I missed the last two days of Armchair BEA posts, but I really wanted to end the week on a high note, so I have to participate in today’s topical post – Blogging About Blogging.  And I feel really compelled to post about something that I personally struggle with all the time – Blogging Insecurity.

Blogging is hard work. There are a lot of blogs out there. Typically, you aren’t going to get noticed overnight. It takes dedication and love of books and writing to really keep it going. I am going to admit something that I think many of us deal with on some level.  I really, REALLY struggle with blog insecurity.  There have been multiple occasions where I just wanted to throw in the towel because I just have so many other things going on in real life. And, there are so many other blogs out there, so what am I really adding anyway?

Yes, we ALL deal with insecurity on some level. We think of a great idea for a post and open our Google Reader to find someone else posting about the same topic that day.  We look at other blogs and their awesome designs and think that we will never get noticed because we can’t afford a flashy web designer.  We have a cool idea for a new meme to find out that someone is already doing it on some level.  We read other blogs and their AMAZING writing skills and think, “My writing is a piece of crap – what am I even doing this for?”

Insecurity is a difficult monster to tackle.  He/She invades your thoughts at the most inopportune times, making you doubt everything about yourself and your blog.  He/She makes you think you are dumb, worthless, and inadequate.  But, are you going to let the monster win?  Are you going to let the monster destroy your love of reading and writing and sharing that love with others?

Be confident in who you are and what you are doing.  Many times it feels like we are blogging in a vacuum.  It can be lonely.  We can beat ourselves up.  We do that better than anyone else can do it to us.  Regardless of what your insecurity may be, don’t let the monster win.
 
Some tips:  

1. Ask yourself this question:  ”Why am I feeling insecure?”  What is the fear?  After discovering your fear, think about new behaviors or thought patterns you can develop to overcome your insecurity.

2, You don’t have to have the best looking blog in town or the snappiest posts.  Your blog reflects YOU.  The reader wants to know YOU.  If every blog looked or felt the same, what would be the point?

3. Develop a “So what?” attitude.  Who cares if so-and-so has 25,000 followers or the best meme in town?  That’s them.  I didn’t start blogging to try and impress anyone.  I started it because I love to read and I love to write (whether or not I write well is up for debate…..DARN YOU INSECURITY MONSTER!  Get away from my keyboard!!!)

4. You need to make your blog about YOU and what makes YOU happy.  Trying to do things to impress OTHERS or to make it so it is not reflecting WHO YOU ARE is a recipe for disaster.  Have patience.  Take your time.  Things will happen.

5. Don’t blog just for the free books/review copies.  It will quickly become obvious to the authors/publishers.  Typically, your blog should be established with reviews for 3-6 months before they will even look to start sending you review books.

6. Most importantly – remember WHY you started your blog.  If you ever start feeling insecure, just go back to the beginning.  What was your impetus behind launching your blog in the first place?  Go back to your roots.

Remember . . . it’s not about being the best or the greatest.  It’s about being Y-O-U.  And YOU ARE fantastic!

References:
Thanks to my blog friend Lori for talking through this post with me.  She’s a rock star!  Have you seen her new design since she moved to WordPress?  Love!


I also referred to 8 Tips to Deal With Insecurity for some practical ideas.

If you are reading this anywhere other than a feed reader, then this is not original content and was taken without permission from Crazy-for-Books.

Today’s Armchair BEA post is all about our favorite books of 2011.  I have read quite a few 5 star books this year and they deserve all the shout-outs I can give ‘em! So, in no particular order, my favorites of 2011 (so far) are:

Letters from Home by Kristina McMorris
Read my review HERE.

Purchase your copy
Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Book Depository

Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen
Read my review HERE.

Purchase your copy
Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Book Depository

This book spoke to me on so many levels.  It is the story of a marriage and how life partners can become strangers to each other.  It is a story of second chances; of new beginnings – if both partners will accept them.  The novel is crafted so intricately, leaving you craving more and more with each passing chapter.  Weaved throughout the narrative is the story of how the couple met, fell in love, got married, started their lives together, launched their careers, and then began to fall away from each other.  It is the story of how four minutes and eight seconds can change the course of a life in innumerable ways.  I loved this book.

These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf
Read my review HERE.

Purchase your copy
Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Book Depository

This is a roller-coaster of a ride.  Four women who have one thing in common – a little boy named Joshua:  Allison, a 21 year old girl who was just released from prison; her 20 year old sister, Brynn; a college student named Charm, and Claire, the owner of a bookstore.  How are these four women connected?  And what does an innocent young boy have to do with it?  Let me tell you – once you pick up this book, you will not want to put it down.  There are so many twisty-turny, knock-your-socks-off moments in this book that you won’t be able to rest until you have turned the last page and know how everything comes together.  I definitely recommend this book for those of you who like books filled with secrets!

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult
Read my review HERE.

Purchase your copy
Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Book Depository

I love Jodi Picoult’s novels.  She has a way of tackling tough social issues through her writing in a way that I haven’t seen many authors do.  Her latest is probably her most controversial yet in that it confronts the subject of same-sex marriage and reproductive science.  I found it fascinating.  I found the radical church members a bit stereotypical, which concerned me (all you hear about are the crazy Christians who are protesting funerals and such…we aren’t ALL like that, you know!).  But, I digress..  This is a wonderfully told story as only Jodi can do.  Lots of emotion and depth.  I would definitely recommend it, especially to those who like Picoult.

If you are reading this anywhere other than a feed reader, then this is not original content and was taken without permission from Crazy-for-Books.