Blogging guilt is something I have been thinking about for a while and thought I would share my thoughts to see if any fellow bloggers feel it as well. I started my blog 6 years ago in March and it was to share my love and passion for literature. At the time I was predominately reading YA and I loved sharing my thoughts and connecting with authors, bloggers and fellow book lovers. It was a hobby, it still is. I wasn't getting paid, it wasnt mandatory to post everyday, it was for fun, for my voice to be heard. But over the years I started to feel like I wanted to post less and less. And eventually instead of having a reading slump, I ended up having a blogging slump. Subsequently over the years I have had many blogging slumps but from the start I felt guilty when I didn't post. Sometimes I didn't know why I was feeling guilty other times I felt like oh no am going to lose the followers I have and then I would have to stop and remember its not for followers,likes and re tweets I started blogging, its for the love of books.
In the 6 years I have been part of this community it has changed in big ways. Publishers trust and enjoy working with bloggers, they listen to our opinions and thoughts. You can interact with some of your favourite authors on social media. Social media has changed. You now have bookstagram and different platforms like booktube. Bloggers have changed. Some have gone and new ones have emerged. Some have changed and adapted and moved on to different platforms. Change is inevitable its the way of life, the community is moving and evolving all the time and when I don't post I feel like am going to miss out on the latest book, the next fandom.
I still love my corner of the internet its a community full of support, love and sometimes drama, but I still love it. I don't want to feel guilty when I don't post I just want to continue supporting fellow book lovers and when I feel like posting hoping they do in turn. I want to share my passion for books when and how I want.
This is just some of my thoughts and I hope to share more of them in 2018 with regards to feeling guilty when blogging about certain books and genres but for now leave me your thoughts in the comments below. As a fellow blogger do you feel guilty not posting, as a reader do you actually care if a blogger doesn't post all day ever day. Let me know your thoughts!
The 2018 Book Blog Discussion Challenge is hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight! "This challenge is to help get us discussing books and book blogging, so talk about whatever you want as long as it’s relevant to book blogging. Discussions can be book related or book blogging related (or generally blogging related—no discussions about things that are completely off-topic like travel or fashion, etc). Discussions can also be about you personally if it’s a get-to-know-you type post."
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post as your opinion shines through and it's obvious you love books. Although I'm sure everyone feels guilty at some point you need to remember why you started. Things have changed dramatically since we started. You'll have a reader and follower in me Megs!
ReplyDelete#SistersRule #BestFriendsAreSisters
Nah, I don't feel guilty. I blog for myself not anyone else. I love the community and fellow book blogger friends, but one should not feel guilt over a hobby. I think we all go through slumps--I had one a month ago (actually it lasted more than that) but that's the best part of blogging, doing it whenever and however you want. :) ~Aleen
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed this post! I had never thought much on it before, but I do tend to feel guilty when I slack on blogging. I think it may stem from my anxiety issues, but it is always good to keep in mind that I blog because of my love of books. It isn't meant to stress me out. =]
ReplyDeleteI think we have indeed started to put a lot of pressure on ourselves lately. That's why so many bloggers are quitting blogging. I think many feel this is a competition and it's hard to not to compare your blog with others and how often they blog and the numbers of followers and all the. We should take it easier and enjoy it for the hobby it is. Great post Megan!
ReplyDeleteI only posted twice this week, (besides my Sunday Post) and I definitely end up feeling guilt over that. Nut I feel even worse guilt over getting behind on comments, visiting blogs, etc. I try not to let it stress me because blogging's definitely for me, but sometimes that guilt creeps in!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction