This is my first discussion post in, gosh, over a year. I went back 5 pages of posts (into 2019) and never came across one, so I gave up! Basically what I’m saying is, bear with me if this is a rambling mess and makes no sense – but I miss doing discussions, so I’m easing my way back into it 😆 What a perfect intro to a discussion that is essentially ragging on myself. Great start, Molly, sheesh.
I started writing this blog post as a sort of mini-diary entry to myself, but I thought “hey, I might not be the only one with these thoughts” so here I am, sharing some insecurities with you. Maybe you feel the same sometimes.
Coming back to the blogging world means I’m blog hopping again. There’s a possibility this observation of mine is not new (maybe it was already a thing and I just didn’t notice before because I was actually blogging) but it seems as if blogging has become more professional now. I mean that as a compliment – I’ve noticed a shift towards a more polished and sophisticated writing style.
And it makes me feel damn inadequate.
My writing on my blog is not, in the least bit, sophisticated. I write as if I’m talking to my friend, which is casual and full of fumbles. It’s unpolished. Then, I read a book review of a book I also reviewed and think “wow, they said it 1000x better than I did…what am I even doing?” I know they say to never compare yourself to others but y’all are making it hard with your beautiful writing.
Anyways, this whole observation got me thinking about blogging voice (which is basically your identity in the blogging world) and what mine is. I don’t feel my blogging voice really stands out in a crowd – I’m simply basic and that makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong.
I was faced with this question:
Do I shift my own voice to fit the trends or do I continue what I’m doing?
I was perusing the web for posts that discussed “finding your blogging voice” when I came across an older discussion from Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books in which she says this about comparing yourself to others:
“Book blogging is not fiction writing and you’re not putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. You’re in your own damn unique shoes and you should be proud of it.” (Marie)
Boy, did I need to read that!
I don’t really have a conclusion to this post other than to say:
It’s hard not to compare myself to other bloggers. It’s hard not to question my writing abilities. It’s hard not to think I’m doing something wrong. I will continue to struggle with this mini-battle. Heck, I’ve had my blog for 6 years (2015, baby!) and I still feel lost sometimes – but I shouldn’t shift my voice because of trends, my voice should only shift naturally as I shift as a person. So, if you’re okay with all my fumbling, thank you! I will continue to fumble while reading all of your eloquently written blog posts.
Do you struggle with your blogging voice? Do you feel you have mastered it? Do you compare yourself to others? Any other thoughts, please share!
28 Comments
I have noticed this a lot! Blogging has become too professional nowadays and I barely see people who just.. word vomit. It’s one of my goals to kind of bring it back with personal posts. I think telling myself that I’m going to be the change helps me haha. This insecurity is totally common, I still feel it often.
Yes! Let’s stand together in bringing back the word vomit! Because that’s me lol
Hey, and welcome back! Having just started coming back to blogging after a bit away, myself, I SO GET what you’re saying here! I guess I never really thought about it, but you’re right–there has been a “change” in the blogging voices since I took a break. I always, always, write my blogs with a ton of silly words and a LOT of sarcasm/humor, so I didn’t think about needing to change it–that’s just who I am, and who I am is who should be putting those blogs out there, you know?
I hope your transition back into blogging goes smoothly!
Hi! Thank you! and yes! That is so true! Our blogs are OURS and should reflect US. Sometimes just the intimidation of reading those polished blogs gets to me lol
YES, exactly! But I totally get that, as well! <3
I think everyone struggles a bit with this. I am always trying to improve the blog and the features I choose to do. It’s a process. I used to write much longer reviews but now I just cover my key points without spoilers. I don’t need to repeat the blurb info.
Ahhh yes I used to divide my reviews into categories like characters, setting, plot, etc. I realized I just didn’t have enough to say for each one so now most of them are short. Unless I need to rant or gush, then they can get long >.< Although long to me is more than like 3 short paragraphs hahah
This is an interesting discussion post! I don’t think my blog sounds “professional,” and that’s ok! You can definitely tell it’s a personal blog and my writing and blogging voice, while maybe not standing out, are still unique. Sometimes if it’s too polished, it starts to feel generic. I like bloggers that have personality in their writing, like yours!
Aw thank you! I’m glad there are people like enjoy my rambling style of writing. I enjoy more personal touch to blogs, too. They’re just easier for me to read lol I do this for fun so I’m not usually looking for a critical review or something like that >.<
I’m a big proponent in finding your own voice and doing it your way. There are so many different ways to blog and, I believe, an audience for every style. I agree that blogging has changed over the years but I’m not willing to change my style to fit the mold. Why would I? Who am I trying to impress or appease? LOL I plan on continuing to do my own thing. I’ll leave the “professional blogging” to the others. 🙂
I love this! Yes, I will also leave the “professional blogging” to the others. I would probably fail at writing more polished anyways because it’s just not me. I would stress too much hahaha
I struggle with that too. I’ve always done my reviews as if I’m talking to a friend. But it is hard not to feel a little inadequate when there are so many polished reviews out there! But I want to keep enjoying what I do, so I’ll keep doing it the way I enjoy instead of stressing, and it sounds like that is what you’ve decided as well. I haven’t really done a discussion post in a long time either. I need to do one some day soon!
Lisa Loves Literature
Exactly! This is supposed to be something fun for me. If I changed the way I wrote, it would feel more like a job 🙂
Hey, hi, hello friend. Um. Can you back up a sec and explain to me how the hell you’ve had this blog for 6 years already? SIX YEARS?! Has it seriously been that long since you’re book depository giveaway? Girl that’s what like really started it all for us. Wow. BUT ALSO PLEASE DONT CHANGE YOUR VOICE. I liiiiiive for your reviews. They’re honest and real. A little sassy. A little savage. But it’s definitely made or break if I pick up a book or not. This is one of the only bookish blogs I regularly frequent! <3 you do you girl.
LOL RIGHT?! Granted, the last 1-2 years I’ve been a little MIA with sporadic posting and several long breaks but yes SIX YEARS. It’s crazy! I haven’t even done a giveaway in years! I planned on it for my birthday, but of course forgot lol. ALSO AWWW THANKS! I mean I’m always a little worried you might actually enjoy a book I hate but if I haven’t let you down yet, cool! hahaha
Hahaha girl, even if I did like a book you didn’t, we’d still just chat about it anyway lmao. And hey. Breaks are okay. Everyone needs a break once in a while. Anddd you’ll have a bday again next year if you remember to do a giveaway then LOL
I totally feel you Molly! I feel like everyone has this distinct blogging voice that makes their blogs feel so professional and on-brand and I’m just… “here” in a sense? My writing is not polished either, I try to write as if I’m talking with a friend and sometimes that just involves random ramblings haha.
Ugh yes that is how I feel! It’s intimidating to read the more polished blogs but I’m glad I’m not alone in this feeling!
This is such a great discussion post and what a good topic to dip your toes back into for discussing! I’ve always been more formal in my writing style but that’s just… me? I haven’t noticed a shift one way or another, but I do actually worry my professional and formal writing style is a turn off for others. Because I can be fun! Haha. Do what you want, YOU are what make people engage with your blog.
I love your blog! I like how you write – and there is nothing wrong with polished writing! I just feel like “damn, I suck at writing” when I read other people’s well-written reviews lol. And yes, we read people’s blogs for who they ARE and that means we like how they express themselves too 🙂 We gunna do us lol
I’m a word vomiter. My reviews are more a collection of thoughts or rambling incoherent feelings. When I came back to blogging in 2017, I decided not to care about what others are doing as that kind of pressure is what caused me to delete my old blog (which was started in 2012) and have to start from scratch again… It’s not easy marching to the beat of your own drum sometimes, and there are wobbles, but it’s definitely better than trying to keep up and never feeling good enough.
You are you and there is no one else who can be you, you know?
I am definitely the same! I like to ramble and just give first impression thoughts without too much editing. And yes! No one can be me better than me 😉
I agree with you so much! It feels like a very different atmosphere now! It used to be that being unapologetically YOU was the best thing you could do, but now… I am not so sure? Also I am too tired to be very “me” lately, which is part of my big problem with blogging lately. Luckily, I do not care one bit if I sound professional (spoiler: I do not), so when I finally do get my mojo back, that won’t be a problem hahah.
Yeah there’s just a different feel to blogging. It’s definitely hard to explain. But we’ll just keep doing us, regardless of mood or mojo lol
My blogging voice is simple, not fancy, and filled with first thoughts, not worked-over. It’s who I am. I don’t think I can change that.
I like it. That’s me too!
This is very interesting because I get the impression sometimes that people think my blog is “too academic” or basically annoying and stuffy, and it seems like the casual blogs are the popular ones! A lot of people go for the Paper Fury vibe of being funny and cutesy and referring to their followers as “my little strawberries” or whatever, and I’ve always felt a bit out of blogging for not doing that. 😉
YES! Paper Fury does come to mind when I think of those more “fun” blogs. And while I think those are still popular, I just have noticed a shift towards more refined writing. At the end of the day, you do you! There will be people that enjoy your style and voice no matter what 🙂