Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature/meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Top Ten Blogging Confessions.
So these are the things I’ve been mostly keeping to myself…
- I love the people I’ve met and made friends with through blogging. Their enthusiasm and friendliness keep me going! Seriously, this is one of the two best things about book blogging. (The other is the books, of course!)
- I’m a recovering NetGalley addict. Seriously. Total addict. I was requesting far too many books for a while there. Recently, I resolved to cut waaaaay back on requests. I will keep it to books I really, really want to read – the ones I know I’ll be reading whether or not I get an ARC. So far, I’m holding to the resolution, but it’s only been a few weeks. Wish me luck!
- Too much pressure to read makes me not want to read. I love reading. I crave it. Heck, I’m addicted to it! But when I have piles and piles of books I have to read, I rebel. I just don’t wanna read them. Sometimes I say “the heck with it” and go read something I want to read, but other times, I find that a few days have gone by and I’ve barely picked up a book. Hence the resolution to cut back on NetGalley. If I can recover enough “free” reading time, hopefully it won’t feel like a chore anymore.
- I keep library books out for months. My library lets me renew books as long as they’re not on hold for someone else. I’ve had some of them in the house for months now without reading them. As with NetGalley, I’m too quick to check books out without thinking of whether I have time to read them or not.
- I’ve got a few unread ARCs stretching back over a year – not a lot, but enough to make me feel guilty. My hope is to polish some of those off this fall, after I read and review the summer books I’ve committed to.
- I’m a perfectionist. Which means I’m really slow at writing posts. I can’t stand to dash something off and post it, only to find I’ve made a glaring mistake. It’s got to be right. I’m trying to figure out how to speed things up. Any ideas?
- I’m almost always behind on writing reviews. Right now, I’ve got four I really need to write, and about 10 more books I’ve read this year but not reviewed. (See the previous entry for why I get so behind.)
- I try to be super-organized. I’ve got a color-coded spreadsheet for ARCs and other review books, so I can keep track of what to read next based on publication dates and tour dates. I’ve got folders for blog- and tour-related emails in Outlook. I use Goodreads to keep track of my current reading and TBR. Hey, I am on top of things… except when I’m not. Because I’m great at coming up with systems, but not always consistent with following them.
- Blogging is eating up way too much of my time, but I still love it. I do need to figure out how to do it in less time, though!
Okay, so that’s only nine, not ten. But you know what? In the spirit of letting go of perfectionism, I’m going to say it’s enough.
What are your blogging confessions?
Bea
I think we’re twins. LOL Except for the library thing and only cuz we can’t keep them that long. New books are for two weeks with one renewal if they aren’t on hold; older books are three weeks with one renewal if they aren’t on hold. I do sometimes return books unread and have to get them again later. Ya think maybe we’re book addicts? 😀
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
We do have a lot in common, Bea! Sorry that your library won’t let you take out books for longer, but even with my almost unlimited ability to renew, I’ve returned books unread. Sometimes I’m going out of town, sometimes I just realize I don’t want to read the book as much as I thought I did. I do try to read new releases right away, though.
Katherine P
Yes to basically all of these though my library only gives me 3 renewals unless they’re on hold which makes me sad! I’ve started setting a timer for blogging time because otherwise it could turn into an all day thing which it really can’t! Color coded spread sheets are what make life happy!
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
Sometimes it’s better if the library limits your time – more incentive to fit the book into your reading schedule! 😉 Timer is a great idea; I think I’ll try it.
Catherine @ Book Club Librarian
I really identify with your confessions. I have a very hard time turning down books and/or requesting them, then I feel bad when I fall behind in reading…it’s a vicious cycle 🙂
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
I’ve gotten better about turning down unsolicited requests, unless I want to read the book anyway. It’s just not possible for me to review everything – and some requests are for books that are just not a good fit for me or for the blog. But I always feel a little bad turning them down.
Glad you stopped by!
Jennifer
I’m a Netgalley addict as well. I’ve been trying to decrease my requests and have been fairly successful the past few months, but who knows how long it will really last. I am also behind on reviews. I have about ten in my queue, but I just keep puttering along and know I’ll catch up someday. Thanks for sharing!
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
I am SO glad I’m not the only one with NetGalley and review procrastination issues! I don’t know why, but it makes me feel a little better. 🙂 Here’s to both of us conquering our review piles – both read and unread!
kimbacaffeinate
Ha, I need an editor. No matter how many times I review a post I find errors, sometimes days later after publishing. I have learned to live with it. That library book thing freaks me out though. I never extended them.
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
I’ve found that proofreading my own stuff only goes so far. I’ve found mistakes in posts written months earlier. When you’ve just written it, your eye sees what you meant to put, instead of what you actually typed!
I’d like to get caught up on my library books, too. I swear, I’m like a kid in a candy shop with libraries and NetGalley… but I’m trying to learn self-discipline!
Stephanie Shepherd
I am totally with you on the pressure to read, makes reading impossible – I can see how the Net Galley addiction caused a problem there! Glad you’re in recovery:). I also wish that I was quicker with writing reviews and posts though my problem is more brain stumpage then perfectionism.
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
I get the brain stumpage thing, too. It’s easier to write a review for a fabulous book or for one with obvious flaws to discuss; not so easy when a book doesn’t stand out from the crowd, so to speak.
Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwings
I wouldn’t have even noticed that was only ten if you hadn’t said 😉 I decided that if I have a review book over a year old, I clearly don’t want to read it and just let myself give up on it. Such a relief!
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
Maybe I should do that, too!
samantha.1020
NetGalley anonymous anyone??? LOL! I am seriously trying to only request books that I feel like I MUST read as well. I would tell you that it is working but it isn’t going that hot. It is an addiction 🙂 I’m always behind on my reviews as well. I go through periods where I don’t want to write a single review and fall even further behind. Then I write a bunch….it kind of depends on my moods. And I always seem to slump when I am feeling pressured to read. I try to keep my reading as stress-free as possible because of this. Great post!
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
NetGalley Anonymous sounds like a great idea. And I think that only requesting books I know I’m going to read will help, but some weeks, there are a bunch of them. They seem to go in waves.
I know what you mean about not wanting to write reviews at times. I go through cycles when it’s hard to write reviews and hard to come up with anything original to say, and other times when the reviews just seem to flow. Like any creative activity, though, I’m beginning to think that consistent effort is part of the process — i.e., just sit down and do it even if I’m not in the mood.
Angela's Anxious Life
I have to agree about the people I’ve met blogging too. I mean.. I do think it’s a lot of fun to just chit chat with people about books and bookish things and even blogging. I kind of wish my library would just let me keep checking out the same book over and over if there are no holds. But they only let me renew 3 times 3 weeks each time. I suppose maybe that’s to make sure someone didn’t lose a book. Blogging does take a lot of time… but I find it great sometimes. Like tonight for example. I have nothing to do tonight but relax so I am catching up on my DVR and blogging. Great Saturday night!
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
I might finish more of my library books if I had to return them sooner, so while I appreciate the leeway, it may not be the best thing for me! Glad you had a good Sat. night – everyone needs a break now and then!