Reasons to start a book blog, the privileges and the reasons NOT to start a book blog. #BookBloggers #BookBlogger

Well, that’s a rather mundane and long title. Apologies dearest readers my inspiration must have been lacking and my imagination found wanting when I named this blog post. However, while it’s a mouthful (sniggers, that’s what she said) it tells you what the post is about. 🙂

Let’s look at the reasons to start a Book Blog.

• You love reading.

Reading is a hobby, it’s something that you love and you decide that you want to evolve that love and what better way than by starting a book blog!😀

• You want to share the book love.

You get to give a little something back by reviewing and showcasing in various ways the authors and books that have brought you, bring you and are yet to bring you (you will discover many great books and authors that you never knew about) countless hours of joy through your blog.

• You transcend being ‘just‘ a reader to something more. You become both a blogger and a reader.

Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with being ‘just‘ a reader and I mean no offence. We were all readers before we became bloggers and in our hearts we still are readers, our blogs are simply an extension of that.

We have simply turned one hobby (reading) into two (reading and blogging) and built on being reader And hey, if you have a blog then you get to tell people that you are a blogger ‘I like reading and yeah, I have a book blog‘.👌

• You have a platform to voice your opinions.

A blog gives you a platform and a voice. Just because it’s a book blog it doesn’t mean that you can’t post non-bookish stuff. You can write about and vent about anything and having an outlet is good.

• You want to be part of a community of like-minded people.

Let’s face it, lots and lots of people read but also, lots and lots and lots don’t. I know, it’s crazy, right, who wouldn’t enjoy reading?! But some people (alas, they have no taste) really don’t.

If you don’t know many/any readers then the people who don’t share your love of books won’t have the slightest interest in talking about and discussing books with you (can’t fault them for that as they wouldn’t have a clue what you were going on about and you can’t discuss and debate a subject you know nothing about). Being part of the book blogging community negates the lack of readers in your everyday real-life and allows you the opportunity to interact with a vast variety of like-minded and supportive people from all over the world, both male and female and different ages and perspectives too.

• You want to help promote authors.

With a book blog, you get to promote authors, both those that you know and quite possibly those that you don’t. If you are very lucky then you just might get one of your favourite authors to appear on your blog too.

• Your blog is yours.

You get to rule over your own little domain. Sorry, the title of Blogging God is already taken by myself (you have to aim high folks).

But you can all be Kings, Queens, Lords, Ladies, Duke’s, Dutchesses, Madams or Pimps of your own kingdom. Point is, your blog is yours, it’s your own little slice of the book blogging community and Internet! 🙂

Let’s look at the privileges of being a Book Blogger.

• Free books!

One of the privileges of being a book blogger is receiving ARC’s or finished copies of books to read and review whether from a publisher or an author.

I’m not gonna lie, free books are awesome BUT they come with the hard work and dedication of running a book blog and are a privilege of having a book blog, not an entitlement and certainly NOT a reason to start one.

• Blogging Groupies.

You have followers, fans and people who read what you write. Film stars and musicians both have groupies. There’s no reason bloggers can’t too. Blogpies or if you prefer, Bloupies as we have people who follow, read, comment, share and like your blog.

You might become famous or you might become infamous (pretty sure I am infamous with a bad blogging reputation) but one thing is certain you will have people who read and enjoy your blog and knowing that there are people out there who read and care about what you write is really cool.

Let’s look at the reasons NOT to start a Book Blog.

• Free books!

As I mentioned in the privileges section of this post. Free books are a privilege and are not a reason to start a book blog. If you start a book blog for and with the sole purpose of getting free books then you aren’t a real book lover.

• To charge for reviews.

If you start a blog as a money making scheme because you are under the impression that people will pay you to review their works then for shame! For shame!

Real book bloggers don’t charge for reviews but sadly, some try it on and do charge and even more sadly, some numpty authors pay them! No offence authors but when there are 1,000’s of fantastic bloggers out there who do this for free then really, you are a numpty if you think that paying a book hooker is a good idea! It’s not! It’s book prostitution and prostitution is illegal. You wouldn’t pay for sex, don’t pay for reviews.

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For the genuine readers and book lovers who are thinking of starting a book blog then the above two reasons wouldn’t even be a consideration. The points below will be.

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• You are putting yourself out there.

You have a blog, you write various blog posts and reviews and subsequently, this means that you are laying yourself bare, exposing yourself and putting you and your work out there to be read by people.

Each time we publish a blog post we are like an author publishing a book only on a much, much, much smaller scale. We are putting our thoughts and writing out there and they will be critiqued, praised, loved and liked but there’s also a chance that just like with authors and their books what we write and post will receive negative feedback too.

• Having a blog can be stressful.

Certain aspects of blogging will, on occasion cause you stress. You will find that you stress about stats (you shouldn’t but everyone at one time or another does). You will stress about and question, why other blogs and bloggers are more popular than you and you, will wonder what you are doing wrong. You will stress over the posts and reviews that you write (at least if you question what you are writing and posting then that is a good thing as it means that you care about what you are posting and are trying to put out the best content that you can instead of churning out any old tat). You will stress over trying to come up with blog post ideas and finally, you will stress over trying (and either failing or succeeding) to keep up reading the blogs that you follow.

• Blogging is time-consuming.

Blogging takes time, maintaining your blog, writing and drafting posts, being part of the community and reading other blogs as well as still finding time to read too. It all adds up and ultimately it can be hard work and it will consume lots your time. Of course, when you have a blog and enjoy blogging the time it takes up doesn’t matter as you are doing something that you enjoy but if you are considering starting a blog then time is definitely a consideration.

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So, if you are thinking of starting a book blog is it worth it?!?

Emphatically, yes, it is!

The positives far outweigh the negatives and while it can be hard work it is well worth it. Being a blogger and having a blog is ultimately a fantastic experience. If you are thinking about starting a blog then I say go for it!

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