Armchair BEA - Blogging Relationships

ARMCHAIR BEA

BLOGGING RELATIONSHIPS

New friends!  This is by far what I like best about blogging.  Sure, I like knowing about all the latest books, sharing my reviews online, and getting review books in the mail.  But the very best thing about blogging is the new friends I have made.

Those of you who are on the older side have only had online friendships for a fraction of your life.  For kids my age, being social online has been a part of our lives from very early on.  Social media is just a normal part of growing up for us.  It is our reality.

Still, I never would have imagined how many amazing people I would “meet” through Reading Vacation.  Authors, bloggers, teachers, publishers, aspiring authors, librarians, students – every sort of book lover you can imagine.  Making all of these new friends who share a love of reading is easily the best thing about blogging.

Now, I will share my blogging relationship advice with you.  This is what works for me. 

Be yourself.  You are special, and you should be proud of that. 

Be kind and truthful with others.  This seems obvious, but you’d be surprised.

Avoid drama.  No one likes someone who is always trying to stir up trouble.

Make it happen!  Keep your blog active, comment on other blogs, get busy on twitter, join blog tours or memes that catch your eye, try a reading challenge or a read-a-thon, or enter some giveaways.  You have control of your destiny, so get busy.

Don’t be shy.  This is hugely important.  Even if you are shy in person, take a deep breath and make the first move.  Send that email to the blogger you adore or the author you admire.  The worst that can happen is that they don’t answer.  It’s happened to me and I just moved on.  But usually, I hear back from them and a new friendship is made. 

And y’all know that new friends are my favorite!