Friday, December 31, 2010

Busting the Newbie Blues

Busting The Newbie Blues Questionnaire 


This event, Busting The Newbie Blues, is to help bring together new bloggers and make them known.  This is hosted by Small Reviews, a wonderful blog that is great for any book-review blogger to check out!  If you would like more information on how to participate in this event, go to Small Reviews to learn more.  This is a questionnaire that will give you a little more insight on why I started my blog.


1) When did you start your blog?

I started my blog, From The Bookshelf of T.B., on August 1, 2010.

2) Why did you start your blog?

I actually started my blog all because of my grandpa. I had been out with him, and we had been talking about how I wanted to get serious about writing, as I would like to become an author of young adult books someday. As we were talking he suggested, why don’t you try blogging?  When I got home, I told my parents about the new idea of blogging, assuming they would shoot it down. Instead, to my surprise, they said yes! My parents were all for it and helped me from Day 1. They helped me find Blogger to use, and were there for me to call on if I ever had any questions. And now, blogging is something that I love. I am so thankful that I joined the blogging world, all thanks to my grandpa.

3) What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?

Posting up reviews. That I would have to say is my absolute BIGGEST challenge. Time and time again, I have held off posting reviews because it is hard to find the time, as I have school and extracurricular activities as well. When I used to read blogs, I didn’t understand how the authors could leave weeks and months in-between posts. However, now that I am a blogger myself, I realize that it is tough to always stay on top of my blog, while balancing the other aspects of my life.

4) What do you find most discouraging about being a new blogger?

How hard it is for me to seem to gain followers and repeat readers. For some, this comes easily to them, but I’ve had trouble getting my blog out there and marketing it well. That is one reason I am “Busting The Newbie Blues” with this questionnaire, to try and gain more publicity, find other great blogs, and get more in touch with the blogging community.

5) What do you find most encouraging?

My heart swells when I get a new comment or a response from an author. I love hearing my readers’ and authors’ feedback. If you haven’t gotten a personal response from an author, I have to tell you, it’s really cool!

6) What do you like best about the blogs you read? Have you tried to replicate this in your blog?

One of the first book blogs I saw did interviews with authors, and I thought that this was a novel concept and one that I would love to add to my blog. Thus, the “Interview with Authors” feature was born on From The Bookshelf of T.B.

I also like it when blogs provide ways for other blogs to connect, such as Giveaway Hops, Reading Challenges, and also things like this for newbies to join in on the fun.

7) What do you dislike about blogs you’ve read? Do you try to avoid this?

I dislike when book review blogs turn into more of giveaway sites rather than review blogs. To me, it seems that they aren’t actually reviewing books anymore, but just trying to gain more followers by giving away new books constantly. I appreciate that they are still letting readers know about upcoming releases, but they lose the review side to their blog at times. Yes, I do try to avoid this as I don’t want to gain followers just because they wanted to enter my contest, rather than actually enjoying my blog.

8) Any advice for other new bloggers?

At times it may seem like you want to give up and just stop your blog, especially after the initial excitement of starting one. Don’t give up! I still deal with this at times, but always remind myself how much fun I have watching my blog grow, and the great community of bloggers that are out there. Just don’t give up and always think of new, innovative ways for your blog to soar!

9) Anything else you’d like to share about your experience?

Blogging has taught me many things, but most of all it has opened a doorway to a whole new world! New things that I find for my blog, and in the blogging community, constantly delight me. I congratulate bloggers, as you really know how to make the new ones feel welcome. Thanks!

10) Is there anything you’d like to tell us about your blog?

I mostly review books for teens and pre-teens, and I’m keen on discovering rising authors and new and unique series. I started this blog because I love to read and write, so I thought that this would be a great combination of the two! I read books about fantasy, all the way to novels that take place in the future. Through this blog, I hope to share new, and old, books with you!

If anyone ever has any comments, questions, suggestions, or even books that’d they’d like to suggest for me to read, please let me know! I always love hearing from my readers! You can contact me at ftbotbblog@gmail.com, or post a comment on my blog. I’m always looking for ways to improve, so feel free to let me know your thoughts!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...
Until Next Time, Keep Reading!

18 comments:

  1. Thanks for participating!

    Wow, your family sounds really great and supportive. I don't think my grandparents would know what blogging is!

    The biggest things I've found that helped me with getting my name out there have been commenting on other people's blogs and participating in a few memes (In My Mailbox, Waiting on Wednesday, etc).

    You have a bunch of books here that I've been looking forward to. I'm off to check out your reviews!

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  2. Thank you so much for personally checking out my newbie questionnaire! That means a lot to me!

    I also want to thank you for what you do, as you really make bloggers like me feel special. You personally care about each person who participates in events like Busting the Newbie Blues.

    So, thank you and keep it up!

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  3. Aw, you're so sweet! You're very welcome, and thank you! All of you bloggers are what make blogging so much fun.

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  4. Hiya! I was just browsing through all the blogs that participated in this event and found yours. Glad to have found you! Your family sounds so nice and supportive. I accidentally let slip to my mum that I started a blog awhile ago and ever since then she has been bugging me to find out what the url is. I would never tell her though! She'd probably post all sorts of embarrassing comments on it!

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  5. Thanks for following and commenting!

    I checked out your blog too and I just love the whole theme for it, as you are a recovering potter addict! I loved the Harry Potter series too, and can't wait for the second part of the last movie to come out!

    Haha that's funny how you wouldn't tell your mom about your blog, but I think that would be really awesome if you did! Or maybe you could just tell her, no posting any comments! :p

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  6. The support of your family is so lovely. I completely agree with everything you said. Getting a response from an author feels amazing. I squealed for ages :) Great answers!

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  7. Your Grandpa is great :) Welcome to the world of Blogging! I loved reading your answers. Very honest and you have very similar thoughts to me. Time is a big problem isn't it. I am a single mum to a 4 year old, I work and still have to find time to do the housework, play with my son, read and blog. It's hard sometimes. I have found that scheduling my posts helps as when I do have time to blog I can write two post, or sometimes three and schedule them to publish a few days apart.

    Not everyone can write book reviews as I found out recently when my sons Daddy tried after reading one of my books. He sat at the computer for two hours and wrote 3 sentences then gave up saying he just didn't know what to write LOL. It is an art I think, and you're doing brilliantly!

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  8. Thanks for dropping by my blog! I know what you mean about blogs turning into giveaway sites instead - giveaways from time to time can be fun, but to hold my interest the blog must have other significant content (reviews, interviews, etc.) as well.

    And I always love getting comments, especially if they're from authors!

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  9. I love getting comments from authors too! Have you checked out my review on Worldshaker by Richard Harland? He actually left a comment and I got to interview him!

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  10. Thank you for dropping by my blog! You're doing pretty good yourself, and to interview n author? Wow, that's just awesome. I want to interview authors too but I'm looking for the perfect timing... But today, I just received my first author's comment and I'm really thrilled! It's as you said, it totally rocks! I might ask for an interview :D

    Anyway, thanks again for dropping by, and I'll be coming back for more of your posts :D New follower here!

    Brush Up On Your Reading

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  11. Tessa - you have a lovely name.

    And you also have a very cool grandpa - my parents barely know how to turn on a compy.

    I was just like you when I started, it took me forever to start gaining followers and sometimes I couldn't understand how others did it.

    I love hops and challenges too (I entered 7 this year :P), maybe I'll see you in some of those :D

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  12. I agree with you 100% this has opened a whole new world for me too. One which I love to pieces now, but I'm not sure my wallet does. :) Thanks for stopping by my blog. I think it's awesome how you have supportive family that got you to do this. Now to go looking around. :)

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  13. Hey, thanks for stopping by mine! I am so glad to have found another newbie. I really agree with what you said about not giving up! My goal is simple: At least 2 times a week. I can do it! I wanted to be mainly book reviews, but I can't help but talk about my own life. I think my blog, and yours, needs to be allowed to grow organically and naturally. Plus I have way more fun and less pressure over all. Glad to have joined you =)

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  14. Nina B.-That's so cool that you got your first author comment! You should definitely ask for an interview, but if the author says no don't give up! I have asked for interviews from many authors, but have only got one who actually said yes so far. It's a work in progress. :)

    AnimeGirl-Haha, thanks for the compliment on my name! I like yours too! And woah, 7 challenges! I haven't entered any yet, because I'm mulling over which ones I should. Know any good ones?

    AngelicNytmare-I agree, I seem to be spending a LOT more money on books, now that I have my blog as an excuse. :) I've been trying to go to the library more, but they don't always have all of the new releases right away.

    BookGeek-That has been my goal too! At least two posts a week. As you can tell from my archives, I don't blog 20-30 times a month. Maybe I'll get there with time, but that just seems like a lot of posts to me. I agree that our blogs should grow on their own, and we'll see where they go from there.

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  15. I get annoyed sometimes with constant giveaways. They have so much more meaning when they are spaced out or become big events. And time management sure can be tough, especially at the beginning. I feel like I'm constantly wanting to update my pages and layouts and fix little things. School starts up for me again this week so I'm feeling the stress! :)

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  16. Thanks for stopping by. It's awesome that your grandpa suggested blogging and that your parents are supportive of it. I know mine wouldn't be which is why my blog is a secret from them.

    I find it hard to post reviews constantly too so my goal is one review a week while attempting to read two books a week because I want to keep reading a fun hobby.

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  17. Logan E. Turner- I agree, I mean it's fun to have giveaways, but when they are all the time they lose their meaning. Exactly as you said it.

    A Canadian Girl- Posting up reviews does seem to be my biggest problem, as I don't always have the time. Also, I tend to read the books, and then hold off on the reviews. I like your goals though, and how you still want to keep reading a fun hobby!

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  18. Awwwh! You have a really cool grandpa. :D Welcome to the blogging world! I'll be following.

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Hi, and welcome to From The Bookshelf of T.B.!

I can't wait to hear what you have to say! I do my best to try and respond to your comments, so check back often. Comment away!