more!
I find it best to keep your TBR list in a reading journal or reading tracker, as it helps you keep all your book-related information in one place. You can check out all the different methods for tracking your TBR in a reading tracker here!
Curious why you should be keeping a reading journal? Here are all the benefits of tracking your reading!
3. Find Good Books to Add to Your List
Once you’ve chosen your format and method for keeping your TBR list, it’s time to start adding books to it!
If you’ve been reading for a while, it’s likely you already have a list of books in your head that you’ve been meaning to read. Now is a great time to write down as many of them as you can!
But if you don’t already know of a lot of books you want to read, it’s time to start finding some good books to read. This will get easier as time goes on and you can write down books you hear about that sound interesting to you, but for now (to get your list started) here are some great ways to find good books to read!
4. Organize Your TBR List
After you have a good number of books added to your new TBR list, it’s time to decide what (if any) organization strategy you want to use to organize your TBR list.
There are several popular ways to organize your TBR, from alphabetically, to by genre, and more! You can find an overview of the different ways to organize your TBR list here, although you can also use any other method you think of that makes sense to you!
5. Read! And Continue Adding to Your TBR Over Time
Last but not least, don’t forget to actually use your new TBR list and start reading!
Make sure you keep your TBR list somewhere you’ll see it often, so you get in the habit of adding more books to it as well as using it to choose your next books to read. That’s one reason I like to keep my TBR with my reading journal, as it makes sure I know exactly where to find it. (If you don’t yet have a reading journal, you can learn how to start one here!)
Over time, you might find you need to maintain or reduce your TBR list if it’s gotten out of control. But for now, congratulations on setting up your TBR list and becoming an official bookworm!