Welcome to the wild world of book blogging! I'm sure you're looking around wondering what you've gotten yourself into. If you haven't deleted all traces of a fledgling blog over the last 10 days, then you're a champ, in my opinion.
No one would blame you for walking (running) away. Twitter has exploded with hashtags ranging from #HaleNo to #AuthorYes to now #BloggerBlackout. I get it - book bloggers are an overwhelming group, especially when you whip us into a frenzy. And lately, there's been a lot of frenzy happening that's shone a big ole spotlight on our community. For better or for worse, we are a community and now you're part of it. Of us.
Again, welcome.
Maybe you're just considering blogging and haven't made the plunge. Maybe you're halfway into a blog design and about you launch yourself into the interwebs. Maybe you've been blogging for a day. Maybe a month. Maybe you've been blogging for a few months and this latest online disaster is making you consider throwing in the towel.
Drama aside, I get it. Bloggers are a tough nut to crack. I spent a long time on the fringes of the blogging community, not really feeling accepted. I would make attempts to interact with better know bloggers and would be met with silence or quick, dismissive comments. Even now, after 3 years of this, I still sometimes walk into a conference or an event or a twitter conversation and wonder what I'm doing here.
Book blogging seems like such a simple thing: I love to read, so why not share that love? But there is a never ending TBR, and posts to schedule, tours to sign up for, promo posts to tweak, rafflecopters taking off and landing everywhere you look ... There's trying to build a rapport with publicists and readers and other bloggers. It's exhausting and for every mountain climbed, there's another one right behind it; another blow up on the horizon.
So why do it? Why throw yourself into this chaotic fray of html and social media?
Because, every now and then, you find those moments that make it all worth it.
You find that book that you never would have discovered without blogging.
You find your best friend in a goodreads forum.
You meet an author who is even more awesome in person than online and actually knows you.
You connect with a group of bloggers living less than a mile from your home that you can laugh with and go to movies with and bring you cupcakes when you have a sick day.
You find a whole group of friends willing to entertain your crazy ideas and let you be you.
So yes, this community is big. It can be scary and overwhelming and flawed, sometimes with more drama than an episode of Days of Our Lives. But it's ours and you're part of it. So go out there and do your thing.
We've been waiting for you and your voice to arrive.
All my love,
Hannah
What a great post after so much negativity! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAwesome Hannah! And I always kind of feel on the fringe :P Hope that passes with time.
ReplyDelete- meghann
Nice post. I'm on like the outskirts of the outer edge of the fringe of bloggers. I knew about the #HaleNo, but #AuthorYes and #BloggerBlackout are new to me. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post. I know when I started it was really awkward and intimidating and I can't imagine how it would be for someone starting in the midst of all this. I hope that new bloggers aren't scared away from this drama. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Hannah! It puts the craziness into perspective, Right?
ReplyDeleteThis was such a sweet post Hannah. I'm still a baby blogger and sometimes I feel like "the outsider" but this makes me feel a bit better to know someone as awesome as you felt the same way at one point. It is quite daunting so thanks for the encouragement. Xoxo
ReplyDelete😝❤️📚Britt @ pleasefeedthebookworm.com
What a sweet post! I feel like this post is really for me. I'm not a newbie. Well, sort of. I started from scratch again and it's kind of hard, actually, you know, starting over again. :D
ReplyDeleteHannah, that was beautiful. I haven't been a book blogger for very long, and in the beginning it was really overwhelming. This definitely made me smile.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post! Everybody needs a little encouragement from time to time!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
So true. Nice one :-)
ReplyDelete