Why I Blog
Stefanie tagged me on the 5 Reasons Why I Blog meme and at this point I’ve seen it going on around the blogosphere and many of you have answered with such thoughtful answers that I don’t know if I can do this justice. I think I’ll be repeating a lot but here it goes.
Some of the first blogs I read were blogs written by illustrators and/or graphic designers. I really enjoyed the way they seemed to infuse creativity in not just their work but their lives. I wanted to do something like that and then it just sort of clicked, I would blog about how books have enriched my life and so my blog started in June 2004. I quickly realized that there was already a growing book blog community and I knew I’d found my place. Some of my first blog must-reads were the wonderful blogs by Stefanie, Susan, and Patricia.
When I started this blog I didn’t think I’d keep it up for such a long time. Really the list of the hobbies I’ve had over the years is crazy. I can’t seem to stick with one but blogging about books is fantastic. Sure, there are times when I think I’ve said it all with regards to books but then a new book is discovered, a bookstore find must be talked about, etc. You know how it goes. So really there is always something to say about books and that keeps me going.
I like to journal. I know I’ve shown you pictures of my journals, I even make journals, and blogging is just another extension of keeping a diary. I’ve journaled about my books before but now it’s so much nicer because I actually get to hear what you have thought of the same books.
It’s a lot of fun. I enjoy doing the memes, taking part in the challenges (even if I don’t finish them) and adding new authors and books to my TBR list. If I ever felt that blogging was becoming a chore then I’d give it up.
Finally, I do it for the community. I get to talk about books with blog friends from all over the world. What’s not to love about that. I dream of one day getting us all together for a big book fest. We could read poetry to one another, go on a bookstore field trip and end the fest with a book swap. You’d come right?
Thank you for the tag Stefanie! If you haven’t done this one yet then consider yourself tagged.
Happy weekend all!
aka nik http://keepthisonthedl.blogspot.com
August 4th, 2007 at 8:22 amI’d come to your book bloggers party! How exciting would that be? We could have like a journal making station, a poetry place, a bookswap. Oh man, I’m getting excited already!
tanabata http://tanabata.blogspot.com/
August 4th, 2007 at 8:39 amBig book fest? Sure, I’d come!
I always enjoy reading your blog so I hope you continue for some time to come.
litlove http://litlove.wordpress.com
August 4th, 2007 at 9:48 amI didn’t realise you’d been going so long! That’s incredible, Iliana – you were one of the book blog pioneers! I always pop in to see what you are reading and love your neat little posts. Very much enjoyed your answers here.
Lazy Cow http://www.onlybooksallthetime.blogspot.com
August 4th, 2007 at 10:17 amI like your answers to this meme. You are one of my inspirations, as you always have something interesting to say and you’ve been blogging for so long about books. I’d definitely come to the book party. We could all bring our favourite books and talk, talk, talk about them. And no one would think we are wierd (unlike a lot of people I know in real life!)
Dorothy W. http://ofbooksandbikes.wordpress.com
August 4th, 2007 at 2:44 pmNice answers — I agree with you on all of them! I’d be there at the book fest, definitely!
Tara http://booksandcooks.blogspot.com/
August 4th, 2007 at 2:47 pmI’d love to come to the world book party! I imagine that sometimes myself, what it would be like to get so many bookish people together.
Stefanie http://somanybooksblog.com
August 4th, 2007 at 3:25 pm“So really there is always something to say about books and that keeps me going.” So true! Enjoyed your answers Iliana! A book fest would be loads of fun.
Literary Feline http://literaryfeline.blogspot.com
August 4th, 2007 at 5:45 pmIliana – A get together would be fun. I especially like the idea of a bookstore field trip. LOL I very much enjoyed reading your response to this meme. I love journaling but have never been good at keeping up with it. My books are about the only journal I am regular about keeping up.
Nymeth http://thingsmeanalot.blogspot.com/
August 4th, 2007 at 11:22 pmI would definitely come
I agree that one never runs out of things to say about books. That makes keeping a blog much easier.
Matt http://mattviews.wordpress.com
August 5th, 2007 at 1:03 amWhat you share about the book blogging community, the book searching, book hunting, trivias–these are all the reasons why I blog as well.
Procrastinate, procrastinate. Danielle has tagged me for this meme so I’ll get it out soon.
Book blogger summit…a one-of-a-kind book discussion group would be great. How ’bout a pot luck?
Dark Orpheus http://darkorpheus.blogspot.com/
August 5th, 2007 at 8:02 amI like your answers to the meme, I guess because I agree with them.
Ah, bookfest. Just tell me when and where in the world – hopefully in advance – I’ll try to fly there.
Even if the thought of meeting a large group of people all at once scares me.
Bookgirl http://www.bookgirl.net
August 5th, 2007 at 6:35 pmaka Nik – A bookmaking station – that’s a great idea! See, more dreamy thoughts of a book fest.
Seriously, I need to look into how we can make a book fest happen. I think that would seriously rock!
tanabata – I’ve got you down on the list
Litlove – I know, I can’t belive I’ve had this going on for such a long tme too. So fun.
Lazy Cow – Isn’t that the truth! We could talk books forever and no glazed eyes around
Tara – Yay, another one who dreams of this!
Stefanie – Thank you for the tag and for the being one of my first blog inspirations and friends
Literary Feline – I’d promise I’d take you all to the big half price books we have. It’s truly amazing.
Nymeth – I know, there are always so many new books to talk about or old ones to rediscover aren’t there.
Matt – I don’t know about a pot luck – I’d only be able to bring cereal – ha,ha… I can’t wait to read your answers!
Dark Orpheus – Great minds huh
Nancy http://liveloveread.com
August 6th, 2007 at 3:10 amThat would be so cool. I would be there. I just found out that the Library of Congress does a huge book event in Sept. on the mall. ALl kids of authors go and speak. I would love to go…. But, I would go to your ‘fest first!!!
patricia http://storms.typepad.com
August 7th, 2007 at 6:39 pmI would love a book-blogger fest! There also must be plenty of good food and wine at this event, you realize.
Wonderful answers to why you blog. Certainly some the same reasons why I got into this blogging thing, too. A chance to share my love of books and art, to showcase my work to a larger audience, and of course, to meet a multitude of new, interesting, talented kindred spirits.
Bookgirl http://www.bookgirl.net
August 8th, 2007 at 5:40 amNancy – Aw, I’m glad you’d come to my fest first
Patricia – I always love looking at your art. It always makes me smile. Oh and yes we’d have lots of good food and wine (don’t worry I wouldn’t cook – ha,ha)