I had originally had a completely different title and concept for this post. It was originally dubbed “Fill in the _________ Behaving Badly.” I was really upset over the trollish behavior hitting the book blogging world. Librarians attacking bloggers, bloggers attacking other bloggers, self-published/indie author attacking bloggers, bloggers attacking librarians, sad and pathetic anonymous “concerned citizen” types outing reviewers they deemed bullies, people kicking puppies…..I mean the list went on and on and there was a new drama every. single. day. I was going to link up articles, opinion pieces, and websites. It didn’t take long for a complete and utter woe is me pity party to strike up. I found myself sitting in front of my laptop wondering “What is it all for?” promptly followed by “No one is going to care how I feel about this. I’m not the only pissed off blogger out there.”
It seemed to me that the book blogging world had reached a new low. Bloggers had their pitchforks sharpened and ready in their trunks and Aim’n'Flames in their pockets. Eventually I realized that I didn’t want to contribute to the negativity shitfest so I let the post breathe.
During a three week time frame I seriously debated about just walking away. Never mind the fact that I’m paid up on domains and webhosting through May. What was it worth if this kind of behavior is on the up-rise? Then Amanda from On a Book Bender wrote a post that may have saved me from making a bad decision. I started thinking about why I was blogging and why I started blogging. It was like a light bulb went off. The two were no longer the same. That was my problem.
I adjusted my attitude and realized that all that negativity could only effect me if I allowed it to! Instead of voicing my opinion on the negative subjects, I’ve decided to counter it with positive. The single best thing that I have discovered about book blogging is it’s kick ass community. Wanna know a secret? In real life I am quiet and even a little socially awkward. I know right? Shocking. I know I don’t have a great handle on Twitter and that I fumble a lot BUT there are several people who have embraced me as a friend and equal simply because we have a passion for books.
In order to show my gratitude and thanks, once a month I’m going to spotlight a blogger who’s work I enjoy. Maybe I’ll so some interview type questions as well as highlight some great posts from their site.
This post is two-fold. I wanted to inject some positivity into the book blogging community. Help me to ramp it up! Have a blog? Wanna spread some cheerfulness? Do a post on why you enjoy blogging and add it to the linky. Don’t have a blog? Leave a comment.
Whoa! Hold on! Wasn’t there a giveaway in this post title? That’s right. Help me to be a little more positive and I’ll give a book of choice up to $15 USD to a winner as long as The Book Depository ships to your country! Check the Rafflecopter for details!
Danielle D (Dani) August 17, 2012 at 7:28 am
I don’t understand all the attacking and bickering that’s going on too. This is so sad.
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 10:39 pm
It is but it’s important to focus on the great things in the book blogging world! These things will pass.
Carol M August 17, 2012 at 8:31 am
I’m a reader and the book blogging world is important to me because I decide what books to buy after reading the reviews. I trust the bloggers to tell me the truth about how they feel about the books they review. It’s nice that once in a while I win a book because I’ve found new authors that way. I might never have picked up their book if I hadn’t read the one I won in a giveaway.
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 10:40 pm
Thank you Carol! I can speak for a few of the bloggers I work with and we all try hard to bring content to our readers that they can use.
TayteH August 17, 2012 at 9:19 am
Wow. Where have I been? I knew something was going on in the blogging world, but I didn’t know it was this bad. To me, the blogging world is a way for readers to find books and get opinions on them before they go out and read them. That’s why it’s important to me. I don’t see how that view is so hard to lose in the eyes of other bloggers. It’s writing down your thoughts, for Pete’s Sake!!! How can fighting come out of that? Sure, opinions clash, but still, not to the point where other bloggers are attacking others! And Librarians? Geez. What’s the BB World coming to?
TayteH recently posted..Cover Reveal! The Prey by Andrew Fukuda
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 10:43 pm
Unfortunately where ever there is a difference of opinion a spark can be lit.. It’s important for everyone to remember that it is only certain bloggers and other professionals, not all. As long as we remember all the good things about this hobby I think we’ll all be ok.
Stephanie recently posted..Operation: TBR Reduction Update 8/26/12
TayteH August 27, 2012 at 6:27 am
Awesome to know.
The blogging world should be fun, not bad. 
TayteH recently posted..A Shell Full of Books #17
erinf1 August 17, 2012 at 9:20 am
Thanks for a great post!!! And I really appreciate your efforts!
It’s been nutz this summer. I follow and visit a lot of blogs and it’s been “crap meet fan” for a while now. As strictly a reader, I think that I can see things a bit more objectively and from a neutral stance and I think that everyone needs to walk away from the drama llamas and not feed the trolls! It’s great that people are getting their opinions heard and getting the spotlight on bad behavior, but there gets to be a point where more attention isn’t good anymore. Just sayin’.
I love and am dedicated to visiting my book blogs b/c of the books! I love reading reviews and getting updates on authors I love and the sneak peaks at covers and blurbs of upcoming releases. If we can get back to that and focus on what our original passions are, all of the drama would die down
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Thank you so much for your kind words Erin. I will say that it is hard to not give it attention because this is something we dedicate SO much time, effort and money too. It is helpful though to remember why I started blogging and “get back to basics.” I hate troll feeding. The best and worst thing about the Internet is anonymity. You are right though: if you stop watching the circus it will eventually fade.
Felicia GeekyBlogger (@thegeekyblogger) August 17, 2012 at 9:33 am
I will totally do a post this weekend
*huggles*
Felicia GeekyBlogger (@thegeekyblogger) recently posted..#boutofbooks 5.0 Day 5: 4 books down! (BoutOfBooks 5.0)
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 10:56 pm
*huggles back* This was kind of a “getting it out there post” I felt so much better after writing it!
Stephanie recently posted..Operation: TBR Reduction Update 8/26/12
Amanda @ On a Book Bender August 17, 2012 at 9:34 am
I’m sorry that the negativity of the blogosphere nearly caused you to stop blogging. I never let that negativity affect my blog, but it does affect me on Twitter. I think if you let it get to you, if you talk about it over and over again, the negativity has won. That’s why I make my blog a safe zone, and I walk away from Twitter when it gets bad.
I love blogging because it provides me an outlet, and a way to connect with like-minded people I would have never had the chance to meet otherwise. And, you know, read ALL THE BOOKS! But I think knowing why you’re blogging is hugely important. At the end of the day, you’re the one sinking time, energy, and money into blogging. You have to do it for YOUR OWN PURPOSES.
Also, I’m glad that you’re not going to stop blogging. And that you’re going to focus on the positive aspect on blogging. I think the only way to move forward away from all the negativity is to focus on the positive aspects of blogging. *thumbs ups*
Amanda @ On a Book Bender recently posted..Who Am I Stalking? [11] — Amy @ bookgoonie
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 11:04 pm
I was all up on what was going on and with who. I found myself getting myself so worked up that I would shake for hours afterwards. It wasn’t healthy. EXACTLY! It makes things so much easier, in general, to just avoid the negativity.
I have met so many amazing people that I wouldn’t have had a clue about otherwise. And of course, ya’ll have increased my TBR by leaps and bounds. It is very easy to get wrapped up in your stats, posts, reader count and comments but if you aren’t happy it is going to reflect in the work you do.
Thanks for weighing in!
Na August 17, 2012 at 6:10 pm
The book blogging community for the most part is positive part of my life. I’ve always been a reader but didn’t really know about the online book blogging world until about a year ago. The community is a great resource for everything books related. I’ve found a way to interact with acthors and other readers in a new world. I am also thankful for discovering so many new great reads from this community. There has been some negativity around but I won’t let it taint my experiences. There are so many more positives to be found
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 11:06 pm
Right? How is it that so many of us don’t know about the book blogging community? When we started Once Upon a Chapter, I knew there were a few sites that did book reviews. I had NO clue how extensive it was.
I agree with you there are so many more positives that supremely outweigh the every once in awhile negatives.
Mary Preston August 17, 2012 at 8:47 pm
I have found the most amazing authors & their books through book blogs. Fabulous!!
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 11:07 pm
Thanks Mary! I hope you continue to find great books. That’s what we’re here for.
Barbara Elness August 17, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Oh my, what would I do with all my time if I didn’t have book blogs to read every day? I love reading reviews about the newest books, and even some older ones I somehow missed. I love seeing lists of new releases so I can add to my wish list. And the giveaways, what a great way to add to my reading selection without going broke.
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Exactly! The book blogging community keeps me busy too. You wouldn’t think reading could put you in the poor house but it adds up quickly. I wouldn’t change it though. There are so many places that are reading resources.
candace August 18, 2012 at 12:11 am
I’m so glad you were able to not let it get you down! I know some bloggers quite (well that’s what I heard) and I know of drama but I tend to not keep up with it. Once I catch wind of it I tend to get curious but mostly I just read my regular blogs and read blog posts in my reader I’m interested in. I think I’m mostly surrounded by awesome bloggers so I’m not so affected. I’m not on twitter much at all either, so maybe that’s a good thing. If you find yourself getting depressed my advice is to read your favorite blogs. Their enthusiasm for books will have you cheery again.
candace recently posted..Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Giveaway’s
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 11:13 pm
It’s terrible that some of these antics have led bloggers to shut down. If it was in their best interest though it’s easy to understand. I think that’s my problem too. I want to know what’s got everyone up in arms but then it gets to me. I think to break the cycle I just need to not look at all. Surrounding yourself with great people is an awesome way to avoid the drama llamas. Twitter is what tends to get me in trouble. That’s where I find all of the problems. That is good advice and I’ve been following it now for a few weeks. It certainly helps.
Evie August 19, 2012 at 6:24 am
Because I always go to book blogs to discover a new book to buy.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Thanks for stopping by Evie.
AH@badassbookreviews August 19, 2012 at 5:45 pm
I think that it helps to filter out all the nonsense and just go about your own stuff. We have blogs because we have a love of reading and we want to share this with others. I enjoy seeing people’s differing opinions on books and I have amassed a huge to-read list as a result of some of the recommendations I have received. Keep up the great work!
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 11:17 pm
I agree. Filtering out the bad keeps things positive and makes it easier to keep the morale up. I totally blame book bloggers for my huge TBR. Had I not read The Hunger Games, I probably wouldn’t read as much YA as I do now. I’m happy about it though.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Hannah August 21, 2012 at 10:04 am
Blogging has been the best thing that’s happened to me in the last nine months. I’ve met so many wonderful people that all this crazy stuff? I just ignore it completely. No point getting involved. For every one bad blogger out there, there’s triple times ten that in fantastic bloggers. I love seeing what other people think about books that I love or hate. Every body is entitled to their own opinions, and it’s good to see what others think about things.
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 11:20 pm
That is a great attitude to have. Like Amanda said if you are happy doing what you’re doing, that is the important thing. You are so right! The number of good bloggers far surpasses the bad ones.
Cordelia Fitzgerald August 21, 2012 at 10:16 am
Wow! I have been following book blogs for a while now and I was always amazed at the great reviews, interviews, and other goodies you all take the time to put out there. I can’t imagine that anyone would go out of their way to attack a book blogger! I’m shocked! Having different opinions and takes on books are a valuable source for so many readers like myself. I don’t have a limitless coffer to spend on books and my library isn’t always current with certain books. So when I really want to buy a book I usually head to the blogs to see what everyone is saying before I invest. Continue what ur doing….and remember, everyone always gets attacked by those who aren’t well-informed or jealous!
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 11:23 pm
Thank you Cordelia! We do try to make sure that our reviews are pertinent and explain why we feel the way we do. Thanks again for your kind words!
bn100 August 23, 2012 at 12:35 am
I think it’s important for showing the wide variety of authors and genres that most people wouldn’t have heard of otherwise.
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Yes! I have tried so many new genres and found authors I wouldn’t have blinked twice at. The book blogging community is great for readers AND other bloggers.
Maureen August 24, 2012 at 2:33 pm
It’s important to me because I love to read and I am always looking for a good book and book blogs are filled with them…
Stephanie August 26, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Book bloggers do have a great passion for books and reading. It is quite a rush to recommend a book and find out that someone else has enjoyed it! It’s a little addictive.