It’s top ten tuesday time. I felt kind of stumped when it came to coming up with blogging confessions, but I put my thinking cap on and came up with some confessions of being a book blogger. Let me know in the comments what strange/interesting blogging confessions you have of you own!
- I check my blogs stats way too much: I wish I could be one of those people who says they never look at the stats page or are just in it for the fun of it, but I’m not. Even though there is no monetary gain, I definitely get excited when the views are high. And I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what kinds of posts and subjects get the most readers.
- I like to buy local, but I also use Amazon a lot: Even though there has been a lot of controversy about using Amazon (which I understand!) I just can’t quit it. I’m in too deep with the kindle. I promise I still buy from my local independent bookstore … and Barnes and Noble … and having been using the library more and more. I love them all!
- I don’t preschedule posts as often as I should: I have grand dreams of being at least one week ahead on the blog, but more often then not I’m staying up late or waking up early to write a Marry Date or Dump post or book review.
- One of my favorite things about blogging is the friends I’ve made: I started blogging to stay in touch with a friend from college. Now I’m blogging alone, but I’ve seriously made such good friends just from reading and exchanging comments with other bloggers and writers. Seriously thank you, Kate Brauning, Jackie Lea Sommers, and Betsy Cornwell for all your advice about writing, publishing, and querying.
- Before I started blogging about YA books I thought I knew the category really well: Now, like Socrates, I know how much more I have to learn/read/come into contact with.
- I’ve discovered several new favorite authors through this blog: John Green, Rainbow Rowell, Maureen Johnson, Stephanie Perkins, my future teacher David Levithan… I could keep going.
- I also think it’s made me take my writing more seriously: Even though I’m not published (yet!) I’ve definitely started viewing this blog as a part of my future career as an author.
- The posts I’m the most nervous about are usually my most successful: There are things I’ve written about and opinions that I’ve shared that have felt really personal and controversial. Almost every time I’ve thought Maybe I shouldn’t post this and hit submit, I have gotten lots of readers and a huge wave of supportive comments.
- But I’m still figuring out how much to post about myself: I have a hard time knowing how much to post about myself, my life, my writing. I think I should probably do this more, because I love it when my favorite bloggers do … at the same time I worry about boring people.
- I am planning some changes to the blog, but I haven’t worked them all out yet: I know certain things I’m doing (posting on Sundays!) aren’t working and I know that moving to New York next month, working and going to school means that I will probably need to pull back from the blog a little bit. I still haven’t figured out exactly how that will work, but I’m planning on asking for your opinions later in the week!
Thanks to The Broke and the Bookish for hosting this weekly book meme.
Alison Doherty 
Great list, I like the idea of planning changes to our blog, we should be always be evolving and trying new things. I also know what its like to be nervous about posts but normally they are the most interesting.
Thanks Michael!
Great confessions. This is a very relatable list. I know that my most popular posts are ones that I’m nervous about. They’re often not review posts which is confusing but interesting. I try to change up my blog every now and then with different features, but it takes a lot of work! I’m also one that checks my stats a lot! I just can’t help it…
Yeah, with exception of a few book reviews my review posts are usually some of the least popular things I write for the blog. Which is funny because that was the original purpose of me starting this whole thing.
I’m with you on buying from Amazon. I understand why people may not always like them, but I’m living off a graduate student stipend and I’m a bargain hunter. Amazon’s prices are hard to beat. I have been using the library a whole lot more lately though and I try to support my local bookstores when I can.
My local bookstores mostly sell used books, which is awesome! But it is hard to find the newer books that I want when I want them. Although I suppose I should be going to Barnes and Noble more. Remember when they were considered the bad guys?
5 & 9 are super relatable to me.
Though it wasn’t YA for me, just fandoms that I thought I knew a lot about, to paraphrase from one such, turns out, I know nothing, Jon Snow.
And I have so much trouble posting about myself! I don’t think you’re alone in that one by any means.
Thanks Reenie! Love the Jon Snow reference!
I check my stats too much too! I also love to use independent and local retailers but rely on Amazon (particularly kindle) far too much! Great honest list!
Thank you! I’m glad I’m not the only one!
Love your list 🙂
I always try to buy local/indie but Amazon is often so much cheaper.
Cora @ Tea Party Princess
Yeah. I feel a little guilty, but money and convenience often win the argument for me. Also I’m too attached to my kindle to give it up now. I aim for about half/half and actually am using the library more than ever.
Your list is great 🙂 I love reading about book bloggers, because I feel then I can relate more and it’s really interesting. I’m sure you’re not a boring person! I’ve seen the stats confession on a couple of ttts and I should really learn how to check my stats… 😛
Thank you!
I also check my stats much too much! Good luck with the blog changes! Great list!
Thanks Elizabeth! I’ve seen the stats confession on a lot of lists, which is making me feel like less of an aberration.
Great list. I related to a lot of these. I check my stats too much, need to schedule posts more often so I can actually sleep, etc. Good luck with the changes. I’ll be looking forward to them!
My TTT
Thanks Stefani! I loved your list too!
Glad I’m not the only stat checker! I like data way to much not to check them. I buy from Amazon way more than I’m proud of. We don’t have any indie bookstores and then having to fight a 4 year old through a bookstore just doesn’t sound like fun some days. 1 click 2 day shipping is just so much easier some days! Good luck with your changes!
Thanks Katherine. Having 2 day shipping is a big part of amazon for me (also having a kindle) I can get books so much faster through them. I’m glad I’m not the only one!
This is a great list! I also buy a lot of my books from Amazon, just because I’m a poor college student and plus there’s no independent book store near me to support. Even Barnes and Noble is 30 minutes away. And def the best thing about book blogging is meeting new bloggy friends and also discovering new favorite authors and books. I’ve already read 35 books this year, which is more than I’ve ever read in the last 2 years!
Yes! Reading more each year that I’ve blogged has definitely been a huge plus!
D’awwwwwwwwwww! Thanks for the shout-out! I love you, your blog, and chatting with another YA author who gets me!
You deserve way more than a shout out … you are seriously the person who’s given me the most emotionally realistic view of what this whole process is like. #LoveFest
Great list! I agree with so many of these- the posts I hesitate to push “post” on are usually worth it! And I struggle with how much personal stuff to post too. I like to be open and share from personal experience, but like you said, I don’t want to bore people. And, I am an Amazon junkie 😦 In my defense, there are NO independent stores around me, so I guess it is excusable? 😉 As for stats, consider me guilty too!
Thanks for making these confessions to me! It’s funny because the Amazon confession was the one I was most nervous about for this post, and it is the one that has gotten the most “me too’s”.
I’m so guilty of number one. My blog is pretty recent, so maybe that’s why, but I usually check it at least once a day. I don’t buy a lot from Amazon, but I do buy from online book stores. Abebooks.com is usually more my style. They’re super cheap, and have a pretty good stock of books, as long as they’re a few years old.
Thanks for the tip! I will definitely check Abebooks out!
Aww, some of my favourite things about blogging are the friends I’ve made and the authors I’ve learned about, as well 🙂
I just saw this! Thank you so much, Alison. I wish we’d gotten to know each other better in college, but I’m glad that it’s happening now! We’re definitely kindred spirits.
Thanks Betsy! I am so glad I emailed you last year for an interview for the blog, and also regretful we didn’t become friends when we lived next door to each other (can you imagine the convenience?).