Let’s talk about anything bookish!
I’ve been trying to write this post for a while now and I’m glad that I am finally going to talk about this! See, a couple of months ago, I read a few posts by book bloggers about getting overwhelmed with blogging. This is totally understandable, especially if you are a new blogger (bookish or otherwise). In fact, there are a ton of articles talking about growing your email lists, increasing your stats and visits and whatnot and it does get overwhelming.
In fact, I really don’t have a good advice for you other than blog for pleasure. Sure, there are many reasons why people blog and if making $$$ is not a huge priority for you, then stop, take a deep breath, and think about WHY YOU BLOG in the first place.
Blogging is a hobby for me. In fact, I started blogging waaaay in the dark ages – in the early 2000s – and I have had multiple bogs that have long since gone the way of the dodo. Actually, I Heart Romance & YA is my longest active blog to date! This is because I have since come to terms with the reasons why I blog.
I blog of PLEASURE.
One of the pitfalls a new blogger has is trying to do too many things within so little time. For example, requesting a ton of ARCs or eGalleys than they can handle, joining all the bookish memes ever and trying to comment on all the blogs ever! While this is an AMAZING goal, it will totally lead to blog fatigue and as a result – blogging for pressure. Which is so NOT FUN.
I blog for PLEASURE.
Last year, I talked about creating a blogging schedule that works for you. In this post, I discussed how you can juggle IRL and your online life and try to balance it as best as you can. It’s not a full proof plan but it has worked for me thereby lessening my stress.
I blog for PLEASURE.
While I review ARCs and eGalleys and also join blog tours, I only request or sign up for books that I will actually read. I don’t even download all the eGalleys/eARCs that I get auto approved for! I know, it’s crazy. But it did take me a number of years to stop my trigger finger and request or download these blasted things.
I read for PLEASURE.
I also read for fun! It’s my escape and a way for me to wind down from my busy day. While I can “read” faster now with audiobooks, I am still a mood reader at heart and I don’t ALWAYS pick up books that I SHOULD read ASAP. As a result, I mostly post reviews to older books, and not always the ones that just came out. Again, I’m not worried about this.
I have a life IRL.
While I’m an introvert and I don’t go out much, I still HAVE a life IRL. I don’t have time stressing out about my blog and online stuff and also worry about going out with friends, sleeping, eating, and even working! I still have to pay the bills so working is a must and I MUST eat – maybe sleeping is not as important (because who EVEN SLEEPS?). Seriously though, it’s still important to get out of your cave once in a while.
I blog for PLEASURE.
If you’ve been following me for a while now, you will definitely see how a mood blogger I am. There are weeks where I don’t post and there are weeks that I don’t post a review. And THAT IS OKAY.
There is nothing wrong about that. And I honestly think that you won’t lose your readers or followers because of that. I still have a few blogs that I follow regularly and comment on so even if I don’t post on my blog, I still visit these blogs throughout the week.
BLOG FOR PLEASURE.
What I’m trying to say is that blogging should be fun and not an obligation. Sometimes life happens and you have to stop. AND THAT IS OKAY. The internet will be here and we won’t be going anywhere!
Do you have any blogging tips for new bloggers?
Are you under a huge pressure to blog and release content? Share your reasons why and if you think this is a good idea.
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Wonderful post. I am with you- pleasure blogging is the way to go 🙂
Definitely! 🙂
Great post… It’s a wonderful reminder to me and others to remember why they blog. It’s hard and we sometimes forget that this is not a job it is for fun for pleasure. ^_^
Angela @ Angel’s Guilty Pleasures recently posted…Review: Generation 18 (Spook Squad #2) by Keri Arthur
I totally get what you mean! I used to stress out about it and actually got too overwhelmed and burned out. Now, I have a new schedule that works for me and I am happier and post more!
I agree with you wholeheartedly.
My blog will never be big, so I just relax, and blog for pleasure as well. Many visitors (I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!) always tell me how they never heard of the books I read, but hey, blogging for pleasure means reading books that sound interesting to me. I Pretty much gave up on social media (I tweet a little), and would rather use the time to blog hop or read.
My blog will never be big, too but I’m okay with that. I’m not in it for fame or fortune (LOL) but I do this because I love it and it’s a way for me to relax and get away from the real world.
I used to be the worst at this- sooooo much pressure! But then… I kind of calmed down. For the most part. I will still feel guilty when I don’t post for a bit, I just no longer feel guilty enough to force myself ? But definitely the pleasure route is by FAR the better option. Otherwise, you’ll inevitably burn out, because let’s face it, at some point, things aren’t going to grow at some exponential rate, and if you’re only in it for stats and such… you’d end up disappointed! Love this post!
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight recently posted…August 2018 New Release/Of Books Giveaway Hop Sign Ups
Thanks, Shannon! Yes, I used to obsess over this so much before until I really burned out and did not post for MONTHS! I started blogging again and changed the way I do things about 3 years ago and I find that not stressing over everything was the best decision ever!
This is such a great post! I’m struggling right now and kind of over both blogging and reading, and a large part of that is because I’m drowning in all the ARCs I requested (and got approved for…) and I just don’t have time to read them all! Let alone review and blog about them, lol. And I’m SUCH a mood reader, right now I have a stack of books from the library and I’m so torn – do I read the ARCs piling up, or my library books that are due soon? Better avoid the issue all together and go play World of Warcraft… LOL I also have a full time job and a family that includes my 4-year-old and 2-year-old sons, so it’s not like free time is just growing on trees, waiting to be picked… Thanks for the reminder that I started this because it’s a fun way to connect with other booknerds. 😉
I can only imagine, Elley! I don’t have kids and I am also struggling! But yeah, I always think of blogging as fun and a way to relax 🙂
This is something I think a lot of bloggers really need to hear, including me! I’ve been struggling to find motivation to blog recently, and have been trying to force it, but that’s when it starts to feel like a chore. I blog purely for pleasure too, so a better approach would definitely be to just blog when I want to.
Thanks for this post! I totally agree with everything you’ve said 🙂
Laura recently posted…6 Easy Crafts To Try
Definitely! I still have a schedule that works for me but I don’t force myself to post when I don’t have the time (or the inclination) to. I find that to be very helpful.
I am much grateful for this post! For most of us, including me, it’s like a tap on the shoulder and a reminder to not freak out so much. I post whenever I can (I don’t do regular recaps and I am not faithfully posting memes on a weekly basis) BUT I still freak out inside every time I see new posts from blogs that I follow and I don’t have anything new to offer. But yeah, we all need to calm down because it’s not good for our mental wellness if we are so anxious to keep up with everything. 🙂
Jennilyn V. recently posted…Wandering Thoughts: I Am Proud of My Own Blog Design
I used to be like that, too. Now, I am more relaxed. I try to schedule things ahead of time but real life does interfere so I mostly let things slide. Here are a few things I learned: focus on one or two memes, maybe one that you absolutely love that are easy to do on a weekly basis (I do Top Ten Tuesday), I only do a monthly wrap-up post and a recap every two weeks. I link it to 2 weekly recap memes but I only participate every other week. Weekly was just too much for me. 🙂 Hope this helps! And don’t stress out too much!
I used to feel more stressed about “keeping up” with blogging, but now I’m much more relaxed about it. I blog on my schedule, and I don’t stress about it. I have certain goals (like getting to all the discussion posts linked to the challenge), but even those I get to when I get to them. I used to worry a lot about that. Now, not so much.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction recently posted…Sunday Post: Pre-Order Deals & Giveaways Galore – 8/12/18
Same! I think you post more than I do, though! LOL I’m also a mood blogger so it doesn’t do much for my productivity. 😀