The first of two topics at Armchair BEA today is "Keeping it Real, Fresh, and Fun." I myself prefer to be real, fresh, and fun (vs false, stale, and boring), but how does one do this?
"Real" is perhaps the hardest part. I dunno what "real" is, and I wonder about my authenticity on a daily basis, as I move from role to role (mother, wife, worker, reader, person hiding in a quiet corner). And when you project your "self" into the void of the internet, it all gets fuzzy around the edges.
I do try to be real, though (I think). I'm not shy about using personal pronouns. I try to avoid meaningless adjectives. I allow myself to write what I feel about particular books, as well as what I think (critically, on a good day, which of course isn't the same as negatively). I express political opinions from time to time, but I try to do so matter of factly, not stridently. I do not deliberately deceive.
Though I might question my own reality, I can't think of any blogger I read who I don't think of as "real." And I don't think it's because all the bloggers I read are spinning veils of illusion.
Short answer to self: just write what you want to write, how you want to write it, and don't get your knickers in a twist about reality.
"Fresh" and "Fun" are easy. Fresh and fun are all about not falling into a rut. I kind of know when I'm not Tremendously Excited about reviewing a book when I default to my standard of summary followed by commentary. For instance, I had a great time reviewing River of Time recently, and did so in a "fresh" and "fun" way. It was fresh and fun to me, that is. There are lots of blogs I love that I don't think of as "fun," but which are worthwhile...I think "fun" is more important to the blog writer, than the blog reader.
Short answer: only read books that you are really excited about writing about. Only blog when your mind is fully of zesty words that will spill playfully onto the page.
Problem: yeah, right.
(here's my Armchair BEA giveaway post; ends next Wednesday night)
See, I always have troble with fun. My idea of fun is most people's idea of work! I think it's fun to be able to describe thousands of middle grade books to my students, so when I go blog trolling, I'm not looking for a fun description; I just. want an idea of whether or not I'm going to pick it up. Your reviews arejust right for ME, at least!
ReplyDeleteWell, yes, I do have a reading rut of my own and I don't actually like it when people have rainbow unicorns or whatever playfully leaping out of their reviews. And also there is no reason why the dependable crisp presentation of books can't be fun to write. I am not sure I agree any longer with what I said about ruts above....
DeleteYep, agree with that. I go looking for book reviews and descriptions that hook my interest. Length doesn't matter - I'm a speed-reading skimmer. Blogs with too much "fun" videos, contests, or whatever they're calling fun, get culled. Ditto for "real" and why I don't read a lot of mommy blogs, since they tend to be on the "my toddler loved this" side of reviewing with no actual content. Srsly people, toddlers will love ANYTHING if you wave it in their faces long enough. My habit of scheduling posts up to six months in advance probably eliminates me from the "real" criteria, but I do give an authentic picture of life in the library. Like last week, when we had police, ducklings, a visit from the School for the Deaf (preschools are adorable when they make the sign for pecking beaks) and a near tornado.
ReplyDeleteI think the "you" who wrote the post is still a real you...I have never suspected otherwise!
DeleteI do drag my kids into my posts, perhaps too often...but a critical ten-year old avid fantasy reader is maybe a more useful point of reference than a toddler?
Oh yes, definitely. Older kids are a more reliable audience - especially in a long-running blog like yours, where their tastes are part of the equation.
Delete"as I move from role to role (mother, wife, worker, reader, person hiding in a quiet corner). And when you project your "self" into the void of the internet, it all gets fuzzy around the edges."
ReplyDeleteYes. This.
I also agree about only writing about the books that excite you. I have been giving myself much more freedom to skip reviewing ones I'm not excited about.
but what if you feel obligated, because maybe you agreed to a direct request from the author?
DeleteI get annoyed when I feel as though I have to keep up a certain volume of posts, and sit down to write something even though I'm not thrilled with any of the books I've read recently, and don't actually much care about the book I'm writing about one way or the other.
Yes, the direct request from authors do make things tricky, but I make no promises of reviewing.
DeleteI sometimes have this problem too.
I don't promise a review either, and if the book isn't good it's easy not to say anything, but still--if the book isn't bad, and it would be a somewhat positive review, it's hard for me to just not review it. That's why I have five unreviewed books siting next to the computer right now...I would give up and just do a blanket post getting them out of the way, except that some start with interesting letters of the alphabet, and someday I do want a middle grade sff roundup with every letter...........(which is a silly reason to keep books around, but there it is.)
DeleteNice post. I think I'm real but fun, no idea. I review kid's books so it is easy to be enthusiastic . . . most of the time. I hate writing a review for a book that I didn't like. I try t remember there is always at least one good thing about a bad book (it ends? :-) )
ReplyDeleteIf I only reviewed ahen in a zesty mood I'd only get a few out each week. I find, once I am in the writing and thinking about the book, zesty usually returns.
Sue @ Kid Lit Reviews http://kid-lit-reviews.com
(I am not at the Google link anymore.)
That is a good point--even if I'm not desperatly excited to begin with, often the act of writing finds me become more engaged than I thought I would be!
DeleteI try to be real, but I'm a very private person. I feel like sometimes I keep too much of my personality hidden on my blog, but . . . it's just not me to be "on" when I'm writing something to an audience that can be composed of anybody.
ReplyDeleteI kind of feel that a lot of personality comes through in your blog, so even though it might not be truly you, there's still a storng sense of person-ness to it.
DeleteI think it woudl be so much easier to write as myself if there was a sarcasm/irony font!
You seem to have the fun thing down packed! You give good advice, knickers in a twist are uncomfortable and causes chafing!
ReplyDeleteBe yourself and enjoy the blog ride.... :)