REJECTION.
We all hate that word but I'm not sure that there is any blogger big or small that hasn't thought of the word or even felt it. I have had my fair share of it. Be it in the form of unanswered emails or answered with a reason for the rejection. Either way it stings. I know it shouldn't but it does. We all want to hear that yes when we write a publisher or author but lets face it there are a lot of us out there. The one thing I learned real fast: IT IS NOT Personal. Though it's hard not to take it that way. I still get this "I'm not good enough" complex a lot of the time when I get no response or hear that for certain circumstances the books I requested just aren't available to me. It's hard not to but then it all comes back to the start. I didn't start reviewing so that I could get ARC's or anything like that. Reviewing and running a blog was for me a place to share my love of books, authors and my undeniable love for covers :D. When I get upset I try and remember this. I would put money down that most of you started because you loved reading, or writing or a combination of the two, not because you expected to get ARC's or even become some big internet sensation. We do this because we want to and whatever comes from it is just a bonus.
Support
My gosh the support you can and will find when becoming a blogger is undeniable and quite often the biggest reward. This comes in the form of fellow bloggers, authors and readers. Not one of theses is more important than the other. Well they are all equal to me at least. Each group gives its own little boost to blogging and means more to me than most of them know. Though I may not have a huge group of fellow bloggers that support and adore me, I know that there are many that would offer kind words and suggestions if needed. However it is the few that see something in me(still I wonder what some days) that have frequently kept me smiling and going when I thought that I should stop. They help ward away the evil word above. Though it still sucks nothing helps more than hearing kind words or extra reasons why it may not have come about. I will list some of them but I know I will miss someone but those of you that have been there you all know I have serious love for you that wont change.
There are also moments that you will have that will make you feel like it is all more than worth it. The comments from fellow bloggers or readers, receiving and review copy in the mail or a moment like this:
This awesome fellow blogger made my entire night! I was blown away and humbled that someone was actually excited to see me on THEIR blog!! As stated above I feel I am a smaller and not so out there blog but in this one moment I was so blown away that I was almost speechless. There was also no denying the stupid grin on my face!! Just so you know Jessica runs the totally awesome blog: Just a Book Lover. Or if you prefer click on her button.
So this is it. I have it out. Not that it is great word of wisdom or anything horribly informative that you guys didn't already know. I just kind of wanted to share what keeps me going and what I turn to when rejection gets me down. If you have anything to add or share feel free to comment :D
Why?
This awesome fellow blogger made my entire night! I was blown away and humbled that someone was actually excited to see me on THEIR blog!! As stated above I feel I am a smaller and not so out there blog but in this one moment I was so blown away that I was almost speechless. There was also no denying the stupid grin on my face!! Just so you know Jessica runs the totally awesome blog: Just a Book Lover. Or if you prefer click on her button.
So this is it. I have it out. Not that it is great word of wisdom or anything horribly informative that you guys didn't already know. I just kind of wanted to share what keeps me going and what I turn to when rejection gets me down. If you have anything to add or share feel free to comment :D
As a new blogger I can understand this as I myself am going through this. But despite that the reason I started my blog was because I enjoy reading and so far have been really enjoying the blogging community :) great post!
ReplyDeleteOh Tiffany you don't know how it makes my heart puff up seeing our button there!
ReplyDeleteThis reply is going to be a little long so bear with me.
It's safe to say that we've been through all those you mentioned & we all have our little support groups. It's so easy to lose sight of the main reason why we started blogging in the first place: love for reading.
With the reviews and hops going on it's a challenge not to feel competitive or bandwagon. I must admit I love the perks of getting FREE books from ARCs to review requests and what not. But lately it seems to have taken its toll on me. So now I'm being a snob & a rebel by reading what I want and not what's popular.
Hang in there, I'm here if you need a soundboard.
P.S. I stop by everyday sometimes I don't have anything to say so I don't comment. Except for this comment, I'm a one liner kind of commenter.
Perfect post, on a perfectly wonderful blog that I enjoy heading to daily just to see whats new! Rejection from publishers or authors sucks, but you can move past it. The best part is the support and love from all of the amazing bloggers out there. And there are plenty. You should be proud of yourself and this blog, small or not, because to the people who follow you it is absolutely perfect!
ReplyDeleteYesyesyesyesyesyes! Without blogger friends and random moments of OMG, goodness knows I probably wouldn't have continued my blog. It's hard, starting a blog with all the good intentions in the world, only to have nothing happen. No one notices or anything. But then people do. And happy things happen. And life is just GREAT. I'm so happy I gave you one of those moments! Because, girl, we talk about this--I love your blog!!
ReplyDeleteYou're awesome, always remember that!
♥Jessica(:
Just a Booklover