May 29, 2013

Armchair BEA Blogger Development.

Topic today is about how we develop ourselves as bloggers and what are our favourite genres.

How am I developing myself as a book blogger?
The simple answer is tentatively and slowly.  At this point in time it is a hobby and very likely will remain so.  So what am I doing to develop my blogging skills?
  • Reading other book bloggers, noticing how they review books.
  • Writing my own reviews.
  • Started a twitter account for book blogging  @theBookDate
  • Commenting on other blogs where appropriate.
  • Joining a few book challenges. A couple of TBR ones and an audio one.
  • Friending people on Goodreads that have book blogs I like.
  • Joining a Book Hop, visiting other blogs and commenting.
  • About to join a Book Ning.
  • Reading up on what others say about book blogging and finding out the tensions there are sometimes between pros and hobby book bloggers.  Forming my own opinions about that.
As I am still working full time, I don't want to over reach and over commit.  I am doing what is feasible at this point in time.  Small steps is my motto!  


27 comments:

  1. I completely understand how much time can be a pressure. I ended up taking a break from blogging for a while, because between working full time and going to grad school, I just couldn't keep up. It's good being back though, and I'm getting better at balancing everything (I think).

    You have a lovely blog!

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    1. Thank you. Yes one day I will have more time. I was just thinking when I retire in a few years that is when I will really be able to enjoy books and blogging, but still want to be part of some of it now.

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  2. These are great goals. I'm following you on twitter. I find that's the best way to connect with other bloggers for me personally. Challenges are a lot of fun. I'm doing a few. Didn't know there was an audio one. I just started listening to audiobooks this month actually. I really enjoy it because you can do housework and stuff while listening. What's your favorite audio book?

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    1. Hmm I would have to say my very favourite audiobook(s) are the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series. The narrator is absolutely fantastic. I think that is the key to an audiobook - great narrators.
      Yep, following you on Twitter too! Does help I agree.

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    2. Yes the narrator makes all the difference. The first audiobook I ever listened to she had a nasally voice that really annoyed me. I'm glad I tried another one though because they can be great.

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  3. Sounds like those steps are all you really need; great post

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    1. Michael
      As I said on your blog I loved your tips, and am now following you!

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  4. Thanks so much, Kathryn, for commenting on my Blogger Development post tonight! It means a lot to me that you stopped by. :) I know what you mean about Armchair BEA being so crazy! I'm having a really hard time keeping up with it all! And if the real BEA is anything like ALA, which I went to last summer, then yes... it's even crazier!

    Book challenges are definitely an awesome way to network and develop your blog. :) Sounds like you're doing lots of great things! Keep up the good work. Like you said, it's a slow process. :)

    - Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl

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    1. Jana
      Thank you. Oh to go to ALA, how wonderful. Just went and looked at this year's one coming up. Alice Walker. Oh would love to hear her speak.
      Perhaps a trip to the States to go to ALA would be a goal! I could pretend to be a librarian.
      Thanks for your encouragement.

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  5. Small steps is my motto too. Yes, I want more followers, but i want followers who are truly engaged, not just coming over for some gimmick. It will take time, but will be worth it in the end.

    tanya

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    1. Tanya
      Have just been thinking small and honest is better than being spread too thinly. Might be different if you are a pro blogger, but for me as a hobby it needs to be manageable and well.... worth it personally!

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  6. Not sure small steps is my motto, but that's all I'm taking anyway! Do you find Twitter is useful? I'm a philistine and haven't yet ventured onto Twitter personally, but I wonder if it would be useful to get to know more about the blogging community?

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  7. Small steps is definitely what I'm taking too. Large leaps might be fun, but I feel I'd overwhelm me. I like the steps you listed above--they're all really doable and helpful!

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  8. I think it's a great idea to move slowly and just blog for enjoyment. Their is so much everyone can learn from each other and being friends with other bloggers on goodreads is the best.

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  9. Twitter helps so much when it comes to socializing and promoting. A great balance of the both can really garner genuine followers! Nice steps!

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  10. Excellent motto! It takes time, and I'm cook with that, because I love it :-)

    Tanya Patrice
    Girlxoxo.com

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  11. "The tensions there are sometimes between pros and hobby book bloggers..." There is definitely a bit of a balancing act, there. Or dividing line. Or tight rope. Whatever one wants to call it! There are even varied levels within each of those categories - "Pro" book bloggers who get paid for what they do, "Pro" book bloggers who do not get paid but who are veterans and take their role very seriously (me!), hobbyists who are social, hobbyists who do not interact at all, and even the (evil) "pro" reviewers who get paid to post reviews that they didn't write, for books they've never read. There's A LOT out there, and it's not always easy to tell who is doing what. I think this is where a lot of the tension comes from - I take umbrage, for instance, with those "reviewers" who don't write their own material and get paid for promoting positive reviews of books they've never written, but still call themselves "book bloggers" rather than marketers, agents, publicity reps, etc.

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  12. I think you're doing incredible! Sometimes the toughest part can be stepping out and getting involved with other book blog groups, however you choose, via Ning or Twitter or Google+ - but it helps so much!

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  13. I think you have some great ideas for developing yourself and your blog. I've had my blog for 3 years and still am trying to figure it all out. I, too, do this as a hobby, and want to continue to love doing it. I do as much, or sometimes as little, as I want, and that seems to help. I did a lot of what you mentioned when I first started out - seeing how others write their posts, following blogs that have similar reading tastes - and then just modify it for my own needs. I recently joined twitter and love all the interactions that happen there.

    Continue to do what you're doing - the blog is great and I enjoy reading all your posts!

    My Blogger Development

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  14. Yes, small steps! I'm doing the same thing. I don't want this to become like a job and I feel like I have to produce however many posts/reviews in a week and get overly stressed. What is Book Ning? I would like to start joining book challenges but never know where people find them, haha! I need to start paying more attention to people's posts for those such things.

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  15. You've got a great list of things you're doing as a blogger. Reading other blogs has been a huge influence on me (of course I didn't mention that in my own post). But I'm all about taking it a little at a time because I also work full-time. Keep up the good work...er...hobby!

    Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know

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  16. I haven't heard of Book Ning, I will have to look into that. I work full-time also, at least until next thursday when I leave my job and be a stay at home mom to my 3 boys so my blog is also a hobby but I love working on it and networking/discussing great books with other book lovers. It can be overwhelming, there is so much to do and learn with blogging but I continue to enjoy working on my blog and hope you do too! Hope to hear more from you during Armchair BEA . I'm a new follower via bloglovin. Here's my Blogger development and favorite books by genre post if you'd like to stop by.

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  17. You have an EXCELLENT plan for developing yourself as a book blogger, Kathyrn! A lot of truly is just practice, finding your voice, and writing in a way that you are comfortable with - I don't think there is really ever an end point, it's more of a journey than a race!

    I also blogged about my development as a book blogger and genre fiction.

    Have a great week! :)

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  18. Very good motto Kathryn! I wish you continued success.

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  19. Small steps is a great motto! It's so much easier to take things slow, I think. But you are doing a great job with all of your developments! :)

    Thanks for stopping by my post!

    ~Sara @ Forever 17 Books

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  20. Small steps should be my motto too! It is hard and time-consuming to run a blog, but I think it's also very worth it! Those all sound like good and achievable goals for now - good luck with them!

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