In all my years of book blogging, I’ve often wondered about success. I’ve often watched bloggers, mainly in other niches, lifestyle bloggers and food bloggers and so on, getting incredible opportunities, making money, hell, making a living out of their blogs. More often than once, when they stumbled upon my vision and on my instagram feed, I thought:
Damn, these bloggers really made it.
Even if I like to talk about travelling every now and then, even if I love reading lifestyle blogs and so on, I’ve never been one of these bloggers. I’m a book blogger, 99% of the time. Making money as a book blogger isn’t too usual, making a living out of it is a, let’s face it, gigantic dream.
Yet, money and making-my-life-out-of-this-hobby aside, more often than not, I’ve wondered about making it. In so many years of blogging, I wondered whether or not I would get this moment telling myself “damn. I did this. I really made it, somehow.”
You know what? Thinking about it, somehow, I kind of did.
What does “making it” as a blogger really means?
The thing is, feeling like you’re successful, feeling like you made it, relates to me a lot to “feeling like you did something right”. I don’t know if it’s a side effect of living with anxiety, or just a side effect of being me, but I often wonder, every time in my life and everywhere, if I’m doing a lot of things right. If I’m doing life right. If I’m doing this blogging thing right.
I know it’s a silly feeling and you’re probably shaking your head left and right as you read this, but….what can I say, welcome to living in my mind.
Misconceptions about “making it” as a book blogger
Obviously, I had this idea in my mind of “making it”. Of being a fabulous book blogger that would live the dream, somehow.
I thought that being able to “make it” was time related. It’s not.
It’s not because you’ve been blogging for billions of years that you feel like you made it and you’re awesome. It’s not because you’re a brand new blogger that it will take you months, years, a decade, to get to these book bloggers you admire.
I’ve seen some book bloggers starting their blogs and, in a month, getting where it took me YEARS to get to. In terms of design, aesthetics, stunning and eloquent blog posts. Everyone has their path, their pace and every blogging journey is different. We shouldn’t compare our journey as book bloggers to others.
I thought that being able to “make it” as a book blogger was all about ARCs.
*insert small moment to collectively gasp here*. YES. I SAID IT and I had to. I’m not going to lie here.
I didn’t get into book blogging because I wanted all the ARCs in the world -honestly, that would be…. really really un-logical of me, given that I’m an international book blogger.
Yet, when I first started and even years into book blogging, I thought that I had to get all the ARCs to feel like I “made it”. To feel recognized and valuable as a book blogger, to publishers, to the community, to the world.
Not going to lie again: I felt like I made it when I first got approved for an e-ARC. And a physical ARC. But it wasn’t all about it. It’s not because you don’t want ARCs or just aren’t getting some at the moment, that you’re not a real book blogger.
Because you know what? Being a real book blogger is reading and talking about BOOKS. ARCs or not.
I thought “making it” as a book blogger was numbers-related. Followers, likes, social media accounts, money. It’s not.
Very few book bloggers are making money, even fewer book bloggers are living out of this hobby. Book bloggers don’t have ten thousands of followers or enough pageviews to monetize their blogs well with ads and everything else… or very few do.
I’m not talking about these gigantic booktubers that have millions of followers and monetize their videos, have 50k on social media and book deals and such, by the way. I’m focusing on book bloggers, because booktubers aren’t just my field at all.
So.. you don’t have to be an “old” book blogger, you don’t have to get millions of ARCs, you don’t have to have 100k followers and everyone loving you on social media to make it. I used to think you did, but now…
I don’t.
Then how can you make it as a book blogger?
Let’s take a turn down memory lane and see what made me feel like I made it.
What made me feel like I “made it” as a book blogger
As my little blogging years went by, I slowly realized that there are many, many things that made me feel successful, even just for a fleeting moment. There are many things that made me feel like I was a real book blogger, somehow nailing this.
When I got my first follower
Just one person, somehow clicking that follow button. Then two. Then ten. Then 100, 500 and I don’t know. Some days, I look at that follower count and I need to close my eyes real tight and open them again minutes later just to make sure I’m not dreaming.
When I got my first comment on a blog post
An odd thing to say, today, as people, publishers and life seems more focused on social media interactions than old school blog comments. Back in 2014 when I first got a comment on a blog post I wrote, I was like, wow. Someone wants to interact with me.
Related blog post: how to get followers and interactions.
When I got my first e-ARC…. then ARC
I sometimes don’t realize that I’m reading a book that’s going to be released a couple months away. I think I might have had that blinking-for-a-long-time-and-in-a-daze feeling when I first got approved for an e-ARC. I know I had that moment when, after years of unanswered emails, I had suddenly one unread email in my mail box telling me “yes, of course we’ll send you that book.”.
Said so naturally, so easily.
It was a Friday evening in early September 2017 and I sat on my couch holding my phone and I screamed. Naturally.
Related blog post: My story with ARCs as an international book blogger.
So…. yes. Despite everything I said before, all of these ARE kind of numbers related.
Despite what I said before, I’m not denying the feeling these little things gave me. The personal success I felt at getting these.
But, to be completely honest with you, these are not the things that warmed my heart the most. These above, the ARCs, the numbers game, made me feel like I made it in the capitalistic world obsessed with numbers and success and productivity, somehow.
These below, made me feel like I made it as a book blogger, in my heart.
When someone picked up a book I recommended
In almost 5 years, I talked about A LOT of books and, when I see someone buying a book because of my review and my endless screaming and fangirling about it all… I feel it.
If you want to pick up books I recommend…. why don’t you start with If I’m Being Honest, Nothing Left To Burn, You Asked For Perfect…. *cough*
When I get a notification from an author
Like a like, an answer to my tweet, an author agreeing to be interviewed for my blog. Authors are my rock stars and I’m deeply fangirling inside while trying to answer a tweet or an email without too many hearts or exclamation points.
When I blog. Just when I blog.
- When I’m drafting blog posts for hours while getting mad at myself because it’s not perfect, yet still going because I love it.
- When I’m brainstorming ideas and endlessly bothering my sister to ask her whether or not this idea is good.
- When I’m answering to blog comments and blog hopping and chatting with the community
- When I go back to my blog posts, the one I published days ago, weeks ago, years ago and realized that… well, it might not be perfect, but I actually kind of like what I did. Or wanted to do there even if back then the graphics of my blog posts were terrible and so were my writing skills. I’m growing.
Almost 5 years later, I’m still there and that means something.
Making it as a book blogger is, for me, all about the love. The strength of the relationships you make, the friendships and screaming about books. The work you put in your blog posts, the hours, the happiness (and yes, frustration) on your face when you’re doing it all.
If you’re worried about making it as a book blogger…. Try not to. If you love what you do, you’re making it already.
☂️ You might also be interested in: My goals and dreams as a book blogger.
What do the words “making it” make you think of? Money, pageviews, success, making a living out of it all?
In your days, months or years of blogging, what are these little things that made you feel proud of yourself? I’d love to hear your thoughts and all the positivity in comments! Be proud of yourself, friends, you’re amazing.
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allisawhite says
It feels amazing when someone reads something you recommended them! And when authors reach out or interact with you in any way ?
Marie says
Ahh I’m glad you feel the same way! It’s so wonderful when someone falls in love with a book you recommended. I love that SO much 🙂 and authors ahh, I fangirl a little bit every time haha.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3
Kate (Reading Through Infinity) says
I love this post so much Marie! Everything you’ve written is so true, and a great reminder that we don’t need to monetize our blogs or have thousands of followers to make it. I think we sometimes forget that ‘making it’ means different things for different people. I definitely had that lightbulb ‘I’ve made it’ moment when an author said they loved my review of their book, and when someone came up to me at YALC and said they loved my blog (!!!). But people’s comments and tweets saying they like my posts also give me that warm feeling. We definitely don’t have to be getting sponsorships and ad deals to have made it. And I’d say you’ve 1000% made it because you’re so well known and liked within the community <3 Fab post!
Marie says
Ahh thank you so, so very much Kate, this means so much that you enjoyed it <3 <3 I agree that making it means different things for everyone. And yeees, whenever an author tells me they enjoyed my review, I just feel like I did something good and it always makes me feel so warm inside. <3 <3
You're too sweet ahh, thank you so much, Kate <3 <3
abigailsbooks32 says
Absolutely loved this post <3 So, well said!!
Marie says
Ahh thank you so much! So happy you enjoyed it <3 <3
Miri ♪ Book Dragoness ♪ says
What a wonderful post, Marie <3
I totally get you on the worries of doing things right. I worry about that literally all the time! Sometimes I feel as if I messed everything up…when in reality I probably let my worry get carried away.
One thing I'm weird about ARCs is that I don't…really think about them much? Sometimes on bookstagram or so I see someone with a lovely ARC and I get envious, but like I don't really request them? I sometimes think of asking for a physical one but then I feel shy sharing personal information with the publishers (maybe I'll do that later!) and for eARCs I tend to forget to peruse NetGalley or Edelweiss and then if I do, I ask only if I really want it. If I had a lot of ARCs to read, I'd get stressed because they have deadlines and things! (I already get stressed by the great number of books on my TBR lol…)
Marie says
Mood, that’s exactly me, worrying a lot even when there’s nothing to worry about haha.
I totally get that and you’re 100% valid for not jumping into ARCs or not seeing the appeal! I feel like they get a lot of hype and make a lot of noise for sure, but there are so many books to be read that are already, released, too. And about sharing your personal info, I get that too! You should jump into it all when and if you feel ready and want to, not because everyone else does 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3
Sophie @ Me and Ink says
This is such a lovely post and has definitely made me think about it, I don’t know what I considered as making it but I know I certainly didn’t feel like I had made it. Like you I think I jump to things like numbers and arcs etc. as they feel like the obvious things but you are so right about it being about other things and there doesn’t necessarily have to be a quota to fill to say that ‘you’ve made it’ because once you started blogging, you are doing it and you are a blogger.
I absolutely love how you have mentioned the things that mean something to you, such as people reading a book you recommended as someone said they read a book because of me and loved it and I can’t really put that feeling into words as it felt surreal and I never really thought I would be capable of that as I’m just writing words on my blog but it made someone pick up a book and they loved it!!
Also talking to authors is something I never thought I would do as being a reader felt like an entirely separate world to the authors but on Instagram and twitter I’ve spoken to real life authors which is amazing and I still can’t believe it!!
There are so many unique and special moments I have had because of blogging that no one can take away, talking to people about books has change my life and brought a lot of joy.
Sorry I feel like I went on a bit of a tangent there haha!! But I completely agree with what you said– success is about enjoyment!! And I think we should all be proud of the big and little things we achieve. Wonderful post Marie!! ?
Marie says
I think it’s so easy to get lost and think of numbers and arcs and stats and everything, but really there are so many little things, the ones that we don’t immediately jump to, that matters so, so much and always fill me with warmth and happiness <3 <3
It feels SO wonderful when someone reads and loves a book I recommend, always, always makes my day! and yes to talking with the authors, I never thought I could do that and I'm like, amazed at times. It makes me so happy <3
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Sophie! <3
Sophie @ Me and Ink says
Yes it can be scarily easy to be obsessed with numbers but there are so many other things and when I think back on blogging I always think of the people and connections I’ve made first as it makes me feel so happy!! <3
It is a very surreal thing when someone picks a book recommendation from you!! I know, I couldn't believe it the first time!! I'm glad it makes you so happy too!! <3
Marie says
Yes me too, I always think of all the friends I’ve made and it makes me the happiest <3
Jenna @ Bookmark Your Thoughts says
Great post. I think the comparing oneself with other bloggers is a huge one. I did that a lot when I first started, both here and Instagram. I’ve gotten a lot better at not comparing myself 🙂
Marie says
I’m so, so happy to hear that, Jenna!! You’re doing fantastic and I love your blog (and your instagram is way too pretty <3) 🙂
Jenna @ Bookmark Your Thoughts says
Thank you, love! <3
Leelynn @ Sometimes Leelynn Reads says
Marie, this post made me cry so much. I think about that term: “making it” as a book blogger, and how that can mean so many things to so many different people. My husband thinks it means charging people for my review, I told him no. That would take out any passion I have for reading and blogging if it becomes a task that I *need* to do. Then like you, I thought it was when I would get accepted for an ARC. Now, it’s every time I get accepted for a blog tour, because I never knew that was something I could even dream of doing, and being *wanted* for blog tours, being *accepted* for blog tours, just even being *considered* for blog tours made me feel like I made it. I try not to look at the numbers in a way that makes me obsessed with it or else I’m going to sink back into that “I’m totally a shitty blogger” feeling and I don’t like that. I just feel like continuing to love what we do every single day, taking breaks when we need to, loving to read and talk about books, that’s how we made it. And we make it every single day. So thank you so much for writing this, Marie, and I am honestly so proud to know you through this community and see all of your content and get to know you just a little bit more every single day through every post.
Marie says
Oh my god you made me cry so much with your comment ahh ? thank you so, so much, your sweet words mean everything to me ahhh. ?
I agree that, somehow, incorporating money into the mix might make it something you “have” to do, another task on the list instead of something we love to do and… it’s so important to focus on the love. <3 <3
Thank you so, so, so much for your sweet comment, this means so so much <3 <3 <3
confessionsofayareader says
I love this post! I was just talking to my husband the other day and showed him some comments on a post. There were multiple people saying they never heard of a book and I made them want to add it to their TBR. That is something that makes me so happy. Comments in general make me feel like I’m connecting to others and doing something right. I won’t lie and say numbers and arcs don’t make me feel successful. They do. But it’s also little milestones and how I’m “seen”. At times, I still feel like I’m trying to find my blogging voice. I ramble a lot and sometimes struggle to express things in a way that makes sense. I have anxiety, so I question myself a lot when I post any type of discussion that could be controversial. (I edited one post at least 5 times before it published.) I know I’ll never make money off blogging. Any little amount I get goes right back into it. But I enjoy being able to talk with others who enjoy the same things as I do. To me, that makes it worth it and it makes me feel like I sort of know what I’m doing.
Marie says
Ahh I so agree with you, these kind of comments are the best. These little things, like knowing you made someone discover a new book, fall in love with another one, knowing that, somehow, no matter the struggles, you’re keeping this hobby because deep down you really love it, that’s the most important and that’s what makes you feel like you “make it”, too, every single day. <3 You're doing so wonderfully and I'm so, so happy to read your comments. you're so right, it's these little things that matter and that we always need to remember 🙂 x
confessionsofayareader says
🙂
Lin says
An amazing post as always! Reading these always inspire me to draft more blog posts ? everytime! So now I carry a note book! ??I was nodding to all of this! ? I totally agree, I used to think that page views were everything, and if I didn’t have those I had failed *dramatic gasp * I’ve only had my blog for a year and a bit and my content… Looking back… ? Not very good ? I’m much happier with my content now! It’s just me screaming in a post and people screaming back at me in the comments! I think that’s what makes me feel like I “made it”? If that make sense? Just feeling like a part of the community and everyone getting excited about books everyone else is reading! ??
Marie says
Ahh thank you so much, I’m so happy you enjoyed it! <3 <3
I 200% agree with you, it's all the talking with other wonderful people in the community and all the screaming about all the books that make me feel all warm inside, too. It's wonderful to feel part of it all and one of the best things ever <3
ashley @ socially awkward bookworm says
I love this post, Marie and it’s so relatable! I’ve been blogging for almost five years as well (we met so long ago!) and even today sometimes I feel like I haven’t “made it” as a book blogger. I think as long as you’re having fun, reading amazing books, and meeting a bunch of cool blogging friends then you’re in pretty good shape as far as “making it” goes. 🙂
Marie says
AH ASHLEY. I can’t believe we have been blogging for so long and can’t believe we’ve known each other this long, either! <3 <3
I agree, as long as we're having fun, we're doing amazing!! 😀
Beware Of The Reader says
I so love this post! And yes what makes me feel like I “made it” as a book blogger is when someone says that he or she read a book that I had recommended and loved it or when I chat with other bloggers and followers. When an author agrees to answer my questions….
Marie says
AH YES that’s it, I love that feeling so much, when someone read a book because of me, it makes me so happy!! <3 and talking with authors always feels like a bit of a dream haha 🙂
Thank you, Sophie! 🙂
Carol says
Great points! For me, it’s the feedback I receive from readers/followers more than the numbers. But about the numbers….someone once said to think of those 100 followers as real people sitting in an audience where you are speaking. Those 100 can fill a room and are a lot of people when you think of them sitting in chairs! Then imagine that number is 1,000! That concept has helped me feel very satisfied with my follower count!
Marie says
Agree, I love getting feedback from readers more than anything else, it feels like I’ve done something right, somehow, started a conversation and it always, always makes me so happy. <3
Oh wow this is such a great way to put things in perspective indeed!! 😀
roxreadingcorner says
Your experience is always good to read! Big thank you for sharing it with us ❤️
I started my blog in 2016 but 2019 is the year I took it « seriously ». It’s been 3 months I post every week, and I’m really proud of it. It’s a kind of « I made it » haha. My goal was: to write about my books and my reader’s life! When I think of all it can offer to me if I became « an important book blogger » it would be bonus to me ?
I know my blog is clearly not perfect but I like what I do, what I read and who I meet online ? I LOVE BOOK BLOGGING ❤️❤️
Marie says
I am SO proud of you and so happy you started blogging more often this year, I wouldn’t have find you otherwise and I would have been so sad? . You’re doing such an incredible job and I adore your blog so, so much, I always can’t wait to see what you’ll do next <3
Thank you so much for your sweet comment!! <3 <3
evelynreads1 says
Such a great discussion! Thanks!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Marie says
Thank you so much, I’m so happy you enjoyed it 😀
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence says
I love how you highlighted a few things that made you feel like a successful book blogger, it’s definitely the comments and the community that make it all worthwhile!
Marie says
Agree!! <3 Thank you so, so much, Jeann! <3
Yesha - Books Teacup and Reviews says
Being stay-at-home parent, blogging and reading is all I can call living for myself. Even before baby it was important for me, it boost my confidence. It surely felt good getting followers, looking at stats and being contacted by authors,getting books but what makes me a book blogger is I live for it. I don’t earn, I can’t afford to monetize as all the spare money goes in buying books but I love reading and talking about books.
Marie says
I’m so happy it bosts your confidence, that’s so important! and it’s so great that you’re enjoying it so much, that’s what matters the most. It’s so easy to let the pressure get to us sometimes, and in these moments, we should remember the love we have for it all 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3
theareads34 says
This post is BEAUTIFUL. I’m feeling so warm and happy inside. Thank you for talking about this, Marie❤️❤️
Marie says
Ahhh this makes me so so very happy to read. thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
Jared Brown says
I love this! I’ve been book blogging for five years and I LOVE it when people talk about how unimportant ARC’s are. At the start, my entire purpose for wanting to blog was for free books, but over time as I have invested time into my blog, it’s helped me realize that I’m blogging for me instead of those ARC. While ARC”s are always nice, it’s nice to see that all the work I put into something has helped me find my true passion.
Marie says
Ahh I’m so happy to hear this and that you’ve found your passion through blogging! We can’t deny that the whole free books thing is appealing, but there are so, so many wonderful things about blogging that have nothing to do with that <3 <3
Meeghan reads says
Oh Marie, this post is EVERYTHING!! I love it. I have been blogging for years, but until this year didn’t really understand how blogging actually worked (as you will be able to see from my end of year wrap-up that I’ve started outlining…) I didn’t even know what an ARC was when I first started blogging!!
I also feel your pain as an international blogger. But seriously, getting that interaction on each post, or seeing someone pick up a book that you loved – that’s the real joy!!
Marie says
Oh thank you so, so much, I’m so happy you enjoyed this post <3 I so get that, I had no idea what ARCs were at the very beginning, either. So many things to always discover in book blogging! 🙂
Agree! The interaction and incredible friends we make is the BEST. <3
jackiesreadingcorner says
I loved reading this post, I have only been blogging since June, and just get excited if someone likes something I’ve posted. I lack so much confidence and have anxiety, got carried away with the eARC’s at the beginning as I didn’t expect to be given any and then got nearly all I had requested. So ended up with an awful lot of books to read and review. I have received a couple of physical books and I admit I would like more of those, but don’t have a clue on how to even go about getting them, but it’s only because as much as I love my kindle sometimes it’s just nice to have that real book in your hand, and not be reading from a screen. I have purchased so many books as well as I see them on twitter or on blogs and think I must get that. But being disabled as well money will only go so far. I have been asked to do some blog tours which I find the thought of quite daunting and don’t volunteer to be on the first day as I want to make sure I have the layout correct etc. But I love the book people, the writers, the bloggers everyone is so friendly. It’s just fun to do, I have hardly seen any television in months despite there being a number of programmes I want to watch and I must make a bit of time to take a break and watch a couple of things. I don’t want this to feel like a chore, I want to be able to do it when I feel like it. I don’t want to hit a slump with my reading either. So I think I need to allow myself time to do other things as well as read. But I have always loved reading and if by blogging someone buys an authors book on my recommendation then that’s reward enough. ❤️❤️❤️
Marie says
Ahhh thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, I’m so happy you enjoyed this post <3
Blogging can get a little overwhelming at times and I definitely think it's important to take breaks and time for yourself, for other hobbies and just, life as a whole, too. It also makes the come back to blogging that much more fun, too. Blogging is incredible and the friends we make and books we discover never fail to amaze me 🙂
jackiesreadingcorner says
You are so right there, I feel I am using my brain again, not used it in a while lol. I’m disabled so don’t get out much. Cross stitch has been the thing to keep me sane for many years but I have osteoarthritis in my hands and have so far had five surgeries on them, possibly another one to come. So the stitching has been a bit left out although I do want to pick it up at some stage just maybe not stitch for such long periods, I tend to binge watch tv at same time as stitching, so not watched much tv as I don’t like to just sit here on my own watching it doing nothing, that may sound a little crazy but I guess it’s what I have got used to. Although I would like to get my netgalley books down a bit more. Work on my site a little I love your site so much more interesting, but half the things I haven’t figured out yet, normally my second son would be the IT person but haven’t seen him since May which is a little crazy as hi and his fiancé were living in Carlisle but moved back down south last year with the intention of visiting more but that hasn’t happened and for me they may as well still be in Carlisle. I have my daughter local and two other sons who moved to Leicester which is where I originally come from, so it’s weird they grew up here and moved to Leicester and I grew up there and moved here with my parents almost forty years ago. I do enjoy reading other people’s blogs, I always worry I am not writing the right things, but I have noticed my writing is getting better. I hadn’t really used twitter until I started blogging now I’m addicted, but I think it’s because it’s communicating with other people. I think I need to learn to say no occasionally as well. I would love to get more physical books as well as I’m a bit old school there is something about the feel of a book, compared to kindle or kindle app staring at a screen. Like you say though the people are lovely not just bloggers but the authors as well. ?
Marie says
I’m so happy blogging has brought you so much, it’s such a wonderful hobby to have and it’s so fulfilling as well, I agree! Plus there’s always so much to do and so many people to chat with, you can never ever get bored haha 🙂 x
Cee Arr @ Dora Reads says
I’m also coming up to my 5-years-of-blogging, and I totally get what you mean!
Although… I totally admit to wanting to be the sh** when it comes to book-blogging 😉 I wanna be ‘the best’ (whatever that even means!)
I’ve also, happily, started to make money! The tiniest bit.
From one lovely person buying me a ko-fi last year (yep, that’s where 4 years of blogging got me…) and this year I *finally* had enough to get some payment from Amazon affiliate-y-ness. (Not gonna pretend that’s been easy – because it’s been the opposite, but I’m so glad I stuck it with through 3 years of making no money whatsoever on it!) If this keeps up, I may even be able to make up the money I spent on my domain! 😉
So, yeah. It’s actually possible to make money book-blogging. Not a lot. But actual cash! So, there’s def. hope for all the scary-talented newbies out there! XD
Marie says
Ahh yay another fellow 5-year blogger, that’s so great!! and I’m so, so happy to hear you started to make a little bit of money, showing us that it’s not impossible haha, that’s fantastic! 😀
Thank you for sharing your experience!
Marta @ the book mermaid says
I love how you always fill your posts with positive thoughts! ^^
Unfortunately, I /still/ very much associate being successful with numbers, when it comes to my blog – some days looking at stats affects me more than on other days. While I do know I shouldn’t measure my accomplishments like that, it’s stronger than me. So it was nice to remember my first follower (who’s a dear friend), my bookish friends, that time I was featured on an Instagram book page because of a review. and my first (and only, so far, but I have hope!!) time getting a physical arc <3 Thank you!!
Marie says
Ahh thank you, Marta! I’m so happy it comes off this way, I really want to be positive in these kind of posts so I’m so happy it comes off okay 🙂
I 200% get that and I think, honestly, that we won’t ever stop associating success with numbers completely. It’s just how we are wired, somehow. Yet I find myself coming back to the little things way more often than the numbers lately and I feel so good about that, too. the bookish friends and conversations, the opportunities, no matter how small or big, the smile on my face as I answer a comment 😀
Thank you for your sweet comment, Marta <3 <3
Chocoviv says
Nice to meet you in the Blogger world!!
Marie says
Great to meet you too!! 🙂
Caitlin @ Caitlin Althea says
Marie, you have no idea how much I needed this post!! When I first started, I used to measure my worth in arcs to.. which is funny because now I have to force myself to read the arcs I do have. I just hate that there’s a deadline of sorts to read them before release date! For me, that’s definitely not how to make it as a book blogger, and it just gives me a lot of stress!
I love book blogging, and starting my book blog honestly changed my life for the better, but there’s always this *small part* of me that wants to make money out of this very time-consuming hobby, but posts like this always remind me that money isn’t the be-all end-all! But reading this post made me realize that I actually have made it. I’ve made so many relationships that I value, and checking WordPress always puts a smile on my face. Thank you so much for this post, Marie. <3
Marie says
Oh this makes me so, so happy that this post could find you at the right time <3 I'm so sorry you've been feeling stressed out about it and I so get that. I used to feel the same way, then realized how easy it is to feel overwhelmed about it all and just wanting to hide from it all hahaha. I'm really trying my best to be mindful of what I request so I can handle it and my mind can, too, now, haha. 🙂
I get that. My mind works the same way and I guess it's normal, we spend so much time on it all. Yet, there are so many other rewarding things we should think of, like friends and wonderful bookish discoveries that have no value <3 <3
Thank you for your sweet comment! <3
whiskeyonmykindle says
I totally agree. It’s all about interaction for me. I’ve only just started a book blog but I’ve had my bookstagram for a few weeks longer. And I’m having so much fun! I don’t have much content yet but I love just writing what I want to write and discussing things with other people!
Marie says
I’m so, so happy to hear that! The interactions are definitely the best part of it all 🙂
readlogy (ikram) says
This is a beautiful post… thank you. I’m still a small blogger and often I feel like I won’t be as successful as others. But I agree with most of your point! This post is a reminder that sometimes I gotta appreciate a little comment someone left on my post, the likes and when people reads a book because of my review.
Marie says
Oh thank you so much for your sweet comment, so happy you enjoyed it! <3 Agree, it's so important to appreciate the little things, they're so wonderful <3
Belle says
Marie!! I love this post so much ❤️! This is something I think about a lot too, and I’m also not sure if it’s a side effect of anxiety or me just being me ?. I think you really nailed what it means to “make it” as a book blogger.
For me, personally, I don’t think any amount of followers or page views will make me feel like a “legitimate” book blogger. I’m learning to let go of that nagging part of my brain that likes to insist that once I have 100 more followers or 100 more page views, then I’ll be a book blogger—because, there’s no number of page stats that I’ll ever be fully satisfied with. And, you brought up a great point that making money from this hobby will remain a dream for most of us haha.
Instead, focusing on the whole process of creating posts I care about and receiving feedback from people that resonated with my content, THAT’S how I feel like I’ve “made it” as a book blogger. I think it all comes down to what most bookworms’ goals of starting a book blog are: screaming about books and interacting with other bookworms. So, as long as that passion and interaction are there, we should all feel like we’ve made it ?.
Marie says
Well welcome to my life, I think a whole damn lot about this, too ? another reason why we might be secret twins or something ?
Exactly! I think that, while numbers can completely be out of our control and just so obscure, at times, creating posts and focusing on our, “craft” is something that we can control and thrive in, too. <3
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment ,I'm so happy you enjoyed this post <3
Molly's Book Nook says
Omg this is so sweet! I thought this was going to go in a completely different direction but the overall message of this was lovely! There are so many other ways to measure success as a blogger <3
Marie says
Ahh, thank you, I’m so happy you enjoyed this <3 <3
May @ Forever and Everly says
I read this post right before I had to go to school, so I couldn’t comment, but god, I love this post so much, Marie. I think it’s very human of people to yearn for a feeling of success in their life, and that definitely applies to blogging. I definitely feel like getting your first eARC/physical ARC is still attributed to “making it” as a blogger (or a booktuber), and it really isn’t!! I remember when I got my first ARC, I thought something along the lines of “wow I finally made it, I’m finally a true book blogger”, and I hate that I thought that, for so many reasons.
But I really am so proud of you, and all these things you’ve been able to accomplish, especially as an international blogger. I know you said numbers aren’t a true signifier of success, but every time I see your follower amount grow, I smile so much because you absolutely deserve all these people supporting you and your amazing content. And honestly, I think one of the things that made me feel like I had made it back when I was a very fresh newbie was that you had followed me! I still feel like that with your support <3
Marie says
Oh May thank you so, so, so much for your sweet words, I’m so happy you enjoyed this post so much ahh, this made my day <3
Right here with you on the ARC thing, it's funny how we come to associate it with success when.. well, really, it's not that at all. <3
I'm ??? you're too sweet, I just feel like an impostor 100% of the time to be honest, this means the world that you think this ah, May I just can't thank you enough for this ? I'm forever grateful that our paths crossed, I adore you and your blog and all of your work so much ❤️
Olivia-Savannah says
This is such an interesting post! I remember when I got my first 50 followers and I was SO HAPPY! Mostly I felt like when I made it when I started to make a little profit from blogging. But I eventually decided it wasn’t for me because I had to do very particular posts and I wanted my freedom back. So now I feel like I’ve made it when anyone comments on my blog. When someone comes back to me and says they enjoyed a book I recommended or reviewed. Or when I finish a post and press publish and quickly scan it over and think: I created that.
Marie says
Ahh thank you Olivia, I’m so happy you enjoyed this post <3 <3
I'm with you, I love it when people react to what I wrote and comments always, always make my day <3 <3
theorangutanlibrarian says
I really get what you mean about misconceptions of making it as a book blogger. I really get what you mean about a lot of firsts feeling like you’ve made it 😀 But I *totally* agree that when people pick up books you recommend it feels incredible!! And notifications from authors are the *craziest* thing! Absolutely love this post! 😀 <3
Marie says
Ahhh thank you! I’m so happy you can relate to this 😀
Hunida says
Beautiful, beautiful post, Marie!! I do book reviews on my blog but, I would never really consider myself a “book blogger.” The first time someone picked up a book off my recommendation meant so much to me, too. & you’re right– you’ve made it, if you feel it in your heart. It has nothing to do with numbers. ♡
Marie says
Ahh thank you so much, you’re so sweet <3 <3 I'm so happy you enjoyed this post <3