I’d like to think we book bloggers are mostly chill creatures, just here to enjoy books and with our pockets full of cake crumbs and magic.
And yet. Haha…oh wow, we can definitely get annoyed. The little dragon part of our souls will unfurl its wings and roast some humans and potatoes alike if anyone insists on being downright annoying. And hey it happens! We bloggers put up with a lot! And we work hard over here, OK?! Don’t be mean, or we’ll tell on you.
So just in case you either (a) want to nod vigorously in companionable agreement over the annoyances we put up with, or (b) you secretly want to know just how to annoy a book blogger yourself because you are eVIL (how dare you) — I am writing a post on:
10 really annoying things that happen to book bloggers
Bless us for surviving this, seriously. Between authors murdering our feels and internet-humans sneezing on us, it’s A WONDER WE’RE ACTUALLY SOMETIMES A LITTLE HIGHLY STRUNG INSTEAD OF CHILL.
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1. WHEN PEOPLE STEAL YOUR HARD BLOGGING WORK.
And pfft to anyone who says “Well it’s the highest form of flattery!” If I made a sandwich and you waltzed up here and ate it, then no. I would not be flattered. I would eat you as revenge because that was my sandwich, you limp lettuce leaf. I made it. I wanted to eat it. You didn’t even ASK. It’s the same as stealing art — except art is a little less edible unless it’s paint and you can eat it if you want to see another dimension.
I’ve had blog posts, pinterest boards, tweets, and photos stolen. I’ve practically got one foot in the grave, one in a seafaring ship, and once I find my tricorn hat and my kraken under my piles of books, REVENGE HERE I COME. *
* Just kidding. Well, not about wanting to wear a tricorn hat. But I am not very much into revenge unless it is the petty kind like I eat your favourite cake in front of you but don’t share.
2. WHEN SOMEONE APPEARS OUT OF THE GLOOM TO EXCLUSIVELY HATE ON YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK.
NOT @ IT’S NOT, OLAF.
I like discussions! I like seeing other perspectives, you know that whole “walk in someone else’s shoes”?? That’s a fantastic saying! I love your shoes! I will take them and run away and you will nary ever catch me! Ha ha ha!
Excuse me.
But I just can’t when I say “I LOVE THIS” and someone appears to say “WELL YOU’RE SO DUMB THIS IS ALL THE REASONS IT SUCKS.” What does this even achieve except me wanting to sprinkle staples in your hair??? It’s negative and unnecessary. If I’m really raving about a book you hate — DON’T READ MY POST. Stunning idea.
3. WHEN SOMEONE JUST POINTS OUT TYPOS AND NOTHING ELSE.
Okayyy negative Nancy, I’m sure spelling ITS instead of IT’S is going to ruin the whole post. It doesn’t actually! It’s good to spell correctly, but you literally don’t need to stampede out of the snow to juuuuust point out problems. Look I’ll break it down for us so we can differentiate which typos are bad and which are not that big of a deal:
TYPOS THAT WON’T KILL YOU
- it’s vs its
- their vs they’re
- the vs teh
- cait vs cake (it’s the same thing anyway)
TYPOS THAT WILL KILL US ALL PLEASE FIX THEM
- i ate evil = I hate evil (this is important to be clear about ok)
- Legolas vs Legacy
- TBR (to be read) vs TBC (terrifying bear close)
- I’m not buying A Thousand Perfect Notes = I am definitely absolutely totally buying 42 copies of A Thousand Perfect Notes
- “I want to eat cake” vs “I want to eat Cait” (just so I have warning)
4. WHEN SOMEONE SAYS “OH LOL YES BLOGGING WOULD BE SO EASY.”
SO IS RAISING MY OWN PTERODACTYL SON IN THE BATHUB OBVIOUSLY.
I’m joking. That was me being facetious. Because raising my pterodactyl son in the bathtub is hard and blogging is hard and there is not enough cake for how hard my life is, clearly.
Bloggers work hard! We promote and champion books because we enjoy it, yes, but it doesn’t stop it from actually basically being an unpaid job! We spend HOURS coming up with content and organising things and most of us will spend some money on our blogs at some point. And we squeeze 5 hours of blogging into 15 mins before bed so like, we’re also time-turning wizards too. Take that.
5. WHEN YOU GET OVERLOOKED FOR COOL OPPORTUNITIES FOR NO GOOD REASON??
Or because you’re that terrible terrible thing…ready for it? (TAKE A BREATH).
NOT IN THE USA.
Gasp. How dare you, peasant.
But honestly, it never ceases to boggle me how wildly unpredictable opportunities in the blogging realms are! Like why do I get rejected for 90% of my requests on Edelweiss and Netgalley!? (Despite having a good ratio!) Why do bloggers who WANT the ARCs miss them in favour of bloggers who probably won’t even read that ARC?!? Some bloggers get the Famous interviews. Some don’t. Some get all the follows and pageviews. Some don’t. None of it makes sense??? And then the sun will go and NOT SHINE WHILE I’M TRYING TO TAKE BOOKSTAGRAM PHOTOS and sheesh I’m done here. I’m crying in my batcave, I’ll get back to you.
6. WHEN SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO DECLARE YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.
I tend to think if it’s rude to ask it TO MY FACE, don’t ask it online either! Although apparently it’s a bizarre concept!?? It really bothers me when people assume things about others’ finances online. YOU JUST CAN’T KNOW. Online lives are notorious for just displaying the “pretty” side, but only a peahen would assume that it’s the full story. Come onnn.
I particularly hate it when people tell me how rich I am (like, I wish but yet?!?) or ask me to tell them how much I earn for a living and I just??? When about is it your business.
7. WHEN WE DO NOT GET OFFERED ENOUGH CAKE.
There’s literally nothing more to clarify about this. It’s a travesty and skies are falling because of it. Someone ought to bake more. Be ashamed, world, for failing us like this.
8. WHEN OUR REVIEW REQUEST CRITERIA GETS IGNORED.
Just…just read it. Starting off an email with, “Look I know you said you don’t take review requests…BUUUUT!” doesn’t help your case! It just makes me realise you already don’t respect my words!
FUN (NOT) EMAIL EXPERIENCES I’VE HAD
- getting emailed with “hi!” but no name because that was too hard to find
- or better yet, “Dear Paper Fury”…
- it’s not mY naME actually
- (although I would reply if someone called me Nick Fury, let’s be real)
- Being asked to BUY the book to review it.
- Being requested for sequels…how does that even make sense?!
- Emailed about adult books when if you spend 2 seconds on my blog you’ll know I’m a YA blogger
- Being followed up 4+ times…mate, please take a lowkey no from someone who hates confrontation
- being told “Now I know you love [insert book title] which is similar to mine” WHEN I’VE NEVER READ THE BOOK THEY MENTIONED THAT I SUPPOSEDLY LOVE??
- When you end up on mailing lists you NEVER SIGNED UP FOR???????????
9. WHEN OTHER BLOGGERS INVALIDATE OTHERS’ NEEDS.
Just because you don’t care if a series doesn’t match, or if spines aren’t the same height, or if your bookshelf is organised a certain way — dooooesn’t mean IT CAN’T BE VERY IMPORTANT TO OTHERS. This is like the second rule you should’ve learned in preschool. *
Just let people live! Unless they are already part of the undead! Then let people die for goodness sakes!
* The first being, if someone steals your cookies, you level all your 5-year-old anger into declaring a dire and despicable ice war which will last 100 years as they become your arch-nemises. This is how Sherlock and Moriarty did it anyway I guess.
10. WHEN SOMEONE SNARKS THAT BLOGGERS MUST HAVE SUPER PURE™ REASONS FOR BLOGGING.
You know why you should blog? BECAUSE YOU WANT TO. And also (keep calm now this may come as a shock) because it might help you to achieve something you want! Now, much like cleaning the house if you have a toddler, this is a bit of a controversial thing I’m suggesting. But I think it’s perfectly valid to blog for MANY reasons and they don’t have to be selfless! (Also I’m a Slytherin, yes. Hello.)
REASONS YOU CAN START A BLOG
- Because you’d like to receive free books to review! YES! This is a valid reason to blog! I know people say “don’t blog just for free books” and while, yes, you should blog because you enjoy it…but why not also get books?! I love getting books from publishers! I love working with them! And for someone with a smol-book-buying-budget, I need this.
- Because you’re launching a platform for your business! Maybe it’s graphic design, or your publishing a book, or starting a candle-making business or running a book box or an etsy store?! It’s perfectly OK to launch that off your blog. None of this “eh they’re only here to make money”…IT’S A VALID WAY TO MAKE MONEY IF YOU CAN MAKE IT WORK.
Because you want to rule the world.Oh oh…um, sorry wait typo. This is only my reason and you can’t borrow it.- Because you just want to fangirl over books and make friends! Also a valid reason! You do not have to be writing massive discussion topics or championing a cause or anything! You can simply blog because it’s fun. Zero pressure, you fun octopi.
I totally get why this is such a big deal! I think it ultimately comes down to appreciating that some things are up to other people and you don’t always have to have a say. Like sometimes my mum says that if you don’t have soething helpful or kind to say, don’t say anything. But I think the thing about blogging is that it’s fun as much as anything else. What irritates ME is my mum teling me to make it professional and get people to pay me for that because thats not why I blog at all.
and cake is important, yes
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I have not been blogging long, and I don’t blog extensively (because uni and work and sleep and food and reading and actually writing my books), but #4 is SO true. Blogging is MUCH harder work than I ever expected…if you want to do it well, that is. It is FUN though. I only wish there were more hours in the day to do it!
I am not a blogger but still relates with this a bit. Especially the part about people being rude because you liked something. I while ago I was on Goodreads and I commented to Marie Lu that I really liked her Legend series and this guy came on and trolled everyone for like the book and then some of us tried defending the people he was personally attacking and his friends came on and started personally attacking me! One even sent me a friend request which I denied and had to stop commenting.
You know I’ve been thinking starting a blog for a few reasons. It seems fun even if a lot of work, I want free books, and sometimes Goodreads isn’t enough for my feelings especially when literally none of my friends have even heard of the books
O totally! Wow! My blogger buddy and I just jokes about some of these privately, but you out it all out there. LOVE! Everything is sooo on spot (ok, maybe not the take over the world bit.,that’s all you!). Stolen work, that makes me so angry! And when people think you’re making loads or it is so easy to blog…etc. Just all of it, I’ve gotten my share of anger inducing comments and actions!
Now..ignore my grammar mistakes..lol😉
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Ahahaha this was epic! THE CAKE ONE THO. So true. XDD
I’m personally transitioning to post more about books than I usually do, but I’ve experienced these things even without being a book blogger. And yuss it drives me nuts when people say, “Don’t blog to get book.” Like you said, I want to blog bc I love it, but I also want all da books! XD (Do you know if there’s a certain follower count you need to have to be credible to get books to review? Or does it vary?) And I hate it when I’m trying to express my feelings over something and then people just randomly pop up and disagree or try to get me to stop. I’m okay with having different opinions, but LET ME GO CRY IN PEACE PLEASE.
Anyways, this post was bombdotcom, and I am in love with your SOUE gifs! 🙂
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I think the worst is when people come in and see that you are staring off into space within your computer on your lap and proceed to start talking to you, like no. Same rules for when I have a book dude…I’m actually doing something 😊📚
Um yes. I agree with this!
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Omg Cait I love these!! So relate… typos are allowed (even though I cringe at my own ones *cue nervous laughter*)
That’s easy-lemoney to raise pterodactyls in a bathtub, I have three as we speak. What are you saying? 🦖
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OMG, I’ve had every one of those email experiences! Lots of email senders assume I’m a man. I’ve gotten so many emails addressed to “Mr.” or “Sir.” I guess there’s something about my blog that’s very manly. The quickest way to irritate me is to add me to a mailing list. I’m constantly drowning in emails. Don’t make me drown faster.
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Yeeeees!!!!! This is great! The one that annoys me the most….is review requests for very adult books (barf)….when my blog is Christian and Clean books only.
Haha yes.
Sister: Oh I think I’ll start a blog sometime.
Me: Well when you need help, just ask.
Them: I’ve got this.
Me in my head: No you definitely do not got this you’re going to need help I wish I had help.
Blogging IS NOT EASY. I wrote an entire post on this. Like seriously peoples. TRY IT. Then you can try to tell us that it’s ‘easy’.
Yes! I agree! Thank you for pointing these out. People really should know and avoid these things.
This week on my blog, a reader responded to a prompt regarding cultural diversity in fiction by telling me I should move (like pick up my life and move my family’s home) to a different area where we would be part of the ethnic minority.
I can’t even reply to that comment. My dessert of choice is cookies so I shall henceforth send all my virtual cake your way, Cait!
This post made me GRIN hard. Thank you for writing it. I’d like to buy you some cake. 😀
Okay, that title is simply perfection. 😂😂😂 I’m not a book blogger, but OH MY WORD, THIS WAS HILARIOUS. XD People. They are WEIRD. And THAT SHERLOCK AND MORIARTY DESCRIPTION. OH MY WORD. XD #perfection
I’ve actually pondered the thought of beginning a book blog just for the…ahem…free books. XD But I’ve since realized that I don’t think If make a very good book blogger, so….yeah no. XD But whatever. I’m still cool. XD (You are TOTALLY going to rule the world one day. It’s not even a possibility for you not to.)
And I DO GET ENOUGH CAKE. I mean, it’s not as much as I’d like, but it’s enough. XD
Cait, your posts never cease to make me laugh. You, sir, are fantastic. XD (And you’re also not a sir, but again. Whatever. XD)
I am 5 feet tall, a Slytherin, and ready to attack anyone who even SUGGESTS that the Raven Cycle is trash. (just kidding, of course we are all entitled to our own opinions, but we don’t have to shove them in other people’s faces!!!!! No thank you, the only thing I want shoved in my face is a chocolate bar).
I will say this for the people in the back: AMERICA IS NOT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD. Freaking heck, official book people, the USA does not have the Most Important bookworms. Cait, I apologize on behalf of all of the USA. XD
I agree with most of these! Some of them I haven’t experienced, but maybe one day I’ll be popular and burdened with them. (Notes to self to stock up on sorbet pints, my version of cake.) I’m definitely on the “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” train. We can criticize and not like things, but we don’t have to be MEAN about it.
Nonononono, who says blogging is easy??? I’m a beginning blogger trying to spread the word about my soon to be released debut novel, and let me tell you, NOT EASY! How do you even get noticed when you’re in your little, shadowy corner of the internet in a sea of other well known blogs? I read tips on how to get noticed, how to promote, and all of it is very time consuming. Not easy. Not at all. But rewarding, I hope.
People acting like your opinion is only valid if you can produce a card showing you have permission to think and have opinions.
When people act like I’m doing it wrong because I’m not doing it the same way as them. I am awkward. If you tell me I HAVE to do it one way, I WILL turn around and run in the opposite direction.
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Wait, people actually ask you HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE? Wow, that is…bizarre O_o Like full on, I had to read that twice because I can’t believe someone would actually have the nerve to ask about something so private??
Personally, I think the only “bad” reason to start a blog would be as a hate blog. It’s totally valid to have negative opinions on something, but creating something for the sole purpose of using nasty words and belittling anyone who enjoys it feels incredibly empty to me. Thankfully I haven’t really come across this in the book community, but it’s SO common in my other hobbies I wouldn’t be surprised if one exists somewhere.
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I actually got a review request a few days ago that said I’d love for you to review my book, you can buy it here….. And I’m just…….That’s. Not. How. It works though!?!?
I actually clicked on the Amazon link cos I was like surely it must be free of something? But no.
That’s never happened to me before but nice to see it happens to others haha.
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Well, if the Series of Unfortunate Event gifs weren’t perfect, than I don’t know what it is.
I struggle a bit with the book blogging community because I feel like some people really are soooooo negative. I don’t feel that as much on bookstagram, though I imagine it’s out there. I once read a comment on someone’s blog about how they’re an anti-fan of an author because of the author’s religion and will go out of their way to hate on their work. That just boggled my mind. I don’t even know how I would respond if somebody had left a comment like that on one of my posts. Why the negativity and hate, people? It’s not like the authors over there cooking up babies…I assume. Seems to me, if it was well-known the author practiced a baby eating religion he’d be in prison.
Anyways, loved the post. Funny as always!
I recently got a review request that said “Dear Editor”….i’m not an editor nor is my name Editor (no idea where they got that from)…and my name is in several places on my blog though i’ve responded to Wickedjr89 it does tell me they didn’t take 2 seconds to actually look at my blog or they actually think that’s a name.
The reason I started my blog was just so I could have all my book thoughts in one place, so I could look back and remember what I thought of said book or whatever. But also, why not get free books to review? 😀 I’m a small blogger, which is ok with me, and I still get the occassional request. I never know why but I don’t get question it lol.
No, I do not get enough cake though…I need to bake some cake.
Such a great post as usual Cait!!
People actually steal tweet? Why does this surprise me?
And while I am totally one of those people that notices grammar and typos in posts, I have NEVER {and will never} commented on them… how rude! Considering no one is perfect and I find typos in my own posts, and at least 1/3 of the bloggers I follow live in different countries and English is not their first language, let them go!
I also cannot believe people ask you how much money you make! Not that I’m not curious about the financials of your book deal, but that’s just curiosity on the going rate for a new author, I would never actually ask you! Some people do discuss how much money they make from blogging, but for most of us, I’m pretty sure that’s in the negative numbers… at least if we’re self-hosted.
And in conclusion, because this comment is incredibly long, there is absolutely never enough cake out there for bloggers!
Michelle @ Life Among the Pages recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday~ I Enjoyed You, but I Don’t Want to Re-read You
First of all I must say how much I enjoyed the GIF theme here because it matches the interior of my brain at the moment.
Fantastic post! Thankfully I have been surrounded by kind considerate blogging folks and I haven’t had to deal with most of the things you mentioned in this post (except for lack of cake, but we all have to deal with things) but it would really annoy me if people exclusively corrected my typos (not that I have ANY typos of course, but hypothetically) or hated on my favorite books! I feel like we should be trying to support each other on our blogs, not destroy each other. So more cake would be great. And people have blogs for all sorts of reasons and that is awesome. If you don’t like someone’s blog just don’t read it. Also I am super paranoid about accidentally plagiarizing someone else’s blog and I try not to be constantly terrified. Because stealing is inconsiderate and rude and I don’t want to be Count Olaf when I grow up.
So many good things. 🙂
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I am pretty sure every single one of the contact ones has happened to me. I won’t lie, they all make me laugh, except for the excessive follow-upper. Because NO, it makes me feel so… confused. Because I know I don’t have to respond, but they make me feel bad, and then I feel bad that I am mad, and just… stop, it’s all icky! I laugh hardest when people want me to buy their books to review though hah. OH someone emailed me 4 times once and called me Sarah every time- and got progressively ruder every time they emailed. So by the last one it was like, flat out mad: “Sarah, I still have not heard from you”. Well no shit, Sarah doesn’t exist.
I’m in almost-shock that people ask you about your finances! But then… not full shock because sometimes people are The Worst, so. I feel you with the people who never review books getting all these ARCs and opportunities. I get stabby when someone who quite literally hasn’t blogged in YEARS gets stuff and I am rejected.
OH and the people hating on stuff you love, yesss. Like- I have had people come onto my The 100 posts and say “oh I tried that show but it was so stupid”. Like do you understand where you are? I have an actual addiction, and you’re over here saying that? Brave or stupid, I am not sure 😂
And no, I definitely don’t get enough (or any) cake, but would there even BE such a thing as enough? Still, I’d be happy if the situation was improved.
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Love these kinds of posts. You never fail to make me laugh!
XD
I’m not a blogger (ahaha idk why I’m here either) but it always makes me a bit sad to see other people saying that blogging is so easy when they aren’t even bloggers? I mean, if it takes me 100 years to write a goodreads review, I can’t even begin to comprehend the amount of time and effort required for blogging different posts and coming up with the ideas for them!
And ahhhh I hate it when people say what and why you can and can’t blog. I once saw someone say that if you have a blog then you have to keep it regularly updated and talk about important things and I just got a tiny bit confused because I love fun octopi! I love reading people just rant about books, or TBR piles about to explode, or just a post about cake which might be why I’m here actually. (But serious topics are super important and I fully appreciate anyone who talks about serious topics too!)
Also is the part about cake a trick question becase yOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH CAKE.
Ahhh, blogging is SUCH hard work … but I like to think it’s worth it! And oh my goddddd, don’t even get me started on typos. I’ll read through a post THREE times, publish it, get some comments, and realize only *then* that it has a typo in the first sentence. HOW!? I totally love that last point, too. Loving books & fangirling with other book-lovers is honestly one of the best things about the YA book blogging community. <3 🙂
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OMG YESS I LOVE CAKE!! And I hate it when people behave as if a typo will kill you. I really don’t like people who are like “if you use your instead of you’re we can’t be friends” I mean I am sure they’re joking but I am a smol baby and I get scared easily. BUUUUUUT…..I agree with all of these points. Oooooh also hate it when someone calls me Dreamy Reads instead of Aditi. This has happened a lot of times when people replied to my comments and I don’t know but it just makes me feel angry? or weird? or sad?. Obviously would any parent call their child ‘Dreamy Reads’? Or Paper Fury?
This post is sooo true! I’ve only been blogging for like a month, but I totally get your point about why people blog. I’m mainly doing it to get my name out there so that I have a platform and people encouraging me if I want to publish a book someday. Plus it’s fun. And NO I do not get enough cake :'( My personal favourite is chocolate with raspberry jam in the middle and whipped cream on the top but we NEVER get to eat that.
The one thing that will always annoy me is when you get people saying how easy it is to manage a blog…if they’re saying that I’d offer to give them a whirl on mine since atm my brain seems to think posting something EVERYDAY is a smart day. It’s really not a smart idea. Yet here we are. Also the opportunities one…I mean I’m in the UK so in a way we do have more opportunities than those who are say from elsewhere in Europe. But it still bothers me like there are people all over the world buzzing for new releases and if you want a book to actually do well. America is a great place to start but erm…there are other countries other than America xD
Financial situations I mean….I don’t think any reader is rich think about it. You get a load of cash what you gonna do it? Hoard it?! I don’t think so, we’ll be off spending it on this suave new library we’re building for ALL our previous books. Either way unless you’re somehow making it big somewhere, and are really well known throughout several communities, most creators of the creative arts earn next to nothing. We have to work hard, cry, eat cake if you’re called Cait 😉 and prepare to rule with Cait as your leader obviously before we even get close to making anything off of doing something we love that’s creative. At least that’s kinda how I see it.
Cait vs Cake. That’s the BEST replacement HAHA!
And ughhhhh how do people even think we will not know that like, we’re not on their mailing list? It happened to me once and i’m infuriated just thinking about it! I’m sure it happens to you daily haha!
Out of curiosity’s sake, what’s your favourite cake? Mine’s cheesecake, redvelvet (okay, more like red velvet frosting), carrot cake, and uhhh too many. HAHA
Great post, Cait! 🙂
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I’m still quite new to the whole blogging thing (having only just burst magnificently out of my own batcave) but I understand the majority of these fairly well.
*gasp* Who the heck said blogging was easy?? Blogging reaaaaaaaally isn’t easy…. at all. I started for fun, and it’s still fun but when it comes down to it I feel like there really aren’t enough time to write blog posts …… I keep getting distracted…. by TV shows >.> hmmmmmm…. that’s probably where all my time is going….. No one can stop me from re-watching Merlin….. No ONe!!!
I definitely do not have enough cake….. My soul is deprived…. *dying gasp* SEND BATMAN! SEND THE REINFORCEMENTS!!!!SEND HELP!!!!
I think the main reason I wanted to create my book blog was the last one. I’m not going to lie, I’d love to receive free books, but that’s what comes after.
Thank you for saying book blogging is hard because it really is! Maybe people don’t understand it, unless they are bloggers. But hey, I love book blogging and the community is great.
I feel you about non-living-in-the-USA-and-getting-bullied-for-that part because I got ARCs declined thanks to that. If I live somewhere else, then publishers should be happy I’m bringing that book in another country to actually help to make it not famous, but something like that.
I probably do a lot of typos and even more serious mistakes in English and it really makes me mad, when people only point out them and nothing else. I mean, ok, I made a mistake, but would you please tell me that like a civilized person??
Hey Cait, just wanted to let you know that WP reader is doing really weird stuff with your site… when I click on the “visit” link to come here and view the post, it gives me some crazy link like this: https://paperfury.com/wp-content/cache/wp-rocket/paperfury.com/how-to-annoy-book-blogger//index.html_gzip Which needless to say, does not work. Just a heads up!
Ugh yes I hate how people don’t get howexhaustinga and time consuming blogging is! I start telling my friends about my hectic schedule but get stuck upon blogging because how do I tell them it takes hours to write down a post, add in the gifs and pictures and another hour to make the goddamn featured picture and make sure everything is working!
Not to mention clicking pictures and blog hopping ughhh. The USA stuff pisses me off a lot too but what can you do 😑
I WANT PAYMENT IN CAKE 😭😭😭
Okay, first things first, let’s start with the important stuff. I get virtually NO CAKE because I’m gluten intolerant and gluten-free cakes are annoying to bake, taste like crap out of a box, and taste like tears and failed adulthood. Which probably explains why I’m such a cranky cynic. Who wouldn’t be without cake?
Anyway, yes to so many of these things! Well, okay, some of them don’t apply, so there’s that. The arguing over books thing, though, gets me every time. Or if someone corrects a very insignificant thing you mentioned off-hand that had nothing really to do with the post so you don’t even know why you brought it up … but really, you’re right anyway and they’re wrong and now you’ve just wasted five minutes of your life proving you were right and why do you even bother? xD Or … maybe that’s just me lol.
I also feel like any reason is a good reason to start a blog. I mean, just because it may not be a valid reason for me doesn’t make it any less a valid reason. Start one on a dare for all I care. Start one because someone said you couldn’t. Start one because you’re bored and want something to do. Start one to slowly and systematically brainwash people into a cult where people bring you cake and bacon every half hour. You know, whatever makes you happy.
P.S. Regarding the whole taking over the world thing … Is that a hard-and-fast exclusive? I mean, the world’s big. I’d totally be willing to submit to your rule for a teensy chunk of it to lord over, and I’m sure you’d hardly miss it at all. 😉
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Please tell me that people really aren’t out there asking about your financial situation because what damn business is that of anyone’s. Also while we’re talking finances, it peeves me to see people shamed for spending or not spending ‘required amounts’ on books. And not to compare spending budgets. Of course an adult with disposable income can afford to spend more than a teen student bit that’s also why we have wonderful book houses, otherwise known as libraries.
Stealing content pissed me the hell off. I’ve been plagerised more times than I can count as well and have fought to have content removed from Amazon, blogs, even Goodreads who were hopeless. Same goes for people who write reviews by summarising others reviews. I see you you lazy bastards. I’ve lost count of the amount of people who are actively copying your delightful tweets. That’s YOUR thing, not theirs. People are so quick to try and take on a persona of someone who’s popular to cash in on that popularity too. You can tell because their tweets are never actually funny though. I don’t know how you haven’t purchased a flamethrower and barbequed them all by now.
Omg finally I’m sitting down to catch up on your posts (they are all sitting in my email patiently (or impatiently) waiting for me to finally read them) and some things:
“TBR (to be read) vs TBC (terrifying bear close)” cracked me up because I’m in a Facebook group called TBC (the book club) and now all I shall think about is bears!
“I’m not buying A Thousand Perfect Notes = I am definitely absolutely totally buying 42 copies of A Thousand Perfect Notes” Yessss to the latter! I think everyone should get a copy from me of all of the foreseeable gift giving holidays 😂
LITERALLY ALL OF #8!!! “Being followed up 4+ times…mate, please take a lowkey no from someone who hates confrontation” this is the most accurate thing I’ve ever read! My review policy currently states that I’m not accepting review requests from indie or self published authors because I just don’t have time, but I have one person who keeps emailing saying “I know you said you don’t accept this, but I’m hoping my persistence will change your mind!” *hides under a rock*
Lastly, I can’t believe people ask you about your financial situation. Awkward!
Scratch that, this is the last thing! I just wanted to say that I’m thankful that even though you and I don’t always agree on book ratings, we have always had respectful discussions about them and can understand that not everyone is going to feel the same way about a book and that it’s okay!! You can still be friends!! Some people need to learn that lesson! <3 you!!
Honestly, people can start a blog for whatever reasons they want! I initially started mine to receive free books and hopefully gain a good following to promote my novel! Call me cray-cray but yeah.
Since I started my blog I’ve been receiving author newsletters for authors I don’t even know…? Like, why? Do you not know how cluttered my inbox already is and now I have to sit for an hour trying to recall who author X is???? Seriously though, authors should familiarize themselves with the blogger and their content before sending in requests. It saves time and headaches :/
OMG yes to all these things! I want to raise hell when my bookstagram pictures get stolen! Actually I want to raise hell all the time and this is just a really nice escuse 😛 And yes i hate when people start hating on bloggers because they started the blog or use the platform for more than reviewing. IT’S TOTALLY COOL TO DO ALL THE THINGS YOU MENTION IN THE LAST POINT! Blogging is not JUST about free books but it can be about it TOO. And also using the blog as a platform to kickstart their business and books? THAT’S AWESOME! I’M HERE WITH SUPPORT 100% Wonderful post as always Cake! I’m sorry Cait! 😛
P.S. When is the paperback version of your book going to be available in India Cait? >.< I can't wait for it to be available so I can read it, fangirl, throw cake at you and take yummy pictures of the book 😀
Uma @Books.Bags.Burgers. recently posted…A Diverse Superhero Story – Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo [Review]
I meant to ask will it be available on June 7 when it releases or later?? Please don’t say later because I’m the most impatient dragon ever 😛 But honestly, Waiting for your book like crazy!
Uma @Books.Bags.Burgers. recently posted…A Diverse Superhero Story – Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo [Review]
Yay, thanks for keeping it real as usual! But seriously the US netgalley restrictions have annoyed me so much lately…WHY WOULD YOU CUT OFF YOUR INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE. If we weren’t lucky with Aussie publishers supporting us then I’d turn up there with pitchforks. Also can people please stop stealing our work, thanks bye. ILY CAIT
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It really annoys me when publishers/authors haven’t read my review policy and I get requests that are clearly in genres I don’t review! Like I don’t like having to turn you down, so it would be great if you could just read my review policy and get there on your own. I mean it’s nice they like my blog, but I have an entire page dedicated to my review criteria, it would be nice if they read it before emailing me. I shudder when I see typos on my own blog, because I’m kind of a spelling nerd, so it does bother me when I see them on my own blog, but I’d never point them out on someone else’s!
I started my blog because I want to go into journalism and read that having a blog was a good stepping stone for it-entirely selfish and not purely done out of love of books, but I think it’s as good a reason as any. I’m quite lucky in the respect that I live in the UK, so there are more opportunities for us than other non-US bloggers, but I definitely still get the envy when I see “US only” things!
If anyone ever tells me blogging is easy, I want to slap them across the face. I am a full time Uni student, I write for an online student news platform, I write novels and I still have to find time to blog as well-it’s like having several jobs, no way is that easy!
I always stay out of it if someone writes a rave post about a book I don’t like-no one wants a party pooper!
Also I never get offered enough cake……..just saying.
But are we bookworms truly mostly chill? 😂
Nothing annoys me more than people claiming that blogging is oh so easy and therefore not to be appreciated 😠 We bloggers pour a lot of our time and passion into our blogs which includes a multitude of things!
And I totally feel you on not being in the USA and therefore getting a little left behind, no matter how good your ratio is 🙁
The Internet is such an easy place to misunderstand someone and overreact, and that’s probably the most annoying thing about being a blogger (or, being on the internet in general). But overall, being a blogger/book blogger is pretty fantastic!
Nods and giggles a plenty here, especially about the non US thing and about review requests that are way off. I had one recently where he’d seen I enjoyed a Celeste Ng book. (ok, yes, I did). As Celeste Ng lives in the same town as him and he’d met her once, he just knew I’d love his book too … ???
Ummm!!
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No, I don’t get enought cake, let us cry together. I am feeling so down about my blog, last week I didn’t post anything and I feel miserable bc of it. The thing is rn I just want to write in my book and I feel guilty. I seriously need cake. And move to ice land. A good (or GREAT) reason to start blogging is sharing your favorite books with others and make them read it. And BAD reason, wel… it takes A LOT of time… but it’s fun when you’re motivated!
“If I’m really raving about a book you hate — DON’T READ MY POST. Stunning idea.” .. ILY <3 This is so true. I also love discussions, but some people just aren't capable of having courteous ones 🙂
And wow, getting requested to read sequels doesn't make much sense (especially when your review requests are closed anyway…) but I've gotten some "Hi, I know you don't read these types of books and your review requests are closed but I thought you'd make an exception for me, so here is the 7th book in this series, oh and here are books 1-6, in case you are interested.. a review by later this week would be great… for all 7…, kthxbai" XD
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
Hi, Nick Fury! Great post! I had a nice chuckle in agreement with a few of the reasons listed here.
I will agree to disagree with you about it’s its and they’re their – those aren’t just typos, but grammatical mistakes as well. Yes, I have made them in my blogging history and hope I’ve caught them in the proofreading, but hey, no one is absolutely perfect.
Trolling comments are terrible. I dislike them on Goodreads too. I get it, we don’t all love the same books, don’t tell me I should dislike one of my favorites because you think it’s beneath you. I may dislike books you love. Sometimes it’s best to say nothing.
Totally agree, blogging is not easy. I don’t care what the topic or style or focus is. Blogs take planning and effort. There are a few posts I’ve read that make me wonder…I mean, really, why just post one sentence or paragraph. Sometimes the sentence or paragraph has point, some other just make me say, “hmmm.”
I love when people think you get all your stuff for free. In the course of my blogging, I have gotten one book directly from the author for a review (won a few giveaways from goodreads) and one brand of tea as a sample to review. Other than that everything is out of my own pocket of gifts from friends and relatives.
Keep up the good work! You rock!
Yes yes yes to everything… Thinking blogging is easy, pft. *takes notes on the life threatening typos* (no i don’t get enough cake 🙈)
Luana @Bookstormgirl recently posted…Lost in Translation (feat. murdered quotes, which is always nice)
Cake, obvi. I love all these reasons so much. I blog because I love talking about books with other people. (I want to rule the world because that sounds fun, of course. But mostly I just love talking about books……)
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