As part of Terri Giuliano Long’s ‘Celebrating Bloggers’ event, I talked about book blogging and bloggers from an authors’ perspective on Monday – or rather my trusty friend the Writing Pilgrim did. Today, I’m talking about it from other side of the fence!
Celebrating Bloggers
I’ve always loved books. In my early teens I began with just horror novels but over the years have broadened my scope to take in many genres. Books were one of the catalysts for my becoming a writer so I suppose it was inevitable that I would want to blog about them as well. Books, films and games are some of my main forms of entertainment and I began reviewing games for a website my wife previously ran.
When I started my own blog I extended my game reviews to take in both films and books. Blogging in general became a saviour of sorts for me. Sometimes when I’m writing novels or short stories I often find it hard to get into a decent rhythm but with blogging I never seem to have that problem. With reviews I have no difficulty conveying my experience of a book, film or game, but even with other blogs whether it’s a cat anecdote or a guest post, I tend to find the words so easily.
Since I published my first novel, I have always recommended that authors start up a blog. You can write about anything at all, there are no rules, and each one of us has an interest or two, something we’re passionate about that we could share through a blog. I don’t profess to do anything groundbreaking when it comes to blogging. I simply write about things that interest me. It’s strange these days watching a film, reading a book or playing through a game and wondering what I’m going to say about it in a review but I like to share my thoughts.
In many ways blogs are archives for the mind. I’ve reviewed so many films, games or books that over time I may come to forget many things about them. If I read through an old review though it would take me back to that moment, to that feeling I had and the experience I went through – sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes very bad but always worth it.
Blogging for myself or reading through the blogs of others is never an experience I tire of. Whether you choose to review, to have guest posts and interviews, or write about that squirrel you saw at the local park, blogging is a rich and versatile world I am delighted to be immersed in.
Visit The Art and Craft of Writing Creatively to find out more about Celebrating Bloggers and find posts from other authors and bloggers.
About the Author:
I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school. In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I'm a lover of films, games, books and blogging. I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats - Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.
David M. Brown – who has written 676 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.
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Sep 13, 2012 @ 14:07:00
I enjoyed that post. I also find it easier to blog sometimes (quite often) than writing what I set out to! Just stopping by from the Blog Hop. :3
The Capillary recently posted..Celebrating Bloggers
Sep 14, 2012 @ 02:51:05
Thank you for commenting and stopping by.
I'm so glad to have blogging to fall back on when novels are proving difficult. Thank you for taking part in the Celebrating Bloggers event :)
Sep 14, 2012 @ 01:34:43
You are right that authors should have a blog for what I think of as free form writing as opposed to the structure of a novel. I like to review the books I've read to solidify my thoughts about the story and to share that non-professional thinking with others.
BTW, the reason I don't write about squirrels is because there are no squirrels in Hawaii … actually, I did write a short story titled just that … No Squirrels in Hawaii. We do have mongoose (singular of mongeese, I'm told).
Gail Baugniet recently posted..‘Celebrating Bloggers’ Blog Hop Sept 10-13, 2012
Sep 14, 2012 @ 02:53:33
Thanks for commenting Gail.
I like to blog about different things to my novels, so just general reviews of films, books and games, anything to keep my writing fresh.
No squirrels in Hawaii, eh? I'm sorry to hear that :(
We used to have a lot of red squirrels in the UK but the grey ones moved in and have near eradicated them all save for the conservationists that managed to spare some. It's such a shame.
Sep 14, 2012 @ 11:35:25
Hi David,
I like your post. My daughter is 11 and when she was in first grade, she had trouble reading so they had someone come into the classroom and help her. I am so grateful for that because now she is SUCH a bookworm! If she gets a little money, she is out buying books and she reads constantly. She is also a tech junkie so I should see if she wants to start a blog about books she reads? She might balk, thinking that it is like book reports (funny how school can sometimes drum the life out of real learning) or she might just love the idea. We shall see!
Amy Putkonen recently posted..The Ease of Contentment
Sep 15, 2012 @ 12:15:39
Thanks for commenting Amy.
I'm glad your daughter was able to find a love for books. As you say, a blog at this stage may seem like extra school work but when she's older it may well become a passion of hers :)