Have you ever been faced with an issue while reading or blogging and thought: I wonder what other bloggers think about this? No matter what genre or audience you blog for, we all face the same problems. Are you a publisher or author wondering what goes on in a blogger's (and by extension a reader's) head?
Blogger confidential is a series of 10 questions asked to 13 bloggers about the nitty gritty details of blogging. Everything from what prompts a blogger to pick up a book, to what happens when a book doesn't live up to its hype. This series was inspired by
Wastepaper Prose's Author Insight series. Learn more about the Blogger Confidential series
on its main page.
Do you ever have blogger envy? How do you handle it?
"Of course, who doesn’t? Just recently we were envious off all our fellow book bloggers who made it down to ALA. But you soon realize that you can’t do anything and you move on and add it to your list to try and do next year. But once you realize it’s about promoting books and the authors and it’s not about you as the blogger/reviewer then the envy goes away a bit."
Pixie and Stacey from Page Turners Blog
"I envy the US bloggers who get sent all of these amazing ARC’s that I can’t get my hands on, mostly because they haven’t been released in the UK yet and the majority of US publishers will not send books out of the country for cost reasons which I totally understand. Thankfully, there are a lot of kind bloggers out there who will send you a book if they know you are desperate to read it (although getting my hands on Lola and the Boy Next Door is proving pretty difficult!) and I too have done this for bloggers - what I love about this community is its willingness to share with each other."
Lynsey from Narratively Speaking
"All the time!!!! Our usual cure is befriending said blogger! We *heart* bloggers."
Stacy, Shannan, Nancy, and Sarah from Girls in the Stacks
"Of course I have blogger envy. Anyone who says they have never been envious of another blogger's books, is lying. No offense. I handle it the same way you would handle any other type of envy. I look at what I have and I just be grateful for that. And if that doesn't work I pick up one of the books I have been dying to read and distract myself. Haha."
Katie from Katie's Book Blog
"I can say I don't. I celebrate all the blogs out there in some shape or form. I think we all deserve a pat on the back for all our hard work."
Yara from Once Upon a Twilight
"Hmmm... I don't know if I would call it blogger envy. Maybe blogger inspiration? If I see someone who has a very successful blog, it inspires me to try to make my blog better."
Wallace from Unputdownables
"YES. All the time! I handle it like this- 1) Comment on the person's blog saying 'OMG SO JEALOUS!!!' 2) Forget about it an hour later and move on with my life, or contact my publicist to ask for a copy, lol. Most of the time, I just forget about it because I'm focusing on the books I received that week or the book I'm reading at that time or, you know, I'm off living my life! There's no point in holding on to the envy, which is something to remember when the envy doesn't involve In My Mailbox posts. For some reason, I was only thinking about that aspect. Just be happy with what you have and continue working hard on your blog to increase your followers, comments, or whatever."
James from Book Chic
"Yes. Do I have it as much as others, I don’t think I do. I think it’s hard sometimes to not become jealous when you see many bloggers getting many ARCs(which I think most of the jealousy stems from) sent to them on a regular base including ones they haven’t themselves requested and bloggers being including in special blog tours. For me, I love ARCs and being able to read a book early, but at the same time, I don’t love the pressure of HAVING to read certain books by a certain date. If I really wanted ARCs more, I could request the titles I wanted, but I have yet to do that really. There are other ways of going about being able to read an advanced copy, ARC tours are one way of doing this. In my mind, I know I will eventually be able to read the title by either buying it or checking it out from the library."
Jacinda and Jasmine from The Reading Housewives of Indiana
"Not really :)! I’m happy where I am as a blogger!"
Jenn from Jenn's Bookshelves
"Sure. Doesn’t everybody? But generally I use “blogger envy” as motivation to keep working on my own site. It’s inspiration to work harder, try new things, reach out to new people, etc."
Sara from Novel Novice
"Not really. Sometimes I am envious that another blogger has a book before me if it’s one that I’m really excited about. Then, I just remind myself that I will eventually be able to get a copy and I realize there is no reason to be envious. Otherwise, I don’t compare my blog to anyone else’s because we are all so unique."
Melina from Reading Vacation
"Oh heck yes! I mean who doesn't? Sure it's stupid, I'll admit it, but I'm only human! I usually get blogger envy over books... and I handle it by reminding myself that I have plenty of books to read in my reading pile, and to stop whining!"
Kristi from The Story Siren
"OH YES. As I’ve gotten older the severity of my blogger envy has lessened, but it’s certainly still there. I’ll go to a blog that has gained 3,000 followers in a few months and I can’t help but try to pick the blog apart. “They promote anything, even if it’s garbage,” and blah blah blah. The very nasty side of me comes out when my blogger envy rears its head.
I’ve gotten a lot better at handling it ever since I set my priorities for my blog. Is it my goal to have 3,000 followers? Do I want publishers to send me free iPads? Is that all I want? The simple answer is: no. I want a blog that attracts people that will help me grow as a blogger and a reader. I’m not going to promote everything and anything to gain followers because I only want to interact with people who like what I like. That’s what’s most important TO ME. If you’re happy with your blog, you won’t be envious. If you aren’t happy: fix it!"
Enna from Squeaky Books
Great post! I love what Enna said about setting priorities for your blog.
ReplyDeleteWe review for a niche market and will probably never have tons and tons of followers, HOWEVER, we love the opportunities we have to meet and develop friendships with several authors, especially because so many are local to us. Instead of worrying about how many followers we have (or don't have) we're focusing on doing the best job we can in our little corner of the book world. Not only are we continuing to gain followers every day, but we're having fun doing what we love. Comparing our blog to others takes away the fun, and when reading/reviewing aren't fun, what's the point?
Exactly, comparing my blog to someone else's never gives me good feelings. All it does it make me feel bad about myself and someone else. Of course, that doesn't mean that I don't slip up every once in awhile.
DeleteI do get it sometimes with mailbox posts but I also have made some awesome friends who share books, so I am not envious as I could be. I have been happy with what I have and the what I do with my blog :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't even look at IMM posts anymore.
DeleteI love everyone's answers. I think we all face some form of blogger envy at some point. It doesn't make us evil or ungrateful; it's only human to see what another blogger has accomplished and then want that for yourself.
ReplyDeleteI think Wallace nailed it when she called it "blogger inspiration" =) I think we can all learn from each other as well as from our own experiences. The idea really is to grow as a community!
♥Isalys
I have nothing else to add. I just loved your comment.
DeleteThere are so many different forms of blogger envy. Followers, Books, ARC's, Design, Popularity, etc. Take your pick! I think it's important to not focus on the things we can't change. If you want a better design, go get one! If you want ARC's email the pubs for them! Just do what you can. I like my design, my content, and the little community I've built on my blog. I'd love more followers, sure. Who wouldn't?! But, I can't MAKE people follow me. I am doing ALL I know how to do. They'll either come or they won't. I have to be happy with my work for me. I enjoy it. Even if my book blog was private, I'd still do it for me. I like keeping a log of what I've read and how I felt about it. I do it for me.
ReplyDeleteMy vice is definitely traffic. Sometimes I wish I had more visitors. But, I am really happy with where I'm at now, and the growth that I'm seeing. But, it definitely does come up from time to time for me!
DeleteI love reading everyone else's answers- so excited to be part of this round with all these amazing bloggers!
ReplyDeleteI agree! Emily, thanks again for including me!
DeleteYou're so welcome! It's really interesting to see the diverse opinions.
DeleteUs too!! We just loved being included in this! THANK YOU!
DeleteI have blogger envy all the time, and it's so stupid! And I don't even know why because I don't want to have a gazillion followers and all that ARC stress either. I just want to be well known and well liked, so I'll just keep working on that! :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I like you. So, you can check at least one person off your list.
DeleteI like the idea of it thinking of blogger envy as blogger inspiration. I only get envious about followers and comments. But, ever since I stopped worrying about followers and comments, I'm a much happier blogger. I figure those who like me will comment and those who don't won't.
ReplyDeletePhew. I'm so glad that I comment on your blog.
DeleteThis is an awesome post! Being a relatively new blogger, I definitely feel blogger envy ... especially seeing IMM posts. I only wish that I could receive books courtesy of publishers for reviews -- books that are on my reading list. BUT, I also love my library and if I was getting everything I wanted, I probably wouldn't utilize them as much, nor would I probably check out book stores as often as I do for the next great read! So, while I do feel envious, I only wish that I could have some of their bookshelf ...
ReplyDeleteNow, if we're not talking books, I am so envious of bloggers who have a strong following. I wish I could be like them! But that's just something to strive for, right? :)
Thanks for the post!
I think we all wish we had a bigger following. And, there is always room for growth. As long as you are consistently involved in the community, you will continue to grow.
DeleteGreat post! I like Wallace's idea of turning any envy into inspiration! We're only human, so there's bound to be some envy every now and again. It's what you do with it that counts! And it's nice to know that the big bloggers out there still get jealous too! ;)
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the green jealousy monster grabs us all from time to time.
DeleteI think everyone has blogger envy at some point in their career. Whether it's being jealous of so-and-so getting an ARC of a book you really want, people having a higher readershop than you, or just envying that they live in a country where more book opportunities are available to them than you, I figure it's a natural and understandable thing. So long as it doesn't go over the top and you don't start badmouthing everyone who gets stuff you want, then I don't seem much harm in a little healthy envy.
ReplyDeleteThe way I figure it, every time I'm envious of somebody else and think that there's no way I can ever be as awesoe as them, there's somebody thinking the very same thing about me.
That's a really good way to look at it!
DeleteReally cool post. It's neat for me as a reader, and as a writer, to get these little glimpses into the life of bloggers. The varied responses didn't surprise me though because each of these blogs is so different from the others, and that's what I love most about books--how different people interpret the same book in such varied ways.
ReplyDeleteSmiles!
Lori
That's right Lori! We've all got different ways of dealing with our jealousy.
ReplyDeleteI answered your questions such a long time ago, I forgot what I said! Loved all of the answers.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to know that others feel the same way. Great thoughts by your guest bloggers.
ReplyDelete