Blogger Confession: Reading the Old Stuff

Posted February 20, 2015 by Felicia S in Blogger Confession / 18 Comments

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Blogger Confession: Reading the Old Stuff

OMG Y’all Guess What? I have already given 5 – 5 Star ratings this year! I have also already read 47 books (granted I have read more novellas this year than the last 2 years combined). While that doesn’t sound like a lot of 5’s let’s look back to the last few years:

(Taking out rereads)

  • 2014: Read 207 Books – I gave 7 5 Star Ratings
  • 2013: Read 214 Books – I gave 17 5 Star Ratings
  • 2012: Read 204 Books – I gave 18 5 Star Ratings
  • 2011: Read 209 Books – I gave 8 5 Star Ratings
  • 2010: Read 114 Books – I gave 7 5 Star Ratings

 

That’s right y’all! I am a stingy 5 giver. I admit that while I am pretty generous with my 4’s, it takes a LOT for a 5. It has to hit the trifecta: Character, Story, Mood! That last one is hard to hit 🙂

Why do I think I am giving more 5’s this year? I am reading what I want.

I am calling this my year of reading dangerously. Why dangerously? I think as a book blogger sometimes we think we have to blog about the new stuff. That means we need to read the new stuff. This year I am not doing much of either. I gave myself a pass on any review book received before Jan 1 (I will read them eventually but only as they fit with my mood).  I allowed myself to read what I wanted to this year no matter the original release date. Any review books that I request this year get listened to pretty quickly because there aren’t that many (they are all audiobooks I would have bought/listened to immediately—I do request the eArc of these too because I like having the book to look up names). It is incredibly freeing 🙂

I spent all of Jan reading Kate Daniels and Shifters Unbound. Then I followed up by starting Kim Harrison, reading some nostalgic reads, and just going with my mood. It means I have found some books that fit the trifecta because the final “mood” was already there!

Guess what also happened? I quit the “must be the most awesome review I have ever written” rat race. Almost all my reviews are short, sweet, and to the point. It is the first time in forever that I only have 2 reviews in my “needtobewritten” shelf on goodreads. Only 2 y’all! Both of those will be longer reviews because I have stuff to say! I had lots of feels and they need to be spoken. However, it isn’t at all beating me down which is a huge difference from years past where I consistently had 15 to 20 on that shelf.

I am enjoying the year of reading dangerously and I honestly don’t see myself going back! I think all of this has contributed to giving more 5’s and I see this trend continuing! YES!

Because you will ask:

  • My page views have gone up (I hadn’t looked until now and that kind of surprises me with my time off).  I think that had to do with the Audiobook Blog Hop that grew this year and all of Jan being books read from 2014 (so still lots of new stuff). Overall I expect my page views to go down until The Sultry Listeners Awards.
  • My reading relationships have grown and that is far more important to me. More conversations are happening and I love that!
  • I am having more fun on Twitter/Facebook. I have to admit that Google Plus and TSU have kinda fallen off my radar for now.
  • My site is less marketable though for advertising (I don’t actually advertise on my site but it would be harder if I was marketing for that). I can’t emphasize this enough: If I was using this blog for extra income or a springboard to something else I would not operate the way I am currently.  This is important because I made a clear hobby choice. I don’t believe this would work for people looking for more from their blog.
  • I am having more fun and I think it shows!
  • My review book clemency probably did sever some publisher ties that I had because I did write to let them know. It was a chance I took and I am OK with it.

 

How do you make big changes? Do you pull the band-aid off or slowly ease into it? Am I crazy? (the answer to the last one is probably yes LOL)

However here is to a year of more 5 Star Reads! I am really kind of excited by that possibility 🙂

Felicia S
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18 responses to “Blogger Confession: Reading the Old Stuff

  1. I prefer reviews that are short and sweet. When it is all copied from the publisher summary, author bio, etc., it’s too hard to find the opinions or the reason for the rating, so I appreciate the change. I’m currently reviewing books I choose for myself because I’m returning to blogging and need to rebuild relationships with publishers and other bloggers.

  2. I like reviewing older books because then I’m not reviewing the same books that everyone else is. I’m off doing my own thing. I got out of doing book tours mostly because I’m a die hard DNFer if I’m not enjoying a book and I didn’t like not having that option. Life is too short not to enjoy your reading.

  3. Yay! I’m glad your year of reading dangerously is going so well! I’m going to a phase now where I’ve lost my blogging mojo. I think part of it is winter blahs in general. Here’s to an early spring!

  4. I don’t think you’re crazy at all. My blog has never been full of new reads – there are a few, but I read what I want when I want. I got away from that for a few months at the end of 2013, but all last year I checked back out of blog tours and reading deadlines. I don’t really have publisher relationships, so no bridges to burn there. But it keeps it fun and I love it. So welcome to my world i guess 😛

  5. YES! This is everything! You go! That’s awesome that you are reading what you WANT and not what you’re obligated to read. I was having that issue too, and recently decided ‘screw it’. I’m going to read what I’m in the mood for and not worry about reviews. If the book moves me, I’ll do a proper review to gush over it. Otherwise, my time is for reading books I’m in the mood for and because I’ve been doing that, I’ve read some awesome books lately! I even read two books that were the oldest on my Goodreads TBR list! I never thought that would happen. Yay for reading what we want and enjoying it! 🙂

  6. I really like seeing the older books reviewed. I think it’s more of a conversation starter. I’m trying not to request much because the obligation I feel has really put me in a slump, and I’m not feeling the fun. It’s so much easier to write about things you are excited about.

  7. This was an excellent post! I have been in that situation where I felt required to read something, since someone sent it to me for review. However, I have since started to decline offers that just didn\’t sound interesting to me. I do not want to spend my time reading – and trying to review – something that I just don\’t care about reading. It\’s no fun, and it\’s not all that fair to the author.

    Triskele Reviews

  8. Good for you! I have decided that I am going to spend the last half of this year reading for fun. I don’t want to only be reading for reviews because then I sometimes feel like I am being forced to read something.

  9. Good for you! I’m trying to do something somewhat similar — there are a LOT of books out there that I just WANT to read, and I’m committing to actually reading them this year. I’m trying really hard not to just follow the trend of whatever everyone else is reading — I’ve always failed miserably at keeping up with all of that anyway. And for my other posts, I’m writing about what I WANT too. I’ve also noticed a pretty significant up-tick in traffic. It must actually come across for both of us that we’re actually enjoying this hobby we have! 🙂

  10. I kind of touched on this in my TMST. I don’t think I am ever going to strike it rich with the blog unless I wanted to devote a whole heck of a lot more time and even then, so I like you have given myself a pass to read what I want to read and not only am I reading more, I am enjoying blogging. I have given up tours and guest posts for the most part and I am focused on reading what I want and blogging for myself and I am so much happier. Plus I am enjoying reading all these reviews for older titles. I think many of us seasoned bloggers are going down this path because I am seeing lots of reviews for older titles and series. I hope you are enjoying Kim Harrison’s series.

  11. Yes to all of this!

    I did the same thing starting last year. I barely request anything, read what I want, don’t worry about review style or posting schedules…and it’s changed everything for me. I love reading again and I’m almost there with blogging.

    I honestly didn’t think I was going to make it to another year of blogging but stepping back and reassessing why I’m doing it (for fun!) has made all the difference and taken all the pressure off.

    I agree with you though – if your goal is advertising/page views you can’t blog that way. Everyone has to make their own choice and blog how they need to.

    Love this post Felicia!

    AND – I had five 5 star reviews this year already too! I’m pretty stingy with those 5 stars as well.

  12. I liked your blog before and I like it now. I think we all should be having fun and when it starts to feel like a job you rip that band-aid right off. Unless that is your blog is your job..lol. I gave up with keeping up with review deadlines unless I am doing a blog tour..trying really hard to not request as much but well..book addict here. 🙂 I think if my blog starts feeling like a job or I am not having fun I would make big changes just like you did. 🙂

  13. I’m trying to work older books into my schedule with the TBR Jar. I’m trying to find a balance that works for me between new releases and older reads this year. I’m doing my best to only request ARCs/audios in series I’ve already started or by favorite authors. I’m hoping within a month or two I’ll get to more of my TBR Jar reads and only read one or two new releases a month.

  14. You are so right Felicia, reading what you want to read, when you want to read it, is exactly the way to keep reading fun. I don’t do review books either, unless I already know and love that author and I would have devoured the book immediately anyway.
    I have a huge stack of books for review ad I read a lot more lately, which is great. But I have learned to push myself to write them, and schedule them on the blog. And to see so many posts ready, give sme a lot less pressure to start writing instead of just picking up the next book.
    I have learned, thanks to you, to write very short reviews for anthologies. Now if only the other book reviews could be shortened …

  15. I love that you are reading what you want. Yeah!!

    I am a five giver if the book is REALLY, REALLY good. I do give a lot of them probably because I do read what I like too. 🙂 That’s the only way to go. 🙂

    In answer to your question about changes. I usually do not make changes. I definitely don’t change my blog design. LOL!! Same as my house…same old, same old year after year. 🙂 Just keep everything dusted and clean. 🙂

    The only thing I can think of that I have changed is that I am more particular about what books I do choose to read and review. 🙂

    Love your blog design. I haven’t visited in a while. Going to make it here more often.

    GREAT POST.

    ENJOY your weekend.

    Elizabeth
    Silver’s Reviews
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