A guide to writing a personal reading round-up with links
A “Things I’ve Been Reading” post works best when it does more than collect titles. It gives readers a path into books, essays, articles and conversations they might otherwise miss, while showing the voice of the person recommending them.
That means treating every linked item as part of a coherent recommendation. A short explanation, a clear reason for the link and a little context will make the post useful to someone scanning a crowded feed during a commute across Sydney.
Find a theme with a clear reason
Begin with the reading habit rather than a pile of bookmarks. Consider what has genuinely held your attention, then choose a theme that connects the pieces: Australian crime fiction for a rainy weekend, practical essays on urban gardening, or long-form reporting about the Pacific. A narrow theme gives each entry a purpose and helps readers decide whether the post is for them.
Your theme can also reflect how you live. Someone hopping off a tram in Melbourne may want essays about cities, while a reader in Perth might choose a winter reading list to match the long, bright evenings. Keep the range tight enough that a newcomer can follow it, and mention the occasion when it helps, such as choosing material for a holiday or a busy commute.
Collect sources while details are fresh
Save each source as you finish it, not days later when the title has vanished. Record the author, publication or publisher, the exact article title and the canonical URL. If a piece is a chapter of a larger book, note that too. A simple note beside every bookmark—why it mattered and who would enjoy it—will save you from producing a list of vague descriptions.
Next, check that each link is public, accurate and worth the click. Library pages sometimes need a catalogue search, while a publisher’s page may be the better source for purchasing details. Keep temporary or subscription-only links separate from freely available material and label access clearly. If discussion adds value, you can browse online reading discussions to compare reactions before linking a less familiar piece.
Turn each link into a useful note
Write a summary in your own words, then add one sentence of judgement. Instead of retelling an entire argument, identify the central idea and why it stayed with you. “An absorbing account of...” tells readers very little; “a persuasive case for walking instead of driving” gives them a reason to continue. Keep the description proportional, since the link should remain the gateway to the full work.
For books, distinguish a review from a recommendation. A review may weigh the writing against other books; a recommendation can focus on mood, audience and usefulness. Mention the author’s background only when it changes how you read the work. Australian readers often follow the Australian Book Industry Awards and local literary journals alongside mainstream bestseller lists, so a short note about an author’s Australian context can help without turning the entry into a biography.
Give the post an easy-to-follow structure
Organise the post around a sequence readers can understand. A short opening explains the theme, followed by grouped entries with descriptive subheadings. Each entry needs a linked title, two or three sentences of context and any details such as length, format or publication date. A brief closing paragraph can explain how the selections relate, but it should not repeat the summaries.
In WordPress, use the block editor to create those headings rather than relying on bold text. Add a featured image with meaningful alternative text, choose a clear category, and check the permalink before publishing. Internal links to earlier reading posts or author pages make the round-up part of your site’s wider archive, while tags such as book reviews or reading recommendations help with discovery.
Add Australian context carefully
Local references should support the recommendation, not decorate it. An Australian publisher, an Adelaide independent bookshop or a current local award can show readers where to find similar work. For books available in Australia, mention editions and currency carefully: a price in Australian dollars may change, so linking the publisher or a local bookseller is usually more durable than quoting a figure that will age.
Also separate what you know from what you infer. You may describe a novel as a coastal mystery, but you should not imply that its setting or viewpoint represents the whole country. Credit the source for factual claims, identify content warnings when relevant and give an honest opinion about weaker entries. Readers can then weigh the recommendation without feeling guided by a sales pitch.
Publish with accessible links and metadata
Before publishing, open every link in a private browser window and confirm that it loads on a phone. Check for missing dates, redirected pages, unexpected paywalls or a title that no longer matches your text. Test the final post from the perspective of someone arriving through a search result, and make sure the link text describes its destination rather than saying only “click here”.
When you are ready to share it, write a specific message for the channel. A sentence about the strongest idea in the reading list will perform better than a generic invitation, and a direct link to the post is usually enough. For readers who prefer a regular digest to a crowded inbox, this newsletter alternatives guide explains other ways to stay informed.
Build an archive readers can return to
A reading post becomes more valuable when it can be found again. Give the archive a dedicated tag or category, include publication dates in visible text and link related rounds-up where they naturally overlap. For more on professional writing and online publishing, browse independent publishing resources.
Review older posts occasionally, especially when a source changes address. Add a short update rather than quietly replacing the original, since readers may have bookmarked it. Seasonal lists work well in Australia: a winter indoor reading list or a spring book-festival guide each gives fresh material a clear purpose. Over time, these linked notes become a map of your interests and a record of what you have read and why it mattered.