This post is mostly for me — I need things in writing sometimes.
I’ve talked recently about my blogging slump and how I really want to refocus and keep blogging as what it is…a hobby. I’m the type of person who sometimes just needs to write a list or a mission statement to help myself redefine what my purpose is for blogging. Especially with recent drama and negativity, I especially wanted to sit down and lay out why I started blogging and create my personal blogging manifesto.
Why I Started Blogging: My friends don’t read and I don’t enjoy recommendations from newspapers, Oprah or any other sort of impersonal medium. I joined Goodreads and started the College Students group in 2008 to indulge in some bookish conversations and get recommendations from real readers. In June of 2010, after following several of my Goodread’s friends blogs (April from Good Books And Good Wine and Liz from Consumed By Books) I decided to start a blog with some people from the CS group (enter the Broke and the Bookish). I loved it so much that I started my own as well a few weeks later…in this space right hurrr! Basically, I blog because I love keeping a blog, I love finding new recommendations and chatting about books and topics related to books. I love the community and the void that it fills since I don’t have bookish friends IRL. I blog for me…I know, selfish right?
My Blogging Manifesto:
My blog will not define me. It is merely an extension of who I am.
I will do what I can, when I can and if I can — real life comes first.
I will always blog with integrity in a way that I can be proud of.
Passionate, honest and unique — the three cornerstones of this space.
I will not allow myself to become involved in drama or negativity as it accomplishes nothing.
When issues in blogging arise, I will weigh my opinions carefully and only participate in constructive discussions that will lead to understanding.
I will never allow blogging to become a burden. It’s a hobby that I enjoy.
I will step away for a little break the moment it becomes a chore.
I will never take shortcuts to grow my blog nor will I obsess over its growth.
I will be happy with my followers, stats and will not compare myself to others.
I will not be concerned with how other blogs operate, no matter how much I disagree with it, I will only worry about how I’m blogging and that I’m true to myself.
I will treat my readers kindly because they keep my spirits high.
Above all, I will blog because I love to read and share that love with others.
Do you have a blogging manifesto of sorts? What do you value when it comes to blogging? How do you help yourself refocus?
picky girl says
this is fantastic. i wholeheartedly agree with your manifesto. you're right, though, that sometimes you need reminding. i don't have huge amounts of traffic. sometimes my reading/blogging/both is erratic. i blog on a very odd variety of books (i think). and i'm ok with every bit of that. i love talking to other readers, and i love that i can do it in a space i'm proud of.
IndieReader says
I started with a manifesto, though I think it could stand revising. I read it from time to time, reminding myself why I started the whole thing. It's comforting.
Here's a link if you want to take a look: http://indiereaderhouston.com/blog/the-indie-reader-manifesto
Jenn says
I agree with you completely! My blog is still new and I have only a few followers, but I love them all so much because of how wonderful they are.
I blog because I love it and I read so much, it helps me keep track of what I've read and what I thought about each book because I do get asked for recs quite often. But I can never think of things on the spot. I'd rather blog the way I want, with honestly and a little sarcasm and keep my loyal follows then compromise what I love to have hundreds of followers.
Jordyn says
This is so good; now I feel the need to write my own blogging manifesto.
Ashley says
What a great post Jamie! I love it! Go you!!
Rebecca Rasmussen says
You know I love ya honey — and this manifesto is exactly why — you are so smart and unique and honest to write it! I love following you 🙂
Michelle says
Go you! Sounds like you have a healthy attitude towards it. 🙂
Carla says
you know it may be all those cocktails i drank today, or the fact that i hit my head pretty hard when i walked into the patio door but DAMN IT JAMIE this post made me cry because this, this right hurrrrr is why i love you and your blog oh so very much. peace out.
Annette says
I love this. I agree with everything — this could be me. And, I think writing it down is an excellent idea — just as a reminder once in a while. Wonderful! Thanks!
And, have fun reading and blogging!
The Sandtray Coach says
I think this is terrific. As a new blogger writing to help people establish or maintain a writing practice and pass on what I know about the craft, I have a slightly different mission. But I love this manifesto about integrity and keeping it immediate and and not obssessing about stats, etc., is what keeps your blog fresh and compelling. A model for me. Many thanks.
Ginger @ GReads! says
"I will never allow blogging to become a burden. It's a hobby that I enjoy." — I see this mentioned quite a few times through out blogs. About how they feel like they HAVE TO get a post up, or participate in a book tour. No you don't. And it makes me very sad. Didn't we all start our book blogs because we love to read? And isn't reading a hobby? Well, maybe not to everyone, but I'd like to think the majority of us feel that way. I hope I never lose sight of why I choose to do this. I understand things can become overwhelming & every one needs breaks now & then. But the second any of this begins to feel like a chore, it will come across that way to your readers as well. You have so much life & passion in your posts Jamie. Don't ever let that die out!
Sarah says
Awesome. It should be something that all book bloggers keep in mind :o)
Pam says
That is how I have always blogged and I have always been happy with Bookalicious and the growth is fantastic. I am in it for me baby.
lisa (the nerd) says
this. rocks. my. world. you put into words how i've been feeling for awhile now, and it's so refreshing to see your perspective.
thank you for sharing your manifesto with us, and thank you for reminding us what blogging is all about!
April (BooksandWine) says
I love this post. I love your manifesto. Unfortunately, I get caught up in drama ALL the time, but I think that's my personality – penchant for reality tv and all. Also unfortunately obsessed with my stats.
Anyways, I love the way you blog and your awesome taste in books and reading and hope this never does become a chore for you.
You are awesome. Keep on keeping on.
Amie McCracken says
This is quite the insight into what kind of person you are. It's wonderful. Fantastic way to lay out the boundaries for your blog!
Midnyte Reader says
This actually makes me feel better. Thanks!
Blueicegal ♥ says
I love these points, I can't say that I follow them as well as I would like to or should, but I'm a little different that way. I go with the heart rather than thinking things though, but thats the great thing about meeting new bloggers. Where all different 🙂
Sidne,the BCR says
love it, love it. and i feel just as you to. its a wonderful blog manifesto
Anna says
And dance. Don't forget to dance every now and then. Cures so so so many of my woes. 😉
booknympho says
You've got a great manifesto! I'd say if I had to write one it would be almost identical. I started blogging for myself and it's mostly just an online journal so I can remember what I've read and look back over all the books I've loved. If other people read it and can share in my passion, then that's great too but it's not the main goal.
That being said, I LOVE the book blogging community and even though I'm usually too busy reading to always comment or read the numerous amazing blogs out there, they are definitely feeding my book/reading addiction and I'm getting such great recommendations! 🙂
Miss Lauren says
Jamie… I absolutely love this!! When I joined the college students group back in the day, it literally filled an empty space in me. I don't have any bookish friends in real life to chat with. And I'm so not counting the few that say, "Ohh I read a lot and I like all these books you're talking about…" and then they never read anything. I made so many friends in our group and it was amazing!
So then I realized there was an entire blogosphere of book blogs!!! I had no idea!! So I started my lil one and I love it. I agree with your manifesto completely. In the back of my head I worry about not having many followers, but then I always remember… this is for fun and for me. And I will have more followers when I have content and more reviews that people want to read! Til then, I thank the followers I do have for sticking with me.
My only downfall is that I wish I had more time to post. But isn't that every bloggers nightmare?
Still lovin your stuff, Jamie!!
Jennifer says
I haven't written an official blogging manifesto but this is a subject that I have written on a couple times on my blog. Mostly because I think that it is so easy to get swept up in all the drama and pressure of blogging. So many bloggers start out just wanting to talk about something that they enjoy and then as they get more readers, they start comparing themselves and then it just grows into this beast that can make you feel bad about yourself. Honestly, I'm new to your blog but I like it so far. I think that you keep it fresh and lively and you write what you want to write, which is really what it's all about. Great job!
tediousandbrief says
No, I don't have one, but I think I may need to!
Cody @ The Boyish Booklover says
I believe it is time I develop a manifesto for my own blog. I’ve had it for a few months now and I still feel almost lost with it. I think I will take a month or so to work out what I want to include in my blog, write up some of the posts and make sure I have everything looking the way I want it to BEFORE I get too heavily invested. Thank you for the words of inspiration here. 😉
Chrystal @ Snowdrop Dreams of Books says
WOW! Well said. I agree with your entire manifesto. It says what we should be able to say. Competitiveness is not becoming and maybe bloggers should remember that we all started this to share out thoughts and connect with others with like passions. 🙂
Great post as always!
Isabel Gomez says
You just inspired me to write my own blogging manifesto!
Cora says
Aw, this was an incredibly nice post. Taking a
few minutes and actual effort to generate a superb article… but what can I
say… I procrastinate a whole lot and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.
Ashley Mullins says
Can i copy your manifesto? I am going to edit and tweek it to fit me a little bit. But i think your idea is fantastic.
Ashley
Tizzy Potts says
This is fantastic. I need to pin this somewhere and remind myself of the good advice!
Shannan says
Great idea! I haven’t even been blogging for a month and already I feel pulled to go a different direction than where I started. I think I’m going to have to do this for myself.
Ali says
I just found your blog and it’s fantastic! I agree with everything you said above. I’ve been blogging since 2010 and honestly I’ve been feeling like my blog has become a burden, not what it was meant to be, which was a way to share something I love with others. I really want to get back to that! This is a great post. Thanks for sharing this.