Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits and Dani @ Literary Lion where we discuss certain topics, share our opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts.
Even though I have been blogging for over five years, I am far from an expert! I haven’t updated my site or graphics in a while and I don’t analyze my stats, I am just here to gush about books and there is still a lot about blogging that I have to learn. That said, I have realized some things over the last few years that I would love to share with anyone just starting.
What have you learned since you first started blogging?
I have learned that though consistency is key, it is so important to take breaks to avoid burnout. I have seen a lot of bloggers come and go over the last five years, and I completely understand why people quit. This is a lot of work for something that is supposed to be a hobby and it can be difficult to find time to do it or the motivation when it can feel like you are speaking into a void! Do this for as long as you love it, but don’t force it if it isn’t fun for you anymore.
I have also learned a lot about SEO and other technical jargon that I still don’t completely understand but is fun to research! I think my writing has improved as well. I have also learned that blogging is my happy place within the online book community. I have a bookstagram and a BookTube channel, but I feel most at home here. That is because of all of the support my fellow bloggers have shown me throughout the years, so thank you!
What is your favourite thing about blogging?
I think my favourite thing is that I never feel like I am holding back here. I can write book reviews, recommendation lists, tags, etc. and you will all support me. It is not about how pretty a picture is or how eye-catching a thumbnail is, people who read blogs just want to read what you have to say about books and it doesn’t have to be fancy. I absolutely love that about this community!
What is the hardest part of blogging for you?
A lot of it can be hard, but I think it has been finding the time lately. Like I said, I am very involved in the online book community and it can be difficult to balance it all, but it is worth it to me! I also think it can feel like book bloggers aren’t valued as much as they should be, but that is an entirely different conversation!
Is there anything you wish you’d done differently with your blog?
Honestly, there is nothing I can think of that I would have done differently! Starting this blog was one of the best decisions I have ever made and I wouldn’t change anything about the journey. I do wish that I had stayed in touch with bloggers who no longer post though. It can be sad to see your friends just disappear from the community!
I would love to know all of your answers to these questions!
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This is a great post. I completely agree that blogging is a lot of work, but I really enjoy it too. I have been trying to stick to a schedule. Hopefully, that will help me be more disciplined.
I find the memes help me stick to a schedule! I used to be better about it.
It’s my happy place too! Every time I get overwhelmed and cut back on writing here, I’m always sad about it and end up rushing back in. Luckily, I’m now in a place where I can let a LOT of other things go before I let blogging go.
That’s amazing! It really surprises me just how much comfort I find in blogging.
As enjoyable as blogging can be, I think you do need a strategy to combat burnout! Consistency is important for sure, but it has to be balanced with joy! Just this week after writing several hard and time consuming reviews, I felt dread about starting my throwback Thursday post so I just decided to skip it! The day’s break was just what I needed to work on today’s post with a better attitude! And I chose a book tag so I could extend my break from writing another review. Great post Kristen!
You’re so right. I love the way you worded that- it has to be balanced with joy!
Time is the issue for me! I have my website, FB page, bookstagram and now Booktok and its a lot!!!
Ohh I didn’t know you had booktok!!
Yes! @cjrtbbooks (but I’ve only just started posting seriously!!!)
Great post, Kristin! Blogging is a lot of work and I can’t believe I ever thought that it wouldn’t be (before I started)! 😂 Taking breaks and being kinder to ourselves cos we can’t do all the things is so important. I also struggle most with finding time to balance everything, mostly cos I’m horrible at time management, lol, but because there’s always something to do for the blog. But like you said, starting the blog is one of the best things I’ve done, too 🙂
Time management is not my strong suit either!
My post will be going up on Wednesday!
First, fantastic post; I also struggle with the time balance and with the scope of what I want my blog to be, but you reminded me that I’m not beholden to any standard except what I want to present, and I can post any fool thing I want if it makes me happy, which is half the point anyway.
Secondly, forgive me if this is a question that betrays my newbie status, but this Let’s Talk Bookish, can one just…do it? I’m poking around all of these other book blog posts on the topic, like the ones to which you link in the intro, and I don’t see anything like instructions or a sign-up or anything, just the prompts, and I just wanted to make sure that if I joined in I wouldn’t be like, biting anyone’s rhyme without realizing it?
Thanks, and keep up the good work!
–The Bageler
Love this post. Yes, here it feels like home and i think blogging also doesn’t make us feel like chasing the algorithm like in bookstagram or maybe Twitter.
Exactly! I will never figure out algorithms.