Up Close and (un)Conventional Bookish Babble
Welcome to another Up Close and (un)Conventional Bookish Babble. This is where we discuss whatever we feel like. It can be something about books or the bookish community, or it can be about something else entirely!
I was recently thinking about how I got into blogging. It actually started when I discovered the blogs of my favorite authors. I religiously followed the blogs of authors like Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Rachel Vincent, and Maggie Stiefvater. (Can you tell what genre I read at that time?!?) And then I read a book that was life-altering for me… The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. That book is the reason I turned my passion for books and supporting authors into blogging.
I started small with my blog and I rarely posted reviews. I was nervous about blogging and whether anyone would care what I had to say. I had two followers…my mom and my older daughter. My reviews were more like a stream of consciousness. I didn’t have a style or format. But honestly, I kinda like those first reviews. Have y’all ever gone back and read a review you wrote and thought, “Dang, that’s a good review!” LOL Anyway…
The summer of 2012, we moved from a Denver suburb to Evergreen. Through reading Colleen Hoover’s blog, I found out about a little event called The First Ever Indie Conference. It was being held in Chicago and I knew there wasn’t any way I could go. So I set about reading a book from each of the attending authors. And that’s when my blogging really took off! When a blogger, Andrea @The Bookish Babe, commented on a review, I returned the favor and found other bloggers. And from there, I found this amazing book blogger community. However, I was still nervous about my posts as well as commenting on others’ blogs. I wasn’t sure anyone would care about my comments. Still I persevered. When I started participating in blog hops, like Feature Friday, I met even more bloggers. I got brave about leaving comments. And this is how I met Lex. 😉 The rest is, as they say, history…
I went through a period of time where I was reading like crazy (or crazily reading) and posting reviews every day. This lasted a few years before I couldn’t keep up with the pace. My kids were growing up, busy with activities, and I needed to be more a part of that. I slowed my pace. And I’ve continued slowing my pace, eventually merging with Lexxie here. It’s been a good thing for me. I figure I might become more active in the fall when I’m an empty-nester, but who knows. I’m older now and I need more sleep! LOL
I will always be grateful for The Happiness Project for enabling me to become a part of this rich, supportive, fabulously beautiful community.
How did y’all become the fabulous bloggers you are?
About Brandee @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Brandee is a mom of 3 and a soon-to-be empty nester. She is also an avid reader, a genre omnivore, and a compulsive one-clicker - but she's in recovery. Besides being a reader, she's also a writer and hopes to divide the vast quantities of spare time she'll soon have between reading and finally publishing her first book.
I didn’t know your blogger story, Brandee, so it was fun to read how you got started. I can relate to being unsure the first few times I commented.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Sophia. 🙂 It’s funny how nervous I was to comment on Lex’s blog…and now look at us! 😀
Fascinating! Seems we not only read different genres, we also got into blogging very differently. Isn’t the world wonderfully diverse?
It truly is, Davida!
I can so relate to the nervousness at first. I was SO self-conscious! I’ve met a lot of people and made some mistakes, but I still try to make time for blogging. I’m like you, I’m getting older and I need more sleep! Those blog tour companies that don’t send you the material for your post until 10pm the night before kill me!
Yes, I really can’t do late nights anymore. LOL I’ve met a lot of great people too and I KNOW I’ve made mistakes. But blogging is a part of me now, I guess. 🙂 Speaking of meeting great people…have you thought of coming to Book Bonanza? I’d love to meet you! 😉
I thought about going to Book Bonanza, but Jennifer Estep is supposed to be at Readers ‘n Ritas this year and both aren’t in my budget. However, knowing you guys are going to BB is making me rethink this decision. I will have to look into it a little more! So many bloggers seem to be going to this one!
Twitter: Northwomn
Thanks for sharing!
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Twitter: ailynk
haven’t read that one before… but yay for that book now we can enjoy books together
Thanks Ailyn. I’m happy to be here too. 🙂
It’s so nice to read your blogging story! I started in December 2011 and thinking about it my reading has changed so much since then. It’s been a ride!
Thanks, Stephanie. I wonder how many of us have changed our reading/blogging habits since we started…
Twitter: Mlsimmons
I’m not reading as much as I did a few years ago either. I started when Loupe asked me to do some reviews on Hot Listens and the rest is history.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Maybe it’s just me, but I got burned out trying to read SO much. I like the slower pace…for now anyway. 🙂 I’m glad you got started with Loupe so I could “meet”, Mel! 😀
Always fun to find out how others started blogging. I
It is fun, JoLee. You are a blog I followed early on. 😉
Oh that’s n interesting start with blogging! I don’t think I have ever followed any author’s blog because most of them are super busy and post once in a blue moon 🙂
I became a blogger because I read somewhere that if I wanted to be a better writer I had to write and share my writing frequently and consistently. The same article suggested starting a blog! 🙂
I was VERY nervous too when I started blogging! 🙂 I remember agonizing an entire day before clicking on my first “publish” button 🙂 I still get very nervous!
I totally get what you say about the kids. That’s how I feel! think is fabulous that you two merged! It does takes a lot of the pressure of your shoulders B!
Happy that you are part of this community! hope to have you around for many many years! Great post! 🙂
I’m really happy about being a part of this community, D! And I’m glad you pressed “publish” so I could meet you! 😉
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Well that’s a fun little progression. I think I started out after seeing some giveaway blog hops and thinking huh I could do this! Aaaand I did. lol Changed over time but that’s okay 🙂
We’re all still evolving, right? I burned myself out trying to read and post SO MUCH. I like a slower pace. And honestly, I didn’t believe anyone would ever read my blog. LOL So I’m thrilled to have met so many great people via blogging. 🙂