I have to admit that I’ve been thinking about why I blog quite a bit lately. Some of it was spurred on by extraneous events a couple months ago, some of it by this post by Becky, and some of it by my attempt to label all my old posts (not an easy task) in order to have some sort of organization in my little bloggy fiefdom.
I also have to admit that I’ve contemplated not writing this post, mostly because I’ll probably end up sounding insecure and whiny (both descriptions can be accurate at times). But, I figured that I used to air grievances and insecurities and dreams more often in the past (part of the interesting things that have surfaced as I’ve gone through my archives), and that my blog has been (lately) nothing but reviews and weekly memes, and that maybe, just maybe, someone wouldn’t mind knowing what goes on in this head of mine.
So. Why do I blog? When I started, nearly five years ago, answering that question was easy. I blogged because I needed a place to put what I think about the books I read. I discovered the wonderful side-effects of blogging: comments, recommendations, blogs by other readers who became friends. I was happy.
Two years ago, I took that up another notch, and entered the world of ARCs and blog-tours and reviewing and attempted in some small way to be on the cutting edge of publishing. All of which I enjoy; there’s something rewarding about hearing about a book you like and being able to contact a publisher requesting it and have it arrive in the mail. Or, sometimes, books I want and have been idly hoping for just arrive unasked for. (Like the other day, when Blackbringer and Silksinger showed up. We were all SUPER excited.) Yeah, there are the duds, and the horrid books that I’ve felt compelled to read because someone sent them to me, but mostly it’s been a positive experience.
But that leaves me as to why I still do this. Especially with Goodreads and Facebook, which whittle away at my reasons to keep blogging — Goodreads fills my original bloggy purpose, and in some respects does it better than I can do it with Blogger. And Facebook provides a community of hand-picked (mostly) friends that I can connect with. (Bonus: no anonymous teenagers telling me I suck because I hated Eragon. I still get those comments, even four years later!) Especially because some of my original bloggy friends have packed it up and quit blogging, or at the very least scaled back. Especially because there are people out there who do what I do much better than I could ever dream of doing it (and are more popular, too).
In the end, I have to admit that I might be at a loss to answer this question. Is it community? (Partially; I adore the book blogging and kidlit communities I fancy myself part of, if only in a small way.) Is it the comments? (Partially; I enjoy reading every one I get, even if I’m absolutely horrid about leaving and responding to comments.) Is it the recommendations? (Yes, but I’m beginning to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of books that I really want to read.) Is it the challenges? (Yes, they help me knock books off my TBR list, and I enjoy them though I’m not great about reading what everyone else things about the books they are reading.) Is it rewarding? (Sometimes. But I think I’m wondering if it’s just not as rewarding as it once was… I don’t think I’ll quit, just yet, but I do have to say that there are days when I lean in that direction.)
Why do you blog? Does it matter if you feel that no one reads your posts because you don’t get comments on them? Does it take up a huge chunk of your time? How do you feel about the community? What do you get out of the whole blogging thing?
The Book Nut 
When I started to get caught up in the memes, ARCs, givewaways, etc., my enjoyment of blogging started to waver. Now that I’ve stopped accepting any review books at all and have put the focus on my personal education as a reader, I’m in love with my blog all over again. I may not be the most popular blog on the block, but I don’t care anymore. I feel like I’m doing something good for myself. You have to do what feels right to you. Some folks will follow along, some won’t. The important thing is what *you* get out of it, whether it’s blogging, Facebook, or whatever media choice you like best.
Good luck, whatever you decide, Melissa!
Lezlie
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I started blogging because I was tired of Facebook. I was really apprehensive at first, but it is getting easier. I have been blogging for less than a month now. I love the memes and reading and writing book reviews. I love decorating my blog page. Yes, I do feel kind of sad if I don’t have any comments, or my page is not acknowledged. My husband put things into perspective for me. He said (and is correct) that I quit Facebook because I couldn’t handle feeling like an outcast, just like I did in high school. My blog is a place for me to write, put my feelings into words, and to write about the books I love. There is no reason to feel alienated by something that I am doing for myself. I hate having these feelings that I have carried with me since high school, and it is about time that I get rid of them. So, everytime I blog, or comment on someone else’s blog, or put a new decoration on my page, it make ME happy! That is all that should count! 🙂
Missy
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I started blogging because I wanted an online record of my thoughts on books. And I wanted to connect with other people with likeminded interests.
I don’t do ARCs or accept review copies. I just read what I fancy and write about it. I do think that it is one of my most timeconsuming activities though. Especially when I’m also doing research for my thesis. I think it’s okay to scale back though. 🙂
Readers will come even if you don’t post on a regular basis.
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I started blogging when I started working at home. For me it’s a good way to connect with the world outside my 4 walls. I started a book blog because it’s one of the things I can talk to absolute strangers about for hours on end. I play on Facebook, too, but that’s more people I already know — usually from high school or before. We don’t always have the same interests and they’re not usually going to care that I’ve found a new Charles de Lint book (or whatever) and not come up for air for 2 days.
By the way, I left you an award over on my page: http://www.texasredbooks.com/2009/04/new-awards-and-moving-news.html
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I think all your reasons are valid. I do use Shelfari for my book blogging purposes (I used to do a monthly blog, but I just left it at Shelfari for now because I’m a much slower reader since my last baby was born). But there is something about being a part of a community. I have also noticed through the years that I am a much better journaler if I have an audience, either real or perceived. Would you write about books as much as you do without an audience? My guess is, probably not.
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Like you, it's about the reading & books. I just wanted to find more, and find people who felt that way I did. In that sense, it did matter to me that I didn't have any readers, because no readers equals no new friends! Honestly, at this point, that is my motivation. I love having a community of readers, and rather than lurking around, I wanted to jump in and get involved. 🙂
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I loved what Missy said: “everytime I blog, or comment on someone else’s blog, or put a new decoration on my page, it make ME happy! That is all that should count! :)”
ABSOLUTELY!!
I started my blog because I wanted to put my thoughts about what I read somewhere I could share it when friends asked “What have you read lately?” The book blogging community I found was a surprise. Challenges were fun, but after a couple of years of over challenging myself, I’ve scaled back to only 3 so far this year and it’s been a very freeing experience. I’m enjoying reading more because I’m reading what I want instead of “what’s next on the list”. I don’t seek out ARCS, don’t do memes, don’t post awards (they seem like the blog version of chain letters IMHO), I read and talk about my books and whatever else I feel like posting about.
I think in the end, it’s finding what balance of all that works for you.
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I started blogging to keep my family in the loop with what was happening in my life – I still love it for that reason. I think the only reason I would quit my personal blog is if I found some more convenient way of recording my life. Very rarely do I write that blog for anyone other than myself – I know all the minute details I include really interest only me.
Book blogging I started really, because of you. I realized that a week after reading something, I couldn’t remember a dang thing (I am ashamed to say I’ve always been that way, it’s not just since having kids 🙂 I find myself often searching my own blog for a review to remind myself of a book that someone has asked me about. I keep it up for the same reason, I like to remember my thoughts of a book while they were fresh in my mind. I love that people choose to read it and comment, but if I only did it for that reason, I’d be a sad girl. I do not choose to put myself out there like everyone else. I am way pickier now about what I choose to read and challenges are just FUN for me. Fun and motivating, they get me moving on my lists and I like that.
I read read blogs for recommendations, pure and simple. I skip over memes and all that other stuff, I just do not want to use my time that way. My lists are slowly becoming INSANE, but how wonderful to have so many great books to choose from!
You inspire me, friend. If you stop blogging, I will stalk you wherever you are 🙂
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I think we started blogs for similar reasons. I think community is important. (And if there is community on goodreads, I haven’t yet discovered it.) I think blogging is more satisfying in some ways than goodreads or facebook. (Though I’m a twitter girl at heart, facebook just puzzles me). There’s a sense of permanence, a sense of accomplishment that comes with it. But it is very hard to find balance. To juggle between the books you want to read, and the books you need to read. I think it is important to give yourself me-time and not let blogging stress you out.
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I don’t blog for the community so much, I think, because I don’t care much about comments, nor do I comment much on others’ blogs. Blogging doesn’t take up much of my time right now, but it used to take more. If/when we go back overseas, I expect my blogging will increase significantly.
One thing I like about my blog is that I don’t have any one topic. I’d get bored if I only blogged about books, even though books are a huge part of my blog.
And what do I get out of blogging? I have a place to work through my thoughts and write them down. I suppose I could just have a journal, but I’m glad I’m online. I’ve made good friends online, and some excellent connections with people interested in Central Asia that I never could have found in real life. So maybe there is some community, especially a Central Asian community for me, but my blog is really just a place to think things through and not bug my husband.
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I have to be honest and admit that it does matter to me whether people visit my blog, read what i have to say and actually like it. It would be false humility to say I didn’t care and just having a blog is great.
I hope I never get stressed-out by blogging about books because I have always loved reading and now I am loving the fact that I can write about my favorite subject and not feel like a weirdo who talks books 24/7, as I always would feel while interacting with people around me who do not read obssessively or at all.
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Thanks, all, for your thoughts. It helps knowing that I’m not the only one out there struggling with things. And it’s also served as a reminder of what I originally wanted out of my blog. I do love the community that it fosters. And, like Corinne, I enjoy the challenges as a way to knock books off my list. And thanks, Lilly, for your honesty. I’m muchthe same way. I do it for myself, but I also like to have what I do acknowledged. (Which means, conversely, I should be better at acknowledging others.)
I’m trying to find a balance. (And remembering what I enjoyed about this.) Hopefully, I’ll figure it out, soon.
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I started blogging last fall because I had become interested in reviewing books. I had been doing online book clubs for a few years before that and used B&N, Goodreads and Shelfari. Eventually I found Library Thing and that led to the blogging. That takes up plenty of time and I don't use the other social sites that much anymore. I've never joined Facebook or Twitter. There's no time to use all of it. I'm still finding my way and trying to work out exactly what it is I want my blog to be. It's mostly about books and some bits and pieces about me and my family. I do enjoy having some followers and some comments but I don't care about or keep track of the numbers or about being the biggest blog. It's just nice to have some people to communicate with. As I get into it more I need to manage my time better and just do what's important to me.
I hope you do find a balance so you enjoy it more. I haven't been following you a long time but for the time I have been, I've enjoyed coming here. Just do what matter most to you. We'll be reading! Good luck!
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I blog because I want to record my thoughts about what I read. I like the community, too, and that’s a big part of it. But, having been a blogger in the past, quit, and come back to it, I’ve found that it can quite often feel like work. Sometimes it’s the pressure from other bloggers, sometimes it’s internal, but when it starts feeling like work, rather than a hobby, that’s when I’ll quit. I already have a job.
That said, I hope you don’t quit. You and Leila at Bookshelves of Doom are my two best sources for GOOD YA lit, something which I’ve tried to expand my horizons on. I really rely on your opinion(s), but I hope that isn’t one of those external-pressure thingies that can make it feel like work…
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Well, I really don’t feel qualified to add much here. I only discovered the book blogging world last October – and I just joined it myself in December. I am a VERY newbie!
I have wondered myself if this is a passing phase — will I continue blogging 2 years from now — 5 years from now — etc. And the answer is, I have no idea.
I do know that I started blogging because family members asked me to. They know I communicate better through writing than through speaking – and this was a way for them to gain insight. I also started blogging because I enjoy writing and reading; it seems like the perfect fit. I have also become quite interested in ARCs – and blog tours – etc (although I am still clueless how all that works) – and I can see how my type A personality can easily allow this to take control of all my free time: NOT a good move.
I think the key is probably balance. If you enjoy the blog — the writing and reading process — then you should maintain it for you. I think you have loyal followers who will read what you write no matter how often you post. AND…if you write for yourself, you won’t have to give a second thought to those nay-sayers who criticize your review of Eragon 🙂
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Well, I for one hope you keep on blogging, Melissa. I have had your blog in my reader for a long time…and even though I don’t always comment, I always read.
I started blogging at first just to write about my animals and my life and keep my family and friends involved in my life in some way. Then I discovered the book blogging community and I was hooked. I love to read; and I love to write. The free books/ARCs are all just bonuses (I love seeing that UPS truck pull up in front of my house!) because the real reason I blog is the connection with all of the other people out there who love books as much as I do. I enjoy the memes and challenges and bookish events; and lately I’ve even gotten to meet some other bloggers face to face which thrills me.
I’ve been reading with interest all the posts lately about the “in” crowd, etc…and I think if I was focusing on that aspect of blogging I would want to quit. I don’t care how long someone has been blogging…if they are saying things that are interesting to me or if in some small way I feel connected to them, I read their blog and enjoy it. I hope my joy of reading and being part of the community comes through on my blog because it is fun to share that…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!!!
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I blog to record what I read and how that book makes me feel. I love it when someone leaves a comment on any of my posts. I also blog for the friendships that are out there to be made. We have the love of books that brings us all together. Your blog can be whatever you want…it really shouldn’t feel like a job, be stressful or just not fun anymore. That being said, do what your heart tells you to…no matter what.
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I think you should keep blogging for as long as it serves to help me express you who are, what your interests are, what your thoughts are, because your identity, your interests, and your thoughts are all things worth sharing, as evidenced by the many comments before this one.
So there.
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I wish I had a smart comment, but I struggle with the to-blog or not-to-blog fever also. In reading the above comments, I gained a few nuggets of wisdom: the pressure to review ARCS and host tours/giveaways takes away some of the joy of reading, there is a valuable connection in meeting like-minded bibliophiles, and something about blogging provides a creative outlet for me. I hope to use those lessons to streamline my own blogging which has become more of a burden than fun. Thanks for such an insightful post!
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My blog started out as my online diary. It was fun to see if I could keep my focus completely on books. Now it's fun to see all the little ways that real life peeks into my book blog.
Re comments — it still feels strange to get them. I'm thrilled if I get just one! The first year or so, I had none..it was like I had virtual B.O.
I refuse to get into the ARC & reviewing new books thing. Then it would be like work, it wouldn't be fun anymore.
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I answered this question in someone else’s comments so I won’t go into it all again but I blog cause I want to basically. It’s fun! I hope you don’t quit blogging I love your blog and would miss you 😦 I just posted on my own blog a few days ago, how I was going to start posting more personal posts cause I felt I was getting into a rut of book review after book review and my blog was losing it’s personality.
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Is it awful that I don’t have any answers to your questions, but just wanted to say – you got an ARC of Silksinger? Jealous!!! I mostly blog about books I read to keep track of them and what I thought of them (bad memory).
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Wish I had some words of wisdom for you, but I’m probably the least-qualified person on the planet to comment, considering how up-and-down I’ve been with my own blogging. Though I must say I’m pretty excited about my fresh start!
One of the things that has kind of turned me off to the bookblogging community lately is how often bloggers talk about being “behind” in their reviews or “needing” to knock off more titles from their TBR list — like it’s some kind of chore! My goal for my new blog is to write when I feel moved to do so, not because I ought to.
I hope you don’t quit blogging, Melissa. I don’t comment here nearly as often as I should, but I read and enjoy every one of your posts. 🙂
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I wrote up a post discussing how much happier I am as a book blogger now that I haven’t been accepting ARCs/review copies (except for the very rare one). I didn’t even realise they were stressing me out until they stopped coming in! So you might think about that if you’re not really enjoying book blogging. 😉 I’m still deciding whether or not to publish it, though, because I also talk about how much bigger book tours and publisher giveaways have become in the book blogging community lately, and how I’m not sure how I feel about that. I’m not sure if I want to start that debate, though, so we’ll see. 🙂
At the end of the day, I blog, because whenever I take blogging breaks I miss it.
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I’m not on ARC lists, request very few books from the publishers, and limit my interviews. For me the pressure of ARC’s outweighs being in on the early buzz. I didn’t start for the community aspect of it, but now that is certainly high on my list. I still wish that our community were better about commenting. I see some Mommy Bloggers where they don’t mind leaving a quick LOL once in a while or pointing out a small part of a post. I don’t see that we do that much and I think we’re poorer for it.
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Glad to read this post, Melissa. I’ve been grappling with these very same things the past couple of weeks/months and some days I just can’t come up with a good reason. Because I’m a slow reader with a full time job and a husband who doesn’t like to read, I only post one or maybe two reviews a week–most of my blogging is done through comments. And I wonder–does anyone even care? If I stopped leaving comments would anyone notice? And then where would I be? A sometimes reviewer? It’s a different dilemma for everyone.
Be here because you want to be here! And also experience great things like books and recommendations and community along the way. You can take or leave any of those in moderation…right?
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I need to investigate what Goodreads has to offer. I’ve joined, but haven’t really done anything more with it. Probably because I joined Library Thing first and it serves a purpose for me.
I started blogging to record the books I’ve read and few ideas to remind me of the story. It’s been fun to connect with other readers, in fact that part was a big, pleasant surprise. Heck, I got to visit with you face to face. That was a definite highlight of my blogging career.
I can understand how much time blogging can take. Then if you add several other mediums to the mix, you can spend all day on the computer. There goes relationships with husband, children, etc. etc. Hard decisions.
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