Hello Friends,
I've felt a shift (a major one) in the last year with me and my blog. The community has expanded and grown tremendously in the last six years since I began. I've tried my best to grow and expand with it, but never wanting to detour from my purpose as to why I do this. So this year, I am going back to my blogger roots (in some sense). Am I saying goodbye? Not even. I'm just going to slow it down, not attempt to keep up with the latest trends, and just do what I do... read books and talk about them. I hope you'll stick around with me and continue to be a follower of my blog.
Like all things in life, time continues to march on and we either need to march with it, or create our own path that dictates our own speeds. I am choosing to slow it down a bit, review both old and newer titles, post when the time feels right and not because I have to. I never just want to fade to black with this blog. I've put too much time and love into it. But I also never want this to feel like a chore. So I am doing what's best for me and taking control of the things that do matter, which means scaling down on the blog and reviewing books that feel the need to be discussed. I hope you'll be here for those discussions, and contribute as you always have. Your comments matter and I truly appreciate them!
Whatever the new year may hold for me in both my professional and personal life, I just want peace and the option to step back and take a deep breath when it's needed. There are so many books to come this year that I am most excited about. There is no way I could walk away from sharing them here. Until then, I'll be around on twitter and instagram. Hope to chat up a book or two with you!
So looking forward to this year of books, so many great looking ones coming out! Can't wait ;)
ReplyDeleteOf course we will be here! Happy 2016, Ginger!
ReplyDeleteOf course we will be here! Happy 2016, Ginger!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree and have the same philosophy. Happy New Year and I can't wait to read your book reviews in 2016!
ReplyDeleteThis post struck a cord with me. I can definitely relate especially after having come back from a long hiatus. It's awesome to see all the fun and creative stuff other people are doing but I have no idea how they keep that pace going. Do they sleep?! Perhaps they have android versions of themselves that pick up the slack. Anyway, just wanted to say Happy New Year. Here's to finding a happy balance and to another year of epic reading journeys.
ReplyDeleteAmen sister! I started feeling the exact same way about Aug/Sept of 2015 and I think 2016 is the year to take a step back and yeah, return to the roots of what is possible and what I enjoy. With less posting, I want to write longer, more thoughtful, or more structured and developed posts.
ReplyDeleteTotally feel you on needing to slow down. Keeping blogging as a hobby rather than a job is exactly what it should be, because why ruin something you love doing? Cannot wait to see what you are reading this year!
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny you said this, because I feel the EXACT same way! The blogging community, though I love it to pieces, is EXTREMELY different from when I started 5 years ago. The changes are massive and sometimes I feel like I just don't fit in anymore. Like you said though, I've decided to stop trying to "fit in" to the new community, and instead just stick with being who I am and who I was when I first started Lost in Lit. So in short: RIGHT ON, WOMAN!! I'm right there with ya!! <3
ReplyDeletedo what you need to do :)
ReplyDeleteGinger, totally understand this decision. So glad you're not leaving us - I think talking about books that you feel like reading and writing about them when they matter...that's the purpose of us doing this. It's not a rat race for ARCs, it's a hobby, and it's one you should do the way you want to do it. We will be here for you, don't worry!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! It reflects what I'm seeing from so many bloggers that I respect in a lot of ways, and it's so refreshing to see bloggers take back their love for this community and their blogs. I've only been at it for 2 years, and never had a very strict schedule ... so I can only IMAGINE what kind of stress it can create for those of you that posted 20+ times a month!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Ginger! :D
I am with you 100%, Ginger. When I was hardcore into blogging with BlookGirl, I put too much pressure on myself to be involved with social media, to make sure my blog stats were ever improving, to be part of all the latest feature-and-follows, and to make sure that I had the latest hot books and ARCs... It's exhausting, to be frank, and it sucks the joy out of reading for pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI started my blog, not for fame and fortune, but because I wanted to share my thoughts on my favorite and not-so-favorite reads, and hopefully, meet others who felt the same. I think it's easy to get caught up in the "Book Blogger Frenzy" and start competing, without ever meaning to, and it's important to step back every once in a while and re-assess your desires and your goals.
I have also gone back to the basics of blogging, and will continue to strive to be honest and realistic with myself, and with my fellow book nerds :-) I think you have always done that yourself, and I applaud you for it. I hope you read some fine books this year (borrowing from Neil Gaiman) and that you enjoy most, if not all, of them!
Katie @ ShelfishlyAddicted
"Like all things in life, time continues to march on and we either need to march with it, or create our own path that dictates our own speeds." -- This is one of the lines from your post that struck me the most! I've been working on scaling down, staying relaxed and having fun with the blog (and with my reading life), and I can honestly say that it's made everything so much simpler and definitely more enjoyable. I'm so glad you're doing what feels best for you, and so glad that you'll still be around. (Also, I can't believe we've been friends for at least 4 years of your 6 years in blogging. AND THAT WE FINALLY MEET THIS WEEKEND.)
ReplyDelete