Personally I love to share my blog with everyone. For me it is such enjoyment. I have even tried to get friends and family to do guest posts on my blog whether about video games, movies or books. Though no one has taken me up on that offer. If facebook didn't block my blog as spam I would share my posts on there as well. When I first started blogging I did read this post at Cuddlebuggery about blogging anonymously and how to do it. You can't always hide... someone can find you if they dig enough.
I suppose though that perhaps people don't want their co-workers to know about their blog. Especially if it is a personal blog. Some employers even frown on people sharing information publicly. It's hard to know where exactly to draw the line. Do you post pictures of yourself? Your real name? Tell your friends and family? I do think for book bloggers it's not as bad as some other types of blogs. Really I suppose it would only be to hide that you are really into reading. Though the people who know me always see me with a book so it should come as no surprise to them. What about you? Is your blog a secret?
I don't really keep my blog a secret, I just don't mention it. Mostly because only a couple of my friends and family members actually read, the vast majority have no desire to read or read a blog about reading.
ReplyDeleteI keep my blog a secret. At first it was because I was afraid my family/friends would think it was stupid. I'm really proud of my blog now, but I like having it separate from my regular life.
ReplyDeleteGreat discussion! My blog is open to all, I talk about it and share it and post pictures of myself. I figure at this point with Facebook and such all of it is out there anyway. I love my blog and am proud of it, so I don't keep it a secret.
ReplyDeleteI guess my blog is so much a part of my regular life that it is hard for me to separate them.
ReplyDeleteI am loud and proud about my blog. Everybody knows about it, and I'll often tell my friends if they get a mention. That said, it's about books, so you know. Mild teasing that one of my book club friends picked a stinker isn't the same as like trash talking family or work. It's actually part of the reason I decided to start a book blog as opposed to a personal blog... There's just some stuff that doesn't need to be on the internet, for me at least.
ReplyDeleteI don't really keep my blog a secret, but I do try to avoid connecting my blog to anything with my real full name. It's more of a privacy thing. I rather not have my full name to be easily accessible. It's a very uncommon name. Also from an employment stand point, I'm planning on going into a field where I do need to keep things private. Forensics isn't super super secretive, but you need to have a certain professional image for credibility.
ReplyDeleteIt's not really a secret... It's just something I don't exactly wave in front of my friends or families faces. It's just that they're not really interested that much about books, so I don't really think they'd actually read it. They do support my blogging though, they think it's something that keeps me productive. But as much as possible, I prefer to keep it separate from my life offline.
ReplyDelete-Kimi at Geeky Chiquitas
Interesting post. I didn't know so many bloggers kept their blogs secret. Mine is very public. My friends and family all know of my blogging life.
ReplyDeleteI mention my blog and share it with people if they ask for the address. My husband is a much bigger promoter of my blog in the real world than I am. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't use my full name or have a picture on my blog, because I want to keep my blog life separate from my professional life. Because my career involves working with clients/patients, I want to keep my personal hobbies private. If they found my blog, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I would just like to a space on the Internet more of my own. If I was working in a different field, I would probably feel different about how much information to share.
True facebook is very public. I have "friends" on there who have over 1000 friends??? I read once that the average person cannot really know more then 120 people at once. Not really well anyways.
ReplyDeleteI talk about all my blogging and goodreads groups to everyone too. Especially if an author agrees to do a Q&A in my goodreads group. Then I am really really excited. I think the only people who get really excited are my mom and my sister since they read.
ReplyDeleteThis blog actually started as a personal blog (hence the name of the blog) I did maybe 10 posts and then was bored and didn't want to vent about my life, I wanted something to make my life richer. Thus came book blogging!
I understand about keeping things private. I read this post once (and I wish I had saved it) where an author pretty much stalked a blogger. Even finding their phone number and calling their house over a review!! It was a really scary post. I tried to google it but can't find it.
ReplyDeleteMy husband probably thinks my blog is a little crazy but he does know. Especially since he does a lot of coding I have had him help me on a few posts. When I first started I thought he would help me create my blog but he never got around to it so one night I just sat down and figured it all out myself and I have to say that makes this blog even more special. I know what you mean though about people who don't read not getting it.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that many bloggers kept their blogs a secret either!! Not until I started reading the comments in Laura Plus Book's blog. I saw that most people didn't really keep their names secret for security but because of friends and family. Interesting!
ReplyDeleteMy sister is the only person in my life that knows about my blog. All my friends and family know that I love to read, but I don't tell them about my blog. For me my blog is private because I don't want people talking judging the posts I put up. I'm fine with random people reading my blog, but I have a hard time talking about it with people I know. My blog is my outlet and I just don't really want to share it with people who could talk to me about it in real life. My sister is the exception. She makes some of my buttons and is totally supportive of my blog. I think my sister is the person that really understands because she loves reading too.
ReplyDeleteI can see keeping your blog a secret from clients. I pretty much have always worked with the public (though I don't like to) and I really wouldn't want them knowing about it. Like you said.. it's not the end of the world but still. It's nice that your husband takes an interest in your blog. There used to be a wonderful blogging team of husband and wife at Picture Me Reading blog but they don't blog anymore. It was fun to read.
ReplyDeleteThat is true... if my blog were personal it would be SECRET. Why? Well probably because I would end up talking poorly about the people I know and for them to stumble upon it might just be mortifying! lol!! I have thought about starting like a craft/house project blog since I am always doing that stuff but I don't do it enough to be able to post once a week or anything like that.
ReplyDeleteOne good thing about me sharing my blog, like you with your sister, is that my mom will sometimes message me and tell me about my grammar mistakes!! I love that she does that. When I was in college I would email her all my papers and she would correct them. Now she corrects my blog. I love my mom!
ReplyDeleteI have noticed though that the consensus with book bloggers is that we really don't think people will understand. Which is sad. Why is it that book readers are looked down upon?? When in reality I think the fact that we are intelligent and want to entertain ourselves should be applauded.
My blog isn't a secret. I don't go around telling everyone about it, but my family knows and a lot of people know at my work. I think having a book blog (or even entertainment like mine) makes it easier to share because it's not about private things.
ReplyDeleteLauren from www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
Oh you should do a craft/house project as a feature on your blog! I think posts about bloggers' other interests are fun, and heaven knows it's hard to come up with new content sometimes! :)
ReplyDeleteNo, my blog isn't a secret. My friends, family and boyfriend all know about it. I even show my new designs or posts I'm proud of. My blog is part of me. I'm happy that they aren't followers though. I think there are some posts I'd never have posted otherwise and I don't want to feel restricted :)
ReplyDeleteSame is the case with me :)
ReplyDeleteRimsha@Ramblings of a Bookworm
My family do follow my blog through email. I am not sure if they read the posts. Especially my dad, he is probably like ho-hum. He doesn't read at all. Sometimes I do wonder what they think though and wish that they would comment. My sister used to comment but her phone app or something stopped letting her. Such a bummer since I did enjoy her comments.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Having personal stuff on your blog would be harder to share with people. I have been looking around for blogs about beauty in your 30s and can't seem to find any at all. You would think there would be plenty out there!
ReplyDeletehumm... this is a good idea. Perhaps I will!
ReplyDeleteI don't keep my blog a secret really but I don't go share it with everyone. I have a few friends who know about it and I love it that way. I can talk about it freely, they obviously don't get everything but if like someone I really admire comments, I can talk to them and they'll understand without actually being in the blogosphere. And sometimes it's nicer to talk to someone outside of the community because I don't have to deal with naming names and there won't be any implications if I do say something that I disagree with haha.
ReplyDeleteNope mine's not a secret. I use my real name and share to my personal pages on FB. Not everything mind you since I read a lot of erotica and dark stuff. Really don't need my grams stumbling on bondage books and the like. ::snort:: but they know I book blog and go to events and whatnot. My picture is of the blog logo just for branding purposes. I use it on ALL social media so people know who I am. But I have posted a picture or two now and again on the blogs pages from events I've been to. I'm always talking to people about the blog when I'm out and about, give out business cards for it and talking about what I'm reading. It's fun and part of who I am so why not?
ReplyDeleteI don't keep my blog a secret, but I don't really advertise it either. It actually came up recently with a friend who didn't know, and it was obvious that she didn't really get it. She seemed to think it's a part-time job or something. I think blogging is just one of those things that people who don't do it don't always get what it's about. It's just easier to keep it private than to try to explain ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI keep mine a secret, but I suspect some of them know and secretly look at my blog. I'm so selective with what I share with people; I like having the control of what they know about me. So it makes me uncomfortable when they read about how I feel about stuff, even books. I'm just weird like that. I mean, my son and my mom know I do the blogging thing, but I know my mom can't even turn a computer on and my son could care less. lol.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could talk about things in the blogspere with people I know. But even if I mentioned this blog did this or that blog did that they would be like what?? I do like being in the blogging community. It is a great hobby and I have learned sooo much!
ReplyDeleteI do post pictures from events. I don't have a lot of pictures of myself on my blog but I do on my goodreads page so I suppose if people really want to find out what I look like they can go there.
ReplyDeleteI agree... I have friends who don't get it. I have a friend actually too though who wanted to have a video game blog. I told him how much work it is. That is a another thing I think people think. That you blog and people just automatically swoon to your blog and suddenly you are this big hit. I tried to tell him how much work it is. He never has started it yet.
ReplyDeleteThat's great!
ReplyDeletehahah! How funny about your mom and your son. Honestly I am always trying to get my friends and family to come up with ideas for discussion posts. But no one does. hahaha!!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't kept my blog secret, but I have occasionally thought about whether or not I really want to share everything with everyone. I have some friends who might be offended by the content of some of the books I review (NA mostly) and I've thought about that now and again. But I've decided to go ahead and share anyway! :-)
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Oh well that makes sense. Like my review of 50 Shades of Grey might shock some people. I do follow some blog too that have a lot of swearing in them, not sure if those people would hide their blog or not??
ReplyDeleteI've been reading the comments for this and wow, it's been interesting! My blog isn't necessarily a secret, I just don't mention it. Most of my friends know by now but they're the ones who love books as well. Or the ones that are really close to me. Since I'm still in school, a lot of the people there can be really judgmental, even when they're your 'friend'. They see something 'out of the norm' and it's suddenly weird you know? I don't really care as much any more though. My Twitter photo is me, and if you look hard enough, you'll find my full name. :D
ReplyDeleteYour blog post totally inspired this.... the comments from it made me start thinking. I guess I never thought of people not telling people IRL. Then I started to think back to when I was in high school and college and how I probably wouldn't tell my classmates. My friends don't read and have always thought of me as an oddball for reading. Why are we like still the dorks of the world?? Reading should be something that is cherished. I guess I grew up with a mom who loved to read. We always had built in bookcases in my house, when I think about it now my friends were probably like "what the hell?". Thanks for the inspiration Laura.. PS my sister's name is Laura !! Love it!
ReplyDeleteIt's okay! You have no idea how touching it is to hear that. Totally made my day, haha! Yes yes, why are we the dorks?! It makes no sense because reading is amazing. I don't see how it's any different from movie lovers but for some reason it makes us nerdy. It's okay, we're just too cool for them. We can cherish books all we want. <3 That's so cool! I haven't met many Laura's in my life. Tell her I said hi!
ReplyDeleteInitially I kept it quiet, but used my own picture, real name etc but now I'm really proud of it so everyone knows. Not everyone has seen the blog or known the name but they know it exists. A handful of friends and my partner read it but to be honest no one really reads as much as me so they wouldn't be too interested in it anyway! Interesting to see that people keep it entirely secret though, and I can definitely understand it. A blog can be something quite personal :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing discussion Angela! I don't keep my blog a secret, but tbh not many of my friends or family really care much about reading or that I blog! I don't really post much on my FB unless it's a topic which I think my real friends would relate to, but I don't mind too much. Great discussion!
ReplyDeleteJeann @ Happy Indulgence
I use a pseudonym (bmcmolo) but that's just been my nickname for years and when I first started the blog, I just used that. I sometimes wonder if that's a good or bad thing, but I don't really promote the blog or anything. It's just my online portal for my various preoccupations.
ReplyDeleteFriends and fam comprise most of my readership, at least at the beginning. Now I post links to new blogs up on twitter and facebook and get some more hits and reads than I ever anticipated. (Not, like, viral levels or anything, of course.) I don't really put anything up there I wouldn't want any of them to read (nor talk about work or anything) so privacy's not a huge concern.
These days it's probably a good thing to be more mindful of such things, so maybe I should amp up the security.
Mainly, tho, I echo a lot of the comments here. I send links to folks I think might enjoy either the subject matter or my ramblings, but for those friends who don't like to read or analyze films/ comics, etc. (and that's cool, hey, to each his or her own) I usually don't promote it in their direction.
Ahhhh! My blog is not a secret.buy I do keep my identity hidden. I want don't want to be skinned alive if I ever write a best seller! :-)
ReplyDeleteI get why people would blog anonymously. I personally tell everyone I know that I blog and encourage them to start their own blog! I do keep some things to my self when I blog though. Like personal stuff and whatnot. Great post!
ReplyDeleteBethzaida @ Bookittyblog
Yes and no. I used to be really secretive about my blog but now I don't care as much. I do post personal things in addition to books (I used to have two separate blogs for this) and I share some of the personal posts on FB. I don't use my last name on twitter because I didn't want my old job to easily find me (though they could if they tried). I shared my blog with my coworkers before I left but I don't think they really cared. But in general I feel funny telling people "oh I write a blog." LOL!!
ReplyDeleteI think it's really interesting too that people don't talk about their blog. I think that since I share mine I just never realized people would do this. I guess to me if you blog you want people to read it.. so I never imagined that people don't like to share it. I don't think everyone I know knows about my blog though. It's not like I just start talking about it unless it's relevant to the conversation.
ReplyDeleteI wish sometimes I could post to facebook. That dumb site marked my blog as spam right after I started it. I have no idea why.. unless one of my "friends" on facebook marked it as a spam link. LOL. The other problem with this though is now that facebook owns instagram I can't post the link to my blog in my profile there either.
ReplyDeleteI do think if you are trying to have some type of business from your blog sharing your real name is perfect. I know of some bloggers who wanted to be marketers for authors and host blog tours and stuff like that so you real name is important there.
ReplyDeleteI only think if you don't write crazy reviews that might make authors mad, especially if they are new authors and are counting on your review then you probably don't have much to worry about.
Since your blog isn't so much books I think your reviews and topics relate to a much larger audience then mine. Every now and then I squeeze in a movie review when I go and see a new film and usually everyone watches some time of movie.
Your blog is very versatile. I love that about it. You talking about books, cooking, life, all subjects that people are interested in talking about. I notice that most people in school don't want to share their blog with other students and people out of school don't want to share their blog with their co-workers. This makes perfect sense to me. Sometimes you really do want your home life to be separate.
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! Well I want to know all about your book and then I can say.. "I followed Lectus' blog from way back"!
ReplyDeleteHow nice that encourage people to blog! I had one friend who wanted to blog about video games and I think he thought it was going to be so easy. I told him it's a lot of work and you have to commit a lot of time to it. Sometimes I wish I was a fashion blogger. They get followers so easily and really they only take a lot of pictures of outfits. I just don't have the money for all those name brand clothes.
ReplyDeleteI originally used a username instead of my real name (but my reasons are a bit unique. Long story short, I had someone harassing me and didn't want to make myself easy to find). I've ended up using my real name because I felt really weird and like I wasn't being genuine (I am still debating whether that was a good idea or not, but so far all has gone well). Also I wasn't smart enough to just make up a name to call myself on the internet hahaha (Which if I'd thought of it, I totally would have done)
ReplyDeleteLOL! I didn't think of using a fake name.. hence my first name in the title of my blog. Actually.. I like when people use a name and use it with their blog. It does make it more personal and I feel more of a connection with them. Even picture of yourself can make you blog more personal. I really like this with men on their blogs. That sounds odd but there really aren't a lot of male bloggers so when I do see one I am interested in what they are blogging about. I like to get a perspective from men and women on books and movies and such.
ReplyDeleteBecause being a reviewer is a pretty big part of my life, I have mentioned it to people before, if they've asked about my bookish habits, though I don't often talk about it out of the blue. My family knows about it, but really my blog would be pretty easy for most people to find if they knew my name! I can understand not wanting people to find your blog, though, and think that's perfectly reasonable.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you're writing awesome posts, as usual- I'm happy to be back blogging and reading posts! Hope you've been well, Angela!
Lol! A couple of my closest friends (like, three) know about me and my blog. One of them contributes a few posts occasionally, even. I'm not ashamed or anything, but being fourteen, I guess I still have this insecurity issue thing. I use my real name and photo, but if nobody in real life asks, I don't mention my blog to them. Maybe I'll tell people about my blog when I get a bit older. :) Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteAimee @ Deadly Darlings
I suppose I keep my blog a secret. Initially, I didn't even mention that I blog, but nowadays, I'll be like "I blog about books..." if the topic comes up. I only tell my very close friends specifically about my blog and even then, it's not really a topic of conversation.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'd like to keep my private life and blogging life separate.
I agree, names are good (real or not)! I'm totally with you about guy bloggers - especially when it comes to books! I've seen a grand total of...two. There's a few more on other scenes..why is it guys don't blog much I wonder?
ReplyDeleteI don't keep it a secret but I don't really mention it either. My hubby knows but doesn't read it, and one or two friends know but they have blogs too. I quite like keeping it separate, it's my own bit of cyberspace
ReplyDeleteThat is great that your friends contribute. I can't get any of mine to write something even though I am always asking them to. I love that you are 14 and blogging! How wonderful to make your hobby of reading even bigger.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. The males I do follow really are more of a movie bloggers or their blogs aren't just reading it's a variety of topics.
ReplyDeleteThis post is also making me wonder if my friends know I blog? It's not a secret but then again I don't ever talk about it in conversation. Unless we are specifically talking about books. I tend to think that the people I do tell thing that blogging means having a website which are totally different things to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I don't have a co-blogger. I like my own little bit of cyberspace myself. I feel great like I can say what I want and have my internet friends too. I know my husband actually does read mine from time to time. I put up this list for gifts for readers around Christmas time and he got me something off the list for Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteHow fun that you are back! Hope your hiatus was good and you got a lot done. I saw the number of books you have lined up and I can't wait to read your reviews!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post! I personally use a fake name and try to keep my real life separate but recently I have found myself opening up so much more because I'm comfortable with the community. I would hate for people that graduated from my high school found me but I know I shouldn't care so much :/ So I don't scream to the heavens I have a blog but I share that I review books once in awhile.
ReplyDeleteNo one in my family or circle of friends knows about my blog. I've thought about telling my mom but I haven't found 'the right moment' yet. It's not that I'm ashamed of what I do, it just feels better to keep it to myself.
ReplyDeleteNow that I have been out of high school for a long time (dare I reveal how long??LOL) I don't worry about that so much. I do know though that if it were closer to my graduation date I would've not really wanted people to know either. I didn't even read in high school. It wasn't cool and I didn't want to be some sort of nerd. Now that I am older I wish I would've made the time to read back then.
ReplyDeleteInteresting!!! This is why I love this post. I never realized just how many people didn't share their blogs and everyone really does have different reasons.
ReplyDeleteI can understand being worried about strangers knowing so much about you, but I don't have anything hidden. My family follows my blog by email and my co-workers read it as well. It was really them that got me to start a blog in the first place since they'd ask what books I recommend all the time and suggested I start a blog about it.
ReplyDeleteI bounce back and forth on this. When I started the blog, I posted a bit more personal stuff in there, and for privacy sake took on the name of my WoW character (Szever). I continue to use it, but not sure i care so much anymore that the name stay hidden. I've linked to Google and Facebook and Goodreads, and I'm pretty sure that has made my name pretty easy to find. /shrug. I don't hide the blog from friends/family.
ReplyDeleteIt BOTHERS me that blogger blogs have to be connected to google +. So I went into google + to change my name there and what a pain in the butt. They desperately want you to use your whole real name.. but I also use that account to comment on youtube videos and I really don't want my real name on there (on youtube). I can't imagine why I would need to hide from anyone but it is the internet afterall.
ReplyDeleteHow fun that your co-workers were into you blogging. If you don't mind me asking, do you work in the book industry? (library??). Usually those co-workers are perfect for inspiring us readers. I know a few librarians and I love chatting with them!
ReplyDeleteNope, not a secret! Initially I didn't share it much apart from family and then friends and then some co-workers. But now I don't care who knows, it's a hobby I love and a huge part of me. I have posted a link on my personal facebook page on the odd occasion. Most people around me have no interest in books (or my blog) so they don't read it. Which is all part of why I blog about books anyway.
ReplyDeleteI do use kimba instead of Kimberly but heck I tell everyone who will listen about my blog and books. Some of my family are readers and I have no idea if they read my posts. I know my hubby gets them emailed.
ReplyDeleteMy husband gets my posts emailed too, the other day I asked him if he read a certain one and he said no. I was stumped. I thought he read all my posts. LOL.
ReplyDeleteYeah I get what you mean. It doesn't really come up much in conversation. It only comes up with a mate who runs his own film creation blog and mates who read and want recs (which is really cool!)
ReplyDeleteMy blog is definitely not a secret! I don't use my real name, though, but Lexxie has been my online-name since the late 90s, so it's a well known one anyway, and one I feel comfortable with.
ReplyDeleteI don't share my blog with everyone, though, as I read a lot of erotica, and I don't want too young people to find that. It's not that I don't think mature youngish adults should read erotica, but since I'll be a teacher soon, I don't want any parents to get their panties in a twist!
A lot of my friends in real life aren't readers either, so they wouldn't get the excitement I have when I add a new book to my shelves, or when I get an ARC I can't wait to start reading. They already think I'm weird enough for reading all the time...
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Well, I do use my real name and shout about my blog to about just anyone who I have in my life - family, friends, co-workers. I suppose I never really had a bad experience with people giving bad comments or similar. As others have said , this is me.
ReplyDeleteI tried keeping my blog secret for a while, but that failed miserably because I got too excited when I learned how to copy and paste HTML and started posting five times a week. I felt like I HAD to tell someone so they could pat me on the back and say 'good job Sofia', but I soon learned that that will not work. Anyway, a lot of people know about my blog, but it was very awkward at first when my mom did her 'mom thing' and told other people.
ReplyDeletePeople think I am weird for reading all the time too. I can understand not wanting parents and students seeing posts about Erotica books. Sometimes the covers on those books are HOT HOT!! I never thought about having an online name when I first started. I wish I had.. but that's OK.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had any bad comments myself either. Though I do no of one blogger that has had some harassing comments so now they moderate all the comments they get. Sad that happens to people.
ReplyDeleteThis is something I think about a lot. As an unemployed attorney (desperately seeking work :) ) being in a professional vocation is serious business - the government and law firms WILL FIND YOU. So, I keep my last name out of it as much as possible and other than being an open atheist and feminist - I try to keep my 'controversial' views out of the blog (though let's face it, sooner or later that's going to break down).
ReplyDeleteAs far as family and friends... I think of it as an 'open secret' since I'm almost positive that 90% of the people I know don't read my blog. :)
Thanks for linking up with Spread the Love!
I too try to keep controversial topics off the blog and off facebook as well. Not just for employers but I don't like reading about other people's point of views constantly (this is on facebook) so I feel why would they always want me shoving my views down their throats.
ReplyDeleteThere was a blog I was following that ended up having a lot of political posts and I want to read about books and what not so I ended up not following them anymore. It's fine they can do what they want but I was bored. It wasn't tied into a book review or anything like that either so I just lost interest.
Good luck finding a job. It's hard out there!
I didn't realize a lot of people want to blog under aliases until recently. It never even crossed my mind to do so because no one that I know IRL even reads that much. And the ones that do don't read YA so it's not like they care to read my blog. I don't go around telling everyone I meet about blogging, but sometimes someone will bring it up and then I usually feel weird about it. Mostly because people I know think blogging is something super odd. Whatever. I joined a YA book club a few months ago and have shared my blog with them... oh and I'm going to BEA this year, so I want everyone in the blogging comm. to know who I am so they can say hi if they see me :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes... if I was going to BEA I would shout it from the rooftops that I blog. I guess after I wrote this post I started to think about it more and realized that I don't even talk about my blog either. It doesn't just come up. Sometimes people will ask me what I do for fun and I'll say read and blog. But that's about as far as the conversation goes.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started blogging, my intention was to keep it from my friends. Then because I was feeling lonely, I told one of my closest friends about me blogging, but I kept the name a secret. A few weeks later, I learned that she had found my blog. Now, I tell people freely that I blog, but I don't want them knowing my blog name. I think it's because I want to be able to express myself freely. It's also an escape from my school life, I guess. But then, now, that's not possible anymore. So I agree that sooner or later, anynomous blogs will be found.
ReplyDeleteDivergent Gryffindor
I recently did a post on this too - because I actually keep my blog semi-secret. I have a group of friends and family that know about it (though most don't really follow it - they aren't bookaholics like me) and a much larger group of friends, coworkers, etc that don't know and that I don't want to know. My blog is like a sacred place for me and I don't want it ruined by the people in my life who wouldn't get it.
ReplyDeleteI just find it sad that people look down on blogging. If they only knew how much work it is. I do know though that on some level you want to be able to say things without everyone knowing. I understand that they just don't get the whole book thing and it's awkward to them so in order to feel better then make fun. Just too bad.
ReplyDeleteI think too... that people who aren't in the book community don't get the whole "I have blogger friends". I mean.. it doesn't make the most sense. I wish that for example I lived closer to a few people I have met on goodreads. I think we could actually be good friends.. but we have settled on being friends on facebook. I am going to go and look for your post!
ReplyDeleteMy post was related - having a blog identity and real world identity, here's the link: http://fantasyismorefun.com/2014/02/two-identities-fun-questions.html
ReplyDeleteBut yes - they definitely don't get having blog friends. But I connect with bloggers better than I do my "real" friends sometimes because we share a love for books and blogging. When books & blogging are as big a part of your life as they are mine, it makes sense that you could form friendships around them.
I started being online when the web was still an infant... and I certainly didn't want anyone to be able to find the actual 'me' for real! My online name has just stuck with me, I guess :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!! I see that I commented. I connect with bloggers too. My friends IRL are just different. They don't get the whole book thing. I always wonder if I could get my blog on facebook if I would meet more people. But facebook blocked my blog so I can't link up on there.
ReplyDeletewhat?!? I've never heard of that - what happened? Why would FB block you?
ReplyDeleteIt's not really a secret. There's nothing to be ashamed of, anyway. Just like you said, Angela, I'm quite proud to say that I'm a reader and I like to write about my opinion of books. I use my real name, and I don't mind if someone in my real life find out about the blog (whether they continue reading it or not). I just do not like to talk about it that much (don't know whyy) but I'll answer if they ask me about it :)
ReplyDeleteI have no idea.. they blocked my blog as spam years ago. Then when they took over Instagram- that blocked me too. I have tried and tried to get them to unblock my blog but whatever. I have given up. I tried for like a whole year!
ReplyDeleteI think I see that a lot in the comments. Most of us don't keep it a secret we just don't talk about it all that much. I don't know though anyone IRL who knows about my blog that does read it.. well I think my mom does because she will call me and correct my grammar! Love her!
ReplyDeleteI've been blogging for about nine years and I started anonymously with a variety of personas including Unfinished Person and Unfinished Rambler, but finally I came out from behind the masks. I deleted a few posts in my archives that related to my work (I work at a library and didn't want to break any confidentiality there). I did have a Tumblr blog for a while where I didn't identify myself so I could write about work, but since have abandoned, mainly because of time. Why did I "unmask"? For me, I think it was part of becoming older and maybe...at least, sometimes ;)...more mature.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good question. For me I am very very proud of my blog and, as you know, use my last name in my title. I will tell everyone who will listen about my blog because this is the only way I am social really.
ReplyDeleteMy company prefers I not mention much about them on social network sites not approved prior so I don't other than I love my job. I also would be proud to have any of my coworkers read my blog because I try to be as honorable and upstanding as I am there. I'm truly not ashamed of my blog and I'm glad I have readers. I dream of being a writer someday and I look at this as a first step. So glad you posted this. I love this one too.
Great comment!!! I agree about trying to keep some real life secret. Especially if you were talking about work. I have had "creepers" message me on goodreads and I just block them. That is one of the reasons I do try to keep anonymous a little but. I think though writing about a library on your blog might be interesting to some people. I love to know how they work and what goes on behind the scenes.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the job. My husband works too for a company where you can't talk about it or mention it in public media. Honestly anyways... his job has nothing to do with book so it would be boring to talk about it anyways. That is great that you want to be an author and I have noticed that authors who build a great blog and meet people that way are more successful.
ReplyDeleteI use my real first name but don't disclose my full name or picture. My friends know I blog but I only share the link with the people that ask, or I'm comfortable having read my work. My family does not know I blog at all and considering I've talked about some stressful situations and I have a very sensitive relationship with my mother that is for a reason.
ReplyDeleteOh yea that makes sense then .. if you have a a hard relationship with you mom then she might use your blog against you in the future. I have seen people take what someone enjoys and use it against them some way. Love that you are willing to talk about these situations on your blog though with others. Sometimes you might find that other people are going through the same things.
ReplyDeleteThat's my hope for my blog. Start a basis of people willing to read my stuff and hope they like it.
ReplyDeleteI'm still working on the building a great blog though :-)
So sorry I'm just getting back on this! I have family in the hospital so things have gotten stressful. I would absolutely love working in the book industry, but I don't. I work for a company that provides a system for online training. I do love being on the computer all day :D I convinced a lot of my co-workers to read The Hunger Games even when they normally wouldn't ,so they talked me into getting a book blog. We still sit around at work and discuss any new Hunger Games information or the movies when they come out.
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