BBAW 2011: Blogging
Posted 16th September 2011
Category: Book Blogger Appreciation Week Genres: N/A
6 Comments
In line with everyone else today, here are three things I’ve learned when it comes to blogging.
1) Be you. Write your own reviews, in your own style, and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. Everyone picks up on different things in books, and all are equally valid. Structure your site in a way that works for you – if you want to use ratings do, if you don’t don’t, work out a categorising system that you like, or don’t have one if it would confuse you.
2) Don’t read reviews of the book you’re on the cusp of reviewing yourself. They will likely influence what you say and make you feel you must point out certain things that you wouldn’t have before. And leave it a few days before you read reviews afterward, because people may have covered things you left out and again you may feel you should have included them.
3) If you can, get into a routine and stick to it. I’ve found posting every three days works for me – it gives me time to read at a leisurely pace and not have to worry about where my next post is coming from, and it also motivates me to do it. Without a routine it is easy to say “I’ll do it tomorrow…maybe the day after that…maybe the day after that”.
Another year on it’s way out, and another Book Blogger Appreciation Week over. It’s been fun and I look forward to next year!
September 16, 2011, 4:35 pm
Yes, comparing ourselves to others can only lead to feelings of defeat. Thanks for reinforcing my belief that I am unique and have something to add to the community.
I generally only fall into a routine around certain memes. Other posts, and reviews, take place when I have something to say and/or review.
Thanks for sharing….Here’s MY BBAW POST
Charlie: Yes, I can see where memes do help (and I know events like this one help too!)
September 16, 2011, 5:31 pm
Great points. I think people should write their reviews how they like. Sometimes it’s good stand out, especially when a book is popular and you see the same review over and over at different blogs.
Charlie: I absolutely love it when I come across a review that bucks the trend, no matter negatively or positively, because it gives you that much needed other option and lessens the idea that it might be exceptional or indeed a really bad book.
September 16, 2011, 9:56 pm
I think a routine is necessary not just for yourself but for your followers.
September 17, 2011, 2:36 am
I agree on reading a review of a book you are about to review yourself. I try to avoid doing that. I don’t read reviews of books I am planning to read soon, either, because I find it clouds my judgment of a book.
Charlie: Ah, a very good extra point there! The problem is that what people say can often make you remember things you’d forgotten or plant ideas in your head that you would’ve never thought about before.
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September 16, 2011, 2:49 pm
All great points! I’ve relaxed my posting schedule as I’ve gone on with blogging, settling into twice or thrice a week instead of every day, and I’m much happier and more organized. And #1 is a theme I see often, but I really like the different examples you’ve pointed out. I do get caught up in that but-so-and-so-has-a-rating-system-I-must-need-one-too! feeling, but when I try to implement it it feels wrong. Also good to remember that everyone’s opinion is totally valid, including my own. It gets easy to compare, which really isn’t the point.
Charlie: Argh, rating systems, I’m always having the thought of whether or not I should ditch mine, and then I think I need them. I very much like that it’s something not deemed necessary so people can choose what they want to do. I totally agree that comparing is easy – we forget for that moment that it’s silly because if we compare ourselves to the person who wrote it, we’re likely to be different there as well!