Book Blogger Confession is a new blog meme hosted by Tiger of All Consuming Books and Karen of For What It's Worth. It is a weekly meme in which bloggers can vent share their blogging "problems".
Question of the Week:
How has the "job" of blogging changed your reading habits.
Both pro and con.
How has the "job" of blogging changed your reading habits.
Both pro and con.
From the moment I started blogging I knew it wouldn't be easy. For starters, you have to get your head around HTML and create at least an acceptable design before you introduce yourself into the blogging world. I can definitely say that my reading habits has changed because of blogging. For the better or for worse? Let's find out.
THE PRO: More reading buddies and discovering more books!
1. You get to meet new friends who are book lovers like you. I've never been surrounded with people who share the same passion for books. So I have to keep all this bookish ideas inside. They know I read but we never talk about it. I consider it a bliss that I have my own place now to share what I love and have others to appreciate it and talk with. And that's one of my motivation to read more.
2. I discover wonderful books because of blogging. I've got the chance to read books I may never find out on my own, because book bloggers and friends recommended them.
THE CONS: Reviewing problems and a case of OCD
I read lesser and slower and it affected my over-all read last year which can be attributed to the following:
1. My inability to accept that nothing can be perfect. I spend an hour or two just to finish a single post because everything has to be uniform to my previous posts. Everything has to be aligned. No unwanted spaces. I'm learning now that it's OK not to be perfect all the time and it somehow alleviated my Type A personality tendencies.
2. I don't know if it's only me but reading a book knowing that I have to review it later, somehow dampens my reading mood. I'm not really sure why but maybe it's the anxiousness that comes with reviewing.
3. I have to be a little bit professional here. I also have to take notes all the time so I can have a basis for my review.
4. I spend way more time ogling at my blog than reading. I don't know if it's because I just started and a little bit excited with all the comments popping up or it will become a trend. I seriously hope not.
So it's obvious that the negative effect outweighs the positive ones. But will I stop reviewing to get my old reading habits back? No. Seriously, I think that I just have to find the balance between blogging and reading. I love doing both of them and I wouldn't sacrifice the other one so I could continue doing the other.
What about you? How has this blogging business affected your reading habits? And is it in a good way or a bad way or both? Feel free to share in the comment section below or link up with your own Book Blogger Confessions.
Happy Monday!
Don't forget to check out my Giveaway Extravaganza!
Thank you for joining our meme this week Sarah!
ReplyDelete2012 is the year I relax about blogging! I share many of your neurosis. I'm learning to let a lot of that go because I fear the alternative is to quit blogging.
The thought of reviewing a book can dampen the experience. I find myself trying to form opinions and the base of a review as I'm reading rather than just to immerse myself in the book.
The pros outweigh the cons in the end for me too.
I agree with a lot of what you are saying. There can be a tremendous underlying pressure that builds if I sit there reading a book and thinking "and then I will review it". It gets even worse if I start trying to analyze what day I need my next review by. "Okay. I finished this book Monday. It's going up Wednesday. Then I need to read something else by Saturday." I did that all through 2011 and it drove my half crazy.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing that I have found with blogging is that I like to say "Yes!" too much, which leaves me with too little time to do what I want reading wise, or even to be sick or take a couple days for something else. I'm one of those people who gets really focused on something and who risks burning out if she doesn't get it under control.
Anyway, great post. You made some very interesting points.
@Karen Thanks for dropping by, Karen! I really like the idea behind this meme. It really helps sometimes if you get to let it all out and ask other for suggestions on how make things better.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd really try to make blogging this year a lot less stressful and more fun too.
@Kathy Ann Coleman
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy! It's good to know that I'm not the only one with reviewing blues. I don't really know why something you love doing can be both taxing and rewarding at the same time. Also, I think having a burn-out is where I'm leading myself into if I keep on stressing myself. That's why I'd really try to relax this year and just let things be. Thanks for stopping by!
Great post! I agree completely. I don't think I stress over perfecting my posts as much as you, but I've learned I'll never get it flawless! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe most surprising part of blogging has been the amount of fun I have chatting w/fellow readers. I love it! We go absolutely bananas over awesome books! But sometimes it gets in the way of reading b/c we end up spending more time talking about reading than actually doing it!
Ah the whole obsessive thing - I'm feeling you! It's a hard thing to just 'roll with it' when you want it to be perfect. I've had posts that I've edited 5 or 6 times because I keep spotting things I missed...I try to only limit myself to one (or maybe two.....) edits now!
ReplyDeleteI totally understand - I frequently spend more time online with blogging things than I do reading a book! It's kinda crazy. LOL
ReplyDeleteHere's mine:
http://theirishbanana.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-blogger-confessions-1.html
Hey!! Great post!! I just awarded you the Liebster Award. Come check it out at my blog!!
ReplyDeleteNing @ Reading by Kindle Fire
OKay, I have the same problem. My reading speed has dropped. I need to find that same balance, but the more reviews I write the better I get.
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