6/30/12

Is my blog useful?

I am constantly wondering if my blog is useful. I am constantly wondering about other things--are the children are eating properly, if the universe is constantly expanding, what is it expanding into, etc. but, inspired by the recent conversation about ARCs and bloggers and librarians, I am taking advantage of the fact that the power is out over much the country and it is a Saturday in June (so no blog readers around) to be Sincere (to the best of my ability), or perhaps, more acurately, Self Indulgent, to think about usefulness out here in public.

Now I certainly don't want to be part of an Island of Sodor bloggisphere, where every blog is "a really useful engine." There are many blogs I love whose authors seem motivated primarily by the joy of sharing whatever thoughts they feel like sharing, with out anxiously wondering if they are a "resource." But I am an INFP, and in as much as INFPs are "driven to help people and make the world a better place" (which, being an INFP, I believe, cause that's what we do), I can't help but wonder, in my own Special Snowflake way, is my own blog useful? And more specifically, do authors see that I have their books on my review pile, and weep or gnash their teeth (depending on temperment?), or might they be, dare I hope, pleased?

The problem with this line of thought is that the word "useful" makes one ask--to whom? I know I am useful to the readers (and there are at least five of them) who like the same sorts of books that I do. I love being useful to these readers! They are useful right back at me! I know that my blog has features that are useful to people who are looking for certain kinds of books. People who google "time travel books for kids" find them here, by golly. I know that some librarians (at least two) read my blog, and may use it in their purchasing decisions. And I know that I have given some small measure of publicity to books that weren't being blogged about much, because I don't see other reviews of them.

But I have no clue if anything I have written has actually caused anyone to go buy a book (as opposed to getting it from the library), which is presumably how useful is construed by publishers and authors....That being said, it's a fact that reviews have a cumulative effect, so I'm quite happy to believe that I've contributed to book buying decisions. There is, of course, absoulutely no way to measure this. I want my blog to send people out into the world to read in a general kind of way, but also it makes me happy to think of people buying books because of something I said. If no-one bought books, there wouldn't be publishers and the wonderful books they publish. There would be no money for authors, and so fewer books would be written. This would be sad.

I'm not, at this point in my life, a librarian, or an author, or a publisher. The only place I have at the public table of books is the place I am making for myself with my blog, and when I get review copies in the mail, it becomes a more happy place. Review copies make me feel that I am a useful contributor, a person who has something to share that's of value.

But then I wonder if I truly Deserve them. I feel that I should desperately be making an effort to increase my readership, to justify the review copies I get. I know I'm not obligated to do anything, but I can't help but wonder if I could do more. I tell myself that the YA book bloggers will always have more comments and followers and excitement than I, with my middle grade focus, can hope to have. But still...

How do you feel about being useful (and am I alone in worrying about this)?

postscript regarding stats: It seems to me that stats are not a useful way in which to measure a blog's impact (except perhaps for the blogs at the very high and rather low end of the scale). In June and July, when my stats plummet (from a high of 8,000 plus unique visitors in November to a low of barely 5,000 per month in July), it's hard to feel that the particular reviews I post are "useful." There are, of course, lots of other people (dunno how many) who follow me in various ways.

But what constitutes a lot of readers, keeping in mind that this would differ depending on the types of books you review?

* I went back and looked at the pile of books I brought home from BEA from the point of view of the authors...and I'd just like to say that I do plan on reviewing Gold Medal Summer even though it's not mg or YA sci fi/fantasy...I like books about gymnastics and ballet and music too!

54 comments:

  1. I haven't bought anything due to your reviews yet, but I just started following your blog. I think blogs do influence the books I'm interested in. But your blog seems useful to me because I think you like similar books.

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    1. I think my favorite blog readers are the ones that come here because they like the same sort of books! I'm glad you found me.

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  2. I have re-visited Malorie Blackman's non- Noughts and Crosses books due to your review of THIEF, and have certainly noted down several of your recommendations in the hope that they become available in the UK! I'm a regular reader and always find your reviews thoughtful and interesting.

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    1. Thanks Ali! I need to read Noughts and Crosses myself; I actually bought a copy for my public library (with booksale money) several years ago, and to my shame have never read it....

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  3. I definitely think your blog is useful. I enjoy finding out about books in the fantasy genre, which is my favorite, from you. And even though YA bloggers and YA books get more buzz, it's important to help create buzz for middle grade books, which you do. Aspiring and already published middle grade authors are frustrated that there isn't as much buzz about their books on the Internet. You're helping to create that buzz. And I'm always amazed seeing your list of reviews how many other bloggers are spotlighting MG books.

    I wonder the same thing about my blog at times. I've focused on debut MG and YA authors and MG authors in general in hopes of creating more buzz for them and to support their books. I hope I'm doing some good.

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    1. I think your blog is definitly filling a pretty empty niche, and from the number of comments, it looks like people are appreciative!

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  4. Ah, the deep, dark midnight of the soul! I feel your pain, especially since I just dropped one follower. What did I DO? I really rely on your Sunday round up, think your back list books are interesting even if I don't buy them (I do read them often), and your new book reviews do guide my fantasy buying for school, since it's not my thing. Most of all, I think that you are invaluable to the Cybils MG Sci Fi/Fantasy, and you need to blog to be on that, right? Summer is particularly bad for feeling like no one is reading my blog; chalk it up to that, keep going, and hope for fall!

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    1. I lost a follower recently too, and I was all, like, "what did I say?" Which I know is silly :)

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  5. I think you are useful because you are a good combination of considerate and smart. And the world is always better off, when people like you join or create the conversation.

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  6. Your blog is very useful! It's one of the ones I check every day, because you review so many books that I don't hear about anywhere else. (And because I'm a sucker for time travel.) And I definitely buy books that I hear about here -- just recently I bought Ordinary Magic, Cat Girl's Day Off and Kepler's Dream after reading your reviews. And as an author, your blog was on the list I sent my publisher when they asked where I wanted review copies sent. So yes, definitely useful!

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    1. I hope you enjoyed them! Thanks for letting me know.

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  7. Thanks all of you for the reassurence! I do appreciate it.

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  8. Charlotte, I love your blog, and find it both useful and inspiring. But I have to take issue with part of your definition of success. You're buying into the publishers' misconception that libraries cause them to lose sales. Research shows that people who are heavy library users are also the ones who buy the most books. Sometimes I might read a book at the library, and if I like it, I might then buy my own copy, buy one for someone else, or buy the author's next book. In fact, libraries play a big role in keeping books in readers' minds once they are no longer brand new and thus not being marketed aggressively any more by publishers... and *that* keeps readers from forgetting about the author in between books. Librarians would define success as anything that increases their circulation--and we do want libraries to remain a part of our reading landscape, and not go the way of bookstores, don't we?

    On a different note, I have to say that if my MG fantasy that's currently on sub gets picked up by a publisher, and if you choose to review it, I will be over the moon!

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    1. Good point viz libraries--I was just making an off the top of my head assumption about what publishers might think! Which is probably not some monolithic stereotype anyway....

      And good luck with your book! I hope I'll get to read it some day!

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  9. Oh, and also, I sometimes suggest that the library purchase a book based on a review I read here, and they do so. Does that count?

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  10. I have been thinking about this lately too as a blogger. I don't have near the traffic that you do and i was worrying about that but in the end I reminded myself that I began mine as simply a record for myself of what I was reading. I would still like to increase my traffic but I don't want to change my blog so that I enjoy it any less. You asked about how authors feel about blogs: I know one of my giddiest moments was when Robin McKinley retweeted my blog with a quote. Another giddy moment was the first time you linked to me. Occasionally I get traffic from authors retweeting, sometimes people google and end up on my blog, most of my traffic is from friends and honestly those bring me joy because sometimes it starts a conversation or they tell me they added it to their list of books to read. I have an MLIS but I am not a librarian. I don't get review copies except the ones from ALA last year that I am behind on. I just want you to know though that I greatly enjoy your blog and you are not alone in your concerns of useful.

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    1. Well, I've been doing this for five and a half years--the first three of which my stats were much, much lower! So the traffic does increase...the only way I truly embrace of increasing stats is to just keep trying to offer good content--the other ways, like demanding people follow for giveaways, just seem superficial.

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  11. You are VERY useful. I am going through your backposts right now as a matter of face, picking out some additional middle grade titles for my fall order lists! I also recommend you to other librarians looking for middle grade collection development resources. Personally, I love your recommendations and I blame a large portion of my out of control reading list on you!
    As for anything else...depends why you're doing a blog I guess. I have pretty small stats, but while I enjoy comments and like it when people read my blog, I'm really writing it for two purposes - to keep notes and ruminate on what I'm doing at the library (hopefully with an eye to improvement) and to drain off my excess of booktalking. You'd think I'd get enough of it working at a library, but my urge to talk about books outweighs the number of people willing to listen to me!

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    1. Cool!

      And I think the reasons you blog are tremendously valid, especially when writing about younger books like you do...

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  12. I can't tell you how many books I've added to my TBR pile after reading one of your reviews. I also love your round-ups. As a librarian this is a great resource for me to find books my students will enjoy. You are one of my favorite bloggers to read, so if nothing else, know that you are making a difference.

    As a blogger, I've also thought about the 'usefulness' idea. I know that some of my local colleagues use my blog as well as a few others. I've concluded though that the number of followers is not indicative of usefulness, as fun as it can be seeing the numbers go up. I find it most satisfying when someone tells me or leaves a comment indicating I've done something they liked or enjoyed. To me this is the most satisfying part of blogging.

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    1. Thanks!

      And yeah, the Usefulness factor seem much more particular than can be measured by stats or followers--I'm concuding that it is better to have a smaller number of people activly appreciting one's blog than it is to have a swarm of superficial visitors. Which isn't to say that there aren't blogs with huge numbers of meanigful followers!

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  13. Oh yes! I love your blog - it's my absolute favorite for reviews of mg/ya science fiction/fantasy. I've got a link up on my blog to yours, and have mentioned it in past posts.

    As for purchases, yes, just a couple of weeks ago I bought a book due to a review on your blog.

    Elisabeth

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    1. thanks! I hope you enjoy the book you bought!

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  14. As almost always, I am late to the ball, but I still thought I would give my 2¢ worth. I know one child you are very useful to since your favorite genres are his favorites, too. So he is one 12 year old who always reads your blog. I have also used it to find good book gifts ideas for my multitudinous nieces and nephews. And I have also read it for my own pleasure - as I told you at BEA, I read more than kids war stories. And I always look forward to your round-ups on Sunday to see what other bloggers are writing about and even visit several each week.

    Useful? Yeah, I would say so. But I understand the questioning and the self-doubt. I think everyone goes through it from time to time, I know I do. I think it is just human nature, especially for introverts. My "sage" advice is keep doing what you are doing cause you do it so well.

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  15. YES, your blog is incredibly useful!!! And I have bought books you've recommended. (The Coming of the Dragon for one-thanks again for that.)

    I sometimes wonder about the usefulness of doing this too. But since I'm an INTJ I'm less worried about whether or not I'm helping people and more concerned about whether or not it is an effective use of my time and resources. I sometimes need to be reminded other people exist.:) It's worth it to me to have a place I can send people when they ask me for recs for their kids. And to have a place I can send my students' parents for summer reading suggestions or book report selections. I'm glad I don't worry about my stats or I would feel greatly inferior when comparing them to yours. :)

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    1. I of course immediatly went to read up on INFJs...you all are apparently very nice people!

      viz stats--I think that, being as deeply competetive and never satisfied as I am, I will always want higher stat numbers. I realize this is sad, and that stats, like money, don't buy happiness, and that if I really did have thousands of visitors a day, I would a. panic b. have to worry a heck of a lot more about proof-reading. But I can't help but wish for just a few thousands more, maybe, here and there.

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  16. I'm neither a librarian nor a blogger, but I am a book buyer with a taste for good MG and YA fantasy. Thanks entirely to your reviews, I've bought several books for my personal reading pleasure - Plain Kate, The Floating Islands, and Icefall among them - and I remain grateful to you for steering me their way. Plus your "Waiting on Wednesday" feature has me anticipating several titles to come. I suppose that makes me one of those five readers you refer to above. :)

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    1. Thanks for letting me know! I shall up the number of like-minded readers to six. Those are nice ones that you bought--Icefall in particular would be a lovely one to re-read today...

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  17. Oh, yes. Granted, technically blogs NOT about middle grade SFF would be MORE useful to me, because middle grade SFF is already my Favorite and I should broaden my horizons a bit for professional reasons....

    But I'M not useful at ALL in comparison. And I admit, even being both a "blogger" (technically, of a completely Un-Useful blog) and a librarian, I have no use for ARCs. I read reviews, I order accordingly and sparingly with my small budget-- a preview ARC is going to do nothing for me. I only blog about books when I have something particular to say about them or I want to share something I really love. Reading an unfinished something ahead of time would be next to pointless for me. So it doesn't matter much anyway. I would love to go to a conference or other such event sometime just to meet like-minded people and listen to interesting talks about a subject I love....

    Anyway, I wouldn't feel guilty, because I at least consider you a genuine resource.

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    1. Thanks. The ARC thing is a little strange--I could perfecly easily have more than enough books to review without them, and though it's lovely to get to read books early, I can't help but think that, given that ARCs cost more than the finished book, publishers should send bloggers more of those...

      You should definitely try to come to Kidlitcon in New York this September! It is awfully cozy, and full of like minded peeps!

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  18. Your blog is very useful to me! Historical fantasy and time slip stuff is what I love, adult or middle grade or whatnot. I have bought at least 2 books off of your recommendation, let me know if you ever hook up with Amazon Japan and I will buy from your link!

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  19. Thanks Perogyo! I wish I could have Amazon links that made a commission, but I live in a black listed state...

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  20. I go back and forth on this issue a lot, specifically with stats. I don't know if I'll ever be where I want to on stats, and just have to stop stression about them.

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    1. stats...can't live with them, can't live without them...

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  21. I have bought books based on your reviews! I get the best MG ideas from your blog, so I think it's useful to me. ;) I don't bother with stats much because I really blog for myself. I like to keep a book journal for myself and that's how I run my blog. I think as long as you're having fun, who cares if it's useful or not, really?

    (Also, I adore your MG round-up links! I haven't had time to go through them all in ages, but when I do, I enjoy it immensely!)

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  22. You're the only person I know who has compiled a list of time travel books by time period, which is an invaluable resource to me in choosing books to review on my time travel blog. Not only do I value the original content generated by your blog, but I also appreciate the style in which it's done--you write really well. Finally, I would kill for those "low" stats!

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    1. well, it's all relative, viz stats. My first three years were so so so low...but the more posts one has, the more there is for google to find!

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  23. I find your blog very useful, Charlotte! I may not comment as often as I'd like because I don't get to read middle grade books as much as YA but I do love your reviews. :) And yep, I've bought books based on your recommendations (the one that comes to mind right now is Northlander and its sequel but that's a joint rec from you and Angie). If I read a book based on your review then that means I purchased it because we don't have public libraries over here.

    I think we've pretty much established that we enjoy reading the same kind of books and I appreciate that. Like Brandy said, if there's someone looking for MG recs, I can just point them to your blog (and Brandy's blog too).

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    1. Well, Angie read Northlander cause I recommended it fiercely to her...so I'll take all the credit!

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  24. Your blog is useful to me. :) I try to note on my To-Be-Read list which blog I saw a book recommended on, and after a quick scroll-through...yes, lots of "Charlotte's Library" notes!

    And today it was very useful that you mentioned traffic drops off in the summer. I've noticed that on my own blog too; I was figuring it was normal, but good to hear it happens elsewhere too!

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  25. July 4 is almost worse than Christmas, viz stats...

    That is cunning of you to keep track like that--I wish I had the organizational ability to do so, but using two computers for blog reading, I'm not quite sure if I'd be able to handle keeping a single list...

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  26. I'm late to the party (wasn't online while on vacation), but I want to mention something really, really, really important about your bog, which is that you not only review a lot of fantasy and sci-fi with POC protagonists, but you always comment on the portrayal of diverse places, people, and cultures.

    This is so often overlooked in reviews, and it's information I need! As a children's librarian in a diverse, urban elementary school library, I am very concerned about building a collection that reflects the community I work in. You are doing me a huge service, and you definitely influence which books I buy.

    Plus you're contributing to the larger conversation about diversity in children's literature, and I expect that influences other readers and reviewers. In fact, I just used your blog as a resource in a list I created!

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    1. Thanks for this--I do think that's one of my most useful things, and I'm always glad to hear that is being helpful!

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  27. I'm getting to this post late, too, as I recover from the holiday week, and I'm heartened to see so many comments here. Charlotte, I think we all wonder this sort of thing sometime. We all feel like we're sending our words out into the void. But for me, every time that I hear from even one person that they've found books because of my reviews, I feel like what I'm doing is worthwhile.

    I would be very sad if your blog wasn't here. I know that I can come here to learn about new books, and old books, and books that other people have reviewed, mostly all focused in the same area. And that's a valuable thing. Plus, you know, there's the whole D.E. Stevenson kindred spirit thing ;-)

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    1. Hi Jen!

      Whorthwile-ness has so many meanings...but agree, connecting readers and books is one of the most satisfying kinds!

      (and I was re-reading Miss Buncle in my head this morning, as I weeded...so soothing--both the book and the weeding!)

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  28. Useful, useful! Please don't leave us! I write for a very successful museum blog, and our readership plummets during summer, Christmas, and spring break. Don't despair!

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  29. Useful, useful! Please don't leave us! I write for a very successful museum blog, and our readership plummets during summer, Christmas, and spring break. Don't despair!

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  30. I bookmarked this to return to after a busy week, and I'm very happy to see others have already posted saying what I was going to say. Which is that I really appreciate your blog. I've winnowed my blog reading quite a bit over the years and yours is one I always keep (I just checked. I have six book blogs in my reader, including yours!). Partly that's because your taste seems similar to my own, and partly it's that I can trust your reviews to be thoughtful and balanced.

    That said, if you ever found that blogging wasn't fun or that you were burning out, I would understand if you needed a break! I just hope you'd stay around somewhere on the internet!

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  31. I've been crazy busy with weeding (um, library weeding... my garden wishes I were weeding there) and summer reading at the library and am just catching up reading backwards to here... but I do find your posts very useful! We like the same kinds of books, of course... I've sometimes felt that my own blog has become half books that I heard about from you first. I'm not sure how many books I've bought myself, but I've gotten my library to purchase books and recommended books to other people based on your reviews. (and I don't even know that my reading counts for your stats most of the time, since I only clicker through from Reader to comment.)

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  32. You've certainly been very useful to me!! Mainly it's your Timeslip Tuesday posts, but other posts have been good, too....

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