There's a lot of talking going on about plagiarism, what the difference is between shaming and accountability, pressure and responsibility. If you have missed some of these conversations do some searching on twitter with the hashtags #truthtrain and #bloghonest.
I'm new to the book blogging world (1 year in October) and one of the best things about book blogging is the other book bloggers. In my experience, the book bloggers I've come into contact with are funny, smart, honest, kind, good souls. Even people that I disagree with on things like religion, politics, and other hot button issues have blogs and personalities that I enjoy. I am so fortunate that these are the people I experience in the book blogging world.
Thank you to the people who put in the effort. People who take their limited free time to read and review books that are clogging my "to be read" pile. People who think of creative posts that inspire me to do more than "just" review books. People who offer encouragement and sympathy on social media when you're in a slump or when life is not going your way.
Not all people are like this. People steal. People are petty and crappy.People have egos the size of Montana. It saddens me to see the toxicity of these kind of people spread into the lives of the kinds of bloggers I know.
If you're a blogger and you're feeling like you can't keep up with the schedule that you have set for yourself this is what you do: you post something that says "Guys, I need a break, I just can't do this right now." No one will be angry, everyone will understand. When you are done from your break, people will be happy to see that you have returned. The answer to your burnout is never, ever, ever, taking someone elses work and passing it off as your own.
I wish I could be more eloquent like others who have written on this topic. But what it boils down to is:
- Taking personal responsibility and not just apologizing, but doing whatever it takes to make things right is not just good, it's what has to be done.
-Protecting yourself and your work is not "bitchy" or "mean". It's protecting something that you have created and it's always okay.
-Treat each other with kindness. There's enough terrible things on the internet and the world that if we can make book blogging a refuge of support and love why wouldn't we do that? (But negative reviews are still okay :) because those have their place too)
To close, here's a picture of a corgi pretending he's a turtle because when I feel sad corgis make me feel better.
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| Buzzfeed is a wealth of corgi pictures. Among other less useful things. |
I'm so glad I'm in a community of awesome book bloggers too! I don't think I'd keep blogging if there was just a bunch of hatin. Like you said, people truly are petty. Boo on them.
ReplyDeleteSidenote: Loving the LOST series! It's fun to get a look at the books the show people read, even if every time I think about the show I get angry.
P.S. That corgi picture is so much awesome!
Nothing inspires the almost simultaneous feelings of Yay! and Grrrrr! like LOST does. And it's literally everyone who's watched it. Cracks me up!
DeleteI love that the other dogs are just like not concerned that one of their own went belly up!
This just all around gets it. It's been frustrating having something like this take up so much of my time, but this post made me feel so much better...so thanks.
ReplyDeleteHappy to offer any kind of help or assurance.
DeleteJust remember what incomparable Margaret Atwood would say: “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”
I LOVE THIS POST. You have written quite eloquently on it, don't doubt yourself!
ReplyDeleteWell we don't all have mad rhyming abilities so I do my best :)
DeleteTotally agree with you! Resorting to plagiarism to keep up with the workload that you've decided to take on is NEVER the answer. It just astounds me that some people have said "don't judge, she had so much on her plate, etc, etc". Lying, cheating, and stealing is something I think most people would never resort to and it shouldn't be taken lightly.
ReplyDeleteExactly! I mean, in kindergarten I think we learned "Don't lie, don't take things that aren't yours" not "Don't lie, don't take things that aren't yours, unless you have a good reason. Then it's fine".
DeleteThis post is the best thing I've read during all of this mess. So well put. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I guess the silver lining in the mess is that it's making for a lot of good discussion.
DeleteLove this post and the fact that you mention finding the silver lining, so speaks to me!! What I love most about book blogging is finding your own path, deciding what works for you, and not getting consumed by unrealistic expectations placed by others or yourself. Glad to have stopped by and for Traveling with T to have linked your blog to her post! Congrats on your year of blogging! Look forward to more posts!
ReplyDeleteI have a tendency to be a bit of a Negative Nancy so I'm trying to retrain myself to look for the silver linings :) That's what I love about book blogging too, everyone figures out what works for them and then runs with it. I love not having a formula to subscribe too!
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