While I haven’t been that active in visiting other blogs and commenting on various posts and reviews in recent months, I have noticed certain trends that have me rolling my eyes, raising my eyebrows and in general wondering about the state of book blogging. I want to take some time to address each one and hopefully start a discussion about them. As I have a lot to say, this is going to be spread out over several weeks. Think of it as a modern-day expose on the world of book blogging. I’ve discussed readathons, giveaways, blog hops, and rules. This week I tackle the reasons for starting to blog.
A discussion on Twitter prompted this one, and I do think it needs to be addressed. I mentioned when discussing the idea of blogging rules that one needs to have a strong idea of the reasons and goals behind blogging. Why did you start? Why do you continue? What motivates you to put forth the time and effort to blog? What do you hope to accomplish with your blog? Without serious, thoughtful answers to these questions, most bloggers will flounder and eventually quit because they have no direction. I’ve seen it happen time and time again.
Along with this is the idea of blogging for external versus intrinsic rewards. For those bloggers who have been around for a while, we have all been asked by new bloggers how to get free books or to improve stats. These questions, to me, are disturbing and indicative of the fact that the blogger did not start blogging for the “right” reasons. Yes, I realize that there are no right or wrong anything to blogging, but hear me out.
Blogging takes a lot of time and energy. The payoff, most of the time, is negligible and for the most part internal. It is a sense of satisfaction at starting discussions, at broadening one’s horizons, at being exposed to new authors and new genres. It is a sense of community that there are other people out there who are just as crazy about books as you are. It is exposure to a new audience, improving one’s writing skills, and creating a network of people to potentially help further your writing career. Notice, these are all intrinsic rewards. They are not tangible. You cannot put a dollar figure to them.
Blogging is not about the external rewards and never has been. Sure, the free books are nice, but I challenge the idea that they are free. The publishers who send them out are doing so in exchange for something from us. They want to see reviews and are hoping the money they are losing to send out these “free” review copies will be offset by increased sales. Keeping in mind that this is a business transaction for the publisher, they are going to be less willing to take a chance on a new, unestablished blog because the payback for the publisher will be less.
Stats, books, recognition – these all take time. You have to establish yourself as a blogger who means business, one who is not going to quit at the lack of external rewards, before you will be recognized in the industry as a true book blogger. Time means work. It is not easy to write day after day with little to no feedback. It is a balancing act to put yourself out there on other social media sites without letting it consume the rest of your life. Those that succeed understand that it is internal motivation that keeps most of us going. If you do not recognize this before you start blogging, you are doomed to fail.
What do you think? Am I too harsh? Thoughts?
Thank you, Marce, and welcome! Policy reviews come in handy when you start getting more requests than you can handle. I definitely agree that bloggers need to be honest. Blog hops definitely have their purpose. They just are not for me. 😉
Found you from BBAW. Love this post. I do not think it is even necessary to have a policy review, you will get requests when the time is right. Bloggers need to choose well so that they can be honest and enjoy the books they accept. I love blog hops but it is because I enjoy networking and finding other bloggers with similar interest.
I have a problem with those that don't even give blogging a true chance and burn out is there so quickly.
Have a great week.
Thanks, Amy! My problem is the fact that I like too large a variety of books, so I do accept a lot of review books – too many these days, although I am trying to make sure that I am pickier about those that I do accept. If I have any doubts or hesitation about the book, then I am getting better about saying no. I would love to get paid to do this, but I remain content with my little slice of the blogging world.
I love the fact that I love you are branching out to non-fiction and African lit. They may not be books I want to read, but I can get a better appreciation of the world of literature through you!
Hear hear, I think you say it really well. I wish someone would pay me for blogging but hey, I love it too much so will keep doing it for free for, well, ever likely! And I have to say, the free books is definitely not much of a selling point for me because the review copies I get are very very rarely books that I love. I actually accept almost none because I lately I'm on a kick of random non-fiction and African lit and well, not many review copies of those 😉
My recent post India
LOL! I wish someone would pay me too. Actually, they do – just not to read and write.
Wait? You mean I could give free books away that were given to me by publishers? That I don't have to buy them myself? No wonder it didn't work when I tried to do the one giveaway on my blog a couple of years ago. Whoops. 🙂
You're definitely not too harsh. I definitely don't have any external motivation. I wish someone would pay me though. 😉
My recent post Harry Potter- the Devil and Emanuel Swedenborg
I only knew about blogs and ARCs because of Stephanie and you. In the beginning, I was forever asking Stephanie questions, trying to figure out everything, but I knew it was going to take time. The numbers some new bloggers have is staggering, but I'd rather have ten quality followers with whom I have a fantastic relationship than have 100 followers who only see me as a way to get free books. Ten followers won't make me money, but at least I get that warm fuzzy from them. That warm fuzzy keeps me going!
Patty, there really is no wrong thing in blogging. It is all a learning curve because each person has to figure out what works for him or her. I think you have the right attitude and will go far in this crazy blogging world of ours.
I saw your recent policy change and commend you on it. I am trying to be more selective about the books I choose, but I still end up getting more books than I can read. The passion is still there though, and that is what keeps me blogging most of all.
ARC – Advanced Reading Copy, aka galleys, aka proofs – copies of books publishers send out before publication date. They do this in hopes of generating buzz to help improve sales when the book is finally released. They are great and unnerving because publishers do expect reviews and discussions about them in order to generate that buzz.
You are right, every writer wants a little feedback, but when it comes to receiving ARCs, shouldn't writers prove themselves first through their writing rather than the number of followers? I say that if you like to write and are looking for a different forum, then welcome to blogging! If you write it, they will come, I promise. Also, don't forget to check out Twitter and Tumblr as well! You can generate interest by participating in conversations on those forums also.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!
Jamie, I prefer blogs that grow organically as well. I think I've removed almost every blog that participates in nothing but giveaways, memes, and blog hops because I suspect that those are the ones that are going to disappear in a short while because how can that be fulfilling? I also agree that getting ARCs is a double-edged sword. I love to receive them but sometimes it is all so overwhelming. The end thing is that I want to be known for content because I think that is more worthwhile and long-lasting.
I agree…not harsh at all… and as a new blogger I need to see and hear…well, read, these things…It was totally confusing in the beginning and I continued to believe I was doing everything wrong but bit by bit I am finding my true voice and loving every minute of it. When I do get an email from a publisher or author…I revel in it and take it as a real responsibility. I began blogging when my mom died and then my dad died…barely a few months later. I needed my blog…it evolved from a sharing of grief to what it is now…I cherish every new reader and I always will. My new love of YA Fantasy and Paranormal developed because of my blog, too…
My recent post EGADSI Have Turned My Cat Into A Lover Of All Things Paranormal!!
Great post, Michelle, and not harsh at all. When I started blogging almost two years ago, I had no idea that authors and publishers sent 'free' books. That was not my motivation. Hell, I had a blog on MySpace that I started four years ago on which I used to write book reviews. No one read it, but I still wrote them…LOL! Now, I'm so overwhelmed with review books that I have changed my review policy and am now accepting a bare minimum of review books (carefully selected historical fiction)….and I mean bare minimum. I'm hoping that by fall I will be reading mostly from my own library almost 100 percent. In the end, it has to be about the passion for books and for writing about them.
My recent post MAILBOX MONDAY