Guys. I started blogging in January of 2018, and it’s already 2020 now. Quick, someone sound the alarm.
Obviously, the Earth has strayed from its orbit and ventured too close to a black hole or something. It seems like just yesterday when I was stumbling around WordPress, trying to decide what the heck I was even doing here. Okay, to be fair, I might also have been doing that yesterday.
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is bookish discoveries I made in 2019. So to celebrate my two-year blogiversary (since I totally forgot about it last year, because I have one too many holes in my brain and it’s slowly sinking), I decided to spin it to be things I’ve learned about book blogging.
*adopts croaky, wizened voice* So gather ’round, dearies, and let me forcefully shove some knowledge into your ear-holes. Wait … eye-holes?
All this advice is probably a waste of time.
“But Sammie,” I hear you saying, “why did you even write this post?” And that is a good question. First, I needed a Top Ten Tuesday post, and … *gestures around* voila. But more than that, I didn’t say this was bad advice. I just said it was probably a waste of time. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
If I’ve learned anything from being both a parent and blogger, it’s that new bloggers are like children: we hear you. Yes, your words are duly noted. But our way is obviously better, so we’re just going to do that instead.
How do I know this? Because I did this, too. I still do sometimes. Learning is hard. It butts against the stubborn part of your brain that says, “All full, thanks. No more room for new information.” I got a lot of good advice during my first year of blogging. I also ignored a lot of good advice during my first year of blogging.
TL;DR: Take 10 milligrams of good blogger advice and call me in the morning. Doctor’s orders.*
* Disclaimer: I’m not actually a doctor. Shocking, I know. Most days, I’m barely qualified to be a book blogger.
Blogging will be like volunteering for a part-time job.
If you’re really hardcore with it, it can be like volunteering full time. Sure, some bloggers do make money from their blogs, and kudos to them. I think it’s fabulous. But most don’t. And yeah, free books are nice, but if you’re only doing it for that, it’s probably not going to have a lot of staying power. Regardless, you’ll put in lots of work for what will, at times, feel like very little reward.
The secret to staying motivated here is knowing the exact reason why you’re blogging. And that reason you’re thinking better be passion.
If you’re not passionate about blogging, you’re going to get burned out quickly. I’ll let you in on a little secret … even if you are, you’re likely to get burned out anyway. That’s just the nature of the beast. In the end, if it’s something you really enjoy, the desire will eventually conquer the burnout … but only if it’s something you really want.
TL;DR: You won’t get paid enough for this.
Venture out into the community.
You are not Gollum, no matter how wicked of an impression of him you can do. You don’t live in a cave (I assume). So you have no reason not to pick up your walking stick, take the road less traveled, and stumble across a few new blogs. And if you find a dragon? Even better. (Also, let me know, because I’m so there with you).
You can technically be a solo blogger, locked in the lonely silo of your own blog … but why would you?! The blogger community is full of fantastic people who are passionate about the same things you are and want to see you succeed.
Friendships can be forged. Mentors can be found. Heck, I don’t know, maybe you can even find your own group of nine to pass around these pretty, shiny rings you’ve made for them all that are obviously just tokens of goodwill, and there’s nothing sinister about that.
Of all the communities I’ve been a part of, the blogging community has been the best. They’ve answered my questions, helped me when I was stuck, imparted their wisdom on me, and hey, we’ve been known to kick around books, too. And what’s better than sharing books between friends?
TL;DR: Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely.
Get organized.
Even if it kills you. Which it won’t. Probably. It took me two years to recognize this, because I’m extra allergic to organization. I just started this year, and two weeks into tit, I can already say what a difference it’s made. I’m just amazed.
Organization will help you stay on top of everything (blog posts, reviews, when ARCs release, books you want to watch out for) so you don’t fall behind. Because once you fall behind, it’s hard to get ahead again.
It’s like a superpower. Not as cool as, like, flying or super speed, but someone’s gotta get stuck with the lamer powers.
Don’t know where to start? What I’m using this year is a spreadsheet template from Kal @ Reader Voracious, and it’s got a little bit of everything, from blog stats to book stats to pretty visuals. You can also take the template and play with it to make it a little more suited to your needs.
TL;DR: Chaos is fun. Normally, I’d vote for chaos. But organize ya mess to save yourself the stress.
*snorts* Get it? Sorry. I’ll see myself out …
Utilize social media.
I know, I know, this potentially sounds dreadful. I thought so, too. But you know what? I started out hating Twitter with the sting of a thousand fire ants, but now? I sort of love it. I’ve met some great people through Twitter, had some fantastic chats on there, and it’s definitely helped build my blog.
So for 2020? I’ve decided to tackle Instagram. Even though I’m not artistic. Even though I have the visual acuity of a blind baboon staring at a wall trying to paint a picture of the sunset out the window. Why he’s doing that, I don’t know, but sometimes I feel like that’s about how my pictures turn out.
The point is: try new things, even if you’re sure you won’t like it, because you never really know.
If you’re not sure where to start or confused about the plethora of hashtags and things, Beth @ Before We Go Blog put together a super freaking comprehensive guide/list of resources for bloggers, including some of the more popular hashtags for social media. If Pinterest is more your speed, Briana @ Pages Unbound delves into how she massively increased her page views using Pinterest.
TL;DR: There’s more than one way to skin a cat. Try them all.
Pssst … it’s a metaphor. Don’t skin any actual cats.
It’s okay to not like all the books.
If you’re feeling particularly daring, you can even start DNFing books. It might be a big step to start, but hey, you might just feel better once you do. I sure did. In fact, I wrote a whole blog post about it. But even if you don’t take that drastic of a step, it’s fine to admit that a book doesn’t work for you.
The important thing here is to set limits for your blog and yourself. Will you include DNF reviews? Will you post low-rated reviews? Will you only post positive reviews?
Each avenue is as valid as the next, but the simple fact is you won’t be the target audience for every book. It’s a sad truth that I’ve slowly had to come to grips with, because I’d really rather just love everything. It’s easier that way.
TL;DR: Not all books will be five stars, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Just be yourself.
Honestly, being someone else is hard, nigh on impossible. I mean, unless you’re a body snatcher, I guess, and even then, there’s probably some tells, I’m assuming. You’ll find a lot of bloggers out there who you love, idolize, want to emulate, and that’s flattering, I’m sure. But they already have followers.
People will follow your blog to hear what you say in a way that only you can, with your own voice and your own style.
Isn’t that an amazing concept? What works for other people works for them because it’s authentic. That’s what people tend to like. So whatever you’ve got going for you, whether it’s quirkiness or humor or really organized posts or a cult following willing to do your bidding … roll with it! Own it. Just do your thing.
TL;DR: There is no one alive who is youer than you.
Learn to schedule posts and plan ahead.
I’m suspicious of technology and always expect it to screw up probably because I always end up screwing up technology, so I put this part off my own blog for quite a while. It is so freaking nice not having to worry about posting, though. Now that I no longer work from home, my mornings aren’t free for most of the week. I can’t post at my leisure. But I can schedule it and do the cross-posting and various other follow-up things at my leisure.
In the long run, this will save you a lot of hassle and help you to remain consistent by making sure you’re not rushing to write/post blog posts every day.
This really goes hand-in-hand with the organization. Plan ahead. Don’t be like me. Again. Really, I’m just one big cautionary tale wrapped in a thin layer of anxiety, introvertedness, and assorted pointy things. This will just make your blogging life a whole lot easier.
TL;DR: Set it and forget about it. Easy as pie.
Do buddy reads!
When you’re reading ARCs, it can be hard to find others to talk about the book with. That’s what buddy reads are for: those moments when you need to scream into the void, but you actually want the void to scream back at you. Except in this case, the void is a human, who’s conveniently as broken as you are. Win?
This is a great way to connect with other readers, establish some common ground, and stay motivated and accountable for reading a book.
Works great on long books or books you’re not sure about. Also works great on books you’re sure you’re going to love but will also probably rip your beating heart from your chest and then grind it into the dirt. But … at least there’ll be witnesses?
TL;DR: Read together, because misery loves company.
TBR too rigid? Try a possibility pile.
I love the idea of making TBRs. Never quite mastered the follow-through. I’m one of those nasty, dreaded mood readers, so sometimes a book just doesn’t work for me and I swap it out for something else. That makes it really hard to stick to a TBR, because they’re so darn rigid.
Instead, Dini @ DiniPandaReads developed this wonderful alternative called a possibility pile.
No stress, no muss, no fuss. You pull out a selection of books you might like to read in the near future, and you let your mood guide you. And guys? It’s so freaking freeing. Having a rigid reading schedule just eats at my soul. Even if the pressure is just arbitrary and in my own head. I love the freedom of knowing that if a book isn’t working for me, I can pick up another one from the pile without feeling bad about it or like I failed at something. And if I don’t read them all? That’s okay, too.
TL;DR: Dini @ DiniPandaReads is fantastic, and you should go visit her.
Wait … I think I was supposed to sum that up differently? Ah, well, that’s what I really meant, I guess.
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What are some of your best tips for other bloggers that you’ve had to learn the hard way?
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Congratulations on two years, Sammie! I really, really loved this post. I agree with what you’ve said. I had exhausted myself only after one month of posting lol but then I realized why. Scheduling posts, only talking about the books I wanted to talk about, and planning ahead has helped me a lot in the last five months! I’m very shy, so it’s a bit difficult for me to talk to other bloggers, but I’m doing more of it lately and it’s been really rewarding! Thank you for this post! Wonderful advice!
Thank you! I definitely burned out multiple times my first year, and it took a while to figure out why. Talking to other people is hard sometimes. I have social anxiety, so even on a computer, I feel just clunky and weird and judged when I talk to people. I’ve gotten better at it, but for some of us, it’s definitely a skill that takes practice. xD
Ugh, same here actually! And then I started reading what I liked and posting whenever I wanted and scheduling posts! I also have social anxiety and I wish it wasn’t as hard on the internet –it’s hard enough in real life–, so I get what you’re talking about. I’ve also gotten better at commenting and talking to people in the last few months. I’m hoping it will get easier.
Great tips! For me planning ahead really is the key, I love blogging, but without planning, I think it would stress me out ahah!
(www.evelynreads.com)
That’s really made all the difference for me, too! Talk about lowering the stress level. xD
WordPress just told me I’ve been blogging 9 years!
Holy veteran, Batman! Look at you go. 😀 I *hope* that eventually I’ll meet that mark, but it still feels so far away, and therefore, I’m super impressed by it. xD
Well, it started as a Library School project. I had three classes where I had to have a blog component. Foundations, Instructional Media, and Social Media for Information Professionals. So the first few years are just school things. But then I kept it up, but it took until last year to really get a groove going and regular posts.
Oh, that’s pretty neat! I actually sort of love that they encourage that as part of school.
Yay, two years! From this point on those years go really fast, before you know it you’ll hit nine years (that’s just a random number, it has nothing to do with MY blog😉) Great advice all around, and I’m so happy to have found your blog, Sammie!
You’re the second nine-year blogger to post! Wow. I’m out here feeling like a baby now. 😉 Congrats on nine years. Here’s to hoping for nine more (even though I’m honestly not sure if my TBR can take it at this rate … I should, like, start reading faster or something LOL).
So so true that scheduling helps a ton! I probably wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t schedule everything 😂
Congratulations on two years blogging. Some good insights here. Enjoy 2020!
Thank you!
All of this advice is excellent, Sammie. And, yes, blogging is exactly like volunteering for a part-time job!
My TTT.
At least we get to read during this part-time job. 😉 My other one doesn’t let me. 😛
Two years?? Congrats girl! I’m never sure of my milestone because I’m a sporadic blogger. I’ll be really focused for a month or so and then disappear into the interwebs for a season or two. lol. Here’s hoping I can break that vicious cycle in 2020! Loved this post and such a perfect tie-in to the bookish discoveries prompt.
I went a totally different way bc the topic and I didn’t get along creatively lol. Feel free to check it out here:https://bit.ly/30mKDGx
Thanks! I was super sporadic in my first year (and actually took, like, six months off of blogging, I think). I was very spotty last year, too, so darn it, 2020 is when I get my stuff together! We can do it! xD
lol there are plenty of weeks when the topic and I just don’t see eye-to-eye, too.
Great advice! And yes, blog friends are a must if you want to continue to enjoy posting. The biggest thing I’ve learned from my 14+ years of blogging is that you have to a) make yourself a schedule that YOU can keep (aka don’t judge yourself against other bloggers’ posting schedule) and then b) don’t be afraid to change that schedule when it no longer works for you. Happy two years!
*whistles* Wow, you’ve been blogging for quite a while! Amazing. That’s fabulous advice. I’ve had to do both in the past year, considering I got a second (part-time) job and also see all these bloggers posting so much and interacting so much and I’m like … I need to sleep at some point. I just can’t. xD
Thanks! I haven’t always been on WordPress (I started on Blogger, though I’ve been on WP since 2006) and I haven’t always been as active as I am now. Still, it’s fun to look at the changes! I have a couple of blog friends who’ve been with me since the beginning, too.
I am so glad you liked the guide! Thank you for the mention. I need to add more stuff, so if you come across anything let me know and I will add it.
No, thank YOU for such a fantastic guide! It’s my go-to recommendation when someone asks. Will for sure keep you in mind if I find something that can be added to it, but it’s pretty darn comprehensive. :3
Congrats with 2 years of blogging! I agree with you about the blogging experience and the blogging community – everyone seems so friendly. I haven’t reached 1 year of blogging yet, so I’m behind you on the learning curve. Great advice – I know myself well enough though to realise that I may never adapt the ‘Getting Organised’ and ‘Utilise Social Media’ advice. 😉
See? I told you bloggers don’t always take advice. 😛 But that’s cool. The important thing is to figure out what works and doesn’t work for you. 🙂 Not everything is for everyone.
Some good advice! I posted something similar today. I recommended not getting bogged down with deadlines. I’ve seen lots of bloggers stressed from deadlines. And I could relate because it was one of the errors I made back when I first got started.
Yes! That’s fantastic advice. Advice which I still don’t always follow (says she who packed her January and February chock full of releases. Yikes!). But knowing how much stress you can handle versus how much is too much is such a useful skill.
Good advices but sadly, I won’t remember them when I need them. Of course I can bookmark this page and re-read later.
Another sad thing is that I don’t use social media, I have tried them and I don’t like them and I get a headache using hashtags.
Recently, I have started to DNF books which a few years ago, I would never do because I like to start what I finished but now I just don’t care.
‘Just be yourself’ – honestly, it’s the only advice that I remember from all the advices I have ever been given or read. But it’s still a rather hard thing to do sometimes.
I don’t schedule posts or plan ahead. I honestly do not know how to get my brain to do it. I can think ahead but I can’t plan ahead, very strange.
Buddy reads – I have not done that but some day I might.
Possibility pile sounds doable but I read on a whim so I think it’s similar. I don’t make TBR lists of any kind because I find that a bit like forcing myself into a set goal or a set of books I must read.
Have a lovely day.
I think all the advice takes some learning, including just being yourself. Sometimes it’s hard to not try to be what you *think* people want to see.
I highly suggest buddy reads! It’s just so much fun, and so nice to have someone to talk with about a book you’re reading. Or even form chats when someone’s reading a book you love. xD Right now, a fellow blogger’s reading Nevernight, and a group of us have FEELS about it, so it’s exciting to make a group chat to discuss it and see their reaction as they read.
What a great post! As a new blogger, I love when I come across great tips from those with more experience. I’m trying very hard to get organized and most of all have fun with it! When it stops being fun, I hope I’ll recognize it’s time for a change. I’m so happy to have discovered The Writerly Way. I look forward to each and every one of your posts! <3
My TTT
Thank you. <3 I hope some of this helped! We can struggle with the nasty organization thing together haha. I definitely think if it stops being fun and feels too much like work, it's important to switch things up. Because work is lame, especially when you're not paid for it. :P
This is an amazing post full of great advice! Congrats on two years!
Thank you!
You’re welcome!
LOVE this, and all those little tips, especially Pinterest!
I hope they help! I love the Pinterest post, but I’ll admit that the site still boggles my mind and I’m not quite ready to take that step yet. xD
All great points! (And I’m glad you stressed the importance of not actually skinning cats 🙂 ) Finding your own rhythm and what makes you happy is so important — you’re right, blogging can be stressful, and it’s easy to let it get too consuming. Nice post!
No cats were harmed in the making of this post. xD
What a great post! I totally agree with everything you wrote. I definitely need to find some blogging buddies in my area because doing bookish things with other bloggers is so much fun. Nice post!
That’d be really neat, if you could find some in your area! Having a blog-in or something sounds like it’d be a blast.
Congrats on two years!! This is all such great advice, and a lot of it is stuff I’ve also come to realize/implement over the last few months. Getting organized and planning ahead (and scheduling posts, ugh) are some of my biggest blogging goals this year so I can stop stressing as much about getting behind. Buddy reads are something I would love to participate in more often, so I should probably start actually looking into that haha. I basically do a “possibility pile” because I’m also a mood reader and struggle a lot with sticking to a set TBR (I do still call mine a TBR, but a tentative one).
Thanks. 😀 I constantly felt behind last year and then beat myself up for being so behind, but since getting organized and scheduling, it’s like a breath of fresh air. I’m not rushing to write posts every single day.
Yes! I can’t recommend buddy reads enough. They’re so much fun. I love being able to talk about the feels while you’re having them. xD
Congratulations!!! And lots of excellent advice, especially regarding the find your own style and be freaking organised!!!! I’m so glad that I did reviewing before I blogged because I got that ‘trying my/ that person’s/trying to be fun/voice out’ out of my system- I’m still working on my ultimate blogging style but the bones of it is strong and that is so important.
A great post and good luck with the baboon fingerprints- apart from plonking books in pretty garden plants in spring/summer I would be like a jellyfish smushing tentacles onto a sheet of glass to be fair!!! You are braver than I!!
Man, that’s a good way to do it. I didn’t review until I blogged, and you can definitely tell in my early reviews, while I was still trying to decide what the heck I was doing (ha, most days I still don’t know).
Jellyfish tentacles! xD I love it.
Such a nice post. I really like that your writing is light and not too serious while the content is still great. And your advice/lessons are great as as well. I really need to take organisation more seriously. It will probably save me from unnecessarily stress and a bad conscience 😉
Thanks! I try. xD I know it’s saved me this year, for sure, from both of those. I hope it’ll help you, too.
Wow! Congratulations on two years. That’s a huge achievement. I love your list of things you’ve learned. I always enjoy reading what other bloggers have to say about their time blogging. I’ve learned so much that way.
Thank you! I really have, too. I appreciate all the little tips and tricks bloggers spread. Goodness knows they’ve helped me so much.
Lots of super valuable advice here! I totally agree with blogging being sort of like work – especially to post regularly every week. Scheduling posts is an absolute necessity. I’ve got posts done that won’t be out until July.
Oh, wow, you’re super organized!!! I feel so accomplished when I’ve got a week scheduled ahead of time. xD I’m so impressed lol.
First, congrats on the two years! Second, oh my WORD this is relatable! I mean is anything truer than all advice is useless? Like THAT is the single best piece of advice that I have ever heard (which is now throwing me through a loop because it, in itself, is advice, and what is life?). I tried to do all the junk I was “supposed to” do when I started blogging and wow THAT was exhausting. And YEP it’s like at LEAST a part-time job and wow why are we not being paid here!? Rude. And uh, what is this “organization” and “scheduling” you speak of? Sounds fake 😂
Thank you! Life is a confusing contradiction. xD It’s definitely more of a know what’s out there and decide what you want to do and find fun to do. It’s like Big Foot or the Loch Ness monster. People claim to have seen this thing called “organization,” and some people even have pictures, but are they *real*?
SAMMIE YOU’RE AWESOME! Thanks so much for the shout 🥰 I’m so glad to have found your blog and interacted with you on here and Twitter! I didn’t think I’d end up spending as much time as I do on Twitter (admittedly still not as much as others though) but I’m really enjoying engaging! Haha Also, lol about blogging feeling like a voluntary part-time job. It’s more like a voluntary full-time job for me 😂 There are some days that I hate myself for it but honestly, I love it too much for it to be anything less!
Your advice was defo NOT a waste of time! Everything you wrote is so on point — about being yourself, about venturing out in the community, using socmed, scheduling posts (welp, I’m still trying to be more organised here lol)… All super relevant and true! Love this list and happy two-year blogaversary! 🥳
I’m so glad I found you, toooo. <3 I actually hated Twitter with a passion when I started and thought it was just something i had to suck up and do for the blog. I didn't realize it could actually be fun? Weird. And thank you! We need cake. That's what this post was missing. :P
These are all such fantastic tips! I love how you compared blogging to a part-time volunteer job because that’s the most accurate description I’ve heard so far! It’s definitely a lot of work, but I choose to do it because of how much I enjoy it. I’ve also never heard of possibility piles before, but oh my gosh does that sound perfect for me. I’m such a big mood reader myself, so TBRs have never worked, but possibility piles definitely sound like my kind of thing!
I loved this post and adored all your TL;DR and gif summaries at the end of each tip! You’re so much better at giving advice than you gave yourself credit for! If I always received advice in this manner, I’d definitely be more receptive to the guidance being offered!
I work a part-time job on top of my main job, and I’d say that my blogging takes a pretty comparable amount of time, just … without the benefit of pay? But also … I get a lot of free books and it’s acceptable for me to talk about books all day, so still win.
Yeees, embrace the possibility pile! It’s been so freeing. xD And if I don’t get to a book, I can just put it back for another time when I might feel like reading it, and it’s fiiiine.
Aww thanks so much! I’m glad it was helpful. I feel like I’m probably a hopeless case and am really bad at taking advice regardless, but GIFs and memes always help lol.
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[…] year, around this time, I talked about the things I’d learned after two years of blogging. So this year, three years in, seems like a good time to talk about the […]