Allison: #BEA14 Resolutions

Allison’s BEA ’14 Resolutions

Pack a small suitcase
I’m taking my packing very seriously this year. The past two years I have had to bring giant suitcases with me to BEA because I had brought so much clothing – some of which I could have done without – and last year my big suitcase caused me to get stuck in the subway turnstile with April laughing hysterically at me. So this year I’m vowing to pack smarter and hopefully lighter so that I can have a small more reasonable size suitcase to cart through NYC.

Strike up conversations with people in line
Similarly to April (and Cassie) I’m not one to just randomly strike up a conversation with someone else without being approached first. It’s just never been in my nature! I do hope to change that this year at BEA because I feel that the past couple of years that I’ve gone I haven’t met as many people as I could have due to my shyness. Also: if you see me in line, please don’t hesitate to come up to me and introduce yourself. I would LOVE to meet you … and of course I love to talk books.

Talk to people in the booths
Once again due to the shyness thing, I feel that I’m not quite as recognized as a blogger at BEA by some of the publishers. I’ve had the privilege of meeting some of them during the past couple of years, and I think some of them know of me because of my posts here at Good Books and Good Wine but, some of them I also haven’t actually spoken up to. I plan on trying to change that this year, and really trying to invest in some good connections.

Pass out business cards
This kind of aligns with the previous two but I do have some beautiful business cards that I’ve had since BEA 2012 which I would love to part ways with. Also, I  want to be able to make more connections this year. So if you see me, ask me for a business card, I’d be more than happy to give you one!

Eat! Bring snacks! Stay hydrated!
The past couple of years I have been pretty good about having snacks with me (in terms of granola bars , fruit snacks, or beef jerky) because previous experience has told me that large crowds, warm weather, and lack of food are not good combinations for me. I have to be careful that my sugar levels don’t drop or else I get dizzy and feel like I want to pass out. Thus, I usually try to be prepared with some form of a snack food.  This year though I also want to make sure that I’m staying hydrated as well because I know that lack of fluid intake can be just as damaging for me.

Take pictures!
It makes me really sad that I don’t have that many pictures of people I’ve met at BEA over the past couple of years. Especially when I know I won’t get to see them again this year. So this year, I seriously vow to take more pictures. I probably won’t have my actual camera since I’m pretty sure that had bit the dust but I should have a relatively new phone which will be just dying to have pictures added to it. So, if you see me, and we’re hanging out, PLEASE please please let’s take a picture to remember our time together?

Hang out with people outside BEA
Speaking of hanging out I really want to do more hanging out outside of BEA this year. Even if it’s just a trip to Pinkberry, or getting drinks or walking around NYC, or sitting in a park somewhere and discussing books I want to do it. So if you’re free, and you want to hang out, hit me up (twitter: @bookishfeminist). Maybe we can even make a group activity out of it!

Less personalized books
Unless it’s a book that I really want to have my name on I’m going to try really hard not to have autographs be personalized.  This way I know that I can pass the book along to someone else who may love to read it after I’m finished it. Also if I’m not necessarily a fan of the book, I don’t have to feel like I have to keep it just because it’s signed and personalized.

Limit the books I obtain
I have been pretty good with this in the past but I still feel like I need to write it here as a reminder. Mentally I know that I do not need all the books but sometimes when you’re on the floor knowing what you need or do not need and actually following through with it are two different things. Last year I was better with this than the first year so I’m hoping this year will be the same. Especially since this year my reading time has been even more limited than before due to grad. school.

Have fun!
This for me is the most important of my resolutions. I want to kick back, relax, and not get caught up in all the craziness that can be associated with BEA. I want to make sure that BEA 14 is an experience to remember. Whose with me?