Beneath the Surface of Blogging with Faye from A Daydreamer's Thoughts

Today is the last of my guest posts with bloggers going beneath the surface of book blogging. It has been incredible to hear from so many bloggers, both those who have only been blogging for a few months, and some who have been going for nearly a decade. Between them they have offered support, hope and advice and above all reminded us that everyone has frustrations and insecurities and to never feel alone in that.

So today I am incredibly lucky to introduce Faye from 'A Daydreamer's Thoughts' to talk about why she loves blogging, how she's dealt with the slumps and insecurities and the changes that she's making to her blog to stop it from becoming a burden.

How did you start blogging, were there any blogs you followed that got you thinking this was something you wanted to do?

I started book blogging because I had been on Tumblr for years and was starting to want a little bit more. Then my friend on twitter told me about her book blog. I read a few of her posts and thought it looked really fun. Without researching anything else, I jumped on the bandwagon and created my own blog, but I wanted to do something different as I knew there were so many book blogs out there so I initially started mine as a book and film blog, and it was supposed to focus on adaptations. I realised later I should have done more research before jumping into it but I learnt on the go and have never regretted my decision to start.

What do you hope you achieve through your blogging?

Simply to share my passion and love for books and films. Everything else, including the multitude of friends I've created, have all just been amazing bonuses and probably the reason I keep at it. But mostly I just want to share things with the world.

What are the most rewarding parts of it for you?

Aside from sharing things with the world and potential changing peoples views or creating discussions, the most rewarding part are the friendships I have created and hope to create in the future. The people I have met through blogging have all become some of my closest friends - one even became my flatmate!

And the most frustrating?

All the drama. I know a lot of it happens in America but it really puts a strain on blogging as a whole. I also do get a little stressed out about reading and reviewing books on time but I'm getting a little better at this!

Have you had reading slumps/insecurities/times when you felt you weren't good enough and wanted to quit, and how did you pull yourself out of them?

Yes. Quite a few, unfortunately. Especially recently where work and my social life have been incredibly stressful and then blogging became that too and I just wanted to curl up and not do anything. I've also had moments where I wonder what the point is because I have a lack of motivation and it seems like nothing I do matters to anyone else. To get myself out of it, I would sometimes go on a blogging break and then realise I miss it like crazy. Or, what I did just recently is decide to change my blog. I'm no longer a book blog but more of a lifestyle blog where I can talk about all the things I love in the world.

Have you taken a break from blogging at any point and if so how did you get back into it?

I have. Mostly in my first year when I was about to do my final exams at university. I jumped straight back into it because I missed it. I've taken shorter breaks as well and mostly I just get an idea or finish a great book that I HAVE to share with the world and just great straight back into blogging. It's a lot easier to come back then to go in the first place.

Any tips for dealing with the self imposed guilt that comes with a blogging and reading slump?

Just try not to let it get to you? Reading and blogging are hobbies. If you're not feeling them, then just take a step back and do something else. I guarantee that after a while, you'll miss it. And if you don't, so what? We should never feel forced and pressurized into doing a hobby. The world will not stop moving if you stop reading or blogging for a few months.

How do you manage to juggle life outside books and blogging?

To be honest, I'm still not really sure! Mostly I don't have a TV so I don't get sucked into it but I do have Netflix and that can pull me in. But really, I just try not to stress about it. If and when I have time to blog, I will and if I don't, then it doesn't matter. I do try to schedule a few posts in advance so I'm not blogging everyday. I read on my commute and when I'm home relaxing but I don't worry if I don't read. I guess, I just do?

The blogging world is constantly evolving, any changes you'd like to see start to happen?

I don't really know. 

Any advice for new and old bloggers alike, particularly if they are going through a down slump at the moment?

Don't take it too seriously. Your blog is yours and followers may seem to beg you to come back or beg you to post but honestly, if they're that excited by you and your posts, they'll wait for you to come back. But also, do not stress about the numbers. The biggest piece of advice I usually give is to think about why you're blogging in the first place. If you're hear to gain followers or receive free books, then I guess you should worry about the numbers but if you're blogging to share your love of books then do that. If your passion shines through, people will find you - even if it's only a few. Every follower counts. Honestly, I'd probably still be blogging if no one was following me because I just love it so much. 

Thank you so much Faye for stopping by! Don't forget to check out Faye's blog and find her on twitter

Beneath the Surface of Blogging with Kat from Perks of Being a Book Nerd

This week for this series of feature posts, I am lucky enough to be able to introduce Kat from Perks of Being a Book Nerd.
She's been blogging on her own site since October 2012 and has been kind enough to take some time out to answer some questions about book blogging, the ups and downs and how she tackles blogging slumps.

How did you start blogging, were there any blogs you followed that got you thinking this was something you wanted to do?

Well, to be honest, I’d tried setting up a blog three times before I settled. I’d wanted to do it for so long, but I just... I knew that if no one read the posts, I couldn’t be bothered to continue. It wasn’t until about 3 years ago, I’d read Obsidian by J.L.Armentrout? Another blogger called Kat (also my name! :) ), got me wanting to try it properly. Then I started helping another blog out and that made me more determined to want to create my own. (They didn't like that so much.) Then when I read "Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell, you know how Cath blogs? It made me so much more eager to continue. I guess you could say it was a struggle.

What do you hope you achieve through your blogging?

Mostly I just wanted to review for my own sake, but when I gradually started getting views, I got hooked on that feeling - when people actually take an interest.

What are the most rewarding parts of it for you?

Definitely when readers comment. It makes me smile, because I know then that people ARE reading my posts and are caring enough to let me know.

And the most frustrating?

Probably the same as most other bloggers, when you spend so long on a post and then nobody reads it. It makes me to just want to quit. I lack confidence in everything, so unless someone tells me to keep going or comments, I just... It takes a lot to keep me going.

Have you had reading slumps/insecurities/times when you felt you weren't good enough and wanted to quit, and how did you pull yourself out of them?

As with what I said above, it doesn’t take a lot for me to want to give up, but reading is more than just a hobby for me. If I didn’t read, I’d be lost. Also, it helps with my writing, too. I often get reading ruts where I won’t be able to finish a book for weeks. Actually, i’m going through one right now, which sucks. But I still try and post cover reveals and things like that just so my blog isn’t empty. I’ve also found lately that even when I have finished a few books, I just can’t be bothered to write a review. I feel so bad for it, but it’s more... I find the words don’t want to come out. I’d rather just put “this was good. Go read it.” lol. Man, I feel terrible.

Have you taken a break from blogging at any point and if so how did you get back into it?

I haven’t consciously taken a break, but I did go through a stage of scheduling my promo posts so that I didn’t have to do anything for a few weeks. It was weird when I made myself review, I wondered if anyone would read it or not.

Any tips for dealing with the self imposed guilt that comes with a blogging and reading slump?

I’m not the greatest at giving advice, but what I’ve heard from other people is that if you don’t want to blog, or can’t find the will to review: don’t. Take a break. It’s a hobby, not a life support. I mean, I love reading, and so does anyone reading this, but if the words aren’t sinking in then it’s pointless trying to force it. I find that sometimes if I can’t read, I can actually write better (not reviews, but my own stories) which is weird, but it’s like my mind is giving room for the stuff I’ve been neglecting.

How do you manage to juggle life outside books and blogging?

*laughs* I can’t say I have much of a life outside of those. I mean...Yeah...No I don’t. I write (non-blogging) and I go to town, but besides that...not much to juggle. Maybe I should make something up? Yeah, I have a super busy life. *nods* uh-huh.

The blogging world is constantly evolving, any changes you'd like to see start to happen?

I’ve found the blogging community can be a little like school. I try not to get too involved because I’m not good at discussions. But I’ve definitely noticed a lot of competition with how many hits someone has or how many followers.

Any advice for new and old bloggers alike, particularly if they are going through a down slump at the moment?

Pretty much what I said before: if it doesn’t feel right, don’t. Blogging is one of those things that you either want to do it or you don’t. You don’t have to quit, but take a break if you have to. It’s still going to be there when you’re ready. Maybe I should listen to my own advice?...

Thank you so much Kat for taking the time to come over and talk about blogging! It's really exciting that people are starting to talk more about other aspects about book blogging, and the struggles that everyone goes through with doing it.

Don't forget to check out Kat's book blog 'Perks of Being a Book Nerd' And follow her on twitter!

Beneath the Surface of Blogging with Carly from Writing from the Tub

Today Carly from 'Writing from the Tub' is going beneath the surface of book blogging and talking about her experiences, frustrations and offering some fantastic advice. She's been blogging for five years now and is one of the pillars of the YA book blogging community - I imagine almost everyone reading this will have met or come across Carly at some point, and she's also a part of Bookish Brits. Thank you so much for chatting with us Carly!

How did you start blogging, were there any blogs you followed that got you thinking this was something you wanted to do?

After I graduated from university in 2009 I started reviewing for Chicklish, then started Writing from the Tub in January 2010. Back then book blogging was a teeny tiny community and there weren’t many other blogs around - So Many Books, So Little Time and Wondrous Reads were two of the only UK book blogs that were established back then. Lots of us all started around the same time, though, like Feeling Fictional, The Mile Long Bookshelf, I Want to Read That, Narratively Speaking etc etc…there’s a whole group of bloggers who started at the beginning of 2010…I think of us as the cranky old dames (and man dames…whatever the appropriate counterpart is!) who have been at it for years and are a bit haggard and jaded and always have a butterscotch candy in our purses.

What do you hope you achieve through your blogging?

Really I just want to talk about books and writing and share my thoughts on books I’ve been reading lately - nothing particularly groundbreaking! I’m enjoying putting more humour on my blog lately, so it’s great to see my ‘book blogger reaction’ gif posts getting some attention. For too long I kept things professional and quite serious and if you know me in real life you know I’m not like that at all. Now I feel like I’ve put enough years in that people know I’m professional and dependable I feel like I have more freedom to be myself.

What are the most rewarding parts of it for you?

Interacting with other members of the community, definitely. I’ve written about this on my blog quite a bit, but counting fellow bloggers, authors and publicists as my friends is the best part about being a blogger. Press freebies that come alongside book proofs always make me smile - I opened a package that had a bottle of Southern Comfort in it the other day. Plying me with booze is always a winner.

And the most frustrating?

The positives far outweigh the negatives, but the frustrating parts are definitely time management, as well as sometimes being treated like a member of a marketing team. And people complaining on Twitter about not getting a proof/an event invite/enough followers/comments on their posts.

Have you had reading slumps/insecurities/times when you felt you weren't good enough and wanted to quit, and how did you pull yourself out of them?

Oh, all the time! I think it’s natural. If I feel that way I just take a break, spend my time on other hobbies (writing, movies, cooking, chilling out with my dog) and get back to it when I’m feeling inspired. It’s a hobby, not a job, so I never feel bad about taking time away from my blog.

Have you taken a break from blogging at any point and if so how did you get back into it?

Like I said above - allllll the time! I only blog when I have something to say, so sometimes I’ll blog three times a week, sometimes only once a fortnight. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so usually a couple of days without reading or blogging is enough to give me new ideas for content.

Any tips for dealing with the self imposed guilt that comes with a blogging and reading slump?

Just chill out and stop worrying about it! Also, in the nicest way possible, nobody really cares that much about what you do with your blog or knows what your schedule is, so just write about what you want, when you want. That sounds a bit blunt but I see so many people f-r-e-a-k-i-n-g out if they haven’t posted for a week but I don’t actually think anybody notices if someone takes a few days off…I don’t, anyway! I’d rather someone posts once a month and enjoys it, than posts every day but constantly complains on Twitter about feeling so stressed about their blogging schedule - you set you own schedule, so if it’s stressing you out just calm down and readjust it. Stress Management 101 with Carly, you’re welcome.

How do you manage to juggle life outside books and blogging?

I’m sure everyone’s going to have the same answer for this: I have *no* idea. In this day and age we’re all super busy, whether that’s with school, kids, university, work, writing etc etc. I run my own business so 99% of my time is taken up with that and that’s my priority, not my blog. My blog pretty much comes last in my list of priorities (my family, boyfriend, friends, dog, writing, business and Lush baths all come first - for sure), so it’s just a case of fitting it in when I have a spare moment, which is probably why I post so erratically!

The blogging world is constantly evolving, any changes you'd like to see start to happen?

Really, I think I’d like to see blogging get back to basics. A few years ago you couldn’t find a scandal anywhere in the world of UKYA, whereas now it seems like there’s a new drama every week and everybody’s clamouring to be the busiest or have the biggest TBR and it’s all getting a bit braggy. If I could swap every bit of drama for a decent YA horror novel, I’d be a happy camper.

Any advice for new and old bloggers alike, particularly if they are going through a down slump at the moment?

It’s just a hobby. Chill out, write about what you want when you feel like it and get out of the headspace that tells you you’ll lose all of your readers if you don’t blog every single day. Take a week off if you’re burned out. Hell, take a month off. People will still be there when you feel like blogging again.

Oh, and make friends with fellow bloggers, because book people are the best and meeting up with pals at an event is the best thing ever. 

Thank you so much for taking the time out to come and talk to us here Carly! If you haven't yet stopped by Writing from the Tub, do so now, Carly's site is a wonderful mix of reviews, reaction posts and her own brand of brilliance and wisdom.

Beneath the Surface of Blogging with Rhys from Thirst for Fiction

Today's Beneath the Surface of Book Blogging post is coming from the lovely Rhys at Thirst For Fiction.

Rhys has been blogging since 2009/2010 loves books, reading and producing theatre. He hopes to have a career in publishing but in the mean time is loving reviewing for Thirst For Fiction. Thank you so much Rhys for taking the time out to come and talk to us over here!

How did you start blogging, were there any blogs you followed that got you thinking this was something you wanted to do?

I started blogging at the end of 2009, though "officially" I consider myself to have been blogging from 2010, which is when I started to take it seriously and found myself at ThirstForFiction - prior to that, I had spent a few months on a different name. Initially, I wasn't aware there was even such a thing as a UK book blogging community; back then it was pretty niche. It took me until late 2010 to discover it.

What do you hope you achieve through your blogging?

First and foremost I do it because I like doing it. But I also love meeting authors, publicists, editors and other book bloggers, so I definitely do it for those reasons too. Finally, I want to share my enthusiasm for books with as many people as possible!

What are the most rewarding parts of it for you?

Meeting authors, publishers and other bloggers. Definitely. I have a few stories I could tell ;)

And the most frustrating?

I don't get frustrated easily. I get really annoyed about people who think that good characters are likeable characters, which is completely wrong. Otherwise not much!

Have you had reading slumps/insecurities/times when you felt you weren't good enough and wanted to quit, and how did you pull yourself out of them?

I've never really had insecurities about myself, but I've definitely had reading slumps where I just haven't wanted to read. And that's okay. I used to get frustrated about this, but I've since come to realise that that doesn't help, so I just take some time off reading and do whatever else I want to do (Netflix!). Eventually, I'll be desperate to pick up a book again - and it's a great feeling to look forward to reading.

Have you taken a break from blogging at any point and if so how did you get back into it?

Not officially. There have been large gaps where I've been on holiday without internet, but I wouldn't really call that an intentional break. I still read a lot, I just didn't update my blog.

Any tips for dealing with the self imposed guilt that comes with a blogging and reading slump?

DON'T FEEL GUILTY! It's perfectly okay and normal to not want to read or blog. 

How do you manage to juggle life outside books and blogging?

I dunno. It all works out! I'm not a planner, I tend to just wing things. So last year, when I was studying and doing my A Levels, I was also blogging and producing a school play AND preparing to produce a student play. I didn't get super-duper grades (which I could have done), but hey, I had an AWESOME time. I guess it all depends where your priorities lie.

The blogging world is constantly evolving, any changes you'd like to see start to happen?

It's always hard to predict where things will go so I won't even try. I just hope we all stick together and have as much fun as possible!

Any advice for new and old bloggers alive, particularly if they are going through a down slump at the moment?

Do what you want, how you want to. Don't give a damn what anyone else says (unless you are plagiarizing or something stupid - then, seriously, stop!). Do what you enjoy and do it for yourself. And as for those slumps - well, we all get them and at some point, they all come to an end!

Don't forget to check out Thirst For Fiction
And follow Rhys on Twitter

Beneath the Surface of Blogging with Michelle from Fluttering Butterflies

Today for beneath the surface, I am insanely happy to welcome Michelle. Michelle was one of the first book bloggers I got to know at blogger events when I first started with The Review Diaries and is one of the kindest and loveliest bloggers out there. She has been blogging since 2006 and her blog 'Fluttering Butterflies' covers a wide range of topics - everything from book reviews to personal posts. She is a huge force in the YA book blogging community, a part of the Bookish Brits youtube channel and a huge supporter of diverse YA books.
You can find Michelle at all of the above links as well as on her twitter! Michelle was also my inspiration for doing these guest posts in the first place - she's done a wonderful series of posts about book blogger problems, Netgalley, TBR Pile & Being Honest in Reviews.

How did you start blogging, were there any blogs you followed that got you thinking this was something you wanted to do?

I first started blogging back in 2006, more than nine years ago. In those early days of my blogging career my blog was more or less a lifestyle blog. I'd write about film, TV, books, childhood memories, my life. I was first introduced to the idea of blogging by my husband who very briefly had his own blog. And in fact, before my current blog I had blogged before but that too was short-lived. I started blogging after the birth of my first child during those newborn days where a lot of sleeping was involved and just after I'd given up my job as a manager in a book store. Eventually, my blog evolved to what it has become now, a book blog (a very natural progression!).

But Fluttering Butterflies would never have gotten to that point without the inspiration of several bloggers. Or authors, more specifically. It was Keris Stainton who inspired me to get back into blogging and I 'met' her years ago through another website and started following her blog and her experiences with parenthood and writing and I read her words and they were funny and thoughtful and thought-provoking. Reading them made me want to share my own thoughts and opinions and to channel some of that into writing. So I did.  And my other inspiration to start blogging was the website, Chicklish, which is no longer running, which was first set up and run by both Keris and Luisa Plaja. Luisa is a great source of inspiration and ran Chicklish amazingly well and helped and encouraged many young writers (including myself) to blog for Chicklish but also for themselves. I definitely owe Keris and Luisa  a great deal for inspiring me. 

What do you hope you achieve through your blogging?

Good question. I'm not really sure.  I think I first started to blog in order to have a creative outlet and to be able to voice my thoughts and opinions when I didn't feel quite so confident in expressing them in other ways. I guess that might always be what I'm trying to achieve: providing a space where I feel okay to speak up and out about the things I'm passionate about. But I guess I also want to shine a light on some good books: on UKYA and on books involving diversity and mental illness amongst other things. Supporting books and authors and libraries in the only way I feel I can.

I like that blogging challenges me.  Because of it, I push myself in ways that I don't normally push myself to try new things and write in different ways. It's fun. And I hope it always remains fun.

What are the most rewarding parts of it for you?

Well, the community is pretty great. Very supportive and welcoming and friendly. Other book bloggers, authors, people in publishing, booksellers, librarians. 98% of people that I've met through blogging have been incredible and my life is better with having met them and been included in their circle of passion and enthusiasm. I love that. I love finding my place, my people. 

I also have access to great books, am invited to cool things, meet my favourite people more regularly and have been acknowledged for the work that I do as a blogger in amazing ways. 

Blogging also makes that part of me that craves organisation happy. I love making lists and schedules and meeting (self-imposed) deadlines and targets. 

And the most frustrating?

I find that there are a lot of pressures on book bloggers. To find the time to read and write about books. To keeping up with publication dates and keeping our towering TBR piles down. Pressure to do all the things and to be original, to stand out, to comment on all the blogs and have a bunch of followers. To have read those books everyone has been talking about. To be the life and soul of social media, to advertise ourselves and our blogs, to create new features and graphics, to blog every day. To maintain this neverending, unflagging supply of passion and enthusiasm or to write honest or at least balanced reviews of the books we hate. To not be affected by the fact that we get these books 'for free' or pressure to be objective about books by authors we consider friends. To get on with everybody, to have a high Netgalley percentage rate. Honestly, I find all these different pressures, whether they are self-imposed or not, to be the most frustrating aspect of book blogging.  

I don't really know how to blog in a pressure-free environment. I do my best, but honestly, I fail a lot at not worrying about all of these things.

Have you had reading slumps/insecurities/times when you felt you weren't good enough and wanted to quit, and how did you pull yourself out of them?

ALL THE TIME.  Reading slumps? Check. Insecurities? Check. Times when I thought I wasn't good enough? Check. Time I wanted to quit? Check. Every one of them. All the time.

I go through reading slumps all the time. But what I'm better at now, after the eight millionth reading slump, is recognising WHY I'm in a reading slump and what I can do to get out of them based on what has caused it in the first place. Reading slumps usually happen for me because of a) other things in my life sending me into an emotional tailspin or b) putting too much pressure on myself to read certain books by a certain time. There isn't much I can do for the former except ride it out, but I can certainly do things about the latter. And I try very much to read without pressure. But it's a challenge.  

In terms of insecurity, I'm a bundle of insecurity. I don't know how any blogger isn't. I think this goes back to me being not very confident just generally. I don't think very highly of myself at the best of times so I find it difficult to value my own work when it comes to blogging. Several things helped me out this part of my blogging insecurity. The first, is that I've made a bunch of wonderful blogging friends who say nice things about me and my blog either in comments, email or on Twitter. It's wonderful to hear nice things. Second, I was listed in the CISION Top Ten Blogs on Teen Literature in the UK list. Several years running. And I think that sort of acknowledgement from someone/a company not in my social sphere really spurred me on to do more and better types of posts and reviews. And recently also being nominated for several blogger awards really boosted my confidence as well. 

I mention the awards and the CISION thing mostly because those two things really helped me out when I was on the brink of quitting. Getting validation for the time and effort I've put into my blog has helped. As have the friendships I've made. Now that I've been blogging for many years it feels almost like I can't quit. Which is ridiculous because of course I can quit. But I don't think I have any good tips for not quitting because I'm still sitting on that fence! 

Have you taken a break from blogging at any point and if so how did you get back into it?

I have taken numerous breaks from blogging. I think my longest was about 6 weeks-2 months kind of thing. But the more usual break time for me would be about 1-2 weeks. I usually find that shortly after deciding on a break, I'll be bursting with ideas and inspiration for new features and a different type of post which means that I want to come back sooner. It's always difficult after a break though, getting back into the swing of things. My usual returning routine is to ease myself into things by tackling one thing at a time. Answering emails, commenting, writing reviews. Really focusing on one particular thing about blogging so I feel really accomplished and that helps motivate me to tackle other areas.

Any tips for dealing with the self imposed guilt that comes with a blogging and reading slump?

Let it go, let it gooooo... No. I don't really know. I just try to keep in mind that before blogging, reading is something that I did for fun and it should still be something I do for fun. Same with blogging. So I guess my tip is to keep that in mind? It doesn't really work me for me, but I don't really know what else to suggest. Possibly just try to work out why you're feeling guilty and go from there. I think most of us know we shouldn't feel guilty about reading what we like and blogging whenever we feel like it. We know these things but it's so much harder to live that. It's a constant struggle. And good luck to all of us. 

How do you manage to juggle life outside books and blogging?

I'm a lot luckier than most in that I'm currently a stay at home mom to two school aged children. That means that I have the hours 9am-3pm roughly to myself. That doesn't mean that I necessarily use these hours to any kind of benefit towards reading or blogging, but the possibility of that is there. So I try to commit several hours a day towards something blog or reading related. And if that doesn't happen, then I try to not let that bother me too much.

I try to stay organised with a blogging schedule to keep me focused and I place restrictions on laptop and phone usage while my boys are at home so that means that time in front of my laptop is precious and needs to be used wisely. I also have general daily routines to try to help keep on top of things. Answering emails every day, responding to comments, checking my subscription feeds etc. 

Weekends are dead days for books and blogging. Especially now when the sun is out and the theme parks are open. But I find that doing other things, taking a walk in the sunshine for instance, is a great method for coming up with new ideas and I often find myself mentally writing blog posts as I go about doing other things. Even when I'm not wearing my blogging hat, blogging things are still going on inside my brain.

The blogging world is constantly evolving, any changes you'd like to see start to happen?

I think I'd mostly like to see things continue to change in the ways that I've seen things change recently. More people (in the UK and elsewhere) supporting UKYA and UKYA authors. I love this push towards including higher levels of diversity in the books we read. I've always been a supporter of book bloggers taking a step away from the books and writing more personal posts. I love the creativity I've seen amongst younger book bloggers with their cool graphics and different approaches towards book blogging. I'd love to see people breaking away from the traditional idea of what a book blogger 'should' do and embracing their own individuality and writing and creating content that is honest and heartfelt. 

Any advice for new and old bloggers alike, particularly if they are going through a down slump at the moment?

I think my advice for other bloggers is to stop worrying about anyone else. Stop worrying about other book bloggers, or authors or publicists or anybody else.  Write the posts you want to write when you want to write them. Try to go back and remember what first attracted you to blogging, remember the books that made you excited and try to embrace that feeling. Throw out all of your expectations and your publication dates. Do the best you can. And in a week's time (or maybe two!) after that feeling of freedom wears off, when you go back to feeling guilty and feeling the pressure, be kind to yourself. 

Thank you so much Michelle for taking the time out to come and talk to us here! It's so wonderful to hear about your experiences blogging! Don't forget to check out Fluttering Butterflies and check back here on Friday for the next guest post!

Beneath the Surface of Blogging with Tamason from Travelling Book Junkie

Today my guest blogger is Tamason from 'Travelling Book Junkie'!
Tamason runs the blog, Travelling Book Junkie, which reflects her passion for both books and travel.  As a bibliophile she is always traversing the world in search of the ultimate bookshops or literary trails which will appeal not only to herself but also her readers.  On top of this, her desire for knowledge has lead her to expand the blog to focus on all things cultural, historical and literary related. Be sure to check out her incredible blog, as well as her twitter, instagram and facebook pages!

How did you start blogging, were there any blogs you followed that got you thinking this was something you wanted to do?

I starting blogging about 2 years ago utilising the free wordpress.com platform.  I had no idea what I was doing and had read very few other blogs.

I started because I had always said to my husband that one day I would like to write something that others would read, at that time I meant a book but I had such little confidence I didn't believe anyone would read anything I wrote so starting a blog is the outcome of all of those conversations.

Two years on, I am now blogging through wordpress.org, have my own domain registered, have a relatively large following and work with several large publishers across the world to promote their latest releases.  On top of that, because my blog is about travel and books we have been invited on several press trips and have worked with several large tourism boards and companies within the last 12 months.

To say that this exceeds any expectations I had for the blog would be an understatement.

What do you hope you achieve through your blogging?

My blog is, I feel, still in its infancy.  I would love to be able to work full-time as a writer and I see my blog as a way to achieve this.  With people noticing my work, more companies are approaching me to write for them which is great as this is then bringing in an income.

As for the blog itself, I would love to be invited to face-to-face author interviews and into press rooms.  To be able to write about book festivals and to get behind the scenes of it all would be fantastic. 

Who knows where blogging will take me in the next 12 months but, if it is a great as the last 12 months, it could be very exciting times.

What are the most rewarding parts of it for you?

When I started I wrote for myself; just the achievement of putting pen to paper and creating something I was proud of seemed to be reward enough.  Now though I also write with my readers in mind.  There is nothing more rewarding than knowing that others are reading your words and then sometimes commenting as well.  Even those that don't agree with my perspective I like hearing from; it means I have evoked some feeling within them.

And the most frustrating?

Time.  I never feel like I have enough of it.  With the reading, the writing and the Social Media side of blogging I always feel like I need 48 hours in a day instead of the standard 24.  It doesn't matter how organised you are either, something always crops up that you can't anticipate which throws your whole schedule out.

Have you had reading slumps/insecurities/times when you felt you weren't good enough and wanted to quit, and how did you pull yourself out of them?

If I have read a book I really cannot connect with I feel like it takes me forever to get through it.  After that sometimes it takes me days before I can even face picking up another book.  Now I try to read one book that has been sent to me from a publisher or author followed by one off of my 'To Be Read' pile, mixing up the one I need to read with one that I have personally chosen to read tends to help considerably.

There are times when I have wanted to quit.  Blogging is very lonely and you often feel that you are not succeeding but feel that others around you are.  I have never been very good at self promotion (blowing my own trumpet as it were and boasting about what I have achieved) which means I read other people's blog roundups or notice a facebook status update that says they have been successful at something and I have a few moments of 'well I will never be that good, I should just give up now' and then I have to try and snap out of it.  This is where working closely with other bloggers can help.  I now have a network of blogging friends that I can contact during one of my slumps and they help to talk me out of it.

Have you taken a break from blogging at any point and if so how did you get back into it?

If I am travelling, I tend not to blog consistently for perhaps a week or two.  Followers don't tend to disappear during this period but pageviews may drop off slightly.  I try to stay as active as possible through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram whilst we are away so that followers know we are still about and what we are up to.

Sometimes you need a break.  I can sit in front of my laptop for hours each day every day and then it just gets to the point of burnout and a few days away from it all really does help.    I go out for lunch, read a book of my choosing and re-establish my life away from the blog.  It really does help with productivity; I find I achieve far more when I return.

Any tips for dealing with the self imposed guilt that comes with a blogging and reading slump?

Don't feel guilty.  If you have a 9-5 office job, you can lock up your desk at the end of the day and walk away.  You also get 'x' amount of holiday each year to enjoy, so why shouldn't it be the same for a blogger.  If you don't take time for yourself occasionally you will come to resent your blog and it is why so many blogs fail.

How do you manage to juggle life outside books and blogging?

It is difficult.  I have always been a person that takes a book everywhere I go so that has not changed.  I have been known to read books whilst on public transport, standing in a queue at the bank or even when waiting in the doctor's surgery.  I do however, make time.  I arrange a night out, go for a nice meal with my husband or parents and generally try to relax.  As I have mentioned, we also travel quite a bit and so this tends to be my down time.  I read on the plane but then try to leave the book in the hotel room so that I can explore the place around me fully.  This in itself can also be a problem as often we have been invited to a city or a hotel to write about it so once again we are, in some respects, still working.  If this is the case, we always keep the evenings for ourselves so that we can relax and enjoy dinner plus a glass of wine or two.

The blogging world is constantly evolving, any changes you'd like to see start to happen?

It would be great if the wider world could recognise professional bloggers in the same way they do journalists and authors.  We spend as much time researching an article and building our brand so that we can compare ourselves to these other professions but for some reason we are still not treated the same by all.

I understand that not all bloggers are professional and my not want to be classed in the same field as print journalists but for me, I feel that this would be a real step forward for our profession. 

Any advice for new and old bloggers alike, particularly if they are going through a down slump at the moment?

Don't give up on your blog. Take time out, try to remember why you started it in the first place and what it was you wanted to achieve.  Secondly, never-ever compare yourself to someone else.  Some people like to broadcast their successes, some people like to inflate their successes to make them sound better than they truly are and some people choose to keep their successes to themselves.  If you feel like you are falling into a slump or need to seek out advice from others, reach out to bloggers you admire and seek guidance; the one thing I have learnt from the blogging world in the last 2 years is that it is one of the friendliest communities I have ever been part of and most people are willing to help others.

Thank you so much Tamason for taking the time out to talk to us about your experiences blogging, it has been wonderful hearing from you! Don't forget to check out her blog and social media sites, she covers such a wonderful variety of books, travel and culture!

Beneath the Surface of Blogging with Sofia from The Reading Fangirl

Today for Beneath the Surface of Book Blogging I am thrilled to be hosting Sofia from 'The Reading Fangirl'. She's been a sporadic blogger since early 2014 but really kicked into high gear at the start of this year and is offering a newer blogger's perspective on book blogging. She reads mainly YA books across a variety of genres but also branches out into TV shows, movies and general lift posts. Thank you Sofia for joining us!

How did you start blogging, were there any blogs you followed that got you thinking this was something you wanted to do?

I started blogging mainly because I had been following the book universe for a while and I decided to join in. I learnt about the book blogging world through booktube which I discovered first and through that I discovered so many of my favourite bloggers. The blog that inspired me to start blogging was Queen of Contemporary because before that all the blogs I had found were run by adults and I thought that maybe teenagers don’t participate much. However when I discovered QoC, I thought if Lucy could do it, why couldn’t I?

What do you hope you achieve through your blogging?

Honestly, I just made my blog to share my opinion with the world. I read quite quickly and therefore my friends who read generally don’t read all the books I do. Therefore, I have no one to share my feelings with but through my blog, I can do that and that’s what I love. I hope to convince people to read some books that I love because then I’m spreading the love and supporting that author even more.

What are the most rewarding parts of it for you?

Definitely meeting a lot of people and discussing books with them. I love talking to other book bloggers or people who regularly read my blog because it means that my opinion is being shared which makes me so happy.

And the most frustrating?

I get quite frustrated with trying to make my blog look appealing and that’s my biggest annoyance about it as I am constantly hating the design of my blog.

Have you had reading slumps/insecurities/times when you felt you weren't good enough and wanted to quit, and how did you pull yourself out of them?

This has happened quite a few times due to people or things that happen in my life that affect how I feel at my blog. I’ve never been a person to do something by myself that no one else around me does so when I started my blog, it was weird because I felt like I was never good enough and other people in my life occasionally bring me down and make me feel bad about my blog and it used to affect me a lot. However now as I’ve made other blogger friends, I’ve learned that my blog is something to be proud of and I am proud of it and it’s got to the point where I don’t let other people get me down. If I feel myself feeling like my blog is terrible, I just go talk to some of my blogger friends and I feel better immediately.

Have you taken a break from blogging at any point and if so how did you get back into it?

Last year, I took regular breaks. I’d make a post and then I wouldn’t post for a month. I think this was mainly because my heart wasn’t really in it. Last year, I didn’t try hard enough to get out of my shell and I didn’t talk to anyone so I never felt that I was good enough. I got out of all this simply by talking to people.

Any tips for dealing with the self imposed guilt that comes with a blogging and reading slump?

My main thing is that you should focus on your blog. Your blog is for you and write posts because you want to write them. Read books because you want to read them. Never try to force any posts or try to force yourself to read a book because that will make you enter a slump. Sometimes you need to take a break in order for you to get back into it properly.

How do you manage to juggle life outside books and blogging?

I am a very organised person which is quite odd. I organise my time well so therefore I usually get all my work done within a few hours and then I blog after doing my work. And yes I do have a social life. I just happen to balance my time well because I set targets for the day, which include bookish and blogging targets, and I won’t sleep until I’ve hit them. Even then, I’m always in bed early as I always give myself at least an hour every night to read.

The blogging world is constantly evolving, any changes you'd like to see start to happen?

Honestly I’m not sure. While the blogging world isn’t perfect, it’s still incredibly good. We’re a welcoming community and everyone is really nice. However, I’d like to see less focus on reviews on blogs because I always feel bad when I write a post that isn’t a review because I feel reviews are sometimes the only posts that people care about.

Any advice for new and old bloggers alike, particularly if they are going through a down slump at the moment?

Talk to people! Don’t make the mistake I made for so long and be scared of entering the community. Honestly, Twitter is a book bloggers best friend because your life on social media really does affect your blog. #ukyachat on twitter really helped me to get out of my bubble and it got me to where I am now so I feel like all book bloggers should participate in it because you all can, even if you’re not British!

Thank you so much Sofia for such wonderful responses!
Check out Sofia's blog The Reading Fangirl
And follow her on twitter