Rant/Discussion – Does Book Blogging Have Restrictions?

TizzyMatic

I’ve come to notice that book blogging can put and keep you in a box. Tell me what you think about that.

Look around, there’s a bunch of book bloggers on WordPress alone. There’s clearly a standard most of us think when we come into the blogging community whether it be doing book hauls or book reviews or needing to get ARCs – it’s all a standard misconception. 

How many of the book bloggers are entirely unique. Very, very few. Some stick to book reviews, some don’t do book reviews, some only do giveaways – it doesn’t really matter what certain bloggers do, most are traditional in every sense.

What do I mean by that?

That box i mentioned. Once you’re in book blogging, once you get too deep, you are stuck with the traditional book blogging standards until you find your own style of blogging. That might mean you go outside the box or stay in with a better grasp on how to make yourself stand out.

This is all my perspective. I don’t see many people outside of traditional in the community and that’s not bad unless you think it’s bad. In my case, for me, I consider it bad or unacceptable. Standing out and showing who I am, while interacting with others is what I strive for on my site.

With that being said, I think I’ll go out of the box I consider a box. I want to get into writing about my fitness and basketball journey – maybe even my hair to make sure I stay accountable with managing it (cause it for sure takes a lot of energy). That may be a lot, but you never know until you try it, right? 

I always liked to be diverse in what I do, an all-around player. Can I stick to blogging about multiple things? Will I be able to interact with and grow my audience doing all this? Can I stay consistent? Will I lose people I previously gained? All questions I think about on a daily. 

Of course, I’ll continue with book blogging. I would never leave the community; I enjoy it too much to up and leave. I just want to get out the box…….the box I consider a box (added the dramatic effect right there, lol). 

Book blogging will not go away. I’m just adding things to it. Just getting out.

Get out.gif

*Not this serious though, lmao*

*Still haven’t seen this movie either*

So to go back, I have 4 questions (and a bonus) I want everyone to answer:

  1. Do you consider book blogging to have restrictions or a box around it?
  2. Do you think you’re out or inside of the box?
  3. Is that acceptable to you?
  4. What’s your style?

Bonus:

If you could branch out and blog on another topic or multiple topics, what would they be?

Let’s talk about this y’all.

44 thoughts on “Rant/Discussion – Does Book Blogging Have Restrictions?”

  2. I definitely think that book blogging has a box, but I don’t think that it’s necessarily restricting. It’s a niche! I know plenty of bloggers who blog about everything, books included, and they generally fit into the category of lifestyle. I wouldn’t classify myself as solely a book blogger as I tend to talk about things that are going on in my life a little bit as well (my tagline is ‘books and lifestyle’ haha). I’m completely comfortable with this, because I guess I don’t really have anything else I want to blog about? I mean lifestyle is pretty inclusive!

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    1. I understand where you’re coming from. What matters to me most is hearing you say you’re comfortable with it. That makes all the difference in my opinion. If you didn’t feel you were, I would assume you felt stuck or restricted in a way.

      Lifestyle is so great because of how broad of a term it is. You can do anything and it can be lifestyle. Never know what you truly get in that category, ya know. I see where you’re going with everything.

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                1. I’m getting better as the days go by. Just not the type to start talking about what I’m doing and stuff for others to know about. I’m steadily figuring out how to go around that and I’m doing surprisingly well. Especially since I’m doing this by myself, lol.

                  Using that platform to help others, too. I see the potential and why people use it so much.

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                  1. I don’t post a lot of personal stuff on Twitter. I post book review urls, share other blogger posts, and post about new books or advanced reading copies that I get to read. Surprisingly, a lot of my blog traffic comes from Twitter.

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  4. I think book blogging does have some restrictions because to be successful with reader interaction you have to stick with what’s popular otherwise people tend to not pay attention.

    I think I am slightly outside of the box with a foot in.

    I do think that is acceptable because I try to keep some things standard to attract readers, but I still keep my originality so it doesn’t feel forced. I want to always enjoy blogging.

    My blog style is 50’s meets fantasy with a little punk/goth thrown in every so often. My review style is usually essay form with quotes mixed in, but I write it in a way that feels right to me. I’m also not afraid to write a negative review or to change my post style when my “norm” doesn’t feel right. I enjoy doing the book tags and blogger awards, but I tend to steer clear of the popular tags like “waitin on Wednesday” or “top 10 Tuesday” since they are used a lot.

    If I could branch out on my blog I would blog about music and my struggles with type 1 diabetes.

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    1. I can agree on your outlook and analogy with the one foot in. Keeping your audience while staying original is what I’d label as ideal. This is common between new bloggers that are growing in followers/audience quickly, those who are starting to get “big”, and for the already large bloggers.

      Your style definitely fits you. Although I don’t think it’s a case for “fitting”; it’s just you. I see what you mean with the popular things though – can seem repetitive sometimes.

      Maybe you could try that if you felt up to it. Get a bit more personal and open. Could help you too in the long run. Never know.

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      1. It’s always going to be my number 1 advice to newbies is to stay true to yourself. I see a lot of people who say they are getting tired of blogging, but it seems like those are the ones that are trying to do everything other bloggers are doing. It’s just not going to be enjoyable if you are constantly trying to keep up with the masses.

        Thanks, it took me a bit to find the style I wanted, and I am happy with it. And the popular things do seem repetitive. I can’t tell you how many times I open a new post email and say to myself “didn’t I just read this?”

        I think in the near future I will start adding a little more personal stuff to my blog. I think it will help me get healthier and be held accountable for my daily actions. It is a little scary to think about putting myself out there more, but its something I know I can do 🙂

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        1. That’s a reasonable opinion. I need to see more of the negative side of blogging to fully understand what could be the underlining problem, but I think we all have the baseline.

          Maybe people just need to grow into themselves as you did, which is inevitable and unavoidable. When they stick to standards without evolving themselves, I can see why they would be getting tired of blogging.

          I’m trying to do the same with fitness, basketball, and my hair. I have yet to upload a picture of myself on here and it is uncomfortable, lol. I want that accountability as well, which is my main reason for it along with growing and interacting. Let’s do it though. Improvement can never really stop.

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          1. True. It would be better understood to see all examples, good and bad.

            I love seeing people growing in to themselves and finding their uniqueness. It is hard to do if they can’t get past the standards.

            I think it would be very interesting to learn more about your interests and experiences with fitness and basketball and to see what you are doing with your hair. I always enjoy getting to know a fellow blogger more! And I agree, there is always room for improvement!

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            1. I almost like seeing people grow more than my damn self. It’s so exciting to see others break out of their self-made shells.

              Likewise with you. My family on my mom’s side struggles with that and breast cancer so it would be inspirational to see how you deal with it. Music also as it helps bring people back to themselves, myself included.

              Look at us on the same page here. This is the type of interaction I like to see from everyone. Maybe I can delve into that also. What do you think?

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              1. I’m the same way! i love to see people grow and bloom! I especially love seeing this with authors and unknown books!

                My family has type 2 diabetics on mom’s side, which gives me insulin resistance, and we have cancer history, including breast cancer, so it is difficult to deal with sometimes. Music helps when I’m feeling down. I can’t live without it!

                I am enjoying this interaction as well!! I really want more of this in my blog as well. You have done a fantastic job with the interaction! I think anything you delve into will be inspirational and thought provoking! I look forward to more!

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                1. Oh yeah, how could I forget the authors. Love when they finally publish their first book and I can be there (over the internet) to witness and help spread their writing.

                  Y’all staying strong from what it seems though. Huge props for that. Takes a lot out of people to stay with themselves when it comes to all the pain they have to go through.

                  Right! The more the merrier. Communication is key for all relationships/interactions, so why not let it all out, ya know. Thank you once again. Who doesn’t like a compliment or two here and there 😀

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                  1. Totally. I have recently realized that my blog calling may be for indie authors and not so well known books. I have gotten a lot of requests to review indie books and I am excited to be able to share them and spread the word!

                    We definitely try. We are trying to teach our younger family generation to take on healthy lifestyles early to help avoid our family history. I hope your family’s struggles ease up. Breast cancer is a mean beast!

                    Communication is so important! And compliments are great! This is why we are here, to lift each other up and give support! >3

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                    1. We might be the same with that. I get the greatest enjoyment when it comes to helping authors. I see you making progress over there!

                      That’s good. Next generation always have to do better. My fam is trying, too. It really is. You’re right when it comes to support. We all need it.

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                    2. I do too! It feels like I’m making a difference when I help to spread the word about something or someone that needs a little more love! 🙂

                      We certainly do! I am sending positive thoughts to your family! No one should have to go through the loss and pain of cancer! ❤

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  5. Pingback: Weekly Reflections and Shoutouts #2 – TizzyMatic

  6. Hmm.. That is interesting. I’ve never thought about the “standardized” book blogging. There are a lot of people who do MEMEs and book hauls, and other more “common” posts (including myself, I love wrap ups and TBRs). But there are also a lot of people who do something different – discussions, fan art, promotions, you name it.
    I don’t see it exactly as a “box”, as you described. Ultimately, blogging is putting our own thoughts, opinions, ideas on internet. I feel like people who love reading or watching book hauls, will do more book haul posts on their blog. And people who love reading MEME’s, will participate and talk about them more often. The same with Tags or other common posts.
    At the same time, I understand what you mean. For example, personally I don’t hate MEMEs, but I never read or do them because it’s something that most of the bloggers do. So I stay away from them. And I might love them if I try, but I just want to do something different.
    Now, what’s my style? Honestly, I don’t know.
    I am a very “moody” writer. Sometimes I feel like writing about World of Warcraft, so I do 😀 Other times, I feel like writing about travelling or sharing experiences and emotions, or just anything I’m thinking or feeling at that precise moment. Can be very random sometimes. But that is the whole point of having my little space on the web. 🙂

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    1. I see what you mean. Some people don’t think that way though. All they see is what usual book bloggers do, so they do those same things without thinking that they can go out of that zone into what they want. That’s my true message of the post; open the eyes/mind of those who follow instead of lead by their own terms. You know what you like more or what you don’t want to do. That’s what I want others, especially the new bloggers to think.

      Your attitude about blogging is is great, very stable if that makes sense, lol. Everyone who blogs may be better off in their own space on the web instead of in everyone else’s.

      Boom! That’s what I’ve been trying to say all along! Gotta have ya own space. You said it perfectly. Credit goes to you for that memorable line 😀

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  9. I’m confused about what you mean by restrictions. Give me an example. As with anything it is what you make it. I review books and I point out flaws, as well as praise the best. I see myself more as a reviewer with opinions.

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    1. For example, your think of yourself as a reviewer with opinions. Do you feel like you are stuck in that box of doing reviews? The restriction could be doing reviews and feeling like you kinda do what others do. Almost like you aren’t unique enough.

      If you don’t feel closed in, you see no box. If that’s good or not depends on what you think of it. Not everyone thinks of it as a box. Do you think of it that way or are you good with what you’re doing? That’s all I’m really asking really.

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      1. Absolutely not. I think with book blogging, you can do what you want. I’ve done masses of blog tours in the past. I don’t want to do what everyone else is doing ie monthly round ups/MEMEs. I like going back to reviews and having the odd feature where I bring in others. I don’t see a box. I think what is important is being true to yourself and doing what you want. You don’t have to follow the crowd to be noticed by publishers…

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        1. I agree with your opinion. We differ in buts, but we share the same overall perception of it. I think a lot of people will share your opinion, too.

          No one has to follow, but I believe the standard of book blogging for beginners is to follow others. I didn’t touch on that in the post though.

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  10. I’d say go for it, write about different things!
    If I wrote about other topics it’d be either music or gaming but I don’t as it takes me months to finish a game and those posts would be very occasional!😂
    I definitely agree about restrictions though and yeah, I’d say that there is a box at times.
    My view, conformity sucks! I’m in the box as a book blogger in that I post reviews, memes and book hauls and that’s acceptable to me as I am a book blogger but!……I’m also outside the box personality wise and in that I write what I want, I’m sarcastic and foul-mouthed whereas most other bloggers are polite and positive.
    My style, informal, sarcastic, foul mouthed and I’m a book F’n blogger not just a book blogger.😂

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    1. Thanks I’m tryna figure out how to really go about it now.

      Lol, I actually want to do the same with games but it’s more quantity than quality nowadays. I grew up in the PS2 era which was amazing. PS3 not as much but still good. PS4 is trash to me. I’d still read ya posts though.

      I already had you as one of the very, very few I know. You doing ya thang. Lol I see you 😂

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