tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post3585207671286841103..comments2024-03-29T02:40:16.271-05:00Comments on Charlotte's Library: Blog branding continued....plus Playful Doodles to show that I am not deadCharlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-17031277275468543512010-06-11T19:12:18.457-05:002010-06-11T19:12:18.457-05:00And now, of course, I am consumed by curiousity......And now, of course, I am consumed by curiousity....<br /><br />Of course (I'm pretty sure it's an of course) the point of authors being presurred to become brands, and blogs working on their own to acquire distincitive voices, are two very different things...one distrubing, the other understandable. I felt the need to revisit the topic, and to clarify my own thoughts for myself, because of having put up my "happy branding" post just a few days before this larger conversation got going. <br /><br />And since blogging is not life, nor is my blog me, it really is small stuff, as Melissa said. And the nice thing about reading is that if something has become too much a Brand, and too little a meaninful, organic thing, one doesn't have to read it!Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-1448207317716191342010-06-11T18:07:04.578-05:002010-06-11T18:07:04.578-05:00I'm trying to think of how to word the differe...I'm trying to think of how to word the difference between "brand" and "voice." <br /><br />I know what to expect from certain blogs because I know their voice. And that's different from when I know their "brand."<br /><br />Sadly, I can't explain the difference without getting into specifics that would require naming names and being just plain mean.Jenniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02024880986964198385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-91202987200025367582010-06-11T11:04:23.569-05:002010-06-11T11:04:23.569-05:00I'm not sure you've stuck yourself in a ti...I'm not sure you've stuck yourself in a tiny, airless box. I think there's a difference between branding and focusing your blog. You don't shout your message around, and yes, while I associate you with sci fi/fantasy, I also know you from the intelligent comments you make on my blog (as well as others). Don't sweat the small stuff. :-D<br /><br />And I love your doodles.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00217383813263874657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-25382927663383794362010-06-11T07:46:19.081-05:002010-06-11T07:46:19.081-05:00I don't think of your blog as having a brand. ...I don't think of your blog as having a brand. Your blog has a personality. Much better for a reader. And while I suppose I mostly visit for the reviews and other bookly goodness, I am not averse to a bit of chat while I am here. Maybe a nice cup of tea and so on.Penthehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11200896933898936176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-17291562814257576132010-06-11T07:35:47.419-05:002010-06-11T07:35:47.419-05:00I think, as Colleen says, Maureen is responding mo...I think, as Colleen says, Maureen is responding more to the pressure on writers these days to be a brand. Seriously, aspiring writers are deluged with this message, as if it's the ONLY WAY anyone will ever read your book. There's a certain amount of trying to define "brand" more widely, but the basic idea is that writers MUST MUST MUST become a brand. I find it all really disturbing, especially the terminology,and I was thrilled to find that Maureen finds it disturbing, too, and has expressed that in such a fun way.mbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-55060547353924822302010-06-10T19:55:47.664-05:002010-06-10T19:55:47.664-05:00I like knowing what a blog is about, especially a ...I like knowing what a blog is about, especially a book review blog. I tend to read ones consistently that focus on middle grade or YA fantasy, which is what I like to read and write about.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-24950249977082306572010-06-10T19:04:10.843-05:002010-06-10T19:04:10.843-05:00Cute doodles! Like you, I have a fuzzy definition ...Cute doodles! Like you, I have a fuzzy definition of branding. I've read Maureen Johnson's manifesto and while I agree with what she said, I also agree with your idea that branding is creating a distinct flavor for your blog (which makes me wonder what you "taste" when you see my blog). I'm a Reader of Blogs and I follow blogs that feature books that I love reading, which are fantasy or YA books. So you do have a point, it makes it easier for readers to know if they want to follow a blog if it's clear what the blog is all about.Chachichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10216391673830772231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-20452472981735336842010-06-10T18:50:17.600-05:002010-06-10T18:50:17.600-05:00not exactly meant to be a peacock....I just like d...not exactly meant to be a peacock....I just like drawing beaks.<br /><br />And I think I need more unicorns......Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-23110575211322202392010-06-10T18:12:43.784-05:002010-06-10T18:12:43.784-05:00::snickers::
I really like the last one.
(And now...::snickers::<br /><br />I really like the last one.<br />(And now, I will not ask you what that's supposed to be. That is very bad form. I know very well it is a peacock.) (Yes? Please tell me yes...)<br /><br />Seriously, I haven't had too much time to do more than skim this discussion, but I don't think I CAN be a brand, because I don't ever want to be pigeon-holed. Your blog provides reviews and cheers for a specific genre, but you promote varying books within that genre (fer instance: no zombies 24/7, nor are we overbalanced with unicorns), and also talk about what you don't like - definitely original content there.<br /><br />I think you provide a service a lot more than most blogs - and as long as you're having fun, you're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing. Never mind the dead-in-a-box thing.tanita✿davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-87817253598219881552010-06-10T17:46:23.702-05:002010-06-10T17:46:23.702-05:00Doodles are good! ha! Honestly I think the blog bi...Doodles are good! ha! Honestly I think the blog bit is far less significant than the author bit - and the notion (as I write in my post) that an author should be told go brand themselves like someone else. (Ironically in the case I site - like Maureen Johnson!) It just places another burden on a writer and I don't want to deal with it. We seem to have created a beast (so to speak) with the blogosphere that was initially whatever we wanted and now is becoming what others think it should be.<br /><br />So yes, doodles and cat pictures must abound, if only to return some sanity to this entire pursuit!Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18380722344521975869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-56650481610721002652010-06-10T17:42:48.731-05:002010-06-10T17:42:48.731-05:00awww, cute doodles. Personally, I don't pay mu...awww, cute doodles. Personally, I don't pay much attention to blog branding...I read all my blogs in a feeder, so I don't even know what a lot of them look like. I am currently working on editing and fiddling with my blog, but really only to make it easier to track my reviews, when I want to go back and see what I said about something...and because I'm doing a mega-clean/organization of our storyroom/storage room and it seemed like a good time to organize things...Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05096787155616041727noreply@blogger.com