Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme created by Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings in order to discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging (and some slightly more personal matters throw in for good measure). After Heidi stopped blogging (apparently for good), five of us took over as hosts while providing new questions. The current team is composed of Berls at Because Reading Is Better Than Real Life, Jen at That's What I'm Talking About, Karen at For What It's Worth, Linda at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Roberta at Offbeat YA. This week's question is...
WHAT WERE YOUR EXPECTATIONS WHEN YOU STARTED BLOGGING?
I started blogging in October 2012, with the mission of giving exposure to all those books (mainly YA) that fell under the radar - the ones that got less recognition because they weren't backed by bigwig publishers and didn't get a strong marketing boost. While I DID hope I would be able to steer the right type of reader towards some of them (and get followers in the process), it's not like I had great expectations, blogging-wise. The very nature of the books I was recommending made it unlikely that I would become a very popular blogger...not to mention that I've never believed in posting like a madwoman - and I've never had the time and energy anyway. So, basically, I hoped to leave a small mark on the bloggiverse, but I had no illusions about getting successful...and this has spared me a lot of heartache and inferiority complexes 😂. On the other hand, blogging has fulfilled a lot of dreams I didn't know I had - working with authors as a beta-reader, getting to read a number of new books for free, and first and foremost, finding my happy place inside a lovely community of other readers. So, by not expecting anything, I gained everything 💚.
Well, that's it for now. Did you enjoy this post? Would you like to participate in the meme on a regular or semi-regular basis, and get emailed the prompt list? Just head over here and fill in Jen's form! (Of course, you can jump in anytime you like - you are under no obligation to actually do all the posts, or even most of them, just because you signed up, and you can remove yourself from the list at any time). And if you're interested in participating in a more casual manner, or only in commenting, here is the TMST prompt list for the rest of April and the month of May:
- April 25th: If you could go back and change one thing about your life, what would it be? (a question I submitted)
- May 2nd: Have you looked at Twitter alternatives after it changed hands? Are you using any? (a question I submitted)
- May 9th: Do you prefer to read a series as the books come out? Or do you prefer to wait until the series is finished?
- May 16th: Which book/series would make a great movie/tv series?
- May 23rd: Which tropes do you enjoy the most?
- May 30th: Which books are you looking forward to reading this Summer? (June-August)
I'll be back for the meme on April 25th, and I'm very much looking forward to your answers - whether you're planning to spill a lot of beans or only to give vaguer answers 😉.
Now tell me something...what did you expect to accomplish when you started blogging?
It really is nice that you're promoting books that would otherwise not be seen by anyone. I have tried to have a variety of book bloggers on my reading list just in case they post about a book I might read which I guess is like a one in a million chance since I'm such a picky reader but there's still a chance.
ReplyDelete"By not expecting anything, I gained everything" - that sounds like wise thinking. But you know, sometimes you expect things even when you try to tell yourself not to.
I have no idea what I was expecting when I started blogging, probably gaining readers or getting free books (in giveaways), I don't recall but I do recall I joined a lot of memes/challenges just to join in because that's mostly how bloggers find each other.
Have a lovely day.
Blogging sure has evolved since I started, and even more so since you did. Memes and challenges are still around, but it seems to me that we put more value in talking to other people than in having a number of followers now - especially since we realised that the audience for a blogger are...other bloggers, so we mostly tend to follow each other LOL.
DeleteWell said! I often think what an unexpected journey blogging is, and how fulfilling it is just to share what we love, regardless of whether we make it "big" or not as a blog, and of course as you say the wonderful community!
ReplyDeleteMaking it big requires a level of commitment that may turn a pleasant hobby into a chore...so I guess we're living our best blogging life 😉. Also, we support each other, which is better than having a bunch of followers who never interact with us!
DeleteThat's true!!
DeleteI think it's a great goal to shout about those less hyped books. I tend to read big press books, and still, I manage to find a lot of books no one else has read. HA! My daughter and her friends started the blog to get free books. I joined because I wanted to talk to other readers.
ReplyDeleteWith the quantity of books that come out nowadays, there's always a number of them that slips though the cracks, no matter if they're indie or bigwig...so I'm not surprised.
DeleteLOL, your daughter and her friends were in high school back then, so I guess we can forgive them!
"I joined because I wanted to talk to other readers."
The purest of motives!
It's funny how blogs and bloggers evolve as time goes on. I had no expectations at all when I started blogging, but it turned into a passionate side hobby for me.
ReplyDeleteAnd you did make a name for yourself! Look at all the publishers who love you 👍.
DeleteI love it. I'm glad I found you and your blog. When I first made my blog it was a dare between me and several other people. We thought it would be fun to see what we could come up with to blog about. I'm the only one who still had my blog out of the 5 of us who started.
ReplyDelete"I'm glad I found you and your blog."
DeleteLikewise!
What a peculiar story! And you're still here after 18 years...👍
This sums it up perfectly: "So, by not expecting anything, I gained everything" I agree 100%. I started blogging just to have a blog, and now I've got so much because of it!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing, isn't it? We old-timers will never be influencers, but we have a great thing going.
DeleteI started my blog when I was 14, so needless to say my expectations were a little out there lol. I think I thought that famous authors like John Green would be reaching out to me personally to review their books. Now I'm just enjoying the ride haha!
ReplyDelete🤣🤣🤣 But since you were 14 (!!!), you're excused LOL.
DeleteWhat a great answer! "blogging has fulfilled a lot of dreams I didn't know I had" This!!! The people I've made, the opportunities I've had are beyond anything I could have imagined and have literally changed my life.
ReplyDeleteI would just add, in my case, I had no expectations just because "book" blogging wasn't even a thing when I started. I was just spewing my thoughts and thinking I would have an audience of one - myself lol
Karen @For What It's Worth
😂 You were one of the pioneers! (and now the Booktok tribe treats us like old dinosaurs LOL).
DeleteThat is so lovely put, not expecting anything I gained everything! Awww
ReplyDeleteThank you! 😊
DeleteThat's so sweet. ❤️ I love how you had minimal expectations, and then got a lot, you've come a long way in your blogging. 😃
ReplyDelete-Quinley
Thanks! This way I can keep doing what I like with minimal pressure, and everything I get is a plus...
DeleteI love that we both started book blogging for the same reason, to bring more love to amazing indie books. And we had similar expectations, since I don't think I ever planned on becoming popular either, just wanted to do my part and maybe convince some people to read some great books! Glad we've both found enjoyment in it.
ReplyDelete"just wanted to do my part and maybe convince some people to read some great books!"
DeleteExactly! So well-put.