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I’m going to toot my own horn and wish Novel Visits a Happy Birthday! (Or, is it Happy Anniversary?) In either case, it was one year ago today that Novel Visits was launched with a review of Laura Barnett’s The Versions of Us.
I’d privately toyed with the idea of turning my love of books into a blog for nearly a year. I’d done a little guest reviewing and I liked it. In the winter of 2016 I finally shared this dream with my sister and a few friends. Once the idea was out in the open, it became real to me, and in the spring, I began to prepare for a summer start date.
I started by secureing the Novel Visits name and got Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook accounts for it. Next, I found help with designing the blog (thank you Robin Bennett @gritsdesigns) and with using WordPress (thank you Lori Lange @recipegirl). Then, I wrote a backlog of reviews to get me started until I got into the swing of things. So, it seemed like I was all set. I was so naïve! When the blog started, I thought I knew THIS much. I actually knew THIS much. Really I needed to know THIS much. It’s a process! I’ve learned a lot in the last year, but still have a long way to go.
Aside from all the “technical stuff.” Having a blog has taught me a few lessons, some wonderful, others tough.
- I hadn’t realized just how much I longed to connect with other readers. Blogging about books opened that door and I love it! Talking with other book lovers makes me happy.
- The book blogging community is much, much larger than I’d realized, but also so much more welcoming and encouraging than I ever could have imagined.
- Comments can feel really good. When someone leaves feedback that they read a book because of my review, it’s awesome!
- Having a social media presence is a lot of work and I’m lousy at it. At this point, I’m not sure I’m willing to dedicate the time to getting good at it. It stuns me when I see a new blog that has thousands of followers after only a couple of months. How does that happen?
- Writing reviews is at the core of what I do here and the part I enjoy the least. To that end, I’m going to be playing with reviews. I’ve been working on a way to (at least partially) write reviews as I read. I’m just starting to test that out. I’ll also be tweaking my reviews over the next few weeks, trying out a potential new format. My goal is to make the reviewing a little simpler for me AND more user friendly for you. So, please let me know what you think.
- Most importantly, I’ve learned that my capacity to love books just keeps growing!
A huge thank you to everyone who has, in ways big and small, supported Novel Visits and me over the last year. I couldn’t do it without all of you.
Congratulations on 1 year! Keep up the great work!!
Thank you!
It’s only been a year?! Wow – it feels like you’ve been around so much longer! Congratulations!!
And social media is so hard…I’m not the best at it either. I try to really focus on 1 or 2 platforms (right now it’s Pinterest and building my email list b/c those are the ones that transfer to the most actual pageviews for me) and just vaguely tend to the others.
I really appreciate all your support this year, Sarah. I’d like to hear thoughts sometime on how you build the email list.
Congrats Susie & Happy Blogiversary?? I love so much about your blog and your reviews, I was reading it long before I started commenting and getting to know you. I absolutely love the layout and design of your blog, I’m going to take a look at grit designs for myself. I echo your thoughts on the social media struggle, I haven’t even ventured onto Facebook or Pinterest yet. I often feel review writing burnout myself and I think it’s a great idea to change up review formats every now and then. I’m really looking forward to seeing your new format! Looking forward to continuing to chat with you about books over the next year!
Thanks, Renee. I love talking books with you, too and find your blog wonderful. Your layout is so user friendly and easy to read. It’s great!
Congratulations!! I feel the same way about social media – I don’t use a lot of it in my real life, so it’s hard to make the transition to using it for the blog. And yes, I too wonder how people get hundreds or thousands of followers in just a couple months!
One year is a big deal! Happy anniversary! This reminded me to check what my one-year anniversary is too because I know it’s coming up!
Thanks so much. I’ve been surprised at how many of us have such “young” blogs.
Happy Anniversary!! I had no idea you had only been around for a year- your reviews and your presence made me think you were an old-timer! So, give yourself credit for that.
As for ‘new’ blogs with thousands of social media followers- you can buy followers. Literally. They’re not real, they just prop up a struggling ego. The fact that you get lots of comments and engage with real people shows how well you’re doing. I, for one, am thrilled to have you in the book blogging world; you’ve given me great recommendations!
I had no idea you could buy followers, but that makes sense. I have had offers from people that sounded sketchy.
Thanks for your support, Catherine. Your blog is an inspiration to me.
Happy Anniversary Susie! Since I have been taking your literary recommendations for decades, I am not in the least surprised that your blog is such a success. I look forward to your proposed changes, and more wonderful reviews.
Thanks, Meg! I’d much rather be talking books with you face to face. When are you coming for a visit?
Congratulations! I really look forward to your reviews and your thoughts on what you are reading. I am an avid reader of all types of genres and this is a great blog that I rely on for general fiction/non-fiction (I also read a lot of romance and thriller/mysteries). PS – If you are interested, I found you based on a recommendation from your sister on her blog. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Helen. It’s always great to hear that people appreciate the reviews. I’ll let Lori know I’m continuing to get visitors through her.
I love your website and read it every day. I’ve also shared the good news with many of my book-loving friends. My favorite books, so far, are THE GILDED YEARS, THE LILAC GIRLS, EXIT WEST, THE WONDER, NEWS OF THE WORLD, WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES, COMMONWEALTH. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Aunt Joan. I’m so glad you liked Exit West. A lot of people were lukewarm on it. I’m always interested in what you’ve been reading, so if you have any gems I might be missing, shoot me an email.
Congrats! I enjoy your reviews use them as a guide to my library “to read” list. Thanks for all your hard work. It makes my life easier!????????
So happy I could help! Thanks for the support.
I just started following your blog a few months ago. Thank you for your reviews.
As a fellow teacher, I’m amazed that you have time to do this. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much, Margie. Glad you enjoy it.
Dear Daughter:
Congrats!
I didn’t realize it’s been a whole year. I’m very happy for you and proud. You deserve a special treat to say the least. Glad I will be able to be with you soon to celebrate.
Love, Mom
Congratulations on a year. I, too, thought you had been around longer as yours is one of the most polished blogs I follow. I know it must be hard but I wouldn’t focus so much on the number of followers. They might not even be real people and those who are sometimes follow just for giveaways or contest entry requirements.
Thanks, Kimberly. I appreciate your kind words and am happy you enjoy Novel Visits.
Happy Anniversary!!!
Happy blogaversary???????????????? My Goodreads list has expanded because of your reviews. I love to read your opinion on the books you read.
Thank you! That’s so nice to hear.
I also found Novel Visits after reading about it on Lori’s Recipe Girl site. I didn’t realize it was new at the time–or until now!–as it hooked me right away. I love learning about new books, ones I’d otherwise miss, as well as seeing your reviews of popular new releases. One of my favorites has been Nadia Hashimi’s A House without Windows, which I’ve recommended to others. My Pinterest books board is growing thanks to you, and I’ll never lack for reading ideas! Congrats on reaching a year. (As a food and travel hobby blogger, I know how tough it is to do this. I keep saying I’ll post more and not worry about the photos, etc, but it hasn’t happened yet. Soon, soon!)
Thank you so much for your kind words, Marlene. Since you loved A house Without Windows, you might want to try Hashimi’s earlier book, When the Moon is Low. I liked it even more!
Susie, your blog presents VERY professionally! I’m amazed to read that it’s just a year old.
Congratulations! I find it easy to read and to search and I like the format of your reviews.
I don’t follow you yet but I should!
Madeline
(A few of my favorites this year: “Shadow Land,” “The Devil and Webster,” “Shotgun Lovesongs” (although not a new book), “Passing Strange.” )
Thanks very much , Madeline and thanks for the book recs. I always like those. Please, think about signing up to follow. I only send an email on the days something new posts.