tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post9016599548305049941..comments2024-03-25T13:09:43.054-05:00Comments on Charlotte's Library: Middle Grade Bloggers as Fans, Gatekeepers, Partners of the Industry, & Members of a Gender-Imbalanced Community, Part 1Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-69288320803816393582013-09-25T22:25:12.551-05:002013-09-25T22:25:12.551-05:00Interesting. Though my blog is sort of a fledglin...Interesting. Though my blog is sort of a fledgling at the moment, it doesn't really fit the two types described either. In my case the choice was to move out of my comfort zone into a new medium (blogging). It's work for me in that I am doing this as an extension of my librarian work, albeit in a personal rather than employer-connected mode. It's a professional blog with a particular intent to share and raise the visibility of MG and younger science fiction and fantasy, both new and old, and helping bring in new fans, understanding by those who are not fans (and may never be), and connecting with long time fans. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-52628137693201084032013-09-23T15:51:57.376-05:002013-09-23T15:51:57.376-05:00I think some bloggers do deliberately write for a ...I think some bloggers do deliberately write for a young audience, but I think that must be hard, because it does mean that more conscious effort has to be applied, and you're even less likely to be able to say what you really think!Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-21920828055959319672013-09-23T15:49:59.653-05:002013-09-23T15:49:59.653-05:00I think there's something about that shared ag...I think there's something about that shared agenda and interest and LOVE for the books that is what makes it a friendlier space for both bloggers and authors. If you feel like you "know" the person or at least have the connection of shared interests, then those boundaries you talked about really do become fuzzy. And then--in my experience, anyway--when you go to review a book you tend to be a little more sensitive, perhaps, to what the author might think because perhaps they are a blog reader or acquaintance or friend. You end up with a different relationship to the book and the author than if you are judging purely on the basis of their work, independent of its having been created by an actual human, as is what seems to happen in the more industry-focused review blogs. I'm not saying that such reviews--the ones in which the work is divorced from the creator--don't have a place, just that it's a very different place than the blog-space we seem to be in. And yet, as you said, there is overlap and fuzzy boundaries nonetheless. And sometimes feelings do get hurt.<br /><br />Rambling now...but this was a fascinating post, Charlotte, and though I blog mostly about YA I completely relate to the points you've made.Sarah Stevensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16534942492714970282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-46737772797380096782013-09-23T15:49:20.034-05:002013-09-23T15:49:20.034-05:00You raise a good point, Brenda, that parents can a...You raise a good point, Brenda, that parents can also be gatekeepers...and that would play out outside of relationships with "industry." <br /><br />And I agree that a desire for community is a huge driving force behind a lot of the blogging that goes on, and we are lucky to have such a nice one in the Kidlitosphere, where both fans and professionals can find common ground.Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-34968636484769588762013-09-23T12:25:59.710-05:002013-09-23T12:25:59.710-05:00I guess I would fall into a gatekeeper for my chil...I guess I would fall into a gatekeeper for my child. I like to know what's being read and enjoy having discussions about the content of the books together. MG has always been the place that I've enjoyed reading. Yet, through the last year of blogging, I've expanded my horizons due to other blogger reviews. I also went into my blog with the intention of cataloging what I read but also hoping to spread the word about those books that I've really enjoyed. I view my blog as a way to connect with other bloggers and sharing my views about books. I've even been able to connect with some authors which has been a friendly experience for me. Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13260139292374478327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-84167778079006565392013-09-23T07:49:11.055-05:002013-09-23T07:49:11.055-05:00I also consider myself to be somewhat of a gatekee...I also consider myself to be somewhat of a gatekeeper and somewhat of an educator since one of my blogs focused on a specific historical period. I like to include a little pop culture from the time and try to go for things that would appeal to kids. But, the fact is that I also get kids looking for book reports and I get a lot of kids in other countries who are learning English.<br /><br />I am also looking forward to reading part II.<br />Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15988251415347075888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-75663859119520485452013-09-23T06:17:40.233-05:002013-09-23T06:17:40.233-05:00Yeah, sometimes you have to trust your own gut fee...Yeah, sometimes you have to trust your own gut feeling. My blog would be much more interesting if I reviewed everything I read....Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-82899968419611950842013-09-23T04:54:15.851-05:002013-09-23T04:54:15.851-05:00Yes. This can be so hard, especially when other bl...Yes. This can be so hard, especially when other bloggers I know and trust seem to like a book that I wanted to toss across the room. This leads to self-doubt and self-loathing! Still, if I really don't think my students will read a book, I won't buy it. Just might skip reviewing it.Ms. Yinglinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805324364289597178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-66258002811590165172013-09-22T18:22:10.433-05:002013-09-22T18:22:10.433-05:00The 10-12 year olds who do come to my blog mostly ...The 10-12 year olds who do come to my blog mostly seem to be looking for book reports...and sadly, they aren't lured in by the Fascinating Content and Great Books.<br /><br />Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-79745441175844618372013-09-22T18:20:51.459-05:002013-09-22T18:20:51.459-05:00I agree about it starting to feel like work at tim...I agree about it starting to feel like work at times...but it's still ultimately work for Me, I think, because of what gives me the satisfaction I need to keep on with it all! <br /><br />And I think that in thinking about why us in the kidlitosphere decide to keep going with our blogs, it's useful to remember that there isn't a single cookie cutter that sets parameters for us all...and we can leave our own cookie cutters behind whenever we feel like it! Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-16871505917606059912013-09-22T17:24:22.151-05:002013-09-22T17:24:22.151-05:00I also think there's the issue of the superfan...I also think there's the issue of the superfans not being likely to come to the space. I don't doubt 10-12 year olds are on the internet, but the majority of them aren't blogging or reading blogs. Teenagers, on the other hand . . . Livianiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10479932701589363306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-55077284698206655572013-09-22T15:49:22.870-05:002013-09-22T15:49:22.870-05:00Interesting stuff, Charlotte. I do consider myself...Interesting stuff, Charlotte. I do consider myself a gatekeeper, though I'm not always good about reading outside of my own comfort zone for the sake of my readers. I find that when I do that, blogging starts to feel like work. I mean, sure, I might not have read Iggy Loomis, Superkid in Training if I didn't have a blog, and was just an adult reading books to please myself. But I don't really review nonfiction, say, because that's not what tends to pique my interest. But I'm definitely here blogging out of a larger goal of increasing literacy, and I do agree that this gives me a common agenda with many of the authors and publishers that I encounter. <br /><br />Looking forward to tomorrow's post! Jen Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10343476550309656223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-68362937610639420932013-09-22T13:40:24.702-05:002013-09-22T13:40:24.702-05:00I'm glad you found it interesting--it's ha...I'm glad you found it interesting--it's hard to know, sometimes, if things are already obvious to everyone or not! Tomorrow's post is more interesting, I think, because of having Data. <br /><br />I just looked at your list of authors reviewed, and think it might be possible that you do only review people who are professional and genuinely nice. Or dead.Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-43028373448035737042013-09-22T12:45:13.787-05:002013-09-22T12:45:13.787-05:00I was fascinated by this post, Charlotte, and foun...I was fascinated by this post, Charlotte, and found a lot of what you were saying resonates with me even though I more often review YA/Adult. But I approach reviewing, especially these days, more as a gatekeeper--I didn't like this book, but someone else might and here are the reasons. <br /><br />Personally, I haven't had a single negative interaction with an author, whether on my blog or elsewhere (Twitter, eg). I've struggled in the midst of this long debate to pinpoint why that is. I only review people who are professional and genuinely nice? Doesn't seem very likely, and yet...But I would hate for the takeaway from all of this to be that no author must comment on any blog ever, which is basically what I've seen in some instances (though not specifically from Renay or the Book Smugglers).<br /><br />It's a complicated and thorny issue all around, but I really appreciated your perspective.Maureen Ehttp://bysinginglight.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com