Before I started my blog in late 2016 I read a lot of so called advise posts about how to go about making it. I was told pretty consistently to have a theme, a concept, and stick to it. My concept was to just talk about books, reading, and anything literature related that caught my interest.

Then, I started asking people questions. Something I was told, time and again, was to focus on only one genre. One brief conversation I had with another blogger was particularly memorable. She told me, point blank, that talking about more than one genre of book would lose me readers and credibility. That it would confuse people about who I was and what I was about. In her rather pithy last message to me she informed me that only an idiot would post across genres.

This was pretty much my response…

I was told, so often, to pigeonhole myself. I don’t know about you, but that didn’t sound like a great idea to me. I don’t read just one genre, why would I only talk about one? Apparently, according to much of the so called advise I received, it would be to make my blog predictable in that my followers would always know the type of content coming from me. Why in the name of fiction would I want to be that dully predictable?

Since that initial questionable advise, Literary Weaponry has gone through many changes and phases but one thing has remained consistent. I always, always, talk about the books that interest me. I’ve discussed ya fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, romance, thriller, science fiction, and pretty much any other book that I have happened to pick up and had opinions about. All of those opinions have been honest ones. No matter if it was an ARC, review request from an author, or a book I’d purchased myself my opinions were always my own.

As people, we aren’t all just one personality trait. You wouldn’t expect your friend Betty to always be happy and upbeat no matter the circumstance or Joe in accounting to always be a total grump (even though he usually seems to be). People have many faceted personalities. For readers, those facets reflect in our reading choices.

Am I feeling sloppy and sentimental? Then I’ll probably pick up a book with a romantic plot. Am I being a total grump and just want left alone? Then you’ll most likely see me with a horror/thriller. Just a run of the mill day? YA and adult fantasy are my pretty consistent go-to’s. But just as I am not just one personality or have just one mood, I don’t have just one type of book that I like.

Here is the thing that actually took me a while to grasp. If I don’t feel like reading then I just don’t read. End of story. I don’t push myself to pick up a book and trudge my way through page after page if I am not enjoying it. Why would I do that to myself? If I’m not in the mood, I’m not in the mood. I tried a couple of times early on because I felt like I HAD to do a review every week and you know what happened? I hated each and every one of the books I read those weeks. What is the point?

Now you may be asking yourself, “Amanda, what is the purpose of this post? You seem to be rambling a bit dear.” I know I am. My purpose is to tell people starting out the advise I wish I would have had in the beginning.

Be yourself

Read what you love

Don’t feel obligated to meet someone else’s expectations

Don’t apologize for being yourself

What is some questionable advise you have received while blogging? Do you have any advise for other? Share it here!

“Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.” – Bruce Lee