The Pressure of Book Blogging — Or just plain Blogging in general

When we finally decide to take the plunge and start our own Blog, there are so many new things we don’t know and need to learn — which is a good thing, learning is always good — and the experience brings us so much pleasure and joy — because seriously if it doesn’t, Why do it at all?? — Some might even get a little extra benefits — money or products — And we all get to be a part of an awesome community (I’m talking about the bookish community in particular which is the one I’m familiar with) and make new friends from all over the world…

Everything I just mentioned among other things (like giving free reign to your creativity, the opportunity of creating your brand, letting people know about what you do) are some of the reasons that make blogging (in my opinion) a great experience to have.

However, like with most things in life, everything isn’t perfect..there’s a downside to it all and today I wanted to discuss with you guys a little bit of that — I’m focusing on Book Blogging because it’s what I know — and do — So, here’s what I think can make us feel pressured as Book Bloggers, and I’m not referring to Stats or anything like that because it goes without saying they are a main issue that can drive us bonkers if we let them…

• Which Books To Read

I’m sure many of us started focusing our Blogs on a particular genre, YA, Fantasy, Thrillers, Classics — In my Case Romance — or a little mixture of all of them, but then after a while comes the nagging thought that maybe we should be reading this or that book because everyone else is and knowing what everyone is talking about will surely bring more traffic to your blog — putting aside the minor nuisance that if you weren’t blogging you wouldn’t be caught dead reading that..

• Feels like a Reading Competition

We are all different individuals (Duh!) so we have many different reading habits, from where we like to read, the media we use (physical books, kindle, audiobooks) and how many books we read… Not all of us can read 30 books a month — particularly if we have jobs and families to take care of — And even if we internally know that, I’m sure many of you guys have felt a little bit inadequate after comparing your monthly wrap up with your fellow bloggers.. (I know I have and I am a fast reader)

• Help me I’m Poor…

I’ve felt this after watching a few too many Book Hauls… How do they do that?? I can’t for the life of me buy that many books — and I am a budget managing star when it comes to book buying — So, does this mean that I’m a bad Blogger because I can’t just keep up??

• The Social Media Freenzy

This happens with any type of blog, there’s this drive to be a part of every platform know to men.. Instagram, You Tube, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Goodreads,….. I can keep going… but we hardly think about what it would actually take to maintain good content in all of them… It’s crazy, and I’m not just saying this because I suck at my own social media–It’s still a work in progress — but it’s inhumanly possible to live a life and manage so many accounts at once… If you can do that, let me know how?? Please!!

• The Reviewing Commitment

Whether you are one of the lucky ones approved for any ARC that tickles your fancy — No, It’s not my envious heart talking… I’m truly happy for you — Or you get contacted by aspiring authors looking to promote their books, and don’t get me wrong, it is great to feel like your blogging effort is validated but along with that come the the whole arsenal of doubts of when I should be reviewing those books, right away?? or should I take my time??… or if they come with a deadline of sorts the pressure of having to read them ASAP…

These are a few key things that can make you feel pressure, or stress out while blogging but my advice — at least that’s what I try to do is just pay no attention to any of that and just try to be yourself.. Read what YOU like, at the pacing YOU feel comfortable with… Manage the social media you feel better at handling and forget about how many books this or that guy bought last month… Just go at your own pace, It might be slow but I’m sure that your blog will grow nonetheless. We do this because we love reading books and when that becomes a chore, or just another source of stress then we are doing something wrong.

Do you feel pressure when you blog?? What Stresses you Out?? Let me know in the comments below and let’s discuss all about it..

As Always

Happy Reading