I am a loner by nature. When I tell people I am not social they laugh at me because I seem like a social person. I can pull it out when I need to it's just not my favorite. I am not actually sure I could attend BEA because of the crowds.
This is why I love the internet because I can participate but not be seen. (And I can do it from the comfort of my own home). But I will admit that commenting on blogs is not very easy for me. I read a lot of blogs, I just don't often add my thoughts.
So building relationships in the blogging community has been slow for me. But, I am okay with that. I started blogging in 2006, but not real actively.
In the fall of 2009 I discovered the book blogging community and started being a more active blogger. I was kind of obsessed with comments and followers. So I did a few linkys and memes and gained a few more followers and followed a few more blogs. But, it is not natural for me to put myself out there so I decided to stop caring about those things.
I still request ARCs and I still get some even though my follower number is low.
I have a few "friends" in the publishing world that I can beg from if I really want a certain book (I think being a librarian helps). One thing I make sure to do is that when I am working with a new publicist/contact I read that book and review it ASAP. I want to make sure they know that I will be a blogger they can count on. Likewise, if I request a book I make sure to get that one read likety-split! If I get sent a surprise book I am not as concerned with getting it reviewed right away (sometimes they don't even have a note so I am not sure who to send my reviews to!).
I think the hardest part for me is when an independent author contacts me. I just don't have time to read everything and I read so much for my library that I normally don't accept independent books. sometimes I will and have one of my students read and review it. However, I try and respond to those requests because today they might be an independent author and tomorrow they might publish the next big thing. You want to be in good standing with them!
These are just a few of my thoughts about nurturing relationships (or not I guess). Have a great Thursday with Armchair BEA!
I love your comment about responding to every review request whether you plan on reviewing it or not. I really need to get better about this--thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteHere is my post on book blogging relationships!
Don't you just love the book blogosphere. I think it's a great place to make new friends with similar interests. I wonder what people did before the internet! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for the honest post. I love the blog community too, but sometimes I feel guilty because I don't have time for complicated memes. I need to write, as I am primarily an author. And finding time is tough. But I am devoted to blogging, and posting on other folks' blogs. Come visit mine if you like! and Happy holiday.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post! It's nice to hear (or, you know...read) that someone else has difficulty nuturing those blogging relationships. I'm new to book blogging, and find that it's slow going for me. I don't have as much time to invest in it as I'd like. But slow and steady all right! Plus, my goal is to talk about books...if I'm doing that, I'm on the right track.
ReplyDeletep.s. I just found your blog recently, but I really enjoy your reviews!
I love this post. You make me feel so much better. I'm a loner, too, and the idea of all those people and crowds at BEA is actually part of the reason I decided not to go.
ReplyDeleteI do try to respond to all of my review requests, but I've stopped responding to the ones who haven't read my review policy and send me requests for books I specifically say I don't review. It takes so much time to reply to every request and I'd rather devote what little time I have to the people who actually read my policy.