Changing Face of Blogger

In my Blogger feed that shows all the lovely blogs I follow, I've been noticing an interesting trend lately. More and more writers and bloggers are blogging less and less. And they're visiting other blogs less and less as well. It's sad because I miss my old friends. But, I hope it means something good, that they're deeply inspired and are too busy writing.

On the flip side, I've noticed more and more book bloggers (reviewers) blogging. I love this trend because I get to read about all the great books out there and it gives me food for my muse. And also because I love book bloggers. They are the life's blood of the industry in many ways. What I don't see is a lot of comments on many of their sites. Authors, writers, I implore you, support your book bloggers, comment on their posts. They give so much back to those of us with books out. And even if you don't have one out, if you're a writer, chances are that you will someday and then you'll see that these wonderful people are worth their weight in gold. A word to the wise: For the love of sanity, always be nice, especially if it is your book. What you write online is chiseled in stone and can destroy you.

What trends are you noticing in blogs? Do you follow book bloggers/reviewers? Do you comment on their blogs?

Comments

  1. I totally am noticing this too Heather and it makes me sad that writers aren't blogging and commenting as much. I think you can say so much more on a blog than Twitter and Facebook. I don't see how you can have a great following the other two ways to build a platform and followers for when your book comes out. Or build a great writer community of friends.

    It's hard to know what to do about commenting on some of these blogger blogs when they do blog and they've stopped coming to my own. I want to be a good friend, but I'm busy too and stopping by takes time from my writing. I haven't that out yet.

    And I agree that there are some awesome book review blogs out there. I notice that even the popular ones don't get many comments without a giveaway. But I do try to comment on the books I'm interested in. And I find a lot of good books through book review blogs.

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    1. It is a shame when people stop visiting and the online friendships become one-sided. I've seen a lot of that happening too. It's a quick way to breakdown relationships. I'm so sorry that's happening to you too!

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  2. I think blogging is cyclical. When I first started blogging 4 years ago, everybody was writing their first books, or trying to, and now they've been written and often times published, those writers are now authors and are trying to get their second and third books out and published.

    We all know how much blogging takes up time, often time we don't have. It's really a catch 22. Do you write or blog? That is the question. And most times, real life gets in the way. (That's my excuse.) I haven't figured out a proper schedule to get all my marketing and promotion to fit in with my blogging and social networking.

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    1. Great points. That's a big part of why I try to never write more than three short paragraphs. I know people don't have a lot of time so I try to keep it short. Others don't though.

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  3. I think part of why writers are commenting less is there are so many places to comment. For instance, I get about 250 posts in my reader every day. It would be a full time job to read and post something meaningful on each one leaving no time to write or do much else. I do skim through most of those, and try to comment when I feel strongly about something, but otherwise I just don't have the time.

    It's sad, because I miss the actual interaction with others too, but what can we do about it?

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    1. So true, that sounds like my reader, lol! I do my best to comment on several a day, making my way through the list as the week progresses. I don't get to every post on every blog, but I do get to every nearly every blog. I think paces ourselves like that, writing shorter posts of our own, are good ways to start.

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  4. I've begun following more book reviewers. Of late, I've been commenting less and writing a bit more but I do miss getting to comment as much as I used to. I love the interaction of it, sharing my thoughts and being part of it all.

    I noticed, too, that book reviewers don't get as many comments. I wonder if it is because there aren't prompting questions since it's a review? Not sure, but I try to make sure to comment whenever I can.

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    1. Me too! I'm working on commenting on their blogs more and more, so they feel more appreciated. It shouldn't be a thankless job.

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  5. I'm noticing that trend as well, and am guilty of some of it myself, although I really try to keep up with it. Sometimes life gets in the way, like Anne said, but hopefully it's more because people are so busy writing that blogging takes a second seat :)
    I do love the book review blogs though. It's a great way to field books sometimes. Or at least to get an idea about a book. Sometimes I read a book that didn't get a great review on some site but still like it. Most of the time, though, the reviews are very helpful.
    And I love your blog! :)

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  6. Life has been getting in the way. I finally graduate highschool next month! Yet I do miss reading your blog. There is so much I need to catch up on. Thank you for making us more aware of this ((:

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    1. Congratulations, Fida! And it does, for sure. I miss reading yours too! I know how busy you've been though so I understand.

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  7. As Fida and the others have said: life is a harsh mistress! Finishing THREE SPIRIT KNIGHT and working the extended holiday hours at my rare blood center literally has drained me of energy and time. NaNoWriMo took a chunk of writers off-line to slap together words as fast as they could. Sigh.

    Then, there is the fact of many bloggers becoming despondent of ever finding success in their writing.

    Many are frothing on Twitter and self-gushing on Facebook. Review blogs at least talk about someone other than the one doing the review (unless you are Dr. Freud and know the review is actually all about the reviewer! :-) )

    Interesting post. Have a good midweek, Roland

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    1. Life has a way of doing that. Great outlook on reviewer blogs. I never thought of it that way.

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  8. I have noticed these same trends, Heather. I believe that a lot of us who began blogging together are beginning to reap the fruits of our writing labors. So a big YAY! for all those. We all know which bloggers have been there for us. I'm sure the trends of blogging and social media will continue to fluctuate.

    Reviewers are great for a ton of reasons that have already been stated above.

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    1. Great way to look at it, and true it seems. I'm happy for those who are able to stay connected, and grateful for those who come back after their breaks!

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  9. I only blog once a week because my time is very limited but I do still visit the blogs I love. I've been concentrating on writing more. I do think bloggers after about 3 years tend to slow down and not post as much. But I hope blogging stays, I've met some wonderful writer friends this way.

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    1. I think that's a great idea. If we all did that we'd have more time to read others blogs because there would be less to read! I hope it stays too. That's how I met you!

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  10. Aw, Heather you are very sweet! I know that you are an awesome commenter and have left many a fantastic comment on my blog. I have more comments then ever on my blog these days but most of them are daily visitors who I visit back. There's not nearly as many drop ins though.

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  11. I've noticed in my Google feed that the numbers have dropped even more significantly lately! In my one folder it used to go into the 40s if left unattended, just within the span of a couple hours on Monday morning. Now the number reaches like nine...maybe.

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    1. It's weird isn't it? What Natalie said makes a lot of sense though. I wonder if it's because all of us who are connected are at that stage in our careers where we are busy.

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  12. I've also noticed many bloggers blogging less. Some of the ones I follow are written by college students, who graduate and go on to demanding jobs. Others have begun to review books more, and seem to gain more readers if a review is controversial.

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    1. That's a great point, changing lives attribute a lot to the change of blogging.

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  13. Agree, agree, agree. It may also be the holiday times. November and December are typically busy times for many people. And if writers are doing NaNoWriMo, there's that extra level of craziness. So, blogging may pick pack up at the start of the new year. I know, I've slowed down and hardly able to read any blogs in recent weeks. :(

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    1. Yeah, me too. It's part of the holiday craziness I guess.

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  14. Heather, I see this as a shift too. Too many blogs, too much to read and no time to write. Not sure what that answer is. I know I don't have time to read every blog I would love to. Life is a challenge that way.

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    1. Yep, I think blog posts will be getting shorter as everyone has less time lately. Such is the world.

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