Hardcover Lover Confessions (or HCL Confessions) is a discussion post feature on The Hardcover Lover. In the posts, I confess bookish habits, thoughts, or other random things with my readers, and then I encourage everyone to start discussing that comment with one another.
There really isn't an order as to when I post my Confessions - I kind of come up with them when an issue arises or a thought pops into my head. Ergo, there could be one a month or there could be a few a month. It just all depends on what's going on in the book community or how I feel.
This week's confession is a lot more personal than ones in the past have been, so please bear with me. I have been holding all of this in for a while, and I felt like just letting it out would be therapeutic for me.
HCL Confession on Blogging Slumps
I don't know if you have noticed or not, but I've been in a bit of a blogging slump lately. Well... I should actually say huge blogging slump. I honestly don't even know why it's happened to me because I was really on top of things for a while. I was organizing posts left and right. I was sorting through books to see which ones I would read next. I was happy. And then I wasn't.
I know other people were saying that the whole blogging and book community is in a bit of a slump, but it feels like more than that to me personally. I don't know if it was caused by a lot of the previous drama that happened with the book community, the lack of responses for a blogiversary event I was going to host, or if it was a particular project I was working on with someone else, but something hit me. And it hit me hard. Recently, I've even thought about just packing it in and quitting, but I just love discussing books with my readers and the people I've befriended on Goodreads.
Lately I've been finding it hard just to come up with post ideas, and to be honest, a lot of what you've seen lately has been scheduled in advance. I used to love participating in certain memes, but I just look at them and feel like it's all been done before or that it's just not worth it. Other times, I'm just too busy to create a post, and then I feel bad... like I'm offending the host for skipping a week. I've even missed two weeks of my own meme, Soundtrack Saturday, because I don't feel like blogging.
I used to love commenting on other blogs, but again, I just feel so out of place when I go to comment on a blog because I feel like it's all about self-promotion now. I see people leaving links to unrelated posts on other people's blogs, and it just makes me think about how much it really looks like spam. I don't want people to think that I'm that kind of blogger. I don't mind CommentLuv, as a feature, but there are times when I see some really wonky comments out there that just include links. Like really? That's spam! Personally, I comment on a post that grabs my attention. I comment on reviews for books I've already read. I don't want to feel like I'm being pressured into commenting on all these posts. I also don't want people to think I'm only commenting on their post so they will eventually comment back on my blog.
And it's not just a blogging slump that's hit me. I think I'm also in a reading slump because it's taking me so long to finish books. I am usually able to finish a book in a day or two, but now it's taking me a week or two just because I feel like I'm just tired of it all. Not only do I feel behind on posts, but now I feel like I'm going to be behind on reviews, especially ARC reviews. I keep looking at my ARC pile and list of eARCs, and I feel sad because even though there aren't that many, I know I won't be able to read some of them by the books' publication dates. It's just a disheartening feeling to not feel like what you love is something that you really love.
And then I keep getting review requests, even though my review policy states that it's closed. I don't know where all these authors are finding me to ask. It's flattering that they'd ask, but it's annoying to deal with requests for reviews when A. I'm not accepting them, and B. They are for books in genres I don't read. I thought those days were done and over with, but I guess not. I just feel like I'm wasting time replying to these emails, and it's taking away from my love of reading and blogging.
I know I'm not the only book blogger out there who feels this way. I've seen quite a few Twitter statuses about it, but I just feel so alone in this feeling. I know I've confided in a few friends about it, and they've told me that the feeling will pass, but it's been months now. I just can't shake it. Maybe this post will help. Maybe it won't. Maybe my pile of ARCs will light a fire under my ass and get me started up again. Maybe celebrating my blog's upcoming anniversary will help. To be honest... I really don't know. All I really do know is that I had to let all of this out. I had to express my feelings, and I do feel a little better now that it's all in written words.
Your Confessions
If you've read this much, just know that I love you for taking the time to read that whole rant. I really, really do.
I don't even know if this post will be relatable to everyone out there, but if it is, I'd love to hear what you have to say about blogging slumps. I'd love to hear how you came out of a blogging slump or if you're feeling the same way at the moment. If you're feeling frustrated, let me or anyone else know. I'm sure we'll be able to get a good conversation going on this post.
And like all HCL Confessions posts - please be respectful with your comments. I don't think it'll be an issue on this post because it's not controversial, but remember that I can always ask you to refrain from commenting on future HCL Confessions.
