Awhile back I asked you guys what you would like me to discuss on Tiara Talk and I was surprised by the variety of questions/topics that you came up with. A lot of the recommendations were from the masses, things that everyone wanted discussed, but some people got a little specific on me. Which I love!
My friend Jenny of Into the Morning Reads
commented, "Let's see. I think it would be interesting to get your opinion on those book bloggers who are also hoping to one day be published themselves. What is your take on them in general? Do you think book blogging helps or hinders them in the long run?"
Let me start by saying, I'm one of them! I'd love to be published someday. Thanks to NaNoWriMo I have a few rough drafts already written that are in desperate need of editing, most of which I have set aside because I know that no amount of editing will get them to where they need to be. But I've learned from every one of them so I consider them to be time well used.
Anyway.
I think its fairly common for bloggers to want to be published. In one of my posts for Camp NaNoWriMo I talked about how most readers dream of being writers, its the next logical step. We love to read, we love what we read, so wouldn't it be amazing to write what we love? I've seen dozens of blogs where in the About Me section the blogger mentions being an aspiring writer/author.
I think book blogging can do a little bit of both helping and hindering.
Helping:
From writing reviews you better learn what you love in books, the type of characters, setting, plots, and so on and so forth. You get a feel for the things you love, and I think that is one of the most important things about writing. You have to write what you love and I think through book blogging you can get a better feel for that.
You also learn what works and what doesn't through the community as a whole. You get an idea of what the masses are looking for and how things are done.
You get a chance to develop your voice through your posts, and that voice is just as important in writing fiction as writing for your blog. You have to be your own person, your own writer.
Hindrances:
Blogging is basically a full time job. If you are putting that many hours into blogging then you might not have the time to write, or at least keep telling yourself that you don't. For those of you that work, go to school, raise families and blog you probably don't have a lot of free time left to juggle. Its all about balance but you can only balance so many things. Its a lot to deal with.
In conclusion...Oh geeze. I cannot even believe I wrote that. You can take the student out of the school but you can't take the school out of the student.
Anyway. [Deja vu!]
I think book blogging can really go either way. Its all about what the individual blogger makes out of it. If they want it to help, then they can make it work. If they want it to hinder a future publishing career then they can definitely have it go that way too.
What do you guys think?
I have a lot to add on this topic! I have the start of book hiding on my computer, waiting to finished. I have an friend who's an amazing editor and is willing to help me, I have the whole idea for the story, everything. But.
ReplyDeleteI realized very quickly that I cannot blog and write at the same time. It's completely impossible. So I don't how long that story will be waiting, as my blog will always come first. :/
Its a big topic for the blogging community since so many of us dream of getting our work out there.
DeleteI have issues with that too, toss in school and my boyfriend and it is amazing I never get any writing done. My blog, along with those other things I mentioned, always come first with me so I know exactly how you feel.
Such an interesting topic!! I know a few bloggers who have recently gotten published/book deal. I really do believe that having a blog will definitely help you. If you do blog, you know exactly what people love, and what people hate. You also know what to avoid and what to do. I think blogging definitely adds insight into a writer.
ReplyDeleteI do see, however, how a blog could be a hinderance. But I believe that if you want to write a book bad enough, you'll make time. Because that's just how we do things. If it means sacrificing sleep, then go for it. If it means scheduling posts like crazy for a month so you can write peacefully, then you'll do it if you really really want to have some time to write.
I've always loved to write, even at age 5. I don't know if I'd ever like to publish a novel, but I do know that I'd love to be part of the writing process, whether it'd be editing, or working for a publisher. Random, I know, but I'd thought that I would share about my personal writing. ;)
Fabulous post, Ash! <3
-Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Life
Great comment, Aneeqah! You like...nailed everything I wanted to say in the post and did it WAY better than I did. I think it was Kiersten White, could be wrong, who wrote a really amazing post on her own blog about how she had to cram writing in to her own busy life. Its just part of it. Kind of like a weeding process. If you want it bad enough you'll do it and if you don't you won't.
DeleteThank you for sharing! <3
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