by

10 Ways to Become a More Awesome Book Blogger

10 Ways to Become a More Awesome Book Blogger Because, obviously, you are already awesome if you are here on this page. Or, if you’re thinking about starting a book blog and haven’t yet, you have the potential to becoming really awesome. Now, earlier this year I shared with you how book bloggers have a tendency to post the same stuff and the tendency to try to do EVERYTHING (spoiler alert: you can’t). But now that you know how to avoid little pitfalls like these, how do you become more awesome at what you do?

1.) Sugar, caffeine, and maybe some sleep deprivation

Don’t lie to me. You know that the best work comes at this stage. I’ve had no great blogging ideas all week and now that I’ve hyped myself up on sugar and caffeine I’m tuning in on the motherload of ideas. Don’t ignore what you come up with after you’ve drowned yourself in tea or coffee cake or what brilliancy you stumble across when you wake up at 4:00 AM. Just go with it.

2.) BE PERSONAL

Forgive me for yelling, but do not become some monotone article writer just because you think it sounds more professional. There is a need for a degree of professionalism in blogging, but it’s blogging. It’s meant to be personal. If I want to read something without personality, I’ll read a newspaper. Your personality is what brings people in and makes you awesome. And if you have to yell a bit? It’s okay. I did it, after all.

3.) Don’t limit yourself

Do not restrict yourself without good cause. Bloggers have to be innovative. It’s a constantly changing world and being open to this change and being part of it is great. If you have a great idea? Don’t limit yourself. Unless, like, it’s a really bad idea. I think you’ll know the difference. In other words. . .

4.) Experiment

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Like I said when I was talking about bloggers who try to do everything, you have to experiment to find what you’re good at. You can’t do everything. Find what you’re good with and mess around with it. Get better. Grow. And have fun doing it!

5.) Change up how you review

In celebration, why don’t you change up how you review every now and then? If other blog readers are anything like me, book reviews are actually some of the most boring posts to read on a book blog. Considering that this is the type post that many book blogs revolve around, why not liven it up and make it more fun? I’m still experimenting with this one. Sometimes I add GIFs because they amuse me, but I’m still looking for the perfect way to make these more fun. If you get a great idea, send me a link (not for me to steal it, but so I can stare in awe at the wonder of your awesomeness).

6.) Get ideas. Keep ideas.

This kind of links into the don’t restrict yourself thing, but goes a little further. When you get an idea? Write it down. No matter how stupid it is. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hit a week of blogger burnout (like this week for me) and not had any idea what to do and then something in the list of all of my past ideas stands out to me and gives me some awesome revelation. Or I find some way to make one of the stupid ideas work.

7.) Steal ideas from other genres

Unless you’ve been living under that rock that Patrick from Spongebob lives under, you are aware of the many many kinds of blogs that are out on the internet. Book blogging tends to be quite a repetitive genre, so I always find it nice to keep up with a few other genres and learn from them. Often times, they’re doing something that book bloggers haven’t put their own spin on. Even if you don’t find any stellar ideas, there are some fun blogs out there that aren’t about reading.

8.) Get interactive

How many blogs have you visited that have absolutely no interaction whatsoever? Reply to your comments. Reply to the people who send you tweets. Be responsive. Not only is it nice and makes your current readers want to keep reading, it makes you look awesome and fun and attracts new readers. That being said, make it obvious that you’re open to interaction. Send tweets to the people you follow. It’s not as creepy as you think! You’ll always come across people who will never reply to you for who knows what reason, but more often than not, bloggers love getting comments and tweets and it’s a great way to win their favor. Just don’t be spammy about it. Send genuine comments and tweets. If you’re not sure what to tweet, try replying to one of their most recent tweets. Another way to appear open is to make it clear that you want to communicate through your blog posts. Personally, I do this by asking my readers a question (and ask them to leave their answer in the comments) at the bottom of each of my posts. Some bloggers guarantee replying to the comments. Some guarantee going to your blog and commenting on one of your posts if you comment on one of theirs.

9.) Be friendly

Add on to getting interactive. Be friendly with other bloggers. Don’t just interact. Become friends. Reach out to new bloggers and help them get started. Help people who may have 500 more followers than you. Just be nice. It pays off. Experience is not measured in how many followers or views you have or how nice your blog design is. Just be there and be nice to all of your fellow bloggers. It pays off in the long run and you make friends. Win win!

10.) DO

Yep. I’m back to yelling. This may be the most important thing on this list. You have to DO. Whatever you decide to do? DO IT. You can’t be awesome if you don’t be awesome. May the force of awesome be with you.

Did I miss any awesome tips on this list? What are some ways that you’re an awesome blogger? Let me know in the comments below!

(see? I asked you a question)

36 Comments


  1. // Reply

    Haha this list made me smile (especially the first one)! They’re all very great points. We must be similar because I think my best ideas come in the wee hours of the morning or when I’m SUPER HYPED UP ON CAFFEINE or both 😛


    1. // Reply

      Lack of inhibition, I suppose! When I’m really on a roll with blogging, I just like to drink way more coffee than I ever do in a week. In my mind, paying the price of being jittery is worth it for all of the great (or not so great) ideas.


  2. // Reply

    Haha this list made me smile (especially the first one)! They’re all very great points. We must be similar because I think my best ideas come in the wee hours of the morning or when I’m SUPER HYPED UP ON CAFFEINE or both 😛


    1. // Reply

      Lack of inhibition, I suppose! When I’m really on a roll with blogging, I just like to drink way more coffee than I ever do in a week. In my mind, paying the price of being jittery is worth it for all of the great (or not so great) ideas.


  3. // Reply

    This is a great list! Thank you for making it! As a relatively new blogger (I’ve been a book blogger since Christmas), it’s always the first hill that things start getting really tiresome. Running out of ideas and such. So thanks! 🙂

    Amanda @ Of Spectacles and Books


    1. // Reply

      Oh, it really does. Even once you get further in there are rough patches. And welcome to the blogging world! Though, you’re about six months in now, I’d say you’re more than new now.


      1. // Reply

        Yeah, that’s what other people have said. I guess once you can start sending emails to publishers and request physical ARCs, it’s a little different lol. 🙂


        1. // Reply

          Haha, I suppose! A whole new kind of rough patch there! I honestly don’t request books unless I really really want to read them so I don’t get too overloaded. Don’t worry too much about that, though. You’ll be where you can request books before you know it! Honestly, I had a publisher contact me a few months into blogging, so if there’s a book you really want to review? Don’t be afraid to do some research on requesting and see if they’ll take you.


  4. // Reply

    This is a great list! Thank you for making it! As a relatively new blogger (I’ve been a book blogger since Christmas), it’s always the first hill that things start getting really tiresome. Running out of ideas and such. So thanks! 🙂

    Amanda @ Of Spectacles and Books


    1. // Reply

      Oh, it really does. Even once you get further in there are rough patches. And welcome to the blogging world! Though, you’re about six months in now, I’d say you’re more than new now.


      1. // Reply

        Yeah, that’s what other people have said. I guess once you can start sending emails to publishers and request physical ARCs, it’s a little different lol. 🙂


        1. // Reply

          Haha, I suppose! A whole new kind of rough patch there! I honestly don’t request books unless I really really want to read them so I don’t get too overloaded. Don’t worry too much about that, though. You’ll be where you can request books before you know it! Honestly, I had a publisher contact me a few months into blogging, so if there’s a book you really want to review? Don’t be afraid to do some research on requesting and see if they’ll take you.


  5. // Reply

    I’m still working on interacting and making friends with other bloggers, as most seem to have a high following, amd they “just don’t have the time to respond to everyone.” I think I visit far more blogs than I post on my own.

    As for book reviews, I read ones on books I already have a prior interest in. Very seldom do I come across one that jumps out at me, and I’ve never heard of it. As far as my own book reviews, I use pictures, gifs, and quotes. One that I especially had fun with was V is for Villain, and I used lots of old pop culture references. I also challenge myself to do quirky 1 or 2 sentence quick summaries, instead of copy/pasting 3 paragraphs from Goodreads that I can just link to.


    1. // Reply

      Reaching out to the blogs with a high following can be kind of terrifying too! Even though Verbosity has started to get a following this year, I still get nervous communicating with bloggers with a high following. But if you’re looking for interaction, I’m usually quick to respond on Twitter (when I’m not busy, Twitter is my life), and newish-to good but not large following bloggers generally can respond faster too.

      And girl? You have mastered the fun review. All the pop-culture references and stuff? Oh my goodness, you did it riiiiight. Love it! I like how you do the quick summaries too. Great job on being unique!


  6. // Reply

    I’m still working on interacting and making friends with other bloggers, as most seem to have a high following, amd they “just don’t have the time to respond to everyone.” I think I visit far more blogs than I post on my own.

    As for book reviews, I read ones on books I already have a prior interest in. Very seldom do I come across one that jumps out at me, and I’ve never heard of it. As far as my own book reviews, I use pictures, gifs, and quotes. One that I especially had fun with was V is for Villain, and I used lots of old pop culture references. I also challenge myself to do quirky 1 or 2 sentence quick summaries, instead of copy/pasting 3 paragraphs from Goodreads that I can just link to.


    1. // Reply

      Reaching out to the blogs with a high following can be kind of terrifying too! Even though Verbosity has started to get a following this year, I still get nervous communicating with bloggers with a high following. But if you’re looking for interaction, I’m usually quick to respond on Twitter (when I’m not busy, Twitter is my life), and newish-to good but not large following bloggers generally can respond faster too.

      And girl? You have mastered the fun review. All the pop-culture references and stuff? Oh my goodness, you did it riiiiight. Love it! I like how you do the quick summaries too. Great job on being unique!


  7. // Reply

    This is such an awesome post. I’m still working on making my reviews more fun but I always reply to comments and comment back on the the commenter’s blog, follow back, ect…


    1. // Reply

      Which is a great start! Interaction is one of the most fun parts of blogging, anyways!


  8. // Reply

    This is such an awesome post. I’m still working on making my reviews more fun but I always reply to comments and comment back on the the commenter’s blog, follow back, ect…


    1. // Reply

      Which is a great start! Interaction is one of the most fun parts of blogging, anyways!


  9. // Reply

    I’m really trying to be a better blogger and blog more often, but also visit, read, AND comment on other blogs. (I don’t think I’ve ever commented here before… so I guess something is working XD) Even though my blog is not primarily a book blog, this list was still great and just what I needed. Thank you so much!


    1. // Reply

      I’m so glad it helped! Many of these work for more than book blogging, but I usually try to tailor things a bit for this niche. And welcome to Verbosity!


  10. // Reply

    I’m really trying to be a better blogger and blog more often, but also visit, read, AND comment on other blogs. (I don’t think I’ve ever commented here before… so I guess something is working XD) Even though my blog is not primarily a book blog, this list was still great and just what I needed. Thank you so much!


    1. // Reply

      I’m so glad it helped! Many of these work for more than book blogging, but I usually try to tailor things a bit for this niche. And welcome to Verbosity!


    1. // Reply

      Oh, yes, I didn’t even think of adding that one, but that’s a great point. It’s obvious when people aren’t being themselves and it doesn’t make it very fun to read what they have to say because of it.


    1. // Reply

      Oh, yes, I didn’t even think of adding that one, but that’s a great point. It’s obvious when people aren’t being themselves and it doesn’t make it very fun to read what they have to say because of it.


  11. // Reply

    Great post! I get what you mean about keeping reviews unique, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of copying everyone else, it’s definitely something I’ve been collecting ideas about recently and yay for summer because I can finally get working on them!


    1. // Reply

      It really is. . . But summer is a wonderful time to get experimenting! I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Maybe I’ll get some time to comment one of these days too.


  12. // Reply

    Great post! I get what you mean about keeping reviews unique, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of copying everyone else, it’s definitely something I’ve been collecting ideas about recently and yay for summer because I can finally get working on them!


    1. // Reply

      It really is. . . But summer is a wonderful time to get experimenting! I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Maybe I’ll get some time to comment one of these days too.


  13. // Reply

    Cool post…couldn’t agree more that so often the most boring things on book blogs are the reviews. But then I start to feel guilty when I go off and explore my own book-related interests. Thanks for the reassurance that it’s okay!

    (If you wander over to have a look at my blog, please don’t laught…it’s a brand new site and I’m having difficulty getting the comments to work).


    1. // Reply

      It’s really nothing to be guilty over! A blog is a way to express yourself and opinions. I like to write reviews, but that’s not my entire purpose in blogging. I’d burnout so fast if that were the case. . .

      And I wouldn’t laugh! Seriously, I’m still working on a relatively default site design that I messed around with and now looks like it was designed in Paint. I care more about blog content than blog design when it comes to reading a blog.


  14. // Reply

    Cool post…couldn’t agree more that so often the most boring things on book blogs are the reviews. But then I start to feel guilty when I go off and explore my own book-related interests. Thanks for the reassurance that it’s okay!

    (If you wander over to have a look at my blog, please don’t laught…it’s a brand new site and I’m having difficulty getting the comments to work).


    1. // Reply

      It’s really nothing to be guilty over! A blog is a way to express yourself and opinions. I like to write reviews, but that’s not my entire purpose in blogging. I’d burnout so fast if that were the case. . .

      And I wouldn’t laugh! Seriously, I’m still working on a relatively default site design that I messed around with and now looks like it was designed in Paint. I care more about blog content than blog design when it comes to reading a blog.

Leave a Reply to Lisa Canfield Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *