Sunday, October 2, 2016

Reconsidering This Space

Hello? Anybody still there? It's been a while, I know! Well, if you've stuck around to see this post, know that I really appreciate the fact that you are here still sharing the bookish love. In the past several months, I've really only posted about challenges and reading events, but I've found I really do miss writing about other things. And most of all, I miss the little community in this corner of the internet. I read other blogs much more often than I post here, so I still get to be in on the fun, but they are all very inspiring and thought-provoking! I often find myself with ideas, but no time to get them typed out coherently. We all know that life happens (I have a toddler now! How did that happen so fast?!) and I'm glad for it. But I was thinking that maybe instead of trying to figure out how I can get this blog back to how it used to be, maybe I should reevaluate how I use this space. There is a reason I never closed up shop completely, and it's mainly the small community of readers and fellow bloggers who have somehow managed to connect here. So what's a girl to do going forward? The following are the answers I've come up with (so far!)

  • Reviews will be short and on Goodreads. For months (years actually!), I've actively resisted posting my thoughts on Goodreads when I mark a book as finished and give it a rating. I did this because I kept thinking "No, better not, this should be a review on the blog first." And how many of those actually became reviews? Hardly any! It's time to admit that most of my review-ish thoughts are best recorded when the book is fresh in my mind and that 95% of the time, I only have a few lines (maybe a paragraph) to share anyway. The other day, I just started doing this with picture books and it felt so great to get those thoughts down. And just like that, the (imagined) pressure of needing to have all review-ish thoughts specifically on the blog was gone. So if you want thoughts on specific books I've read, I'd love to be Goodreads friends -- if we aren't already :)
  • If I do have a lot to say about a specific book or my experience reading a book, genre, author, etc., those are the kinds of thoughts I will post here. I'm thinking things like my Reading Winnie-the-Pooh as an Adult which was my last "real" post -- four months ago! 
  • I want to write more about my reading life in general -- whether that is thoughts on audiobooks, the library, book collecting/organizing -- basically, anything reading-related that is not a review.
  • I want to write more about children's books and my experiences reading to my son. I think I shied away from this a bit without even realizing it. But children's books are a big part of my life now and I am finding so much joy in them. They may not be for all adult readers, but I am so very grateful to be able to explore this whole world of books that I never read myself or I don't remember reading, as well as revisiting the childhood favorites I do remember.
  • Come December/January when all the year-long reading challenges start popping up, I am going to be very, very picky about what I join. In 2016, I joined eight which was a major drop from prior years, but it's still too many to keep up with. Whatever I join, I want to realistically be able to keep up with my updates, be an active participant, and really use each challenge as a (fun) tool to focus my reading. Focusing my reading has always been a big reason I join challenges, but I can't focus on 8 (or more!) different goals if I am really honest with myself. 
  • Cutting back on challenges, I've also decided it's time to retire as host of the Banned Books Challenge. I was never the most active host anyway, so if any participants or interested bloggers are reading this and would like to take over for 2017, that would be wonderful!
Alright, I think those are all my thoughts for now! Thank you again to anyone who's stuck around. I look forward to putting these ideas into action and getting back in the blogging groove with a refreshed mindset.

20 comments:

  1. Sorry to see you have to step down form the Banned Books Challenge! I loved that challenge and hope someone will take over hosting. I'd offer to do so, but I have four challenges planned already. Yes, I'm making the jump from one to four in the same year. I decided to offer Literary Loners again and as I said in a blog post in June, the Memoir Reading Bingo. I've gotten into reading Humor books and have never seen a challenge for that one, so I decided to start one. And one year there was a postal/epistolary-themed challenge that has not been offered since (and no similar challenges have existed either), so I decided to create an epistolary-themed challenge as well. I'm going to try writing a diary based YA novel set in the 1980s.

    I'm going to see how each of these go. I know it seems like a lot of work, but it really doesn't seem like that much effort is needed. I have each post in draft mode and hope to get them up by the end of this month at the earliest.

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    1. Four does sound like a lot! Good luck with them all and with your novel :)

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  2. Sounds like a good plan. I've had to realize that blogging is fun if I do it the way that works for me, but stressful otherwise. As in, I've practically given up reviewing books (although posting thoughts on Goodreads right away is a good idea). I'm glad you're sticking around despite the busyness of a toddler. I always enjoy reading your posts. :)

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    1. Thanks Julie! That is such a great way to look at blogging and one for me to keep in mind for sure :)

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  3. What a great post, Christine.You echo so many of my own thoughs. I want to write but have somehow got stuck to this "book blogging should be like this!" mindset. I'll definitely think about this some more and thank you for inspiration:)

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    1. Thanks Riv! And you're welcome :) It's very easy to get stuck like that, but if you can break free, I think you'll enjoy blogging again (assuming you still want to!)

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  4. Things definitely change when kids come into the mix. I have had to work really, really hard to keep things going on my blog and I have thought about giving up more than once. But at the end of the day? We owe no one anything except ourselves. So do whatever the heck your heart desire and we will be here to read!

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    1. Thanks Christine! That is a great way to look at blogging -- and one for me to keep in mind :)

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  5. If you don't get other offers, I'd be willing to take on the Banned Books Challenge going forward! If anyone else offers, take them up on it, though, cause I do not feel like I necessarily know how to host a challenge of this type. I WILL DO MY BEST THOUGH cause this is a great A++ challenge.

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    1. That's awesome Jenny, I'll let you know if I hear from anyone else! Not that there is an official process or anything for passing off the hosting of a challenge -- I just really didn't want to ditch it without at least some sort of warning since there seems to still be interest in it.

      Honestly, it's not very difficult and I'd be more than willing to help you get started the first year (if it happens!) And it's really up to you how involved you want to get with it.

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  6. Wishing you all the best! Focusing on children's books sounds like a great idea. Since it's so important to you right now, I'm sure you'll have wonderful thoughts to share!

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    1. Thanks Lisa! I am repeatedly amazed by the wealth of great children's books there :)

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  7. Great to see a post from you, Christine, and to hear your current thoughts on reading / blogging etc. It sounds like you have some good plans ahead of you; I look forward to seeing children's book posts here in the future as well as the non review but still bookish posts.

    Finding the balance between every thing in life can be tough, but often adjustment is just needed to still enjoy the things we once enjoyed - such a blogging.

    I'm looking forward to future posts, as and when you want to share :-)

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    1. Thanks Jade! Still working on the time aspect, but I have lots of ideas swirling around in my head. Much enjoying putting up my mini reviews on Goodreads though :)

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  8. I am still here and will always be! :) I love your ideas for the blog. I also can't believe your baby is a todler! Time is flying. Being picky on challenges helped me this year not be so pressured to read certain things. Good luck! I can't wait to see more of you, however much you have time for.

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    1. Thanks Kay! I remember that you did very few challenges this year and I just know it's the way for me to go as well. And seriously, it feels like he was a newborn only yesterday!

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  9. I did horribly with my banned books challenge but I'm going to spend more time here reading about your children's books ;-)

    Add a second one to the hat of "I'll take over". Just let me know soon 'k? I'm taking most December off.

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    1. Maybe Jenny and I could co-host?

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    2. Glad you're sticking around! I just tweeted both of you to put you in touch so you can decide about co-hosting :) I'm glad to hear there is interest in carrying on the challenge!

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    3. Not only interest, it's important to get out there that banning books isn't a good idea!

      off to look for the tweet ;-)

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I'd love to hear what you think :)