This past week wrapped up Book Blogger Appreciation Week, in which I’m sure many of you participated. In two weeks will be Banned Books Week, in which I’m sure some of you also will participate. I’m also sure that many of you participated, and will participate, with at least a post per day, if not more, on your respective blogs.

Personally, after such weeks, I feel almost burnt out and think, “Why am I doing this? I’m not getting paid for this.” Do you ever feel the same way after weeks like the ones mentioned above? If you do, what do you to counter it? How do you keep going? Do you take a break from posts after that, or do you just “soldier on”?

Or if you don’t feel burnt out after such weeks, why not? Also why are you a book blogger? From what I’ve seen and experienced, it’s certainly not the fame or the glory that you get. So what is it? Why? Why? Why?

Interesting question. Amy from My Friend Amy asked a similar question on Twitter this afternoon. Why do we blog to the point of exhaustion? My answer to here was simply human nature. Why do we blog in the first place? For almost all of us, whether we realize it or not, is for recognition. We want to share our feelings and experiences, and in sharing, we hope that others will take notice. The more people who take notice will only add fuel to our need for recognition. We’re being rewarded by comments and followers, and so we blog even more. Recognition begets blogging, if you will. It’s human nature.

I know that after last week, I was so inspired! Like everyone else, I added many amazing blogs to my Reader. I was able to truly reflect on what I wanted to be as a book blogger and where I wanted to take my blog during the next year. One of the things I want to do next year is have a greater presence in the blogging world – make more comments on others’ blogs, participate in more challenges, and just blog more in general. However, my mantra is that if I don’t feel like blogging, I won’t. If I have nothing to say, then why force myself to write something that will only be sub-par and reflect my lack of enthusiasm? So, I can see that, for me, in the next year, there will be periods where I will be a regular chatty Cathy, blogging frequently, and others where I will be virtually silent. That’s the best sort of balance, in my opinion, because if we are truly blogging for ourselves and not for the recognition, we shouldn’t feel obligated to blog when we don’t want to do so. That does only lead to burnout.

This leads me to the next question – why do I blog? Why indeed? I started because my book club friends were doing it, and I realized that I was missing out on an entire new world. I started blogging because it looked like fun. Then I began to review books on my blog and realized that writing a review made me a better reader. (Apparently, all those elementary, middle, and high school English teachers were right to assign book reports.) And through following other blogs, I branched out from reading almost only classics to popular fiction and ARCs and have been loving every minute of it. I feel that blogging has become another stepping stone on my path to discover who I truly am while enjoying several lifelong passions – books and writing. I find it cathartic to write out what I feel about life, share my favorite things, and just act silly in a way that would probably cause me to receive some very strange looks in real life. I feel stronger for having the courage to put a stake in the ground and declare my feelings about something for all the world to see. This is why I blog.

Why do you blog? Do you get burnout? How do you cope? I’m curious what others have to say on this topic.

7 Comments

Michelle on September 21, 2009 at 8:52 AM

DelGal Reviews – Exactly!!
DelGal Reviews on September 21, 2009 at 1:03 AM

great post – why blog? Why not?!

happy week!
Michelle on September 20, 2009 at 4:58 PM

Thanks, ladies!!

Kerrie – I'm amazed at how many books I've discovered through blogging. My book budget will never be the same!

Gautami – I agree!

Laurel-Rain Snow – Twelve blogs? OMG. I have two and struggle keeping both up-to-date. I appreciate you following! It definitely means a lot to me!!
Creations by Laurel-Rain Snow on September 20, 2009 at 1:20 PM

Okay, I always hesitate to be the first commenter (LOL), but I'll take the plunge.

I don't feel burned out, because I only blog when I feel the urge. I do feel the urge frequently, lately…I must, because I have TWELVE blogs now. I started my first one a little over a year ago, and didn't have the second one until June of this year. Then I rapidly added several more, because I had discovered other bloggers and wanted to design and create places to expound on various topics. Each of my blogs has a separate purpose, but sometimes the edges blur…I do have a blog for each of the five novels I have written and published.

You have the right idea, though, about participating when you feel the urge. That's what I do.

I am a follower of your blog and have added it to my blogroll, so I'll be back…and back!
gautami tripathy on September 20, 2009 at 1:14 PM

Enjoyed your response. The interaction part keeps us going.

Weekly Geeks: Why/What makes us go on?
Kerrie on September 20, 2009 at 1:52 AM

Blogging is a really great activity, exploring both your own ideas and those of others. It is my prime means of connecting with others online and of finding new books to read. I agree with you about the catharsis and the fact that writing about books sharpens your own appreciation of what you've read. My post is here
reviewsbylola on September 19, 2009 at 11:14 PM

Very insightful post. I agree with much of what you touched on.