Keeping my blog going is my favorite thing ever. Just ask my family – they’ll tell you, I talk about my blog 99% of the time. (That, and, obviously, the books I read!) Maybe because it’s pretty much all I do (especially in the summer)… but I can’t help it! Talking about books is right next to reading books. At least for me, that is. Not to mention the lovely comments I get on each post (keep ’em coming, even if I don’t get the chance to answer – I read and love all of them!), the guest posts, the ADVANCED READER’S COPIES… (It’s a fantastic plus, no doubt about it.) I just love every aspect of it! So what else was I supposed to do? Clearly, I had to blog about loving blogging.
writing the posts.
It’s so cool to brainstorm ideas for blog posts. A) Because I enjoy writing (always have, always will, writing of all sorts, really), b) Books, authors, bookish things, etc., etc. is something I could talk about all day. If not for the fact that people would probably click away, I’d have a ten-page blog post. (I tend to get side-tracked… a lot!), c) since I love the thing I blog about, the ideas come easily! I get different ideas everyday, because I read everyday! 🙂
followers & comments.
Followers are definitely not the main driving point of FTB. I don’t have a whole lot, by any stretch, but I do have some pretty great, loyal ones, if I do say so myself. Now, comments do encourage me to post more often. Writing posts does take time, for one thing. It feels good to know I’m not the only one thinking something, and when someone likes my post enough to take the time to comment? It feels great! Also, an AWESOME thing happened with one of my favorite commenters: we ended up pen pals! *waves* Hey, Brooke! We email, text, write letters – pretty much 24/7. So I’ve met some pretty close bookish friends through my blog comments, and I love it.
talking to authors.
I get to TALK to authors. Like, actually, personally interact with them! It’s a dream come true. 😉 In August of last year, I talked to one of my childhood idols (it’s true, I love Mrs. Frederick!), Heather Vogel Frederick. And at the beginning of June this past month, I interviewed Miss Erin E. Moulton. I’ll also be interviewing two more authors in the next month or two, which is so neat! I’ve also had the pleasure of authors reaching out to me, instead of the other way around, as well. Miss Dina Sleiman (of Dauntless, one of my favorite 2015 reads), has emailed me several times about being on the launch team of her new book, Chivalrous. ALSO coming your way in August is a Dear Opl spotlight tour and giveaway, sponsored by the awesome publisher at Sourcebooks. (I got to review the book as an ARC in June.) All that to bring me to my next point:
advanced reader’s copies.
… also known as ARCs. For those of you who don’t know, they’re glorious sneak-previews of books that HAVEN’T HIT SHELVES YET. I mainly use NetGalley for requesting ARCs, but I’ve also been apart of The Fantastic Flying Book Club a time or two, where I get them as well. Authors and publishers like handing them out because hello, marketing strategies – getting the word out! And what bookworm doesn’t want to read a book that hasn’t actually come out yet?! I’ve only received e-book copies, but it’ll be the day when I get a hard-bound ARC copy. Don’t worry, you’ll hear all about it! Pretty neat stuff. Free books are always welcome.
blogging buddies.
If you check out my “Friends” page, you’ll find a list of all of my favorite blogs. It’s still under construction; I have loads more to add, I just haven’t gotten to it yet. The cool thing is most of those blogs aren’t just blogs I follow. I’ve gotten to know the bloggers and talking to them one-on-one is a lot of fun. I consider them to be my “blogging buddies.” 🙂 It’s also great to have guest bloggers visit your blog every now and then; it brings attention to both of your blogs (especially if you’re swapping a guest post for a guest post, which I call a “guest post swap”), and it’s just fun.
finding new books.
I’ve become an even BIGGER bookworm than I ever was before when I started my blog. Sometimes if I’m bored, I’ll “binge-book-shop” and click through Goodreads to see what’s happening over in the publishing world. I hear about books months before they come out (which is sometimes torture, to wait for them, and sometimes I get them as ARC’s!), and of course, I always hear about new books by reading other book blogs. My librarians tease me about how many books I have on hold… and don’t even get me started on the books I OWN that I need to read. It’s a lot to handle, for one girl. There are just so many books. Like I told my mom today, “I’ve made it my life mission to read every book in the world.” 😀
… so as you can see, there a lot of reasons I love blogging!
i know there are probably several other reasons i forgot to list, so bloggers! what do YOU love about blogging? thanks for reading!
Hey Emily! Loved the post! I really want to start a blog someday. I already have a potential name! Maybe once we move to our new house( by the way having a great time at my grandpas house). It would be awesome to get ARCs! Not to mention connect with fellow bookish people. My goodness it seems its your life mission to get me to blush with your posts! ( by the way did you get my letter? ).
I know the feeling. There are sooooo many books I want and need to read. It was torture watching the books I haven’t read and own get packed up. I had to stop myself from running and grabbing all of them. I got to bring 5 books though( ones an e book). I didn’t bring many because 1. They are heavy, 2. I figured I could go to the library in my grandpas town like I always do, and 3. I figured id buy or get a few books while travling.
Well I have to go! I need to get ready… Some family are arriving later today so I need to get my reading in before they come.
Thanks, Brooke! Yesss, you have a GREAT name. Seriously, I’m just so in love with it. Lol. Don’t blush too much!
No, I didn’t get it. 🙁 When did you send it? I’ll probably get it today.
Aww. That would be me, too, OMG! I understand why you didn’t bring many, but knowing myself, I’d end up bringing ten! I just wouldn’t be able to stop myself… I don’t have very much discipline when it comes to books, lol.
Have fun! Can’t wait to hear about it your letter! (And text.) 🙂
ARC’s are pretty good but i dont feel that they’re the whole point of blogging! (Although they are nice, aren’t they?)
I 100% agree about making new friends.
Brooke is actually helping me edit my stories and I’ll be sending her some pages of my novel to look at too. I sent her a couple things via snail mail. I love sending letteres and gifts like that and it never would have happened if I didn’t start my blog!
I have a pen pal too! She has a blog as well, which is were I met her through. More people should have pen pals, shouldn’t they? Its just so much fun!
Talking to authors is super fun too! Ive had a couple authors find my blog because I reviewed their book!! It was such a surprise getting commentes from them! How they found my blog I have no idea!!!
I loved this post Emily!!
No, they’re definitely not the whole point of blogging, but I do love them!
Aww, fun. I love sending them, too. I love snail mail, period. Especially exchanging them with a fellow bookworm!
Ooh. What’s her blog? I would love to check hers out.
Isn’t it the BEST feeling?! I usually post my reviews on Goodreads and/0r Amazon, so I guess they find it that way. It just makes me so happy!
Thanks, Daisy. 🙂
Hey Emily, I was rereading my last comment and its seems, I may have come off a bit harsh. Those where not my intentions, I apologize if I bursted your bubble in any way! I really appreciate the time and effort you out into your blog! You know I enjoy your posts a lot!
You didn’t come off harsh at all! But it means a lot that you came back to say something, even if it didn’t bother me. Thanks, Daisy! Your comments are always so sweet and sincere. 🙂
My blog had been going a year now, and I think it’s fair to say that blogging has become one of my favourite things ever too. I also love writing, so it’s great to be able to write something and have other people comment and discuss it with you, and I love the sense of community. Very few of my real life friends are actually readers so it’s nice to have loads of people to talk about books with!
Oh, definitely. Me, too. The blogging/book community is one of my favorite parts, because like you, I don’t have a lot of people to talk about books! (Aside from my family, who really just listen and nod while I gab about all the books I’m reading, lol!) 🙂
I love all the other book-loving people I get to interact with through blogging! I get to geek out about books, hear about books other authors are writing, and get lots and lots of book recommendations. (I just got The Swift Boys and Me at the library. I’m pretty sure that recommendation came from you, right?) The blogging community is so much fun!
Isn’t it awesome? I don’t know how I survived not having anyone to talk to about books before book blogging.
You did? That’s great! Yeah, I did mention it in my post last Friday. I still have it checked out of the library, but I haven’t read it yet. It looks good, though. 🙂