I like to take personality tests, which shaped my reaction to Renay's thought-provoking post on communities and fans and industry and authors in the world of speculative fiction blogging at Strange Horizons, in which she draws a distinction between "fannish track blogs" and "industry track blogs," with checklists of characteristics for each. I was eager to see which my blog would be.....and found her model didn't apply all that well. My blog is written for my own enjoyment, and for people (kids to grown-ups) who like the same books I do (fannish), but it's also written with an eye to people buying books for kids (industry-ish).
I was also struck, in reading Renay's post, by her thoughts on the relationships between industry (the authors and publishers) and blogger/fan/readers, and the problems that can arise when the lines between the two break down. This isn't something that has been an issue for me.
And so I started thinking about the ways the points Renay made do and do not apply to blogs like mine that focus on middle grade (MG) books (written for kids 9-12). I write predominantly about science fiction and fantasy books, which skews my perceptions. If your experience as a MG blogger is different, please feel free to disagree with me! (As an INFP in my favorite personality test, I almost never have Final Logical Conclusions on topics that are this fuzzy, so I won't mind).
Thought 1: Many (though not all) MG bloggers are gatekeepers--helping other grown-ups find good books for kids--and so have a critical distance with the books they review that keeps them from being purely and simply "fans."
The majority of bloggers who review primarily MG books aren't the target audience for those books (though there are some young readers who have great blogs). Likewise, the regular readers of their reviews aren't generally the target audience either. Many MG bloggers are motivated by an interest in helping kids find good books, as opposed to finding good books for themselves. Many do this as part of their jobs. This sort of blogger, when thinking about a book, will have two trains of thought going--"what will kids think of this book" alongside "what do I think of this book" (sometimes the trains collide). Likewise, the blog readers won't necessarily be thinking "do I want to read this book?", but whether the kids they know might like it. Which isn't to say that a middle grade book can't be a great read for a grown-up.
But in any event, the gatekeeping effect seems to result in some measure of insulation between the blog reviewer and the author. When I receive books from the publishers that don't appeal, I may well make the effort to read and review them not because I want to strengthen my connection with the industry, but because there may be young readers who will love them. I want my blog to be useful to people that don't share my taste, and so I don't always say what I really think. I may write "kids who find bathroom humor amusing may well enjoy this book" as opposed to "This book is horrible because all the snot made me feel sick." The impersonal is a lot less likely to elicit an emotional response.
Following from that, there may be more emotional remove between MG Blogger and author than there is in the world of YA and Adult books. Though I don't think any of us who read and review books for kids would do it if we didn't enjoy them lots, and love some passionately, I don't think deeply personal, intense fan feelings are all that common (with the obvious exception of one's feelings toward beloved childhood authors!). I admire, and like, and have huge respect for many of the authors whose middle grade books I review, and I will make a point of reviewing their new books, and possibly bounce a bit when I get them in the mail, but I won't drive to Boston to meet them as authors unless they are Megan Whalen Turner (I did drive to New Hampshire once, which is further than Boston, but that was six authors in one go, and no city traffic). That being said, there are several people who happen to be authors who I would love to meet in real life and hang out with just because it would be fun.
The result of this, in terms of blogging, is that even when you write a not entirely positive review of a middle grade book, you (probably) won't be challenged by rabid fans or by the author. (After over 1,500 reviews, I have been only been attacked by a rabid fan once, and only challenged by an annoyed author in the post comments once, as far as I can remember. Which makes me think maybe I am being too impersonal...).
The result of this, in terms of blogging, is that even when you write a not entirely positive review of a middle grade book, you (probably) won't be challenged by rabid fans or by the author. (After over 1,500 reviews, I have been only been attacked by a rabid fan once, and only challenged by an annoyed author in the post comments once, as far as I can remember. Which makes me think maybe I am being too impersonal...).
Thought 2: MG Authors and MG Bloggers and Publishers may be friends because of sharing an overlapping agenda, and because lots of them are cool people, and the line between fan and industry isn't hard and fast.
Many of us blog about MG books because we have some interest in promoting reading and literacy. In my mind, authors and publishers are allies in the shared goal of getting books into the hands of readers who will love them, and, as a personal bonus, many of them are nice enough to write and publish books that I enjoy reading.
Authors of MG sci fi and fantasy tend to be readers of MG sci fi and fantasy, which fosters friendly feelings on both sides, as other grown-ups with whom you can talk about these books are thin on the ground in real life. Authors might well be fans of blogs that talk about books they enjoy. Basically a lot of the MG authors and bloggers are great people with lots in common and the lines get blurry and there it is.
Do I want authors coming to my blog space to tell me I was wrong about their book? No, of course not. Do I want authors saying on my blog that my interpretation is one that hadn't occurred to them (as opposed to being Wrong)--uh...maybe, if it was an author with whom I'd had pleasant interactions with before, and they couched their words in a non-attacking way. Do I want authors visiting my blog and leaving comments on books that aren't theirs and being colleagues and friends? Yes.
Do I want authors coming to my blog space to tell me I was wrong about their book? No, of course not. Do I want authors saying on my blog that my interpretation is one that hadn't occurred to them (as opposed to being Wrong)--uh...maybe, if it was an author with whom I'd had pleasant interactions with before, and they couched their words in a non-attacking way. Do I want authors visiting my blog and leaving comments on books that aren't theirs and being colleagues and friends? Yes.
With regard to publishing-- I am happy to be useful to the Industry, because the Industry is useful to me as a (personal) reader and a (public) gatekeeper. I might help a book get more attention, and find it new readers (good for the Industry). In turn, receiving review copies from publishers helps me be useful, interesting, and relevant (and quite often makes me personally happy, which encourages me to keep blogging), which in turn (ideally) attracts more readers, making a nice little feedback loop. However, to be "useful" is good, but to be "used" is a heck of a lot less good, and it's a fuzzy boundary on both sides. I think that when mutual respect and professionalism are there, the balance stays tipped to the former, and everyone is happier (I realize this is not a Deep Thought).
This is long enough for one post, so please visit Part 2 for:
This is long enough for one post, so please visit Part 2 for:
Thought 3: MG blogging feels safe and friendly to me. A large part of this might be because the participants share common interests and concerns. An even bigger reason (for me, probably for others) might be that it is primarily a female space. This isn't something to celebrate, but something to question. A look at some data shows a huge and troubling gender imbalance in the world of MG science fiction/fantasy blogging.
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.
ReplyDeletePersonally, 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).
It's a complicated and thorny issue all around, but I really appreciated your perspective.
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.
DeleteI 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to tomorrow's post!
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!
DeleteAnd 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!
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 . . .
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
DeleteYes. 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.
ReplyDeleteYeah, sometimes you have to trust your own gut feeling. My blog would be much more interesting if I reviewed everything I read....
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI am also looking forward to reading part II.
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!
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteYou raise a good point, Brenda, that parents can also be gatekeepers...and that would play out outside of relationships with "industry."
DeleteAnd 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteRambling now...but this was a fascinating post, Charlotte, and though I blog mostly about YA I completely relate to the points you've made.
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.
ReplyDelete