Update 19-09-2021

I’ve whinged enough recently that most of you will know about my current bloggy block, so this is just a quick update on where I’m at with that. As much for my benefit as for yours.

 

• I have bowed out of writing for FanFiAddict for the time being. Whether this is a temporary or permanent self-removal, only time will tell. The FanFiAddict team are the loveliest group of people and are doing some truly exciting things. Unfortunately, I was never able to give them anything like my best. I managed six posts for them in six months and constantly worried over my inability to read more and fast enough to post for two blogs. I wanted to stretch myself, but it turns out I’m not terribly stretchy at all.

 

• I am dialing back on ARC requests. I admire each and every blogger who is able to keep up with reading and posting about the stacks and stacks of ARCs they receive. That was very much my image of bloggy success for a while. However, my second lesson about myself has been that I don’t roll that way. ARCs are exciting, yes, but they’re also a commitment. I’d rather receive a few ARCs that I’m truly excited about than a whole pile that make me feel like I’m at work, even when I’m at home.

 

• Lesson about myself number three has been this: I like some structure, but not too much. For example, Spooktastic Reads is just around the corner and I have prepared a stack of possible reads, but I won’t read all of them and I’ll be led by my mood at the time of reading. I don’t want to lose the feeling of anticipation by having my reading plan locked down so tight that I know when my toilet breaks will be for the next two months.

 

• The things that give me the most joy in this bloggy endeavour are: the friends I’ve made and the carefully curated list of blogs that I follow; book bingos; buddy-reading and read-alongs; events like Wyrd and Wonder, Spooktastic Reads and SciFi Month, which scratch my planning itch without being too full on; book tags (I see that eye roll you just made); making up my own bizarre reading projects (like the one I’m going to be sharing with you soon); and reading old and new, borrowed and bought, as my foraging nature dictates, (I have a kind of horror of posting about the same book as someone else I follow and that’s another reason why ARCs make me a smidge uncomfortable, I think).

 

So, I’m going back to reading as I please. Having quickly run out of pre-prepared posts earlier in the year, it may take me a while to get back up to speed (my speed being one post a week, which I’m sure many of you will be horrified to hear I’ve been struggling with when you post three times as much without difficulty, but different folks different strokes, as they say), and in the meantime you can expect tags aplenty.

 

Happy weekend everyone.

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