We are back for day three and today’s topic is Expanding Blogging Horizons and Novellas/Short Stories. So, let’s kick off with Expanding Blogging Horizons. This is a topic I think a lot about; what will I be doing in the future? I would like to think that my blog will still be going but I’m always looking for ways to evolve and improve. I want to be seen as a book critic and to do that, I need to work towards improving myself; see my book blogging manifesto for information about how I plan to do this.
I also need to think about how blogging is changing and what I can do to continue to make my own blog interesting and exciting. I’m not sure if I’m ever going to be involved in a podcast, but I love the idea. I think a good podcast needs two or more people that interact well (I’m too introverted) and has differing opinions (I have that). There is also vlogging or the terrible name ‘book tube’, I’m not bubbly or interesting enough to ever consider that option, but I hope to see more vloggers out there that do something other than YA.
I’m not sure what the future holds, but I like to think there will always be a place for book bloggers; I would love to see more male book bloggers and some diversity. I tend to worry when everyone is reading the same books, almost makes me not want to read that book. I understand new books are always appealing and we all get excited when we receive a book in the mail that looks great. I guess I worry about all the books that get missed. Life is short and we all have too many books to read, better get back to it.
As for novellas and short stories, I’m trying to make an effort to read more short story collections but I’m often not too sure how to review them. If all the stories are a little different then writing a very general view can be difficult. Novellas are easier and I love novellas, there are so many great ones out there that come to mind.
Great novella examples
- Animal Farm
- The Third Man
- Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
- A Clockwork Orange
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s
- Ethan Frome
ArmchairBEA is a virtual convention for book blogger who can’t attend Book Expo America and the Book Blogger Convention. Button by Sarah of Puss Reboots
Hmm I wonder how many of us out there are introverted book bloggers! Quite a few and like you I don’t have the personality to vlog, but I guess it must be a lot of fun. I too hope there will always be a place for book bloggers.
I’m sure the majority of them are introverted but some of them feel very extroverted in their blogs.
I think most of us are introverts, which is why blogging appeals to us so much. It’s kind of covert. I’m out there for those who are looking for something like what I do, but I’m also kind of hidden. Not many people in my real life know that i book blog. It’s not something I talk about.
I feel like some bloggers feel very extroverted on the page, but that is not me. People know about my book blog because of social media.
I’d love to see more book bloggers commit to video and podcast. A book blogger myself, I am intrigued by the idea of using channels other than the textual. But being an introvert really makes it almost impossible. In particular, I wish there were more podcasts in other languages (especially in German, which is my native tongue).
You might have to start your own German book podcast 🙂 My German is very basic so I don’t think I can support it but good luck 😛
he 😉 I’m not the one to do it, as I’m not very sociable. I would make a bad podcaster, that’s why I stick with writing.
A podcast full of introverts and the socially awkward would be funny for a little while but all that silence wouldn’t really work 😛
I don’t think I’ll do podcasting or vlogging, but I do love to do features. I agree with you – when a new book gets so much attention, I worry too about the old books. I love reading from the backlist, because there’s usually so much surprise in there as opposed to a new book, where everything is out in the open.
The backlist is great, I’m annoyed when I see blogs stay away it.
Yay! I like your short story picks. I forgot about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! I love that story!
—Brenda @DailyMayo
How can you forget Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde!
I agree, I think you need at least 2 people doing a podcast. I know if I was doing it I’d feel silly like I was just talking to myself!
As long as their opinions are slightly different. Nothing worse than a podcast where they just agree on everything. I listened to one recently where they sounded similar too so eventually it sounded like one person.
I tend to worry when everyone is reading the same books, almost makes me not want to read that book.
I know the feeling all too well, there are a number of popular books circulating amongst many bloggers that I actually haven’t read partly because I tend to stay away from novels that are v popular/getting a lot of buzz at the moment. But there are pros and cons to that, of course. But yeah, that’s why I’ve tried to keep my reading pretty eclectic; there’s a lot of classic novels out there for instance that I still have to get to 🙂
It’s interesting to see how bloggers are branching out to other media like vlogs and podcasts. I don’t think I’ll ever get around to either; I prefer writing out my thoughts to my blog is the perfect venue for that. It’d be great to see more male book bloggers too though! 🙂
I keep on forgetting that the titles you listed are considered novellas, lol.
My Day 3
I’m interested to see what the future will be like for book bloggers, incorporating other media forms is great, need more literary vloggers too.
I agree with you that sometimes when a book has received so much attention that it makes me not want to read it as much. And even though I love looking at fancy new books, I find myself reading mostly backlist books. I don’t want to miss any of the wonderful older books that I haven’t read yet, just because there’s so many new books coming out! Plus, I missed so much while I was studying in college and I feel like I need to catch up!
I love the backlist, I’m only a new reader and I need to somehow catch up (I doubt that will happen).
There are so few male book bloggers, although we are seeing a few more in middle grade (my area), which is really helpful when it comes to finding books that boys like to read. I’ll have to check out your YA postings and see if there is anything I’ve missed. Enjoy Armchair BEA!
I’m not very good when it comes to YA and MG books, I need to be better in that area.
This is what I hope for over the next year too:
“…evolve and improve.”
Included in that is booktubing/vlogging middle grade.
p.s. hope you are enjoying The Secret Garden….classic!
I really enjoyed The Secret Garden; which will be reviewed tomorrow
I have the same problem with short story collections. They’re difficult to analyze. Do you review each story, the collection as a while, or pick out a few examples?
I also have a hard time reading them, actually. I get a few stories in and then start craving a full-length book. I think the next one I tackle, I’ll read a few in between novels and just spread it over a long period.
I struggle reading short stories, I have to read one story put it down and move to a different book. I can’t read it like I would a novel.