For What It's Worth


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Apologies...

You guys must be getting soooo sick of me changing my blog all the time! lol

I'm having the hardest time blogging lately. Some of it is a leftover reading/blogging slump from last year but most of is from the recent dramas involving authors reactions to negative reviews - in one case leading to an actual stalking of a reviewer and the positive reaction said author received has really got me down.

(If you were lucky enough to escape all this drama but want to know what I'm talking about you can check out Dear Author's post here).

I've always been able to look at the positive side and realize that not ALL authors and not ALL bloggers behave badly. I have had nothing but wonderful experiences with both bloggers and authors during the 5 years I've been blogging.

But for the past few years I've had to hear how greedy we are, how we're bragging, how we're sucking up to authors (for MORE freebies of course) and that's mostly from other bloggers! All I can say is this greedy blogger has never spent more money on books in my life than I have since blogging.

The reaction to a blogger being stalked for a negative review was greeted with more than a few cheers from fellow authors and publishers and it hit me more than anything that's happened so far. It just makes me sad.

I can definitely understand hurt feelings to a negative review and this is not a new argument but it's the first time that I felt the disconnect between bloggers and authors might be too much to overcome. Like it might actually be too dangerous to blog.

I have to keep in mind that the OVERWHELMING majority of authors respect and understand what we're doing and how much time and expense it takes to blog.

I could say a lot more about the topic but why bother? It just spins me up again and what I'm really trying to do is find a way back to blogging with joy.

Hence, the frequent blog design changes. Until this blogger can get her groove back I've been enjoying playing around with the blog (instead of writing the reviews that I NEED to do). I hope you don't find it too annoying and understand while I go through my phase.

I feel like this is a make or break kind of thing for me. I can either find my happy place where I don't think the sky is going to fall every time I post an honest opinion or I'll have to give up the whole shebang.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

32 comments:

  1. I really like the current design! The greens feel very warm! <3

    Amber Elise @ Du Livre

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    1. Thanks Amber!

      I wanted bright for so long and then when I did it my eyes hurt. lol

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    2. LoL we need something bright in these times.

      I just try to ignore the drama and gossip and focus on the positives of book blogging. LIKE ALL OF THE BOOKS. :))

      Amber Elise @ Du Livre

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  2. Take your time babe AND you can always blog about other stuff like this.

    As for the rest, people are whacked, cant escape them no matter what.

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    1. I don't think we can anymore thanks to the internet lol

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  3. Nothing wrong with playing around until you're feeling in the mood again :) On the author/blogger front I'm still of the opinion that was entirely for publicity. People are definitely crazy but I wasn't really buying that one. I'm going with the ignore all the crazies at this point. lol

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    1. It's the first time that I felt like even if you ignore all that (which I do) it could find you anyway. Everyone sifting through tweets for clues and to fight etc…it's crazy how things spin out of control. The stalking part is disturbing but not the thing that got me down. She's one person. It was the response. I felt like it revealed a bigger issue.

      But yeah - just ignore and find the happy place! lol

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    2. I get ya :) There is a lot of grrrr in our community but thankfully it's by a small fraction I think. A LOUD fraction but definitely not the majority. With each of the outbreaks of bad behavior (on either side) I'm finding myself "liking" fewer and fewer on FB and other social media and that's helped a lot with not letting it get to me as much. Those on either side really aren't the ones I want to spend my time socializing with so sticking to those that are on the up and up and taking a deep breath and moving on when these things do pop in is the way for me. I'd not seen that about bloggers calling others greedy. smh Some people are just out to cause a stir.

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    3. And on a you front I think your blog looks great right now :) It's very pretty and stands out in the crowd. And so shouldn't apologize for playing around. That's what a blog is for...expressing yourself and having fun. *nods* If playing around with design gets you in a happier spot I say go for it all the way :)

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    4. A lot of the blogger on blogger drama happens after BEA - which I go to. I mostly just shrug that all off. I know why I blog and all that. I don't have to answer to anyone.

      And oh man have I been giving that unfollow/mute button a workout! lol

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  4. You need a pupper or kitty pic... ;) I do like the blog change.

    I know what you mean. I don't get the whole drama thing but at least you are hanging in and continuing to blog. Don't leave me! :)

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  5. But please do not leave! Everyone leaves :/ Keep playing around with the blog and come back one day
    I also totally get you. I am so sick of all the drama

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  6. I love the new design and have fun playing around with it. Also I don't like the author drama period and I know it's bad after ala or Bea

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  7. Girl I feel ya and I see keep playing. Take your time.

    I'm in a bit of a slump myself. Life's just been suppper chill ya know?

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  8. For what it's worth - I love the design :-) And am a little burned out on all the drama - so reading good books it is!

    Tanya Patrice
    Girlxoxo.com

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    1. Thank you :-)

      Yeah - I am having fun reading but I just want to stay offline these days.

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  9. Oh, girl, you know I'm right there with you -- we've had this chat! :) And it's your blog so play away. Plus, I like the fall and funky vibe (though I do miss the puppy picture!). I've been in such a massive slump, too. But I went through all my reviews (which I haven't written yet) and, even if I don't read another review book, my calendar is full through the end of January. Three months. Then I'll do another self-check. Hang in there with me!! (If you can) And, God, yes! I've spent more on books since I started blogging than ever before! Being a blogger is hard on the wallet.

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    1. I blogged ahead for September and October & just ran out of posts lol

      I'll get to it when I get to it.

      It makes me so sad to see how many of my favorite bloggers have quit. It seems like our little bloggerverse is getting smaller and smaller.

      If you don't quit - I won't quit!

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  10. I like this new look. I've been changing my blog for the last couple of months also. I guess I have a blog fever, and I haven't found yet, the one that I like it best.
    About the author/blogger thing, I just ignore these people and keep doing what I like and saying what I really think. I feel sad that some people have the need of 100% acceptance, or they freak out. Crazy!

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    1. Thanks. I can't find what I like either. I hope it's not confusing for people to see so many drastic changes lol

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  11. Taking some time off or slowing down is all right. Only, scary as it may be sometimes (at least for those bloggers who can be physically approached by vengeful authors...I'm in Italy, so it's not likely that someone boards on a plane in order to pay me a visit), we shouldn't quit because of the drama. We can't let them win and take away what we care about.
    About the blog, it's fun not to know what we're going to find on here for a while! ;)

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    1. An indie author traveled from Scotland to London to smash a bottle over the head of a blogger in a grocery store that had given him a negative review. Luckily he was arrested but it's so crazy.

      I'm not really afraid of that though - I don't think many authors would take things that far but I don't like the hostility that I see where a negative review is considered bullying and reviewers targeted.

      Sometimes when I post something negative I Goodreads before I go to bed I wake up wondering what I'll find. I've been lucky so far and I guess I just have to focus on that.

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  12. Quote:
    "An indie author traveled from Scotland to London to smash a bottle over the head of a blogger in a grocery store that had given him a negative review. Luckily he was arrested but it's so crazy."
    O_O And I thought I was safe. Well, I mostly blog about American books, and the U.S.A. are so far away, but still.
    Anyway, I suppose it's easier for those who, like me, don't have a Facebook or Twitter account. The only drama could ensue on Goodreads. On the other hand, I hear what you say - it's not about being afraid, it's about feeling uneasy. I swear, some people need to have the word "bullying" explained to them in detail. *rolls eyes*

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    1. Apparently it gets pretty ugly on Goodreads but no one has ever harassed me on one of my reviews and I just go not here to catalog what I've read so I miss a lot. twitter can be an ugly place though. I have started unfollowing or zipping all the negativity though and it's a happy place for me again.

      I really love discussing - and even disagreeing about books so it never bothered me but it seems to be all out war in some circles which depresses me. I don't understand why we can't agree to disagree or maybe open some minds.

      oh well - I just need to learn to avoid the people who wallow in that kind of negativity.

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  13. I like the design, but you go right ahead and do what makes you happy! I hope you don't quit blogging. I also agree that MOST authors and MOST bloggers are lovely people and doing what they love while treating others with respect.
    :)

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  14. Well, you and I have discussed this at length in private...

    I am a firm believer in unfollowing or muting or whatever I have to do to avoid crazy people on the internet. But I also have to keep reminding myself that the internet also brought me wonderful new friends -- like you. *big smooshy hugs*

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  15. Oh my God. Seriously, someone attacked someone else? Jeez. But yeah, the Internet can bring friends and the occasional guy-you-have-to-block-before-they-creep-you-out-in-a-van, the same way real life does. Hopefully, the former just outnumber the latter. :) xoxo

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  16. Love your new design, Karen! This is my favorite so far :) And yes, I heard about the Scottish blogger and about the article in The Guardian, but frankly, you just have to do what makes you happy, and not let actions of few obnoxious individuals get you down. Blog on, sister! :) Hope you get your groove back soon! hugs

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  17. {{hugs}} Find your happy place!

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  18. Loving your new look. Very retro border and I like the clean look of the main.

    So sad to hear of things like this stalking. I myself have had a bit of a run-in with an author. Nothing on this scale but still not nice.

    Hoping you get your blog mojo back. In the meantime do what you have to do and be happy.

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  19. I can understand your feelings. Sometimes I think I'll give it up too. I hope you decide to do what is best for you.

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  20. I went through the same thing (constantly changing blog layouts). For some reason I can't find what I "really" want, probably because I never know what that is. Good luck! I hope you get back into the swing of things soon!

    Lisa
    www.turningpage94.blogspot.com

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