Grasping for the Wind

Ask the Bloggers: The Rewards of Blogging

This fourth edition of Ask the Bloggers (still a working title) asks the bloggers about the rewards they find in blogging.

What has been your most rewarding moment as a blogger?

Neth: This is a tricky question.

I certainly remember the almost exhilarating feeling of realizing who some of the people reading my blog were and then sheepishly asking for ARCs (and getting them). Though I'm not sure I'd call that rewarding.

With the blog I've had a chance to speak (well, exchange emails) with some of the powerhouses of the SFF genre - George R.R. Martin, Steven Erikson, Michael Moorcock, Michael Swanwick - as well as some exciting newcomers - Scott Bakker, Joe Abercrombie, Tobias Buckell, etc. It's always a pleasure joy to interact with these authors, but them I'm not sure rewarding is the best word for it.

I suppose the most rewarding moments come when I find an unexpected reference to something I've written on the blog - especially when some fan indicates that they found a new-to-them book as a result of me. That is definitely rewarding.

Tia Nevitt: My rewarding moments come every time someone leaves a comment on my blog. For me, web traffic analysis is nice, but comments are tangible evidence that someone has stopped by, read what I had to say, and felt it worth responding to.

And even more rewarding is when a conversation starts in the comments, with people checking several times a day to see what has been said since they last stopped by. I love that.

But the most rewarding moment comes whenever another blogger gives a shout-out to a particular post. That means someone has been particularly struck by something I had to say, and felt it worth bringing to the attention of their own readers. I am always gratified at how generous other bloggers are with their web traffic.

SMD: Probably the most rewarding moment for me is when someone (anyone) says they enjoy my blog. I can't imagine anything more rewarding than that, even if it is one person. I don't hear it often (which sounds bad, but all bloggers realize that most readers don't comment in the first place), but it's nice when it happens. I've heard it about my blog novel and a few times about the actual blogging aspect. I actually really love receiving emails from random people telling me they enjoyed reading. It makes me feel good. I encourage people to email me about whatever. Seriously. I'd rather spend my email time replying to useful emails than going through spam.

Other rewarding moments are when people link to me, either in a blogroll or directly, or whenever an author agrees to do an interview with me. I also feel somewhat rewarded just by the fact that my blog is almost 2 years old. A lot of bloggers have been at this for longer than I have, and I've grown a lot as a blogger (or I think so), but it feels great to have succeeded in keeping at it for so long. I don't know if I ever truly thought I would remain so dedicated, but I absolutely love my blog and the process of blogging. It's exciting and fun. What's not fun about talking about what you enjoy most?

So, that's my answer to that.

SQT: Rewarding moments come in so many ways I think. I think the first time blogging was really satisfying to me was when I got some traffic to my blog and had a couple of people email me to tell me how much they like it. I even had a couple of readers ask if they could contribute posts now and then and that was a small thrill.

But I think the most rewarding thing is when authors and publicists email me and ask if I would review a book for them. To me, that is such a huge compliment. I read other review blogs and think they're so much better than mine, so it makes me feel good to think that someone wouldn't mind having their book featured on my site.

Dark Wolf: The rewarding moments come in different ways, but the feeling is pretty much the same, joy. I enjoy seeing comments on my post, I know that readers don't make comments (when I was just a reader I commented in pretty rare occasions), but I enjoy when I see comments. I also enjoy when they compliment my blog, it is rewarding to see my work appreciated even though I do it mainly for fun.

It is rewarding when I receive mail and I find books there, I love when they arrive and it gives me a pleasant feeling. Also when I'm asked to review a book I'm happy, beacause I feel my work appreciated in a new way. And I love when the authors agree to make interviews with me, this part is something I never thought off or dreamed off before I started my blog.

A rewarding thing is that since I started my blog I made so many friends and I met so many nice people, who are a joy and a pleasure to talk too.

To find out more about an individual blogger, click their name to be redirected to their blog.

If you would like to participate in a further discussion and you own a blog (authors who blog are welcome too!) that writes SF and Fantasy Reviews, send me an email, or leave a comment. Question suggestions are also welcome.

"Ask the Bloggers" is a working title for this ongoing feature. Should you have a better suggestion, please leave it in the comments. The contributor whose suggestion I like best will receive a $10 Amazon gift certificate.

Posted by: John on August 25, 2008 1:25 PM |
Categories: Inside the Blogosphere