As I’ve had a couple of times this summer where I haven’t had time to blog, the idea for this post has been mulling around in my head for awhile now. I had my first blogiversary in May and more than ever blogging has become such a part of my normal routine that when I’m not blogging I’m very aware of it, and it makes me sad. It’s made me reflect on why I blog, what I love about it (now rather than when I started), and what exactly I miss most when I’m not updating my own blog or participating in the blogosphere. For some reason I was kind of surprised – and frankly, pleased – at what emerged.
As some of you know, when I started blogging, I had been posting reviews on Goodreads for some time. I had a few Goodreads friends who commented on them regularly, and besides the outlet for writing it offered, I relished the feedback I received. I’ve come to the conclusion that that’s why I blog now – to share with like-minded bloggers and readers my love of reading and to participate in an online community where I have instant friends and am always meeting new people with whom to discuss books. Gushing about my favorite authors and book is something I really enjoy but there’s nothing that can make me happier than favorable response to a review or a discussion post that has got people talking, particularly when the bloggers I know best are included. It took me writing posts that don’t get that reception or not blogging at all for a week or two to realize how much I thrive off of that kind of dialogue.
What I don’t blog for are review copies, which isn’t to say that they aren’t nice but that wasn’t the case when I first started blogging. I had no idea until I really got out in the blogosphere – commenting, meeting other bloggers, and establishing my own small corner in it – how much I’d love being part of the community, how I’d feel like I have friends in every part of the world, and how much meeting them in real-life would become a dream of mine. These kinds of interactions are how I measure success here at Book Harbinger, so thank you. My association with you is so rewarding and I never want to live without it.
Love this post, Holly! And I can really relate with everything that you said. My blog is still about communicating and reaching out to fellow book lovers all over the world. I love talking about the books that I read because I’m not able to do that with real life friends. I mean I have friends who read but I can’t gush or rant about my latest discovery all the time, they’d probably find it boring. And I enjoy meeting up with fellow Filipino Book Bloggers but only a handful of them read the same kinds of books that I do. So I still love my blog because it enables me to interact with book friends like you.
And yes, it would be awesome if we ever get to meet in real life.
I agree with everything you said. I was very active on Goodreads prior to starting a blog, and I love being part of this community!
People that start blogging just for ARCs probably realize pretty quickly what a time commitment keeping up a blog is, I bet they don’t last too long normally! Especially since (hopefully) they can’t get access to a lot of free books without having a good blog established.
Isn’t it fascinating how blogging can quickly become a fixed part of your daily routine? Anyways, I agree with your post as well. Book blogging’s definetely changed my reading tastes and I’ve made some wonderful friends
I love it when someone picks up a book based on my opinion and come back and tell me that they loved it too. I only have one other person, at least with pretty much the same taste in books as me, to talk to IRL and that is my sister so the book blogging community is just a wonderful thing to me really. To be able to talk with all these fab bloggers and authors about the stories I loved and the ones I didn’t.
I never knew review copies existed either back when I started blogging but I soon discovered it. I have to admit that I thought it sounded nice to get books that I liked, but it wasn’t, and it still isn’t, my reason for blogging. Now I do get some review copies, I’m very grateful for that, but I also see now that it’s not all fun and games, it is a commitment as well.
I loved reading your post, Holly, and thanks for letting me ramble a bit in your comment section
Thanks, guys! I have a few sisters and other family members that I push books on and we are able to have the occasional chat about them but it’s not quite the same. I’m so glad I have you guys to rant and rave to.
I’m lucky enough to know you IRL as well as virtually. So I get to yak at you in person and on the screen. But it did all start on GoodReads, didn’t it? I’m so very glad you started blogging and hope you never stop.
Wonderful post, and I particularly agree with what Allison said – it is a HUGE commitment, and one that I’ve been struggling with in the last couple of months. However, you are so right – there is something magical about interacting with other readers on the same books – I especially love when I get to meet some of them in person.
i love this post. i am so glad i found your blog.
and i think i need to remind myself why i blog as well ~ which is very similar to why you blog (although i have gotten very slump-y with my blog lately…