Blogger burnout... that thing that happens when you are sick of blogging, out of ideas, bored with what you have to say, tired of keeping up and etc. I suppose it happens after you've been at it for awhile, but it happens to newbies too I'm sure. I've been at this awhile, and have had only rare moments of it, thankfully, so for today's BBAW prompt I thought I'd just make a list of things I've found that helps.
take a break
try something new
keep reading and continue to at least write reviews
start a project with another blogger
blog about something not book related
participate in an event that kickstarts the enthusiasm again
forget about the rules
take a longer break
review a movie
host a read along
be easy on yourself
don't stress about it because it's supposed to be for fun and not a job
take time to comment on other blogs instead of writing a blog post
if you take a break, when you miss it, start up again!
That's all I have. But I think it covers the basics for getting through a burnout period! What things do you do when you're feeling this?
Today for Book Blogger Appreciation Week we're talking about connecting with the book blogging community. Which is the whole reason for doing this right? Well, at least one of the big reasons!
There are so many ways to connect, but the big thing about connecting is... if you WANT to connect, you can't just sit back and hope it happens. You've got to do something. It's a give and take. Am I right? Here are the ways that I've found to be fairly successful when it comes to connecting:
1. Commenting. This the number one way, hands down. Recently, commenting seems to be going out of fashion. We don't have enough time. We are reading on our phones which are a PAIN to comment with. We read posts, but don't have much to say back. Twitter happened. Google Reader died! Yes. I know and feel them all. But I think this is still the best and number one way to let each other know we are out there and reading and feeling it. Agreed? So, just do it.
2. Twitter. It's been around a while now and I think most people, most bloggers, have figured out that if you aren't participating on this platform, you'll probably miss a bunch of stuff where connecting is happening. Funny conversations, projects planned, chats, read alongs... so much stuff! I love Twitter and it's awesome, so if you haven't embraced it, just do it.
3. Events. There are so many events that it can get overwhelming, but pick and choose a few and participate. Seriously, the connection that happens with these things is amazing. For a list of many (most?) of the events going on, be sure to check out the calendar over at Book Bloggers International. And don't be shy about jumping into things. I think most of us tend to be shy in real life, but it's much easier (for me anyway) to come out of my shell a bit online, so... JUST DO IT!
Those are the main ones for me. I mean, there are so many other social media things to do, but I think if you are doing these three, you'll find people and people will find you.
Today is interview day for BBAW. I'm not sure how the pairs were assigned, but as it turned out Jenny and I were assigned each other! And if you have been following awhile, you'll know that we have been friends and buddies for years IRL and blog buddies ever since I finally convinced her to start one how ever many years ago that was (like four or five I think?) And most recently, debate buddies for our Book Banter feature (which is currently waiting for another topic to debate!)
So it was fun to think up questions for each other that were something we didn't already know about the other. Here's what I came up with for her to answer:
1. When you are browsing at a bookstore, what factors make you actually pick up a book to look at it closer?
I'm a "judge a book by it's cover" kind of girl. I love beautiful and intriguing covers. My favorite series: The Matthew Swift Series, was discovered because I fell in love with the cover. I also look for books based on all the recommendations of my friends! So, if I'm at the book store and see a familiar title for a good price I usually buy it.
2. What three things will make (or break) the book for you? For instance, it's a total given you'll love it if it has _______ or you know you'll hate it if it has _______.
I know I'll love it if there's an underdog hero or heroine....well usually.
I know I'll hate it if it talks about forbidden love, love of her life, destiny, blah blah blah. You know what I'm talking about, right?
3. What fictional family most matches up to your family... either the one you grew up in... or the one you have now with your guy?
Oh, my. I have no idea. This is a hard one. Um, I guess I'd say some book where there was a huge family. As you know, I'm the youngest of 11 kids. So it was pretty crazy at my house. I really can't think of a certain book right this minute. Sorry. As for my life now...hmmm. I did just read a book called What Alice Forgot and there was a secondary couple in it that had some similarities to my life now.
4. Speaking of your guy, how do you deal with the fact that he's not at the same place you are reading-wise? (In other words, strategies for living with a non-reader.)
Sometimes I want to tell him about a book I'm reading and it's frustrating that he just doesn't care. Or sometimes I'll start sobbing about some part in a book and laugh at how awkward he get's trying to figure out why in the world I'm crying over a book! As for coping: I try to remember that I don't show a huge amount of interest in the things he loves any more than he shows an interest in my books. I say, as long as he doesn't try to make me stop reading, everything's fine.
5. If you could spend a vacation inside any book, which one would it be?
Any book that takes place in London! I really, really, REALLY want to go back there!
6. What book do you think needs to be made into a movie... like.. RIGHT NOW?
*Music group: Too many to name. I love Keane and Group Love and Muse...
*Color: Navy blue
*Candy Bar: It switches between Caramello, KitKat and Twix.
*TV Show, Another tough one. I'd have to say right now I enjoy Game of Thrones the best.
*Celebrity: I don't have a favorite. I think Ryan Reynolds is hilarious but I wouldn't call him my favorite actor.
*Soccer team: Real Madrid!
*Animal: Horse or cat.
*Place to visit: London or the ocean
*Dessert: I love Strawberry short cake!
8. If you get back into writing again, what story would you write?
Really weird stuff that I doubt anyone would read. Ha Ha! I have a story that's about a girl that's been genetically modified into a super warrior by a shady government entity. But the whole thing was done against her will. They killed her parents and friends. Anyway, it's quite weird. I love stories like that.
9. One of my favorite questions to ask... describe what you'd do on your perfect day.
This all depends on where I lived. If I lived on the beach I'd sleep in, get up late and have a nice big breakfast and then go walking on the beach. Then I'd shower and head out for a day of shopping (book shopping). And then I'd go to dinner with a sunset view of the beach and then go home and snuggle in front of a fire with a good book!
10. Pimp your favorite book of all time!
Frankenstein is my favorite book of all time. The writing is the most beautiful writing I've ever read and the story is so perfectly tormenting! It makes me feel a myriad of emotions while reading it and I'll never get tired of it.
1. The Book Thief, or anything by Markus Zusak actually. As any long time reader of this blog knows, I have a thing for this author. He amazes me, and I love all his books with a passion.
2. I'll say Pride and Prejudice to represent anything and everything Regency and/or period piece-y and or British. Because it's a pretty sure guarantee that I'll like anything with this feel, both old and new. And it's not hard to get all worked up and passionate about books and/or movies and/or actors that have anything to do with this particular subject!
3. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. So I list this book to represent all the timse I've read books and LOVED them for the fact that they teach about worlds and cultures not my own, which I adore. (As you may or may not know, I'm currently deeply entrenched in the study of Korea! And I need to find books about this country quickly!) Anyway, this above book BLEW ME AWAY when I read it and is a good one to illustrate this aspect of me and my fascination with the world and cultures around me.
4. At the risk of just listing my favorite genres here, I must mention some book of the SF/F or really anything of the speculative fiction persuasion. Because not only do I love the actual world we love on, but those we do not. But which book to list? This is where I get especially overwhelmed! I've decided on a Brandon Sanderson:
5. And finally, I've decided to list The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson just because it's about a bookworm Heathcliff loving clarinet playing band geek (while I don't play anymore, I relate) who loves a swoony broody boy and is dealing with real life issues, as we all are. (I just looked up my review and yeah, I need to re-read this book!)
Well, not sure I did a very good job actually representing myself, but there you go! Happy BBAW week!
** Adam was another frequent commenter I had a lot this week and so I've been lurking on his blog a bit and then I found out he does this thing called The Classics Club, with a bunch of other bloggers, which I'd sort of heard of but not clicked on and not really absorbed and now.. sheesh... I just think I might have to do it! But first, I guess I have to come up with a massive list. Oh, boy.
** I met a spanking brand new blogger named Kara, so new in fact that she wasn't really participating in BBAW (since she only started blogging this every week!), but I'm counting it anyway since she has been my only commenter so far today! :)
** My favorite day was the "rah rah" moments we were all feeling on day three with our posts of what book blogging means to us. That was awesome!
Whenever we are asked to push a book we think no one has heard about or one we feel needs more love (as we are today for the BBAW prompt,) I'm always stumped. I'm pretty sure that every book I've read and loved, you, at least some of you, or most of you, have also. But after some thinking, I've finally decided to promote an old classic that I know you've heard of, but my guess is, most of you haven't yet read. No doubt, you've seen me mention this one before, as it often ends up on my Top Ten lists, but now I'm taking the chance to talk it up a little more.
The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy
If you love Downton Abbey, you'll love this book.
If you love sweeping family sagas, you'll love this book.
If you love books in a series, you'll love this book.
If you love period dramas, you'll love this book.
If you love stories filled with all sorts of carryings on, you'll love this book!
This book, commonly known as The Forstye Saga is actually made up of three books, a trilogy of sorts. They are: The Man of Property, In Chancery and To Let. They were written between 1906 and 1921. There's also a trilogy sequel called A Modern Comedy, and then even yet another sequel called End of the Chapter, also made up of a trilogy. Thus, this whole story is actually a trilogy of trilogies! I know!
It's all about a couple of families and their interactions with each other, their loves and hates, their money and property and houses, the spinster aunts and the endearing grandpas. Then they have kids, and the story then follows all THEIR loves and hates, and etc. It takes place in England starting during the late 1800's and into the early 1900's.
Now, the author himself I know nothing about, but he actually won the Nobel Prize for Literature for this book in 1932. Wow! Way to go John! Who knew? :) And in looking him up, I guess he wrote a gazillion things. So, why don't we talk about him more? Why is he not a Charles Dickens or Jane Austen, an Anthony Trollope or Elizabeth Gaskell? Good question. I say, he deserves more attention!
And so I say, if you haven't read this series (even if it's just the first trilogy in the trilogy) the time is now.
Once you are done with reading it, then you'll have the lovely experience of watching the Masterpiece Theater mini series. There's two seasons and I think it covers the whole of the first book (or...trilogy.) And it's simply wonderful. I'm telling you, just like Downton Abbey in its look and feel.
Here's a teaser:
I've only read the first volume...I think I had the second one in my hand at one time, but never quite managed it. Anyway, I remember while reading that first one (which was back in 2007, I looked it up, and sadly it was just before I started blogging about books!) I was so caught up in it that it was all I could think about. Then I watched the show and things got even worse! Completely obsessed I tell you.
So now I must know... have you read it? Watched it? If not, does this make you want to? Even a little bit? Lucky for you, it's free online, nearly free on Kindle, and the show is on Netflix. So, what are you waiting for?
The prompt for today's BBAW topic is "what does book blogging mean to you?" For me, it has one simple basic meaning, and that is..... to blog about books and get a conversation going with other like minded bookish fans. But if you would like me to elaborate: It means being able to let lose with your love (or hate) of a book and or author... and not feel like everyone is looking at you weird. Well, at least not TOO weird. It means reading the same book with other bloggers and talking about it (aka a read along.) It means challenging each other to "read more books!" Or to branch out and try something new. Or to remember and revisit the "good old books" or to participate in something bookishly fun. It means commenting as much as you can on other blogs to help facilitate the conversation mentioned above.... which then leads to connections and relationships with other bloggers. It means writing posts that get people thinking about and talking about books....whether that's reviews, lists, discussions, etc.
It means supporting the general bookish community, both online and off, and supporting authors by putting your money where you mouth is... if you at all can. And finally, it means having fun!
Today, for the BBAW interview swap, I have the privilege of introducing to you Jackie of Farm Lane Books. I'm pretty sure I remember when Jackie first arrived on the book blogging scene. She was everywhere! And became popular so fast. It was awesome! And now, she is one of the most popular book blogs over there in beautiful England, if not the world. I think she's even won a few blogger awards and has found much recognition. So cool. Way to go Jackie! I love her blog for its intellectual nature. I promise, you will be smarter for reading it! She blogs about lots of award winning books and keeps us all informed on what's going on with some pretty big award lists. She makes me want to branch out and read books that I would never have found or put on the list otherwise. Please welcome.... Jackie!
1. Tell me how you got started blogging and especially how you picked such a lovely blog name.
I started blogging shortly after the birth of my second son. I was stuck at home on my own and needed something to occupy my brain. I’d recently discovered the Booker Prize blog and inspired by Laura’s blog I decided to start my own. I loved books and so reviewing them seemed like a natural progression. At that point I had a small business selling secondhand books online, named after the road in which I live. Since I already owned the website and email addresses I called the blog “Farm Lane Books” too
Perfect name I say. So simple and so quaint. I love it.
2. What's been your favorite book you've read so far this year? And what's been your least favorite? What's your all time favorite book?
My favourite book of the year so far is HHhH by Laurent Binet. It is an original book that looks at the way we approach historical fiction. It has the pace of a thriller, but is thought provoking and amusing too. My least favourite book is harder to decide. I abandon anything that isn’t really interesting me and so it is rare for me to finish something terrible. The only book that is springing to mind is Lionel Asbo by Martin Amis – it was unrealistic, pretentious and not at all funny,
My all time favourite book is A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. It is set in India and has an amazing, emotional plot packed with a vivid atmosphere and historical detail. I think it will be hard for me to find a better book.
I totally agree with you on A Fine Balance. That one blew me away.
3. You mention that you live in Surrey England, if I were to come visit...what would you take me to see? Where's the best place you yourself have visited?
Surrey is a great place and there is loads to do within a very short distance. It is only 30 minutes from London so most people would go for a bit of sightseeing there. Windsor Castle is about 20 minutes away and there are also lots of old country houses and beautiful parks nearby. Unsurprisingly I’m a bit of an expert on the best places to buy books locally and so I’m sure I could fill your case with wonderful books.If that sounds like fun, you’re welcome to visit anytime!
Does it sound fun? Are you kidding me? Sounds like TONS of fun! We visited Windsor when we were there nearly ten years ago... but sadly, we got there after it was closed. We stood at the gate and looked longingly in. But it was still cool, even at that.
4. What do you do when you are not blogging or reading?
I enjoy spending time with my two little boys (aged 5 and 6), walking my dog, cooking adventurous dishes and spending time with my friends.
Sounds so nice and relaxing!
Jackie with her two boys.
5. What book do you wish you could read yourself into?
That is a tricky question because most of my favourite books involve tragedy and danger. I think I’ll have to cheat and say I’d love to move to Happyland in the Mr Men book ‘Mr Happy’, because it would be wonderful to live in a world where everyone is happy.
It took me a bit to realize what book you were talking about here, this is what I found when I looked it up.... is it the right one? Good choice!
6. Since it's BBAW, tell me about a favorite blogging experience.
Blogging has enabled me to do loads of things that I would previously only dreamed of. I have been to some amazing publisher parties and met lots of fantastic authors/bloggers. It is always wonderful to be able to talk to other people who love books as much as I do. My favourite has to be a speed dating event organised by Sceptre. I got to meet Andrew Miller and Chris Cleave, two authors I particularly enjoy, and was treated a bit like a celebrity for the day.
With Chris Cleave....
..... and with Andrew Miller.
It was great to get to know you better Jackie! Thanks for participating. I'm going to promise to be a better commenter on your blog and add some deep and profround award winning book to my line up!
Wow! Time again for a week of blog appreciation fun! Are you ready? I'm ready!
Today's topic from Book Blogger Appreciation Week central is to list blogs that we appreciate. As I say every single year... how hard is this? Let me say it again... VERY hard! There's so many. Last year I made categories and this year, I'm going to it again. Here goes:
Blogs that make me smile and BE HAPPY!
(These blogs are full of fun personality! )
Blogs that make me want to DO THINGS!
(They always have something going on, challenges, read alongs, etc. which make me want to get doing something... either that or every book they review makes me want to run out and read it right now!)
Blogs that make me wish I were SMARTER!
(These blogs are full of very thoughtful, very smart reviews and other observations about life. Makes me wish my blog was a bit more.. smart.)
