Discussion Post: Who are You? Finding Your Voice as a Blogger
/37 Comments/by SuzanneWho are You? Finding Your Voice as a Blogger
I’m celebrating my 2nd Blogoversary this week (I’ll be hosting a giveaway soon to celebrate that, by the way, so stay tuned!) and as I start my third year, it really has me thinking about how far I’ve come and what some of my biggest challenges were starting out as a newbie.
I think where I struggled most, aside from the actual mechanics of setting up a blog and getting started, was figuring out who I am as a blogger – finding my voice, so to speak. When I first joined the community, I was easily intimidated because there are just so many bloggers out there with these confident, energetic personalities who have amassed tons of followers. All I could think was “Who is going to pay attention to shy, awkward little me when there are all of these amazing and vibrant personalities out there?”
Now, that said, while I know it may be tempting to try to model your blogging voice after bloggers like that, if I could offer one piece of advice to new bloggers, it would be this…don’t do it.
Why? Here are my thoughts on the subject as they have evolved over the past two years, every time I have doubted myself and felt like maybe I should do something differently:
- Even the biggest blogger started out small and had to find his or her way as well. Maybe they now have thousands of followers but chances are, it has taken them years to build that kind of following. It doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with personality. It’s all about putting in the work to make your blog and online following grow.
- If you model yourself too closely after a “big” blogger, eventually someone is going to notice and probably say something and, ugh, who needs that kind of stress and awkwardness in their life? Not to mention if what you’re trying to do doesn’t really reflect who you are as a blogger, are you really going to be able to keep it up long-term? Or want to, for that matter?
- Why would you want your blog to reflect someone else’s personality and style when you have a personality and style of your own?
- Wouldn’t the blogging community be boring if we all sounded exactly alike?
When I think about the bloggers I enjoy interacting with the most, it’s not necessarily the bloggers with the most effervescent personalities that I’m most drawn to. Yes, of course I enjoy those vibrant and energetic bloggers too, but the ones that reel me in and keep me coming back are those blogs, big or small, where I feel like I’m getting to know the blogger a bit each time I visit and read their posts. Whatever their personality happens to be, it comes shining through and I feel like I’m making a real connection with someone. And I honestly don’t think I’m alone in this. Aren’t many of us in the blogging community trying to make connections with people we think we’ll like and share interests with?
So, that said, the point of my post is that even when we’re having doubts about whether we’re good enough, we should still strive to be ourselves, no matter what. If you’re a bubbly, energetic person, then by all means, make your posts reflect that, but if you’re quieter and more subtle, that’s cool too. And if you’re a ranter, rant away! In short, you be you and your confidence as a blogger will grow, and, best of all, your tribe will find you. ♥
Can’t Wait Wednesday – Spotlight on LITTLE BIG LOVE by Katy Regan
/32 Comments/by Suzanne
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about. It is a meme that I have loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll just be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.
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My selection for this week is LIttle Big Love by Katy Regan and I have to admit that the main reason I’m excited about it is the comparison in the blurb to About a Boy and Parenthood, which are two of my favorites. Parenthood is one of those shows that gave me all the feels and that I could only watch with a box of tissues nearby because I knew I’d sob at some point during almost every episode. I’m really hoping that this book packs a similar emotional punch and by the description, it sounds entirely possible.
LITTLE BIG LOVE by Katy Regan
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
From Goodreads:
About a Boy meets Parenthood in this smart, big-hearted love story about a family for whom everything changed one night, a decade ago, and the young boy who unites them all.
Ten-year-old Zac Hutchinson collects facts: octopuses have three hearts, Usain Bolt is the fastest man on earth. But no one will tell him the one thing he wants to know most: who his father is and where he went.
When Zac’s mother, Juliet, inadvertently admits that his dad is the only man she’s ever loved, Zac decides he is going to find him and deliver his mom the happily ever after she deserves.
But Liam Jones left for a reason, and as Zac searches for clues of his father, Juliet begins to rebuild what shattered on the day that was at once the happiest and most heartbreaking of her life.
Told through the eyes of Zac, Juliet, and grandfather Mick, Little Big Love is a layered, heartfelt, utterly satisfying story about family, love, and the secrets that can define who we are.
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I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂
Top Ten Tuesday – MY TOP 10 FAVORITE READS SET OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.
/44 Comments/by Suzanne
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!
This week’s TTT topic is Top Ten Books That Take Place In Another Country. I live in the U.S. and I love to read books that are set in other countries. Not only is a great way to learn about other cultures, etc, but It also helps to somewhat satisfy my wanderlust because reading these books is like traveling without a passport. That said, here are some of my favorite reads that have non-U.S. settings.
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MY TOP 10 FAVORITE READS SET OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.
1. ON THE JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta (Set in AUSTRALIA)
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2. WARCROSS by Marie Lu (Set primarily in TOKYO, JAPAN)
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3. HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi (Set primarily in AFRICA)
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4. MY LADY JANE by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, & Brodi Ashton (Set in ENGLAND)
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5. ANGELS & DEMONS by Dan Brown (Set in ROME, ITALY, VATICAN CITY, & SWITZERLAND)
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6. HARRY POTTER SERIES by J. K. Rowling (SET IN LONDON/HOGWARTS)
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7. A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING by Ruth Ozeki (Set in TOKYO, JAPAN & BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA)
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8. THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak (Set in GERMANY)
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9. THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini (Set primarily in AFGHANISTAN)
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10. ANNA KARENINA by Leo Tolstoy (Set primarily in RUSSIA)
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