tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136282549277076253.post9045074419751349090..comments2023-10-18T08:28:33.059-04:00Comments on Read Love: Stress, Sickness, Slumps, and other StuffDawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741862524586480117noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136282549277076253.post-47831354652409638242012-02-19T18:09:11.489-05:002012-02-19T18:09:11.489-05:00Hey there. I am happy to share my story. I start...Hey there. I am happy to share my story. I started blogging when I was 10 and in fifth grade. Now I'm 12 and in seventh grade. In that time, book blogging has changed so much. There are so many more bloggers and so much more pressure than when I first started. Brand new bloggers must feel very overwhelmed.<br /><br />The only meme that I've ever taken part in is IMM. I have always done my own thing and focused on my reviews. Author interviews, guest posts, and giveaways coming second to the reviews. <br /><br />My favorite thing about blogging has always been meeting people (on line and in person) and making new friends. I love that, no matter our ages, we all had books in common! <br /><br />I gave up my blog a few weeks ago because of the time commitment. I wanted more time for just being me - a twelve year old girl. What I found is that I have more time to read and I can read the books I want in any order I want. No pressure to read them based on release date or tour date. I also have more time for family, friends, and school work. <br /><br />To feed my need for keeping those friendships I formed while blogging, I am still on twitter talking books, but not as much as before. I think I've found a happy balance. I hope you do too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136282549277076253.post-29946718956036685272012-02-19T15:55:37.415-05:002012-02-19T15:55:37.415-05:00It's a shame you didn't get the community ...It's a shame you didn't get the community feel, because that was the biggest pull to stay for me. Maybe it was because you didn't do memes, but I guess we won't know :-/<br /><br />Reading and reviewing really does become a chore, and for me I hated that I was reading on a schedule - it just put me off. Since quitting though I have only read 3 books and that's really bad. I went from reading at least one a week to 3 in about 4 months. Ooops. <br /><br />Just decide to do whatever makes you happy :DKelliumSimshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781799535740329495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136282549277076253.post-4842673455609030412012-02-19T14:33:50.154-05:002012-02-19T14:33:50.154-05:00When I jumped into blogging, I had NO idea how to ...When I jumped into blogging, I had NO idea how to go about it. I'd been at LiveJournal for years, but this time I made a conscious decision to be a "book blogger." I started doing Follow Friday, TGIF, Waiting On Wednesday, etc. Then that all started to feel like a chore. I got caught in the "follow for a follow" trap (which I'm going to devote a post to soon on my blog) and that did NOT work for me. I ended up getting caught in, like you say, a popularity contest, following WAY too many blogs, and it took me awhile to really find my place.<br /><br />I still struggle with jealousy over other, bigger blogs than mine. I don't have the time I'd like to blog so I make the most of what time I DO have. But what I've finally seen is just...to be me. <br /><br />Now I only do one weekly meme, and one twice a month. I only do IMM once a month, and that works for me. I did a follower survey and people wanted more reviews and less memes, so I've focused on that. I'm finding my footing and enjoying blogging more than ever. <br /><br />You have to do what YOU have to do, Dawn. If it's blogging, or just reading your books and re-discovering reading just for the joy of reading. I'll support you either way. : )Molli @ Once Upon a Prologuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14817317037277260565noreply@blogger.com