Hello fellow book lovers! Today’s discussion post was something I dug out of the depths of my “post idea notebook” and realized that it’s also something I think about A LOT and would love your input on! This is pretty straight forward so it may not be as long as some of my other discussions.
How often do you mention your blog out “in real life”?
I personally do not mention my blog all that much out in the real world just because it’s something a little more personal for me and I’m not super comfortable sharing it with everyone. Of course I’m not embarrassed by it, per say, I just don’t have a reason to go around discussing it. Maybe if I had more bookish friends I would, but sadly I don’t but that’s what I’m blogging for!
Is it something you’re comfortable sharing with everyone or just select people?
Select people for me! As I mentioned with the above question I barely talk about my blog in real life so when I do choose to talk about it’s with certain people, mostly my family and very close friends. People that I’m comfortable with and know won’t “judge” me for blogging about books.
Normally I don’t worry about what people think of me but when it comes to my blog I don’t want to give people a reason to say hurtful things about something I enjoy. So I choose to keep my blog to myself and the chosen few. I honestly wish I didn’t feel like this about my blog but part of my anxiety holds me back in this way.
How do you choose when and who you discuss your blog with?
As I stated I only mention my blog to close family and friends as far as WHEN I do this it really depends. If I’m super excited about a book or ARC that I got then I will briefly mention how it is I’m able to receive an ARC and then dive into the details. Also when I’m just excited in general about a post or book and the same goes for when something upsets me as well.
Are you loud and proud about your blog or like to keep it more to yourself?
This is kind of where I’m in between. On the one side with certain people I am very loud and proud about my blog and will talk about it endlessly like it’s my baby (which it is!) and then sometimes I just keep it to myself and don’t mention it a whole lot. I’m definitely very proud of my blog and all of the work I put into it, which we should all be, but sometimes I just like to keep some things personal.
Come Join The Discussion!
How do you generally feel about discussing your blog?
So, do you mention your blog in real life or do you keep it more to yourself?
Is there a reason you do or don’t mention it a lot?
Are you comfortable sharing with everyone or no?
Do only certain people know about your blog?
Please let me know in the comments!
thesassygeek.wordpress.com 
I feel the same. I almost never mention my blog to my friends. Most of them don’t even know that I have one. It’s something personal and most of my friends aren’t book lovers, so they wouldn’t find it as interesting. Thank you for sharing! Have a nice day! X
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Good to know it isn’t just me who doesn’t mention it a whole lot. I have the same problem with not having many bookish friends so that’s why I don’t mention it a whole lot either. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and I hope you have a wonderful day as well! 🙂
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Can I just say that I LOVE this post! It’s also funny that I was thinking about this the other day. So I’ve had Instagram for years now, and just last year I got comfortable with posing book pictures and such, just a few weeks ago I decided to give the whole Instagram stories a try… when I realized my family could see what I posted, I ducked because I was SO close to sharing my blog on there. And I have noooo idea why I got so scared. It’s funny I’d rather have strangers look at my blog, than my own friends and family. I don’t mention my blog much in real life, but most people who know me, know I have a blog, they probably (I don’t think) read it. It’s so strange, it’s like I feel the people irl will judge me for my content or something 😛
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Thank you! That is funny, it’s something I kind of think at random a lot!
I definitely understand you on that experience though I always get worried that somehow my personal social media accounts will show my blogging….things and I panic! It’s not that I’m not proud of my blog it’s just I don’t want my family or friends to make me feel weird about it if that makes sense? So I definitely feel you!
I’m much more comfortable with strangers regarding my blog, haha. 🙂
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You’re welcome! Right, I have no idea why I get creeped out when people I know will read what I’ve written, it’s almost like I don’t want them to know my opinion on things!
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I talk about my blog a lot! Having a book blog has made me more confident in my love of books so I’m trying not to feel self conscious. Not many of my friends actually read my blog, but they know it exists, and if it comes up in conversation with someone i’d tell them
because I think it’s cool that I started my own blog and am proud of myself.
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That’s amazing, I’m glad you aren’t afraid to mention to anyone! I don’t have a lot of bookish friends either, hence the blog, so I don’t have a real reason to bring it up that much. But we definitely should all be proud of our hard work! 🙂
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Very few people know about my blog simply because it just hasn’t come up! I have very few readers in my life so the topic of books is very rarely discussed! My family knows and thinks it is great. My mom is an email subscriber! The only other people who know are the people who my mom tells 😝
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Same here, I don’t have a lot of bookish friends or family members so there isn’t a need to talk about it a whole lot with me either. Plus that’s a big reason why I started the blog too!
The only person that goes around telling people is my boyfriend and I always get slightly embarrassed! Hopefully you don’t mind your mom doing that! 🙂
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I have only recently mentioned my blog to my friends on FB. My mom has followed since day 1, but no one else in my personal life knew about it. It just felt weird until recently to mention my blog, I don’t know why.
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I can’t explain it either but I’m the same way. It’s like I needed to become more comfortable before mentioning it to anyone! I’m much more confident mentioning it now though and I’m glad you are as well! 🙂
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I think that is mainly it. It’s easier to be comfortable with it around those you don’t know too. I am glad we are both more confident about sharing it! ❤
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Only a few people I know in real life knows about my blog and I HATE when they mention it around other people. I am much more comfortable with anonymous internet folks I’ll never meet reading it.
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I can relate! I’m much more confident with internet strangers! I’m getting a little better about sharing it in real life but I also hate when they mention it to other people I’m not comfortable knowing about it, like my boyfriend will blab to everyone and I’m over here dying haha! 🙂
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I don’t discuss blog with anyone much in real life because people around me are less interested in books. But I do tell which book I’m reading and theme of the book to my husband and sometimes share my thought on the general topic that was covered in the book.
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I do the same thing! I don’t have many book lovers either, hence the blog, so I don’t have a reason to really mention it but I do discuss it a bit with my boyfriend like you do with your husband! 🙂
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I do want people to know about my blog and also don’t (does that make sense?) 😊
Every time I tell someone, I feel extremely guilty and instantly regret it!
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It definitely makes sense because I’m the same way! I’m proud of it so I want to mention it but I’m also anxious about it because I don’t want anyone to make me feel weird about it. Oh no, I hope you don’t feel too guilty or regretful about it because your blog is amazing and you should be so proud of it and your hard work! I definitely understand not wanting to mention to others at the same time though! 🙂
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Aww…thank you! 🙂
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So far, only my parents and siblings know about my blog but I don’t think I would mind telling other people about it if my love of reading came up in a conversation! But I don’t go out of my way to let other’s know that I run a blog. I would occasionally post about it on my Instagram so the few people who know me in real life too have probably seen it and I don’t mind.
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That’s wonderful Swetlana, I’m in the same boat at the moment. I don’t think I’d mention it to anyone that doesn’t really like books since…ya know books, haha. 🙂
I’ve gotten a lot better about mentioning it to others but my anxiety gets the better of me sometimes as well.
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i am the same. my bookish friends know about it, but they mostly don’t read it. i do not talk often about it. as for my other friends, my family knows about it but i guess that’s it. i have no problem talking about it, but i like to keep certain things in my life separated. like my colleagues at work don’t know about my blog. or friends, who don’t read don’t know about it and that is ok. i have other things to talk about with them. but i am proud of my blog and i have no problem to mention it, i just don’t do it.
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We definitely are the same way regarding this! I’ll mention it to others that are interested in books but other than that I don’t really have a big reason to talk about it with anyone. I’m definitely proud of it as well but certain people I just don’t feel like talking about it with.
🙂
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and that’s totally ok! 🙂
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My friends know that I have a blog, but I don’t really talk about it because none of them read a lot… I don’t mind talking about it if someone asks though 😀
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That’s kind of how I feel about mine as well, I don’t mention it really too much to anyone who doesn’t read a lot but I don’t mind mentioning it to others. 🙂
Sometimes the anxiety gets the better of though.
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Interesting post, Heather 🌸
Not a lot of people know about my blog; basically only close people like my mom and a few family members. I never really talk about it to family or strangers, but I think that has more to do with the fact that they never ask 🙈 My mom constantly asks what’s going on so I frequently share ideas with her etc.
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Thank you Michelle! I’m in the same boat pretty much, I tell people close to me or if they’re interested in books but other than that I don’t because like you said it doesn’t get brought up!
I share my blog more with my mom and boyfriend and that’s about it! 🙂
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Very interesting post Heather and one I often wonder about others to. I keep my blog a secret, I once told my friends I have one but refuse to let them know what it is called and so much time has passed I believe these 2 have forgotten now. I don’t have many book loving friends, they say i’m boring etc for reading so sharing this love with them is not something I want to do. Even the two I shared with often say i’m sad etc for wanting to read and buy books.
It makes me so anxious the idea of people knowing as well? I think it doesn’t help that i’m also in a super judgmental small town with small ideas? So nobody understands doing things like this if you get me?
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Thank you Hannah, glad I’m not the only one who thinks about this!
I’m really sorry to hear that someone would think you’re “boring” for reading books and sad for wanting to read or buy books. I hope you don’t let it get to you too much I know how anxiety can be when it comes to handling certain things like that.
I don’t have very many friends or family members that enjoy reading so I kind of keep it to myself unless it’s mentioned or I have a reason to bring it up. My worry is someone will judge me or make me feel weird or guilty for having a book blog and I definitely don’t want that. My anxiety sometimes stops me from sharing it with others as well.
I definitely understand you 100% Hannah, like I said I get worried about what people would think because…anxiety but at the same time I’m very proud. Kind of mixed feelings I would say. I know how it goes in small towns too!
I’m just happy I’m not the only one who gets worried about sharing their blog! 🙂
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It feels so nice when someone shares so many of your feelings about this, I wish everybody was accepting of others hobbies. I’m sorry you are also scared about sharing it with others. We are lucky there is a community out here where we have friends we can talk to daily, whilst we may all live around the globe from one another it is so warming to share a love with someone else!
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It definitely is a relief to know we aren’t alone! I am very grateful to have this community as well where there are wonderful people such as yourself to discuss books and other things with! 🙂
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Great discussion! I talk about my blog A LOT to my fiance and my mom – they’re both super supportive and love that it gives me something to do besides just school and mom life, lol. I talk about it to my dad every now and then, but he goes through spells where he thinks it’s a waste of time that I should be spending on “more productive things”, so I don’t bring it up often unless he mentions it first. As far as friends go, I talk about it with online bookish friends, but that’s about it, and I don’t know if any of my extended family members even know my blog exists (which is fine). Outside of my mom and fiance, and online friends, I just don’t have many people to discuss books with. I have told the lady at the post office that I blog, though, when she commented once on how many packages my PO box had received one week, lmao! I explained that it was just a really good week for publishers sending me books, and she just kind of raised an eyebrow and kept on with her work. Ouch.
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Thanks Destiny!
I’m the same as far as discussing my blog the most with my mom and boyfriend, sorry to hear your dad thinks that about your blog sometimes but I suppose there are plenty of other people out there that would think the same thing. That’s the kind of thing I’m worried about when sharing my blog with people is that they’ll think it’s a waste of time and other such things.
I think my problem is like you said: not having that many bookish people to discuss it with. Hence the blog!
And with the Post Office lady, ouch is right! I don’t get why she would make a comment on your packages and then when you explain “silently judge” you, like don’t ask then!
Thanks for joining the discussion Destiny! 🙂
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I’m glad we both have people in our close lives who we can talk to about it – and we have each other and the rest of our awesome bookish community, of course! ❤ I’m always here if you need to vent or rant or rave!
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My close friends & family know about my blog, but I don’t really talk about it with others too much. I’ve told a few people and had some frustrating comments, so I try not to talk about it unless I feel the person is receptive to it. I completely get what you’re saying about being “judged” for being a book blogger.
My family and friends that are readers know about it and talk to me about it and follow my blog, and a few will comment on my blog, but most don’t comment but we’ll talk about a post or a book in real life.
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Yep that’s pretty much where I am as well: closer friends and family know about it but other than that I only mention my blog if someone (like you said) is receptive to it. I don’t have many bookish friends so that’s why I have the blog!
🙂
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The only person in my life that knows I have a blog is my husband. There has never been an occasion for me to bring up my blog to anyone else in my family or circle of friends. Plus there’s no one in my life that’s into books like I am.
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That’s where I am as well, I’ll mention it to the few people I have that enjoy books but other than that I don’t have a ton of people to discuss it with. Hence the blog! 🙂
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Yeah i started my blog to have someone to discuss books with as well.
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The only people who know that I have a blog are my parents and my best friend (mostly because I tell them everything). I’m VERY proud of it, but I just don’t get the chance to talk about it for various reasons. First of all I don’t know many people who would be interested in it as it’s mainly about book (not knowing bookish people is what got me into blogging). Then there is also the language barrier, as English is not the main language of either my home country or the country I’m currently living in.
Great discussion Heather!
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Thank you Anna! 🙂
That’s where I am as well, super close friends and family that I tell everything to anyways know about my blog too. Not having many bookish people in my life is exactly why I started blogging as well! That’s pretty much why I don’t get a chance to share it with many people in real life either. I’m very proud of my blog as well but I’m not going to share it with someone who is going to make me feel like it’s a waste of time.
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I don’t really advertise my blog much in RL but friends and family know I have it. They may even occasionally read it lol. But it’s usually kind of a separate thing because the only friends that are book fanatics like me all live far away, so like a lot of bloggers I don’t have a lot of people in RL to discuss books with.
https://gregsbookhaven.blogspot.com/
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That’s how I kind of treat my blog as well, I don’t have many bookish people in my life so that’s why I started the blog! Thanks for joining the discussion!
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