I love the book blogging community. I DO. Mostly everyone I faceplant in front of is extraordinarily nice and funny and creative and kind. But — well — there are dark spiderwebby corners. And sometimes it’s hard to be a book blogger. Things get negative. Pressure builds. There are hate comments. Life gets busy. STRESS HAPPENS AND AGH. Book blogging can be quite tough. Lately I’ve noticed a lot of bloggers cutting back and taking hiatuses and feeling dejected about the internet getting snarly at them. ME TOO, HUMANS, ME TOO.
So I thought (as I occasionally deign to do) it would be monstrously handy have a list on ways to be kind to book bloggers. Not just old tired veterans! ANY book blogger! New or small or big. JUST BE KIND, IT’S FABULOUS, I PROMISE.
Make sure you mean it though! Because empty compliments make real compliments less valuable. But if you visit a new blog with a super cute design — SAY IT! If a blogger makes you laugh — TELL THEM! If a post made you think — SAY SO!
You know what absolutely makes my day?! When someone randomly tweets me that they love my blog. HUMANS, DON’T UNDERESTIMATE HOW GOOD THIS MAKES A BLOGGER FEEL.
I SUCK AT THIS. I’m trying to get better though!
There are just so many creative bloggers who write interesting and thoughtful posts and I love them all so much! Sometimes I remember to bookmark them to share on my weekend recaps. But I can also tweet them! Or pin them! Or share a link on Facebook! If you love a post a lot — tell other people. It drives traffic to their blog and it just basically makes them feel like melons of glitter and happiness. This is definitely a fact.
I’m not saying don’t disagree! Disagree all you like! That’s discussion isn’t it?! I’ve had fabulous discussions about differing opinions on my blog and it’s great…provided both parties are respecting each other’s opinions.
But you know what? Life is also short. Sometimes it’s not worth disagreeing or launching into long arguments. Sometimes it really doesn’t matter if the dress should be blue or pink, okay? Because blue AND pink are awesome.
Sometimes I’ve read posts and gone “Oh my gosh, could they be more horrifically WRONG?!?!” and raged for 2.1. seconds (because hey I have a goldfish memory and after 2.1 seconds I’m onto something new). Sometimes I comment — NICELY — and give my perspective. If it’s a book I hated, I like to say things like “I’m glad you enjoyed it! I struggled because…etc.” Because why get angry that someone liked a book?!
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that there is a person behind the blog and that mean words are still sharp and pointy no matter what.
Oh if only we had 294802 more hours in our days, right?! Then we could do all the blog-reading and commenting we wanted. BUT WE DON’T. So agony. Sometimes I can’t fit in everything I want to do — but I can hit that little “like” button or “favourite” and it takes me no time at all.
I’m not sure if this is the “right” thing to do, per se, because I never anyone else mentioning it…but I think it’s a nice thing to do! I’m a prolific liker. I know Facebook sucks and likes to hide people’s updates if they don’t get likes. So I like them! I know it’s monstrously fun to wake up and see your tweet has 89083 favourites (I mean, it’s yet to happen to me — BUT PROBABLY TOMORROW?!) so I favourite things! Same with instagram. And goodreads! I support my friends and fellow blogglings by showing them I’m listening even if I can’t stop to talk.
Okay, but I’m not saying “like” things you don’t like. Ha. Duh, no. But liking/favouriting IS a way of supporting your book blogging buddies. And it makes us feel squishily happy. Just sayin’.
I confess, this doesn’t even come easy to me. IT DOES NOT. I don’t even know how to be kind until I see someone else doing A Nice Thing and I’m like, “Oh gosh, I could do that too!!”
WAYS HUMANS OF BOOK BLOGS HAVE BEEN NICE TO ME:
- Spontaneously tweeting me to say nice things.
- Randomly sending me a book.
Randomly sending me a pet dragon.- Any time someone comments on my blog I consider it a HUGELY nice thing.
- Adding me to their blogroll.
- Recommending my blog.
- Sharing my post on their weekend recap.
- Telling me they’re reading a book because I recommended it!
- Attacking me with emails of happiness.
- Telling me they liked my post/I made them laugh/they definitely want to be my loyal slave minion for ever and ever because I’m just that wonderful.
It’s my goal to do more of these things for other book bloggers and friends!
But don’t exhaust yourself, okay?! Don’t spend so much time “giving” that it becomes a drain. DON’T FEEL PRESSURED!! I can’t afford to spontaneously buy people books…but I can make a friend one of my bookish necklaces for their birthday. I don’t always remember to share, but I can like statuses. I don’t always have time to reply to all my comments AND visit blogs, but I can do what I can and make my comments thoughtful and excited.
Also, I’ve noticed, that sharing and supporting and encouraging others usually has it boomeranging* back to you.
* Boomerang, karma, reap what you sow — ALL THE WAYS TO SAY IT. I like to say boomerang because it’s actually legitimately fun to say. And if you haven’t said it in your life, please, just stop and SAY it. You’ll thank me later.
Oh yeah, so much this. And also commenting! It totally makes my day to see a new comment, especially if it’s insightful. (Unlike this one, because I’m currently dying in novelling + schoolwork.) And I couldn’t emphasise more on the sharing bit — someone liked my post enough to share it to their friends EEEK!!! And why did you cross off the pet dragon? I think that giving you a pet dragon is an absolutely kind thing, so it ought to be on the top of that list.
You know, actually I’ve considered making a spreadsheet of wonderful people I don’t randomly compliment enough. Sometimes I remember to check in with them, but other times I don’t! There should just be a random compliments day. Or maybe a hashtag on Twitter or something.
Alyssa @ The Devil Orders Takeout recently posted…Do Women Really Dominate the Fiction Industry? REALLY?
PFFT. Your comments are ALWAYS wonderful. XD Seriously!! I love reading your comments, Alyssa!! THEY MAKE MY DAY. I only crossed off the pet dragon *sniffs sadly* because it has not yet happened to me. But I’m sure any day now someone will randomly give me one to be kind. Although boomeranging says Ill have to give one back. SO YEAH. THAT PROBABLY WON’T HAPPEN. *selfishly cuddles all the dragons*
Yessss, someone should make a hashtag on twitter!! Like #ComplimentAssault or something and WE JUST BE KIND AND EPIC TO EACH OTHER.
I HEART THIS POST SO MUCH OMG. *flails* SO MUCH LOVE. :’) Cait, you’re inspiring and amazing and you make me want to just DO EVERYTHING AWESOME . *hugs you* YOU’RE SO AMAZING YOU ARE.
Also you’re a wonderful friend and my life would be very boring without you in it! *sniffles*
Ella recently posted…How to be a Stereotypical YA Heroine – THE LOOKS EDITION! :: bookwormies with high blood pressure BEWARE
YOU’RE SO AMAZING TOO, ELLA. YOU’RE FABULOUS AND YOUR POSTS ARE ALWAYS DELIGHTFUL TO READ. THEY TOTALLY ARE!! *smushes cake of happiness in your hair*
I think one thing people need to realise is that things don’t always come out right when you can’t see the other person’s face. If I post something sarcastic, I always read it three times over to check that’s how it’ll come across. That should be a cardinal rule of commenting/posting anything – read it three times over first. Especially if you won’t be able to delete it.
I’ve come across a couple of trolls in the NaNoWriMo forums recently. No matter where it is or who it’s aimed at, it gives the net a bad name.
True true *nods* and often times I get worried because I’m SO sarcastic all of the time. Like 90% of my tweets I’m saying how wonderful I am. And then I get struck with the horror thought of…omg what if someone thinks I’m a real snob?! XD >_< I hope that doesn't happen and they can tell I'm joking. haha
What a heartwarming and thoughtful post. We need to show more love to everyone, thanks for the reminder. Book bloggers and others too!
Awww, THANK YOU. And too true! This can work for anyone! Blogger or not!
Lovely post! It’s always good to see positivity in the blogosphere.
Briana @ Pages Unbound recently posted…Discussion Post: Everything There Is to Know about Co-Blogging (Sort of)
It makes everything a ZILLION times more fun, right?!?! 😀
I’m bad at all of the above, but there have been so many people who have been nice to me! And yeah, it does make my day when somebody tweets me or tell me that they like my lettering. And I am so ready to give a hug to anyone who’s enthusiastic about my lettering, because that would slay me.
I think a way to be nice is when someone leaves a comment for the first time they stopped by, and they tell me what they think. That just warms my heart all over, and that should be something I work on when visiting other blogs for the first time because getting that type of comment warms my heart.
Shannelle recently posted…Introducing the Hogwarts School of Blogcraft and Bookistry!
Yesss!!! I LOVE that “first” comment when I start to get to know a person…actually I love the 2nd comment more because it means they’ll probs be a regular and we get to chat. xD I need to get better at sharing too *nods* so it’s probably going to be one of my big goals for next year.
Aww, I’m so sorry you’re experiencing hate comments. Your blog is awesome (and so are your Goodreads reviews), and don’t you forget it. 😀
Oh my goodness yes, I get SO happy when someone reads a book after I recommend it. I’m like, ‘OH YAY THEY TRUST MEEE.’ 😀
~ Naomi
SQEUEEEEE. Thank you, Naomi!! You are the nicest bean of ever. LET ME GIVE YOU CAKE AND HAPPINESS BASICALLY. When people read what I’ve rec’d, omg, I flail so much too. And then wait nervously to see if they liked it. XD
This post is AWESOME and it’s made me feel all warm and fuzzy on this rather gloomy Friday morning! And YES, take every opportunity to be kind, I love that one best 🙂 I do try to be kind but sometimes we need little reminders of how EASY it is, not to mention it can be free! I was excitedly going to mention Karma points before I got to the end of the post, haha, great minds! Random act of kindness idea: leaving nice notes for strangers in library books! Or bookmarks with an affirmation, that’s nice too. Happy Friday, friend! x
♥.•*¨ Amanda Says ¨*•.♥
Amanda Winchester recently posted…MY HORSE & PONY COLLECTION
AWWWW. THAT IS THE BEST THING TO HEAR OF EVER, AMANDA. *tackle hugs you* It is easy! And I mean sometimes it’s draining to try and be constantly kind, particularly if it’s not natural for you, BUT, I think it always comes back. :’) Which makes it worth it right?!? *karma hi five* omg, I actually would really like to leave a random note in a library book one day. xD I’m still working up the courage!!
Some great tips here. I especially agree with you about disagreeing over a book. People are always going to have different opinions, and there’s a way of discussing it without being an ass to the other person.
Rosie recently posted…The Girl On The Train – Paul Hawkins – I get the hype!
It’s not like we’re going to change someone’s opinion, right?! And who changes their mind after someone rudely rants at them? NO ONE. Gah. I think disagreeing can be interesting…but we need to talk as mature adults. Not ranting kids. *nods* CAKE AND HAPPINESS FOR EVERYONE THO.
Well said, Cait! I don’t consider myself a well-known blogger at all, so when I get comments it really makes my day and it makes me want to be a better blogger. Every day I keep trying to get better and better at reading and commenting on all the things – I love leaving comments on other people’s posts – but, as you say, you can’t do everything – I like to share posts from the month I really enjoyed during my monthly wrap-ups, but I think I will start sharing them on Twitter because why the hell not? It’s no skin off my nose, and I know what it’s like to feel as though no one’s reading post you put a lot of work into, so if I can help someone else get a few more readers I will!
Like you said most bloggers are lovely. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to a horrible book blogger, because I think in general we’re a relatively peaceful bunch! If we disagree we have discussions, not arguments, and I love listening to why someone else loved a book I didn’t like or vice versa. 🙂 And what goes around really does come around! I know several bloggers who I speak to a lot because of frequent commenting on each other’s blogs, and they’re all brilliant people. Ultimately you can’t go into blogging expecting to get a bazillion comments – blogging takes time and effort, in both writing your own content and appreciating other people’s.
Oh, and while I’m here, let me take the chance to say that you have a very beautiful blog. 😉
Jess @ Curiouser and Curiouser recently posted…Review | Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
Oh I wish I had a time turner or something so I could comment on EVERYONE’S blogs ALL THE TIME. Because I know how much it means!! I freak out with happiness over comments and I definitely get a lot of them. But they’re all still so special and awesome and LOVERLY. *hugs comments* And I totally want to start sharing more on twitter. There are such fab discussions that go up and GAH. They need ALL the love basically.
I think we mostly are pretty peaceful!! I’ve seen plenty of reader vs. author wars though, which I hate and makes me so sad and despairing. Because they like create the things we love most…how can there be wars?! Gah. But I haven’t met an outright mean blogger so YAY. (Although Goodreads users….gah, they can be a bit of a rotten bunch. -_-) Blogging totally takes time and effort and I think the more kindness you put out the more you get back. IT’S EPIC.
AND LET ME TAKE THE CHANCE TO SAY YOUR BLOG IS FABULOUS TOO AND I wish I had more time to comment more regularly. Because I love your way with words!! (And also your title is the best.)
I love this post. I really do (it is a real commpliment). So now I am going to share it all over internet to prove that I paid attention when reading it 😉 And as fellow book blogger, it is my duty to tell you that you deserve all the shares/likes for this post!
Lucia @Reading Is My Breathing recently posted…DISCUSSION: Outlander influence on YA genre
Omg, *tackle hugs you and gives you cake* Thank you, Lucia!! 😀 And for a moment of random-compliment-assaulting you…I love how you write your posts!! I DO. They’re always so easy to read and fun and informative and thoughtful. TRULY!! I’M JUST SAYIN’
Aw, thank you so much Cait. It means a lot to me!
Btw, I started Blood Red Road per your recommendation and I am slowly getting use to unusual writing but otherwise I am hooked 🙂
Lucia @Reading Is My Breathing recently posted…REVIEW: Fangirling Over SIX OF CROWS
RANDOM COMPLIMENT ASSAULT ALERT: You’re fabulous for writing this post, Cait. I mean it. For me, it’s already amazing when readers and bloggers tell me they like my blog. I always want to give that kindness back by commenting back and sharing posts I love. I think the book blogosphere, at least in general, is a kind community. There’s so much support for books, for authors, and bloggers. It’s heartwarming to see.
Hazel @ Stay Bookish recently posted…The Reading Experience: Digital vs. Physical || Discussion + Giveaway
AND RANDOM COMPLIMENT ASSULT BACK: Your blog is fabulously beautiful and I am in AWE of your design and photography and writing skills. JUST SAYIN’.
i have a similar post scheduled for monday, but about blogging in general. i had no idea the book blogging community was that tough – i don’t mean that in a bad way, just that i can’t believe people get nasty. it hurts my heart when someone doesn’t love a book i loved but i get over it because sometimes i hate the book they loved and we can’t all like the same things.
also, in case you haven’t noticed, i am officially obsessed with your blog. you are australian, so you make me feel a squidge closer to home, you are hilarious and witty and funny (what, all the same thing?) and just a fabulous writer and i LOVE your reviews on goodreads. i creepily wish we were friends in real life. so there ya go 😉 not fake at all, promise. if i had a pet dragon, i’d send it to you fo shiz.
Kristen recently posted…Happy & Thankful Lately
Ohhh, I can’t wait for your post!! 😀 *stalks your blog eagerly for it* And it honestly took me to be a blogger of 4 years before I started getting the negativity. But mostly on Goodreads? Like it’s not unusual to wake up to someone leaving angry, sweary comments about how stupid my reviews are. GAH. They’re just opinions. People need to chill. -_-
OMG. MAY I JUST GIVE YOU CAKE AND ADOPT YOU FOR MY INTERNET FRIEND FOREVER? YES? YES.
I love talking with my bloggy friends! Especially on Twitter. I also love comments! I don’t get a lot of comments on my posts so when I do get one, I’m ecstatic.
Bieke @ Istyria book blog recently posted…{Bookish Babble} The Five Star Debate
COMMENTS = LIFE. I love comments. I wish I could comment on all the blogs of ever to show how much I appreciate everyone taking time to comment on mine. I NEED A TIME TURNER< OMG.
I’ve never been to your blog before – I found this post because a friend RT’d someone else who’d shared it (hurrah!) – and I just wanted to say that this list is really nice AND I really like your blog design 😀
Sarahmia recently posted…Grace in Small Things
Omggggg, REALLY!!??? Okay that is just the highlight of my day. THANK YOU FOR COMING BY, SARAHMIA. *gives you delicious cake* I appreciate this comment like a BILLION percent. 😀
Cait, before you ever doubt it, YOUR BLOG IS AMAZING AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH. Seriously, I love being able to indulge in a hilarious book blog that makes me happy ‘cuz it’s awesome and I also never have to worry about running into a bunch of language. 😀 Keep. It. Up.
My list of things I want people to do to me???
-Leave comments. And not just the regular people who I know already love me, but random people. I know people see my blog post in their reader…read it! And please leave a nice comment too, if you did like it.
-Not leave mean comments. Honestly. You’re a stranger, nobody forced you to read my blog post, but now you’re going to slam me because you don’t agree with what I said??? Buddy, you’re just wasting both of our times.
-Send me nice emails! I got one yesterday and it made my day. To get people to say, “I loved what you said about ___!” Or “Your review and interview makes me want to read this book!”
-Share my post if you loved it so much. I want the world to read it, you know.
-Repin it when I put it on Pinterest. People read blog posts that are on Pinterest, they really do. So please. Repin it. Same goes for Facebook and Twitter.
-Subscribe, people! Don’t just frequently comment, subscribe! It makes me a bajillion times happier.
-Actually read my post on my blog, don’t just read it in your email. I can’t see my stats if you don’t actually go to my blog!
-If I comment on so-and-so’s blog every day, then I want them to comment on mine too occasionally. Is that too much to ask?
-Link to my posts in their posts. Quote me. Share my post saying they loved it and their readers should check it out. Add my button to their sidebar or list me on their blog roll. HONESTLY. FREE ADVERTISING IS AMAZING.
…is that too long of a list?
Amanda @ Scattered Journal Pages recently posted…Confusion in Doctrine: I Can Handle That.
OMG, AMANDA THIS MEANS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. I’M JUST GOING TO HUG THIS COMMENT AND SHOWER YOU IN HAPPY CAKE CRUMBS, OKAY?!? OMG. *tackle hugs you*
Random comments are really exciting!! I still flail when someone comments and I don’t know them and they say they’re following. OMG. FANGIRL STATIONS EVERYONE. *hyperventilates*
I always did wonder at the email vs going-to-the-blog. Like if they open the email does the blog count it as a stat?!? Probably not. WHICH IS SAD. I’m in such a habit that if I read any blog post ever I leave a comment. BUT YEAH. It’s nice when people got the extra mile to leave a comment. :’) I also like not to be ignored!! It’s really frustrating to me. I mean, time isn’t cheap, and if I put in a lot of effort to connect to people and they just ignore me? I AIN’T GOT TIME FOR THAT. I’d rather talk to a blogger who wants to talk back. *nods*
YAY! Cake crumbs are my FAVORITE!!!!!!
I really need to get better at commenting on other people’s blogs! I do, on some. But I make sure to respond to all of mine on my blog, which can take time, especially if the people are argumentative.
And yeah! I really wish the stats counted email too! But I’m pretty sure they don’t. You’re right, time is NOT CHEAP! I put a lot of effort into blogging (not as much as you though!) and my posts seem to get written around the midnight o’clock hour. So…much…time…people, please love me.
You’re so awesome Cait. Keep on being awesome.
Love
Andye recently posted…MIRRORED by Alex Flinn {Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the mostboring book of all?}
EEeep!!! THANK YOU.
I just spent a night just watching horror movies and feeling TOTALLY STRESSED OUT cos omg I can’t handle them I don’t know why I even– SO THIS POST IS LIKE THE LIGHT. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I agree with everything you say, it doesn’t take much to make someone’s day! I also agree that we should never be pressured to be lovely and sparkly ALL the time. You are the greatest though, Cait! Whenever I see your comments or posts or tweets it makes me smile! Your enthusiasm and delightful randomness is a sunshine to the blogosphere- I mean it <3
Aentee recently posted…BBCreativityProject: School of Blogcraft and Wizardry
AHHHHH. YOU ARE HILARIOUS AND WONDERFUL. I’M JUST SAYIN’. (Omg, I can’t do horror movies. I CANNOT. or else I don’t sleep for 9 years because I’m that much of a wimp.) And it’s about balance too, right!?!? Like not everyone is happy 100% of the time and we CAN say that!! But it is good to just make jokes and be ridiculous.
SQUEEEE. THIS COMMENT = MY DAY MADE. THANK YOU AENTEE. I SHALL JUST HUG YOU NOW AND SQUISH CAKE IN YOUR HAIR.
This is a really sweet post. ^__^ I was just thinking about how a lot of blogging advice posts I see are… well, not always negative, really, but more practical in a “do this (or DON’T do this) if you want to be professional / get followers / find free ARCs in your mailbox” kind of way. It’s nice to take a step back and remember that some things that successful bloggers do aren’t really about rules, they’re just about being kind and treating other people with respect. What a nice way to start my Friday morning….
looloolooweez recently posted…Blog Ahead 2015 Challenge
AWW, THANK YOU!! And I never thought about it that way but YES. Sometimes our “advice” posts can be on the more negative side!? BUT YES! Blogging isn’t just about rules. I think genuine niceness really attracts people to come back because they’ll come away feeling good, right?! CAKE FOR EVERYBODY.
Love this post because like you said…there are a lot of people taking hiatuses and it’s so sad to see. This post is wonderful and hope everyone sees it. People always walk the fine line of disagreeing or disagreeing and beating you over the head with their opinion. It’s good to disagree and give your opinion, but that DOES NOT mean the other person was wrong. To each their own, am I right?
Thanks for sharing this, Cait! Hopefully it has a wonderful effect on everyone in the blogging world ;D
Erica @ Novel Ink recently posted…Damaged Goods by J.C. Hannigan // Blew Me Away
EXACTLY!! A differing of opinion shouldn’t be as devastating as it always seems to be online. >_< I think it's easy to forget there's someone behind the screen. BUT YEAH. I know a lot of bloggers are busy with school and stuff, but it's soooo sad to see people losing passion for it. I MISS EVERYONE. *wails* Awwk, but thanks, Erica!! I APPRECIATE YOUR NICENESS SO MUCH AND HERE IS CAKE FOR YOU.
This post is beautiful <3 I woke up and it made my day.
I recently found your blog and I have been in love ever since, keep doing you XD
I hope you have a day as amazing as what you have made mine to be!
Samantha Reed recently posted…The Rest of Us Just Live Here
Omg, thank you Samantha!! <33 ALL THE APPRECIATION AND CAKE TO YOU.
OOh! I love this post! (And I’m not just being nice … see what I did there … hahaha … )
It’s really lovely to get nice comments. I know that sounds like a super obvious thing to say, but wow, it makes such a difference. I consider myself a pretty good commenter (well, not at the moment, I’m neglecting almost everyone because of the tyranny of school, but most of the time!), because I know what it’s like to be a tiny starting blogger with no pals (it took me three years to crest 100 followers), and it makes such a difference to see that someone’s even read your post.
Also, if anyone ever links to me in a recap or whatever, it makes me SOOO happy!
Lovely post, Cait 🙂
Emily @ Emily Etc. recently posted…Versatility // pictures, French texts and my mysterious nationality
AWWW. WELL YOU NEED CAKE. BECAUSE I APPRECIATE THE NICENESS. *nods*
And it really does! Comments can make a day 249820 better, right?! And it took me 3 years to get to 100 too SO I KNOW THAT FEEL. It means everything when one is small to get a comment. *nods* (Actually it still means EVERYTHING to me to get comments even now. Hehe. I appreciate them all so much. OMG CAKE ALL ROUND.)
This is a wonderful post, Cait. I know that I am also terrible about sharing the epic posts I find. I usually can’t quite remember them when it comes time to do a wrap-up. Hopefully, I am slowly getting better in that area.
I probably don’t comment on your site near enough, but I love it. I am always exciting when a post from you comes up in my blog reading list. (Hint: That was a very real, sincere compliment because you are awesome and I wouldn’t mind if your goal to be world ruler succeeds.)
Anyway, thanks for this great post. I hope you have a fabulously fun weekend. I think it’s spring by you so you won’t have to deal with the terrible autumn temperatures I’ve got in Montana, USA.
Amanda
Amanda Marie recently posted…{F56} Green Rider
It does take time to get into the sharing habit. xD goodness knows I STILL need to work on this!! XD Awww, but I LOVE and appreciate your comments a BILLION percent, okay?!? *tackle hugs you with cake* BASICALLY MY DAY = MADE. And the world rulerships is totally happening…aaany day now. Aaaany day…. XDXD
Ack Spring? I WISH. I mean, it IS spring but we skipped straight to summer apparently. -_- *glares at Australia*
Comments are the best, I try to comment on all the blogs too, but I never have the time. I should start sharing posts.
Thanks for all the lovely ideas Cait. Your post always make me smile. 😀
Skye recently posted…Beautiful Books #1
I wish I had 935083 more hours in my day so I could fit in ALL THE COMMENTS. I know how much they mean to me and I always want to return the favour!! 😀 NICENESS IS ALWAYS WONDERFUL. And omg, thank you, Skye!! I’m so glad!!
I love when people do nice things. I still beam hugely at the computer screen when someone comments or likes. AND I WOULD SEND EVERYONE ALL THE BOOKS IF I COULD. This is exactly why I should own a bookstore. So I can get books for the low, book-seller price and send them to my friends on the internet.
I’ve luckily never encountered the mean side of book blogging…actually, yes, I have. I was called and ignorant airhead on Goodreads, but I found it hilarious rather than hurtful. I wish I had gotten a screenshot before it was deleted.
Aine recently posted…The TBR Book Tag
Saaaame. Every time I host a giveaway I just want to give EVERYONE BOOKS, OMG. (But I also want to give myself all the books so…so many quandaries tbh.) You should definitely own a bookstore. Then hire me and I will organise your shelves and you can feed me cake as payment. THERE ARE NO DOWNSIDES TO THIS PLAN, AINE.
Agh, the goodreads mob are a bit shocking. -_- I got up this morning to delete comments full of F words about how my opinion was so stupid. -_- Deeelete.
What makes me happy is seeing lots of likes and comments 😀 Of course, I still dream of the day when I’ll wake up and find a post has gone viral somehow. I suck at sharing & favouriting things on Twitter but I did start doing weekly recaps on my blog so I share stuff there hhe.
Another awesome post Cait. Good job!
Omg, me toooo. I’m just waiting for ALL THE POSTS TO GO VIRAL. HUZZAH! *waits impatiently* hehe And it’s always nice to wake up to a bunch of comments and discussions and AHHH. There is basically no downside to niceness.
I would also add that blogger should make it easier for others to be nice to them by having share buttons on their pages and making commenting easier (oh, the many posts I would have commented on if the blogs allowed Name/URL comments–this is mostly a Blogger issue, tbh).
Akilah recently posted…It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Bloggers can actual fix that issue if they change their comment-settings. I wISH THEY ALL WOULD. I had to go and sign up for every single comment platform of ever just so I could comment all the places. XD hehe. Which isn’t awful? But it’d be easier if more “open URL” options were available. *nods*
This post was so lovely! I always ALWAYS try and remember that ‘it’s nice to be nice’. A kind word could make someone’s day and it’s so important to try and reach out to people.
Excellent post, and I will be sharing the love 😉 haha
Sarah
Sarah’s Chapter
sarah brown recently posted…SEPTEMBER BOOK HAUL
Aw, thanks Sarah! *flings cake of happiness at you* And a nice random comment can totally turn someone’s day around too!! I’ve had sucky days that have been made infinitely better with a nice tweet/comment. SHARE THE LOVE! There are no downsides. :’)
This post is absolutely wonderful.
One of the reasons I love blogging is because of the kindness of the community. I love browsing other blogs and reading their reviews and discussions and I usually don’t hesitate to comment.
I think one of the most important aspects of blogging is respect. If you read a post and disagree with what they’ve said you should still respect where this person is coming from and in turn offer your own perspective so eventually you have a broadened picture of the topic you’re discussing.
I’m also not opposed to receiving a pet dragon haha.
Lois @ My Midnight Musing recently posted…Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Respect is so so uber important. *nods* And I think sometimes it’s easy to forget there are people behind the screen who have feelings? But I honestly rarely encounter that in the book blog community. I THINK EVERYONE IS BASICALLY LOVELY. <3 And it's interesting to have disagreements as long as we're all talking like adults and not getting offended easily, right?!
*whispers* We should all receive pet dragons…just sayin’
Ahh what a great post! This is definitely going to my bookmarks for future reference! For me, I love it when someone starts full on fangirling about a particular book/event/character and I can be like of gURL TELL ME ABOUT IT haha xD.
YESSS ISN’T THAT A GLORIOUS FEELING?! OMG. I love fangirling with people…especially if it’s like a book I feel like no one has read and then — BOOM — insta friend and fangirling together.
Aww, this was a really sweet post Cait! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I agree – all these things make my book blogging day better (and my day in general). Sometimes a nice comment can turn a whole bad day around!
I have had great experiences with fellow bloggers/book bloggers, and am grateful for kind people like you who want to spread around even more love and good advice. So keep up the good work!!
Rebekah @ Wordsmithing and Worldbuilding recently posted…TTT: Top Ten Author Dream Teams (And What They Should Write)
Thanks for commenting, Rebekah!! I APPRECIATE IT COPIOUS AMOUNTS, JUST SO YOU KNOW. <3 A nice comment can totally change a day!! I've had sucky days and just had someone tweet something really sweet and it TOTALLY made the day better.
I LOVE giving those random compliments! Not just to book bloggers, but to random people in my life haha!
This was a much appreciated blog post, GOOD JOB!!!
YES! All the random compliments! For everyone! (Although when I try it on my sister she squints at me suspiciously and says “what do you want?” HUMPH. -_-) XDXD
Such a good blog post. *throws confetti* Let’s make the book blogging world the happiest place on earth! 😀
*dances in confetti* YES LET’S MAKE IT A HAPPY PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE AND SAFE.
ahah blogging can be hard work. I try not to disagree with people over anything because well, yes they are all entitled to their own opinion. I think its the reason me writing unfavorable reviews are so hard and sort of make me feel bad. I sit there going, gosh I wish I loved this book as everyone else, but alas… I didn’t like it and it scares me that someone is gonna come along and be snotty.. meh..
I try to comment nicely on people who return the fav. I think it’s important. Especially the ones that actually do leave a thoughtful comment instead of like.. random thing they picked up briefly glancing at the cover lol but i get it, really people are busy and would much rather spend their time reading 😀
I also try to share, but I am pretty damn bad at it. Honestly I have a short memory as well and it doesn’t help that I do everything blogging while an 8 month old sleeps on my lap. Kinda one handed there, you know ha
Lily B recently posted…Review: These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly
I try not to ever disagree rudely. XD I mean, I probably have left “offended” comments before in my early blogging days…but now? Like what even is the point of engaging in arguments! IT DOESN’T MAKE ANYONE FEEL GOOD! I do like a good healthy and logical discussion on differing opinions though. xD It can be interesting!
I basically want to leave aaall the comments of ever, but omg, TIME. And yes, we need to squeeze in reading the books we adore too, right?!?
But omg, if you blog whilst you have a small human to care for I ABSOLUTELY SALUTE YOU. You are a superwoman!
Umm, YES, to all this. I’m a prolific “liker” too because I feel like, it’s so easy on my part and takes so little time and effort to give someone else a bit of happiness, to show them I’m happy for them or that I agree or that what they said was interesting. And I used to be very comment-shy online, but I’ve definitely gotten better about that since starting my own blog! And I try to remember these things in life in general because it takes *so little effort* just to show a kindness that can mean all the difference to someone else. It doesn’t really make sense why we all hold back the compliments and nice things we think, you know? I think I’m rambling, but I completely agree.
And as a side note, I think one of the beautiful things about books is how everyone has such different tastes 🙂
Kristen Burns recently posted…5 Star Book Review: Chase the Dark (Steel & Stone Book 1) by Annette Marie
*hi fives for prolific likers* AGREED! I absolutely dance across the rooftops when I get likes and comments because they’re so encouraging and motivating!! It’s nice to know people are listening, right?! It’s not really my first instinct to give compliments and share all the love — SO I AM WORKING ON THIS!! Because I want to be one of those “nice people” in the blogging world. xD
(And agreed! I think it’s amazing how one book can produce so many different reactions from people!!)
I am a relatively new blogger and found your post really insightful. I don’t expect my blog to grow overnight…and it is basically a personal hobby, but it does mean so much when people leave even the simplest of comments. I have met some great people and learned a lot from other blogs.
Barb(boxermommyreads) recently posted…Locke & Key Vol. 5 – I’m Almost There!
Aw, thanks, Barb!! *showers you with cake of happiness* My blog definitely didn’t grow overnight either, so it’s a process! And that process is made 48930 more fun if there are comments and kindness to go with it. 😀
Boomerang! Boomerang is such a fun word. And such a good way to describe this phenomena of “They commented on my blog so I should probably go comment on theirs because that is niceness.”
I like comments. Comments and comment conversations are awesome. And I really like when someone shares my post. That makes me feel very warm and fuzzy inside. I am a very easy to please
minionperson. 😀Katie Nichols recently posted…NaNoWriMo Plan 2015
IT IS A FUN WORD. It’s one of those words we Australians really ought to share more thoroughly with the world. *nods* But since you’re becoming an honourary Aussie, you’ll probably have to squeeze it into everyday conversation. Just sayin’.
COMMENTS ARE LIFE. <3 They're so motivating and encouraging. ^_^
*makes notes* Anything else I must do to become an honorary Aussie? 😛
Katie Nichols recently posted…My Scorpio Races, Chapter 1– Beth and Miraculous
Probably ride a kangaroo next?
…
This is the story of how I died.
I was trying to become an honorary Aussie. I had baked Lamingtons and Anzac biscuits and had started to think of ways to use “boomerang” more in everyday conversation. It was now time for me to ride one of the most iconic animals of Austraila… THE KANGAROO.
Now, this was a problem. We do not have Kangaroos running lose here in America. So I had two options. I could go to Australia and catch one or I could kidnap one from the zoo.
Kidnapping one from the zoo was the easier option.
Long story short, I ended up bruised and with a broken arm and I had to get rabies shots and I was in a heap of trouble, I was in so much trouble that the authorities decided to send me to Australia, even though it isn’t a prison colony any more. They also didn’t send me to prison. They were so impressed with the way I had caught the kangaroo, that they wanted me to figure out how to contain the rabbit population. -_-
This was not so bad. I trained the rabbits to dislike classical music. If you wanted the rabbits to go away, all you had to do was blast Beethoven. And I got to visit my Aussie friends on the weekends so this was actually a very nice setup.
How did I die? I was bitten by a poisonous spider. I know it’s not a very exciting death but after everything else I had been through, it was kind of nice to die simply.
And that’s how I became an honorary Aussie.
The End
Katie Nichols recently posted…My Scorpio Races, Chapter 1– Beth and Miraculous
YES. And your gravestone can say “Honourary Aussie: died to prove it”. and it will be glorious. And we will lay ANZAC biscuits at your grave instead of flowers. *nods*
BUT AT LEAST YOU MADE IT TO OZ, MY DEAD FRIEND.
*rises from the dead to eat Anzac biscuits*
SURPRISE I’M A VAMPIRE NOW. AND ANZAC VAMP BECAUSE THESE ARE AMAZING AND THEY DON’T CRY WHEN I TRY TO BITE THEM.
(Josh, that was suddenly morbid… oh well. *eats Anzac biscuits forever because she’s immortal*)
Katie Nichols recently posted…My Scorpio Races, Chapter 1– Beth and Miraculous
I totally, totally, TOTALLY, TOTALLLYYYY agree with all of this! It definitely pays to be kind. It pays to give back, to show compassion and passion at the same time to other people. It’s as they say, you shower someone with kindness, and you get showered with even more 10 times back 😉 I especially love it when other people appreciate the things I do. I become so much more motivated and inspired, and I want to do the same thing to others!
Faye la Patata recently posted…Potato Prints #10: Daughters Unto Devils, Bookish Wallpapers
Exactly!! I’ve never heard of someone being kind and never having it reciprocated in the blogging world. XD WE BLOGGERS ARE NICE CREATURES. And it is so encouraging to know people love what we do right?!!? AFJDKLSAD ALL THE LOVE!
What a nice touch of positivity, Cait! *hugs* I also think “favoriting” things on Twitter is a great way to acknowledge people when you’re too busy to reply. It’s nice to know you’re not actually talking to yourself, which is often how I feel. XD As a non-blogger, I will admit that it makes my day when a blogger mentions me on their blog. 😀
I had to get myself out of the habit of just silently laughing and nodding at great things and start FAVOURITING them. XD Sometimes it’s easier than launching a whole conversation, too, right?! And it’s so nice. Niceness has no downsides. XD
Agreed. Hands down. It makes my day when people like my post, follow, or comment! It shows me people are reading what I blog, and that people appreciate me on the blogosphere. This should be a rule for everyone, to show up more on other blogs and let them know that they are appreciated! Thank you for a very wonderful post!
Love and books,
Veda
There’s no downside to being nice, right?! 😀 And it can totally make someone’s day 39830 better (particularly if they’re having a particularly crappy day or whatnot). But YES ATTACK EVERYONE WITH COMPLIMENTS!!
This is such a great post! I have also seen a ton of bloggers in my circle disappearing lately without much explanation and I’m really hoping they weren’t feeling lonely or dejected! 🙁 I definitely know what it feels like to spend hours on a post only to have no one even comment on it. I think you’ve given us all some really great tips for making each other feel a little better about ourselves! 😛
Tracy (@Cornerfolds) recently posted…Authors who can’t let go
I always feel sad when bloggers get burnt out or too overwhelmed by the negativity and leave. D: It’s like our hobby and we shouldn’t feel driven away from it, right?! WE NEED MORE LOVE TO BALANCE OUT THE DRAMA!
Speaking of boomeranging, have you ever thrown one? I have and it actually kinda came back! Well after a lot of tries.
Clare recently posted…I Made Mulberry Jam
I don’t think I’ve ever thrown one properly. I mean plastic ones done for crafts don’t count, right?! XD
This is such an absolutely incredible post Cait! You are one of the kindest bloggers I know, so thank you for taking the time to share these tips. It’s so easy to forget how much a little gesture – a comment, liking a status, etc – can mean to someone. And it doesn’t take much time to share someone’s post or like someone’s status at all. Thanks for sharing these fabulous tips and, as always, fabulous post! ♥
Zoe @ Stories on Stage recently posted…One
Awwww, ZOOOOOE. THAT MEANS SO MUCH THANK YOU. <3 I think there is basically zero downsides to being kind, right?!
Dear Cait:
I WILL BE YOUR LOYAL SLAVE MINION. (I think…..) (okay, only if we can find someone to send pet dragons BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.) But I totally agree on your view of boomeranging blogging kindness. The internet needs more happy butter. (its like peanut butter, but its made of smiles and rainbows and unicorn horn dust.) SO LETS SPREAD THE LOVE!!!
I shall begin at once.
You faithful pineapple minion,
Sami 😀
p.s. I couldn’t resist the letter formatting. also, if someone ever sent me a pet dragon I think I would DIE OF HAPPINESS. this post was next in line for causing my death from BEING AWESOME. seriously I LOVE your blog and all of your book reviews and the way you are so completely honest about the books you consume. KEEP AT IT!!!! (plus, I have added like, 500 books to my TBR list ever since I started reading your blog because your posts are SO GOOD and they make me want to read all of the books that you say are awesome.) SO KUDOS!!
Sami recently posted…Kisses From Katie (book review #5)
OMG YOU GET CAKE THEN, LOYAL MINION. But we do need pet dragons. We need copious amounts of them so we can have epic dragon races or something. *nods* Happy butter?! I LOVE THAT. I also love peanut butter. XD
OMG BUT I LOVE THIS COMMENT AND IT BASICALLY MAKES MY ENTIRE DAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, SAMI. <3 YOU ARE A FABULOUS BEAN YOURSELF.
I love this post. I’ve never understood why people get so snarly about book reviews. Starting Internet drama isn’t going to make anyone change their mind, so why bother?
EXACTLY MY THOUGHTS! I’ve never changed my mind after someone said something rude/mean…where even is the logic behind it?!? No one is going to change their mind when they’re “attacked” about it, right?!
Ah, I love this post, Cait! I agree 100% with everything. I love when people comment on my blog, or say they read a book because of me (and it’s even better if they loved it!) Oh, and I love that word: Boomeranging. Also, I agree with the sentence in which you used the word!
Vane @ Books With Chemistry recently posted…Review: Misery – fangirling had never made me feel so… disturbed
Comments just are the BEST. *flails over each and every comment* I wish I had time to return them all and leave aaaall the love and sparkly cake. There is literally no downside to being nice. :’)
Cait, I love your new section dividers! =)
Emily Seals recently posted…Top Ten Characters That Made Me Swoon
Thank you, Emily!! 😀 ARROWS FTW, RIGHT!?
As usual, Cait you bring a fabulous post to the table! I absolutely adore this and you’re so totally right in every point you made! I always do my best to genuinely check out and send love to bloggers I find or have taken time to interact with me, new and old!
I love this post, because it’s got such a “share the love” vibe! Yay! 💗
Josephine recently posted…TRENDING NOW: Diversity In YA Books | Thursday Ramblings
AFJDKSLA THANK YOU. CAKE FOR YOU. CAKE AND HAPPINESS AND RAINBOWS FOR EVERYONE. xD I honestly do forget to attack people with compliments and share posts, so it’s something I want to do more of. (Btw, you are an absolute pleasure to chat with. xD YOU ARE SO AMAZING. <3)
I am still wishing we could all get together and decide on something to leave in the comments that just says, hey, I was here and read your post, but really don’t have anything to say, like a smiley face or the word windowsill (I once read that that is the most pleasant feeling word to say), and it denotes no reply, or commenting back required. I always wonder who the other 200 people who looked at a post are. Yeah, comments no matter how brief make my day. I love being silly on Twitter, too. When other bloggers join in the silliness I feel one with my people! On Goodreads I like the short questions and answers on status updates. What makes me feel bad? Rudeness from other bloggers, which is almost exclusive to Twitter, and being ignored which come to think of it is also mostly on Twitter. Ha! When they reply to other people, but never to me. I went on Twitter today and saw that one of my long time tweet peeps had become friends with one of the bloggers who never ever acknowledges my comments, and they were having a good long conversation. It made me feel bad. I always wonder what it is that makes them leave certain people out. Anyway, you make my blogging experience super great, Cait, so thank-you! And thanks for this post. 🙂
La La in the Library recently posted…THE HALLOWEEN BOO-k TAG
Oh I agree! I have a little “heart” thing you can click at the top of my post…but most blogs don’t, I don’t think? It’d be nice if there was a like/favourite button!! And I think sometimes people feel brief comments are taboo — BUT THEY AREN’T!! It’s okay just to say something short and sweet too. xD
Omg, being ignored is the worst. D: I’ve felt shunned by a few bloggers…like I commented dedicatedly and got 1 or 2 replies and not much interaction apart from that. But then when my blog grew they decided to talk to me? NOT COOL.
But I hope I’ve never accidentally missed replying to a tweet! I LOVE YOUR TWEETS!!
Ohhh these are great tips! I love getting love from people and giving love to other bloggers. It feels great to spread love and it makes me feel so included and loved and I love feeling included and loved! Great post and thank you so much for sharing Cait!
~Kaitlin
Kaitlin @ Next Page Please! recently posted…Harry Potter Moment of the Week #23
It does feel so good!! There are basically no downsides right?! ONLY HAPPINESS AND CAKE.
I AM A PROLIFIC LIKER TOO. I just go crazy every time I scroll through my Instragram feed, liking everything. But in my defense, instagram book bloggers KILL IT. Every picture is just so gorgeous, I can’t NOT like them all.
I need to get better at leaving comments. A lot of times, subscribed blog updates will come to my email, and I’ll read the whole post in my email and forget to actually go to the blog and leave a comment. It’s hard to remember that the blogger can’t actually see you nodding along and going “yup, good post” to yourself!
Christina @ Christina Writes recently posted…The Night Before the Readathon…
Omg, Instagram…I am unable to resist the beauties of bookstagram because everyone on there seems so AMAZINGLY TALENTED. *likes everything wildly*
Haha, but there should be a like button on blogs too, sometimes, shouldn’t there?!! For when one doesn’t have time to comment. xD
This post makes me so, so happy! I mean, talk about spreading positive interactions. I love when someone surprises me by sharing a post, or saying something nice. It’s like this feeling that maybe I AM doing something right, you know? I try to do the same for others, but like you said, there are time I forget too! Like, they have social share buttons for a reason, why on earth don’t I use them!? I’m usually somewhat decent at bookmarking, but sometimes (like this week!) there were so many good blog posts out there- and those are just the ones that I read!- that I really could have shared throughout the week.
I also need to remember to take random strolls through my Bloglovin feed from time to time- I find the most amazing gems in there 🙂
LOVE these suggestions, Cait!
Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight recently posted…The Fine Line: From Marketing to Memorabilia?
AGREED. I mean, I know I’m probably considered a “big blog” or whatever, but I still get all panicky that I’m blogging utter nonsense (I mean, mostly I do, but STILL YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN) and then people tweet and say they liked it and it’s great motivation to keep at it!! IT IS SO NICE. And sharing is easy and rewarding for everyone involved, right?!
The sharing thing is definitely something I could work on, even if it’s just tweeting a link when I read a post I like!
Something that makes my day infinitely better is just getting on Twitter for ten minutes every morning while I eat breakfast. It’s easier to catch up that way, even when I know I’m so behind on comments and stuff. I can still send tweets and let people know I care about interaction, even if I can only do 140 characters right at that moment!
Kayla @ The Thousand Lives recently posted…Reviews: Romancing the Dark in the City of Light & Tell the Story to Its End
Me toooooo. I need to remember to hit that share button WAY more. It’s not even that much of an effort and it’s rewarding for everyone, right?! And YES. I love how twitter allows that connection and it’s just quick and it’s great and it’s LIFE BASICALLY.
This post is so darling, so YES TO ALL OF IT. BTW, I’m actually super obsessed with the Princess Aurora dress GIF. OMG THE SPARKLY. There’s nothing better than spreading love around the blogosphere in my book. Fabulous post, Cait!
It is sparkly right. I LOVE SPARKLY AND SHINY. Reason #908 why I am probably a dragon. *ahem* BUT BACK TO THE TOPIC AT HAND! Spreading the love makes everyone happier right?!?! There are no downsides!
I CAN’T FORM A COHERENT COMMENT BECAUSE I JUST AGREE SO MUCH AND ASDFGHJKL THAT IS ALL.
PS. I LOVE YOU AND YOUR POSTS ARE ALL FABULOUS. *SHOWERS YOU WITH LOVE*
Aimee @ Deadly Darlings recently posted…5 Easy Steps to Becoming the Best Fangirl (or Fanboy) Ever
AHHH THANK YOU, AIMEE. I SHALL GIV EYOU CAKE. CAKE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT COHERENTNESS. (Or spelling because omg let’s ignore the fact that coherentness isn’t a word.)
YOU ARE ESPECIALLY AWESOME YOURSELF, BTW.
Oh, serendipity. I Tweeted at you yesterday about binge-reading this blog in lieu of, you know, doing any actual work on my NaNoWriMo outline (I regret nothing!) And at the same time, you publish a post where you say how nice it is when people Tweet about enjoying your blog. It’s nice for us, too, I assure you. So much awesomeness condensed in one location. Soon this blog will burst from it. Just you wait.
I have to admit I’m partial to blog comments above all. And at the same time, I don’t write them nearly enough. (Your blog is an outlier. I comment here all the time because reason. Which has something to do with the aforementioned awesomeness, and something to do with how you just remind me of Maggie Stiefvater, who is my deity. Once again, I regret nothing.) But humans have been kind to my blog lately, in both the newer posts and the older posts, and comments have just come pouring in (by our modest standards), so I’m looking to be equally kind to others and just RAVE. Because if there’s one thing there’s no shortage of around these parts, it’s amazing posts on amazing blogs by amazing bloggers. In your own words – huzzah!
Lexie @ The Honest Bookclub recently posted…TOP 10 CONCEPTS THAT SELL US ON A BOOK
AND I APPRECIATED THAT TWEET SO SO MUCH, OMG. I WILL GIVE YOU CAKE NOW. SO MUCH CAKE. And it’s awesome too because you never know when someone is having a crappy day and a super nice tweet could be something that turns the day around, right?! I’ve had that happen to me, and it’s made everything soooo much nicer. :’)
OMG. GAH. You are so nice. I need a moment to flail or something. XD Maggie Stiefvater though. Maggie Stiefvater is everything (I have to type her full name out every time, idek know why but it must be fully MAGGIE STIEFVATER because she is just that awesome).
I love this side of the book blogging community! Every time I see one of my post on someone’s weekly recaps, it just makes my day. Random acts of kindness are my fave 🙂
Emily @ Loony Literate recently posted…Want to hear about my NaNoWriMo novel?
SAME!! I absolutely squee that people wanted to share my blatherings. XD I mean, let’s be honest. I blog 90% about cake and 9% about Maggie Stiefvater, so that’s only 1% for sensible things.
Oh, Caaaait, you are awesome! This post is brilliant, and I love it. You know, some of these things I didn’t do, simply because I didn’t think of them as being kind; it simply didn’t occur to me that something as small like liking or favouriting could really give them a boost. And sharing even. I mean, I know how I feel when people do those things, but I never thought of it as being something I could do for others. In that, I favourite a tweet because I liked it, I share a post because I think others will like it, or because it’s on an important topic, etc etc. It’s not something I have done for the sake of the blogger. Does that make sense? But you have opened my eyes, and I will try to be kinder. Thanks, Cait!
I do think you’ve pretty much covered it, though. I can’t think of anything else. Go you!
Jo recently posted…Retellings Reading Challenge 2016
AW THANKS, JO!! *flails for 99383 years because you are so nice* I wish I remembered to do more sharing and just general compliments! It doesn’t come naturally to me, but no excuse, right?! It doesn’t take long and it means so much.
This post makes me smile!
“Randomly assault them with compliments” –> I don’t do this often, not because I don’t want to, but because I’m such an awkward ninja and a lot of times I don’t know what to say. But I’ve sent a lot of book bloggers love and praises through mental telepathy. 🙂 (I hope you’ve been receiving my messages, Cait.) 😀
Julie @ Books and Insomnia recently posted…[REVIEW] No Strings Attached by Mina V. Esguerra
THIS COMMENT MAKES ME SMILE. *gives you cake because you are a wonderful bean* I totally understand the awkward ninja feels because me too. Meeee toooo. And sometimes I don’t even know what to say but “YOU’RE GREAT” and I want to say all the things but, omg. Words. Wat are words.
I shall mentally send you cake and we’ll see if our messages connect, yes?!?
Aww.. 🙂 *gobbles up cake* Of course our messages will connect because that’s just how ah-mazing, awkward bookworms roll. 😀
Julie @ Books and Insomnia recently posted…Teaser Tuesday [#4]: Paper Planes Back Home by Tara Frejas
I think tweeting other people’s posts is one thing that I’m getting better at. I’m like, “I have nothing interesting to say, but this other person does!” I also drop likes and favourites everywhere, as I’m pretty easy to please. 😀
Now, I’d love to send you a pet dragon, but instead I’ll say that I love your subheading graphics. I can tell you put time and effort into not just the content, but also the little details, and I think that’s amazing. YOU are amazing, ok? You got that? Good, 🙂
Dani @ Dani Reviews Things recently posted…Blogging Tool Review: CoSchedule
HAha. XD You are so great. XD I nearly almost always bookmark good posts to share on a weekend post, but why don’t I just tweet them then and there?!?! Gah, brain, catch up with this!
YOU ARE AMAZING TOO, DANI. Just sayin’.
I love this post more than words can describe. Kindness doesn’t cost anything and I think some people forget that sometimes. Every time someone makes a comment on my blog or favourites a Tweet, I genuinely get this overwhelming feeling of gratitude that at least one person has taken an interest in what I have to say, and it’s that feeling that pushes me to carry on blogging. I’m also a big advocate of healthy debate but I want to poke people in the face when they take it one step further and create a hate shower. There’s just no point.
Everyone should just be nice and lovely and share all the cake with everyone. Just saying.
EEEP. I’m so so glad you liked it!! *dances* And YES. I think kindness comes naturally to some people, but others of us have to work. I almost always forget. >_< And people are SO NICE TO ME I just want to return the love!! I absolutely flail out of my brain when I get a new follower or a tweet. :') Niceness is worth so much.
This is basically the best post ever. <3 We need more kindness on the internet, in the bookish world in general, and you are doing a marvelous job of making that happen. Thank you so much for this beautiful and wise and lovely post. YOU DA BEST. ^_^
That is all.
YES. KINDNESS FTW!! More rainbows and delicious cake! YOU ARE THE BESTER. Wait…that is such bad grammar I’m nearly ashamed. But still. You know what I mean. XD
What an utterly fabulous post. I do some of these things some of the time, but I should definitely do more all of the time! You sound like a lovely human being, and this post will spur other humans on to be better, kinder humans!
AWWWWK. You are super nice, Terri. THANK YOU. <3 I would love to do more of these myself, particularly tweeting and sharing the love, because it's so easy and yet means so much!!
PS Your blog is flipping gorgeous. GORJUSS!!!
What a wonderful post, Cait! I agree with all you points. One of my favorite aspects of book blogging is the awesome community.
SAME! It’s just amazing how people can be so kind and funny and welcoming. !:D
Lovely post Cait. I got worn out on twitter because of ALL THE DRAMA so now I don’t visit it much except when there is an event on. I have been spending more time on IG and FB though and I love that a simple like can show a fellow blogger that I see this, I like this, I’m with you. It’s so simple, so effortless but being on the other end too means that I know how much it means. And I don’t think I follow you on FB :O Going to fix that NOW 🙂
And yes comments are our bread and water, they are what sustain us.
Trish @ Between My Lines recently posted…The Sunday Post : Get your Bookish News #89
And I can’t find your FB link?! Obvs I’m being stupid, it’s prob staring at me. But what is it?
Trish @ Between My Lines recently posted…The Sunday Post : Get your Bookish News #89
Oh I’m not on Facebook!! That’s why. XD Aw but I’m sorry you’ve been burnt out on the drama-y side of twitter. BUT YEAH. It can get pretty intense on there! 😛
What a wonderful post, you’re sharing the love with this, so, SO much, and I love it. YES to being kind and sharing the love between amazing bookworms!! 😀
Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books recently posted…Showtime – October 2015
It just makes the blogging experience the BEST of ever, right?!?!
You’re such an awesome person! I loved how you share blogging love. Whenever I read your posts (which is mostly every time), I just have to comment something. Because I love your passion towards books and blogging and it’s just something really fantastic! 🙂
Aishwarya S recently posted…Because Sometimes You Just Need To Be A Kid.
FAJDSKLAD THANK YOU. THIS COMPLETELY MAKES MEY DAY. OMG. I just need to hug you right now and give you copious amounts of cake because this is so nice.
This. Post. I’m still relatively new to the blogging world, especially the book blogging world, so I haven’t had any hateful comments on my reviews yet, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before that changes. (And that stinks that you’ve had to face that. *pats your back*) I think disagreements are kind of fun, but only if they’re handled well. Like, I appreciate that not everyone thinks exactly the way I do, but I don’t think it’s ever okay to be mean to someone for being of a different opinion. If it bothers people that much, they should just swallow it and not say anything. If I don’t feel I can disagree nicely, I just zip my lip and move on (not to say I’m hugely mature or anything, I just don’t like conflict and I don’t like causing conflict).
Also, I super love your blog and I would send you a pet dragon if I could get a hold of one. But let’s face it, even if I got one, I’d probably keep it for myself. So just…yeah…it’s the thought that counts.
Liz Brooks recently posted…Even More Tags
I’ve found mostly the blogging world to be super nice and logical, but goodreads…omg. There are some seriously toothy trolls there. I HOPE YOU NEVER GET HATE COMMENTS, LIZ!! Only cake and happiness for you because you are wonderful. *proceeds to smush cake in your hair*
Yeah, I’ll be honest with you in that even if I had 100 pet dragons I wouldn’t share. I’d conquer the world, probs, but wouldn’t share.
I love this post! I’ll take this opportunity then to tell you that I love reading your reviews – they always crack me up! If I’m browsing books on Goodreads and you happen to have reviewed it, I always read them. Keep up the great work!
Aww, thank you Anissa! *flails around like a mad wild octopi* THAT COMPLETELY MAKES MY DAY. IT TRULY DOES. <333
I just… I can’t even… this was such a sweet, heart-warming post. And this whole BLOG of yours is awesome! I’m really wondering how I didn’t stumble here sooner! HUGS! <3
Bhramori Dutta recently posted…Authors I’ve Read The Most Books From : Top Ten Tuesday… err, Wednesday
AFJDSLK THANK YOU. I SHALL GIVE YOUR CAKE AND THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY. *heaps copious amounts of cake of happiness on your head*
“If it’s a book I hated, I like to say things like “I’m glad you enjoyed it! I struggled because…etc.” Because why get angry that someone liked a book?!” -Cait
I could not agree more. There is no need to insult people for liking something we didn’t. It’s pointless. Offer why you didn’t favor it and let it put questions in their mind… And don’t be surprised if the reasons you don’t like something are the same reasons in which they love it. Be nice! Share your thoughts but Be Nice!! ;-]
Great Post, as always :-]
YES! It actually makes a really good discussion when talking about opposing views, and I’ve noticed things that I wouldn’t have otherwise without discussing things like that. BUT GAH. Some people think a disagreement is like being threatened with a knife. -_-
Oooookay so I’m late but nonetheless EPIC post! 😀 And I so agree with all the points that you stated, specially I think commenting is important, you can share your views and also talk with the other person behind the blog. It’s a great way of making bloggy friends and also faithful followers!
YESSS!!! It is a great way to make friends and it just gives everyone good feels, so there is no downside, basically. xDD
I would like to take this opportunity to compliment YOUR blog, Cait: it’s STUNNING visually (my eyes turn into emoji hearts every time I visit), you make me laugh like crazy, and you find the best gifs ever. And I would send you a pet dragon if I could BECAUSE DRAGONS ARE AWESOME. Just like this post. XD
AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO HUG YOU AND FEED YOU CAKE. <3
This was AWESOME! And, I shared it on Facebook, too. Thanks for such a funny, insightful blog post. And even bigger thanks for keeping thing real.
Much love,
Sarah O’Rourke
AWWW, YOU ARE CLEARLY THE BESTEST OF BESTS. *sprinkles cake in your hair*
I love this! Thanks for sharing the good vibes <3
SQUEEE. I AM SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT, TRICIA! 😀
Thank you so much for your words. This is a wonderful post! I will be following you!
AWW, thanks, Susan!! 😀 HERE IS WELCOME CAKE FOR YOU!! *sprinkles cake in your hair*
I wish you wouldn’t have crossed off, “Randomly sending me a pet dragon.” from the list. I would love a dragon, real or stuffed. 😉
I agree with everything you wrote. As a small blog, I struggle to get an occasional post seen. Although I do have several that comment, like, share posts frequently. I even had a rafflecopter giveaway that only 2 people had seen and entered.
I try to like, comment, or share at least one post from everyone that I see. I wish I could do more, but there is only so much time in a day.
Thanks for the awesome post. Hope you have a great day/night/week. And Happy Halloween 😉
I only crossed it off because iT HASN’T HAPPENED TO ME YET AND OMG WHAT IS THIS LIFE? WHY HAS NO ONE GIVEN ME A DRAGON YET. *pouts*
Agh it can be saddening when one starts off, right? 🙁 I hear ya! I was there!! It does grow in time, the more you work at networking I PROMISE. But yes, omg, there just aren’t enough hours in the day for everything we need to do right? When I find a time turner, I’ll share with you!!
Wonderful post Cait 🙂 I always try to be considerate with what I say, because it’s can be hard on the internet sometimes when you can’t hear someone’s tone (the only downside of the internet I think – aside from assholes), but this is a great reminder on how else we can encourage and support each other, so thank you for that!
Wattle recently posted…Wattle’s Wonderings #5
YES. Not hearing tone can be pretty difficult. Even with smiley faces and everything, gah, things can get misconstrued when they weren’t even meant harmfully at all.
A thousand ***YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!*** to this post.
I’ve been book-blogging for 2 almost 2 years now, and I just love everything about it. I love my blog as much as I love reading (and I know everyone in this community understand how deeply that love can go), but it can get exhausting and frustrating at times. There are thousands of AMAZING blogs, and we all do our damn best to keep up to date with all these new releases, sales, reviews, cover reveals, etc., etc., etc., that sometimes it gets hard. It’s not easy to work on all these posts, read, deal with live, and get the attention of this fabulous community, but we still do it, because beyond all that, WE LOVE IT.
This post made me think of all the reasons I love my blog, and getting either a like, comment or share… they all make me extremely happy, because it means that someone saw my post and thought it was interesting or cool. or pretty or even if they didn’t like it. Hey, we all have our opinions, but it’s nice to hear (read) what others have to say.
THANK YOU for sharing this with everyone.
Daniela recently posted…Rowling, J.K. – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
AHHH THANK YOU, DANIELA. *heaps cake of happiness upon your head*
And true, absolutely true. This is my 4th year blogging and I don’t ever want to stop or get burned out, but gawsh things can definitely get a little stressful around here. I find Goodreads can be particularly…intense? Some people have no filters. >_< Plus I think interaction is a HUGELY important and rewarding part of blogging, right?! I blog because I love it, but it encourages me to keep going every time someone comments and says they like what I do. xD
Love this post! I absolutely love comments and I love it when people tell me I wrote a great review or a great discussion. I have had some people tell me they read (and loved) a book specifically because of my review. That is my FAVORITE!! I am trying to get better at the whole sharing thing. I don’t really do that enough either.
Cynthia @ Bingeing On Books recently posted…BOOK REVIEW: Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
I KNOW RIGHT!?!? I absolutely flail for a million years when someone says they’re reading a book because I recommended it. BEST. COMPLIMENT. EVER.
This is a great post and it just shows how easy it is to be nice! It always makes my day when I get a like, or a follow or especially if I just get a random comment on my blog! I don’t consider myself a particularly ‘big’ or well known blog so it’s always nice when some one takes the time to randomly stop on by and comment on something.
I always try my hardest to be nice to others and to comment/like/share etc. As you said it takes no time at all to click a like button and as I mostly read other peoples blogs in my lunch hour at work I don’t always have tons of time to read EVERY blog that I want to, so liking and sharing etc is my way of sending love when I don’t have loads of time.
I do think it is totally crazy when people get into proper big disagreements. I am forever telling people that I didn’t like books which they have loved, but never would I consider getting into a disagreement about it. I think the problem is that a lot of people forget that there is someone behind the website/blog so they sometimes aren’t as nice as they could be.
Your blog is forever making me laugh and I always love coming over and checking it out. Unfortunately I don’t have any spare pet dragons to send you at the moment, so you are going to have to settle for a comment instead! 🙂
Hannah @ Broc’s Bookcase recently posted…Sunday Funday: Bookish Horrors #2
I still absolutely freak out with delight when I get a new follower or more pageviews than usual…or anything. The little things ARE big to us bloggers, right?!
And sharing and liking is exactly what I do too because I just don’t have the time to read everyone’s blogs anymore. *sigh* I wish I did!! Everyone deserves a million comments and tons of love and ALSO CAKE BECAUSE CAKE IS GOOD.
And I think people forget too that…it doesn’t even matter?! Like no one is going to die because one person expressly didn’t like a book. *sigh* I think we get a bit too dramatic and protective sometimes, right? xD
AWW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS THO. <333
YES! I love it!! Let’s share that bloggy love!!!!!! 🙂
Lisa @ Lost in Literature recently posted…Let’s Chat: Slasher Girls & Monster Boys
LOVE AND CAKE FOR EVERYBODY!!
Thanks you for this article. I am sharing this one.
Aww, thanks Preston! 😀 I appreciate it! *cake for you*
Chocolate?
Brilliant post. It takes seconds to tweet, like and uplift a fellow bloggers post. Think of the positive vibe we could spread across the sphere.
It’s so totally easy! I’m definitely meaning to do it more. *nods* ShARING THE LOVE!<3
*raises her hands* I’ll be happy to take that pet dragon off your hands.
Love this post, so sweet, and full of good ideas. Blog comments, tweets, facebook comments, they all brighten my day. It’s affirming to know I’m blogging or talking into a void.
EXCUSE ME. I WILL BE GIVING AWAY NO PET DRAGONS. I WILL KEEP THEM ALL. I WILL NOT SHARE. Um…wait. this is a positivity post. Okay. *calms self* XDDXD
AJFDSKLA I’M GLAD YOU LIKED THE POST, BEA.! *flails* And it is totally affirming, right? It’s very disheartening when one feels ignored and hitting that little “Like” button is so easy and makes someone, somewhere, so very happy.
Awesome post! & a huge “LIKE” for you. 😀
A HUGE LIKE FOR YOU TOO. *gives you cake*
This is a super sweet post – and all so true! I think the biggest thing for me is that I try to keep negativity off of people’s blogs, off of Twitter, really just out of the community if I can. We’re here to enjoy our hobbies, fangirl, have fun, and like you said — I’m always up for a discussion but it really does need to be done respectfully. All I want is for people to respect my opinions and I respect theirs. Sometimes it’s hard to talk about a disagreement and debate (because sometimes it’s something I’m SO passionate about) but as long as we treat each other’s opinions with respect, there’s no reason for any hard feelings 😀
I also love the idea of just throwing a “like” out there. Especially as a book blogger, the likes are a silly thing that do kind of validate our hard work. I know I’d keep on doing this with or without the likes but it’s just SO nice to see that someone likes what you do and they appreciate it! Goodreads, Twitter favs, Insta likes — it all means a lot to me!
Lovely happy thoughts in this post! Let’s keep on giving out the happy feels to one another! We are a lovely community and I always love trying to promote the good vibes <3
Brittany @ The Book Addict’s Guide recently posted…10 Things I Felt About This Book | The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Omg, thank you, Brittany. <3 And too true! There shouldn't even be a problem if people have differing opinions...but there almost always is right? *sigh* I find the blogosphere pretty positive in general, but Goodreads almost always gets me down. Everyone just seems to have a bone to pick there! BOO. I love Goodreads so that's annoying. XD
Ahhhh, YESSSS. Likes are just really nice and make us feel good and heard, right?! It means so so much to me too! LIKES ALL ROUND!
What a fantastic post! You are so right! We all need positive reinforcement, I know many of us veterans are feeling tired and burned out. A bit of kindness goes a long way to renergize!
Heidi recently posted…Something Wicked Rises: Review, Interview and Giveaway: The Uninvited by Cat Winters
Yes, we must keep the veterans alive and happy, right?! 😛 AH but also end of the year leaves as all tired and frazzled too, right?! POSITIVITY IS THE ANSWER TO ALL THINGS. <3
This is such a great post! I’m fairly new to the book blogging community, but have fallen in love with it. I’m still learning all the ins and outs of social media (most familiar with Facebook), but am hoping to start my own blog just as soon as I figure out how. LOL!
Off to check out the rest of your blog and subscribe.
Ohhh yay for starting a blog, Carey!! (Let me know when you do, okay?!?! I want to read it! :D)
Cait, found you via Scoop.It and after reading this mahvelous post, I snooped around and like what I see. I’ll be adding you to my blogroll and also signed up to receive your writing and stuff via email. You see I’m a writer too (http://sherreymeyer.com), currently writing mostly nonfiction. But writers love all writers no matter the genre! Hoping to see you around more.
Sherrey Meyer recently posted…White Collar Girl by Renee Rosen
OMG, HELLO AND WLECOME, SHERREY!! *waves wildly* I’m flailing that you liked my blog and are following. Absolutely flailing. *gives you welcome cake* I shall visit your website directly! 😀
I freaking love this post so much!! I love sharing posts that I love and do it pretty frequently (in fact I just scheduled a tweet of this post for a few hours from now)! It’s great spreading the love and telling people about the blogs you like!
~Sara
OMG YOU ARE NICE, SARA. And organised. XD I so want to start tweeting more of the glorious posts I discover, because, omg, love for everyone!!
Great article! Merry blogging!
Great ideas. For the most part I love blogging, and in four years I’ve learned how to navigate around the things that stress me out (using Twitter mute, being selective about stuff like blog tours, and having a few good friends I can privately vent to.)
But there is always room for improvement and I need to be better about retweeting/sharing etc.
Jen @ YA Romantics
Jen @ YA Romantics recently posted…Hot Off the Presses: New YA Releasing October 20-26
I love blogging too and tbh, I probably wouldn’t even stop for anything because I adore writing and reading so much — but niceness does make everything triply more wonderful. :’)
This is a really good list! Comments, shares, and likes go a long way. I try to comment and like/favorite as much as I can, but I’ll also try to share more. I usually forget that one. XD I actually just recently had someone email saying thank you for participating on their blog so much. ^ ^
Victoria Grace Howell recently posted…Writing Lessons from Movies: Mulan
Aww, so much awesome!! I wish I had 249820 more hours in my day so I could leave ALL THE COMMENTS. Because they are so encouraging and wonderful. XD Liking and favouriting FTW!
I LOVE THIS POST. So MUCH. <3
All the book blogger love in the world <3
THANK YOU, FAYE. AND WHILE I’M AT IT, YOU ARE INCREDIBLE TOO.
“attack me with emails of happiness”
heh heh
I think I got that one down pat XD I love attacking all the people with all the emails of all the happiness.
Lisa Canfield recently posted…Hallo der Summer
YES YOU DO HAVE THAT ONE SPOT ON. *hugs all your emails of happiness*
Wow, I found this article on the DAY I needed it most. I was feeling so dejected about blogging. No one is seeing my blog and everything just sucks. I love your suggestions! When someone actually comments on a blog post of mine I get irrationally excited. And when someone shares it?!? I want to send a hug digital hug!
I am planning to do more of the things on your list too! More sharing, more kindness, more digital hugs 🙂
Samantha Carpenter (The Book Disciple recently posted…From The Wreckage
AWWW, SAMANTHA!! *tackle hugs you with cake* I’m really glad this was uplifting! AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU CAKE AND HOPE YOUR DAY CONTINUES TO GET MORE WONDERFUL!! More digital hugs should be sent for sure, *nods* and I really want to get into the habit of sharing more. There’s basically no downside to kindness. xD
Nice thing to say: I’m on blogging hiatus (which you know) so I haven’t been blogging, visiting other blogs, or even READING, but I still check out your blog because I like it. This is the only “blogging” I do.
Danni Mae recently posted……Or Not!
I HAVE MISSED YOU, DANNI!!! It only just occurred to me the other day that I hadn’t read your blog for a while so I sneaked on and YOU’RE STILL ON HIATUS. *sniffles* But I hope you’re having a good stress-free time. 😉 Aaaand I hope you come back someday. xDXD SQUEEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR NICE WORDS THO. <3
Thank you! Secret surprise truth be told, I’m actually getting married! I’ve been busy in life and haven’t even found the time to write a decent post to tell my followers, but that’s why I’ve been taking so long to read something.
I suck at the sharing too and I feel bad about it as there are some awesome peeps who do share my posts. Even though I find awesome posts, the sharing part doesn’t come natural to me. I am working on it, but I am making progress, slowly, very slowly andposts like these are great to remind me to share more often. And I agree getting compliment is the best, it’s great hearing that someone enjoyed your post. If I didn’t liked a book that another blogger did I usually tell them I am glad they enjoyed it and maybe a line or two why I didn’t or when I agree with some of the points in their review I also say so. It’s no fun reading a book you don’t enjoy, so I am always glad when they did enjoy a book even if it wasn’t the book for me. And I agree sometimes hitting that like button can already be a nice way to say great post even when you don’t have time to comment. I should do that more often too.
That list of ways people have been kind to you is great and it makes me realize how easy and simple it is to show others you appreciate them and their blog. Just like you I think comments are awesome and every single comment makes me happy, because it takes time to not only read my post, but also comment on it. Great topic Cait and it’s good to focus on positive things like this and how to share other people you like their blog, makes me motivated to focus even more on this!
Lola recently posted…Lola’s Ramblings: What Makes for Good World Building?
SAME! I just don’t even think to share most of the time. o.O So it’s something I want to really work on — also leaving more nice compliments in my comments. Because I seriously don’t leave enough. And YES. I think discussions and disagreements can be totally interesting and I’ve left technically “disagreeable” comments before…but always (I hope!) nicely and not in a snob way. Because it’s okay to disagree. I think sometimes we, as a community, can forget that and get too defensive?? BUT MOSTLY EVERYONE I MEET IS SUPER NICE. XD
SQUEEE, YOU ARE WONDERFUL, LOLA. <3
I love this.
Also, your blog is super pretty. I wish I knew how to make mine prettier. 🙂
Marie recently posted…Review: Entranced by Jessica Sorensen
Posts like this makes me not ever think about quitting because you make book blogging fun and something you never ever want to stop. I haven’t been blogging for a month now because school’s determined to mess up my hardly organized schedule, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss it. You and other people who inspire people like me deserve all the kindness in this sphere. 😊
This is such a sweet post, it is nice to be nice and I totally believe in karma. I love commenting on blogs and I love it when people visit my blog, it still gives me the warm and fuzzies after all this time!
Thanks for sharing!
Heather @ Random Redheaded Ramblings recently posted…BLOG TOUR – Review – Twelve Dates of Christmas by Lisa Dickenson
Cait I just got into this epiphany recently too! Negativity tends to spiral and affect others, so everyone feels tired amd grumpy. So why be negative when you can be positive, inspiring people, being kind and happy and excited? And it’s done wonders, some great things have happened since my new mindset change! I love this post!
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence recently posted…Co-Blogger Announcement: Introducing Aila & Jenna!
*wipes tear* This is beautiful. I’m all about sharing the love and encouraging others. This was a beautiful post!! I’m adding you on bloglovin Missy!! I recently started book blogging in July of this year. I just added a co-blogger and I couldn’t be happier. It’s not about numbers for me, its just nice to be able to have an outlet to share all my book love on. Glad I stumbled on your blog 😀 Have a great day!!
Lucy recently posted…Brand New Name & Co-Blogger!!
Such awesome advice (came here from Kimba’s btw who had shared this 😉 I have seen SO many cut back or leave :/
blodeuedd recently posted…#FitReaders Check-In: October 23, 2015
Love this – I saw it shared on several other blogs today. Well done you!
Steph from fangswandsandfairydust.com recently posted…THE SUNDAY POST: Oh My Dahlias, Oh My Dahlias
AWw, thank you for sharing it!! 😀 THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME, OMG, CAKE FOR YOU.
Okay, um, so, I meant to post this comment like a week ago? But then time slipped by?? Anyways, YES to all of this. I love your blog so much and just want to give you ALL THE COMMENTS AND THE CAKE but sadly time turns out to always be Of The Essence. But seriously. THIS BLOG, BOOKWORMS. THIS BLOG.
Sabrina Wolfheart recently posted…A Letter To The Universe
I love your post! But reading this article…reminds me that no one post on my blog…😁😁😁
Vivian Chen recently posted…The Twilight Saga: Twilight (The Twilight Saga 1)
YES TO EVERYTHING!!!! I love when someone shares one of my posts, it shows they really liked it and feel it is something that others should read to. That makes me so happy!!! =D So do the compliments, even if they make me blush too haha. And just being kind in general is a great idea 🙂
Charnell @ Reviews from a Bookworm recently posted…Blogoversary Celebration & Giveaway!
This is such an incredibly awesome post!!! It sounded like you were inside my head because everything you wrote is exactly my thinking! I am an author and have received some pretty harsh reviews, so I know how it feels to have someone tear down your work that you labored over for which you are proud (or you were proud until they slammed you and you had to start all over building your self-esteem back up.) Of course, I don’t expect everyone to love my books, but there is a way to give criticism that builds up instead of tearing down. Thanks so much for writing this post and sharing it, and now I’m sharing it! 🙂 🙂 🙂
AHHHH I AM SO GLAD!! THANK YOU, MAXINE!! <3 And omg, I can only imagine the toughness of having people rip your
babybook to shreds. I mean, things get vicious for just bloggers posting their opinions, so being the author would be so hard. *gives you copious amounts of cake*I agree with whatever you say. Fortunately, I’ve never had any bad things happen to me in this book blogging world, but I have had friends who quit it because of the negative comments. I think that it doesn’t take much time to just compliment someone each day! So, even a teeny bit of compliment could go a longggg way in making someone’s day 🙂
Maryam recently posted…Review: Unspoken (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3) by C.C. Hunter
This post is so amazing. I’ve been trying to interact with the book blogging community for a while and I never really know what to say/what to do. Especially if I disagree with something! I wouldn’t say anything at all. I never really realised disagreeing can be a cause for conversation!
I’ve never had any hate on my blog (thank god), I think I’m too small for that, but I can’t imagine what bigger bloggers must get. It must be so horrible to deal with.
In general, I think there should be more positivity in the book blog community. It’ll make everyone enjoy blogging a lot more!
Thank you for this great post!
Yaaay EXACTLY! Positivity FTW I say!! And it can totally be hard knowing how to get comfortable with interacting with bloggers, but most of them are seriously nice. 😉 And YES. Sometimes disagreements can be really interesting! We just have to keep the emotion in check right? hehe.
EEEP. Thank you for commenting!! IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. <3
This is good! 🙂 I’m nodding along because these are all ways we can help each other, without overwhelming ourselves. 🙂
Rachelle Rea recently posted…To Get to You: Review
Not sure how I missed this post when you originally put it up, but it’s fantastic! There are so many ways that we can help support and encourage our fellow bloggers – we make the blogosphere a better place every time we do!!
Thank you for this!! Not only because I want other people to do these things and be nicer, but because I WANT to do these things and be nicer!! Sometimes I’ll go to a blog and think “wow, this is a kick-ass blog” or “woah, this design is super beautiful” and it doesn’t even cross my mind to tweet them or tell them that. And I should. And now I will!! Also I don’t ever think to pin or tweet about ppls post because I’m too busy pinning and tweeting my own… but I would love to start doing that too. We really should be nicer to each other… and it makes me sad when ppl quit blogging, so hopefully things will turn around 🙂
Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Books recently posted…New YA Releases for the Week of 10/25
This is such an amazing post!!! I swear you must be a mind-reader. I have a feeling that if you were to ever write a book *hinthint* it would have amazing characters because your personality just shines completely through my computer OMG ITS BLINDING ME ARRGHGHHGHG. Anyway, I’ve been browsing (definitely not stalking) your blog for the last 10 minutes waiting for your Dangerous Lies post CAN’T WAIT.
Paul recently posted…Feature: October Wrap Up
My reading of this post ended with me quietly muttering “boomerang” out loud.
Good job.
Brianna da Silva recently posted…Behind the Scenes: Writing Tag
MY SUBTLE MIND CONTROL IS WORKING. MWAHHAHAHA
*tries to shut out the mind control waves* AHHH NO IT’S TAKING ME
Brianna da Silva recently posted…Behind the Scenes: Writing Tag
I just found your blog and i’m in love! your posts are all funny and thoughtful! Since I’m very new to this, this post is like gold to me XD
AWW, thanks, Maya! MY DAY = MADE.
Oh Cait! Did my dragon get lost in the mail??
I love this post. Those random acts of kindness are so nice. And I also need to work on sharing more posts!
Zomg, CLEARLY. The postal service must really be slack. Tsk, tsks. 😉
I need to work on sharing more posts too!!
I would send you a pet dragon. I have a spare one in my attic. But, unfortunately, I can’t afford the shipping costs… 😉
Aww, aren’t you nice.🐉 😀
I love the pictures, you have shared in your blog. This is too funny. I am very excited to share it with my friends.
I linked to this post in my Sunday Summary this week.
Got My Book recently posted…text: I do a Lot of Blog Visiting then my Site Goes Down | Sunday Summary #6
Oh thankyou! 🙂
Loved this post! Thanks for this from a fellow book blogger!
Ahhh, thank you Heather! I AM SO GLAD.
OHHHH THESE ARE ALL THE BEST. And FYI, Cait, you are my go-to blog. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again- IT IS VERY EASY TO GET LOST IN CAITLAND FOR HOURS. THIS IS WHY I DON’T COME OFTEN. NOT BECAUSE I DON’T LOVE IT. BECAUSE IT SUCKS THE TIME AWAY FROM THE OTHER, PERFECTLY NICE PEOPLE.
Amy recently posted…I have a readathon to share before you forget me!
OMG YOU ARE TOO NICE TO ME. *BLUSHES* “Getting lost in Caitland” is like the most glorious phrase in the universe I think.
NEVER. YOU DESERVE ALL MY PRAISE. *showers you again* Hahaha maybe but it is also a synonym for “never coming back”.
Amy recently posted…I FOUND A NEW MEME AND IT IS SO AMAZING!!!
I love this post Cait! I was chatting with a friend from uni and we were bewailing the sadness that is the book community online these days, vs. what it used to be on instagram, blogger and booktube where it was more tightly-knit and people seemed to care :'(. But this post made me smile! YOU GO GIRL! <3