Books Magazine

To Blog Or Not To Blog (Why You're Making Me a Sad Panda)

By Mswicegood @MeganSwicegood
Look up the word "fickle" in the dictionary and you'll find my name.
I keep going back and forth on keeping Read It, See It going.
I have a lot going on in my life right now and I'm not 100% sure that book blogging is something worth my time. I'm not really enjoying it anymore. In light of the recent negativity (it seems non-stop lately), I'm also not sure it's worth the risk.
I'm currently reading a review book that I'd like to give up on. It's not horrible - I will DNF a review book if it's just plain bad - this one is "meh" and I'm not at all digging it, but the "reviewer" in me feels obligated to finish it, especially given all the back-and-forth recently about blogger responsibility and behavior. This obligation leaves me feeling a little pissed off. Yes, I did agree to review this book so I do have an obligation to live up to that promise, but, honestly, it's a bit draining. One skipped review because I wasn't wild about a book shouldn't put me into a guilt spiral, but right now, it does.
I've also been struggling with what I review. I'm starting to move away from reading a lot of YA and have started reading a lot more genre adult books - something that isn't necessarily what my readers expect or want me to review here.
All of this is making reading un-fun. Which makes me a sad panda.
I'm also not thrilled about being associated in any way with all the negativity that's been going on in the book-blogging world. I'm not actually worried that my personal information will be posted anywhere or that my name will be specifically dragged into it - I don't attend conferences, I don't request review books (except occasionally on NetGalley), I don't post negative reviews and I rarely comment on anything controversial - anyone with half-a-brain can tell I'm not involved with any of this, BUT as a professional writer and wife of an author, I do have to worry about protecting my reputation.
I love books. I love reading and talking about books. I love authors. I love meeting authors and supporting them. I love my fellow bloggers and am so grateful for everything that blogging has given me, but honestly, I feel like it's time to hang up my hat. I'm not sure yet. I haven't fully decided, but right now that's the direction I'm leaning in.
I'm trying to figure out a way to stay involved in the community without being a fully active member. I'm trying to decide what that looks like. My original thought involved just posting reviews on Goodreads and/or Amazon but I'm actually thinking about ditching Goodreads in light of the recent insanity.
Maybe I'll just offer up my services as a semi-regular guest reviewer on other blogs? I'm not sure yet, but I know all of this negativity (yes, even though I'm not directly involved with this, it has affected me) has made book-blogging un-fun.

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