Gush & Gripe: 2015 Non-Resolutions (Gripes Ahead)

Towards the end of 2014 every social media outfit including the blogsphere is ridden with posts about top picks and 2015 resolutions. It sure got me started on making my own list but then gave up at some point because it just got too stressful. Too many favorites, too many goals, reasons not witty enough, bah! So I decided to do it differently instead:

2014 Wins & Challenges

• Blogging Solo: I thought it'll be an impossible feat and obviously I survived! It sure was challenging, even maddening at times, but totally doable. I just had to make certain adjustments to make the task realistic for me and I think I did a good job at it. 
• Static Content: Now content became an obstacle for me. Reading was no problem but reviewing became mechanical so I felt my content got stagnant. One can only read so many reviews in a day and incorporating "fun" stuff became a challenge mainly because it entailed deadlines which I can't cope with atm. I had to do things according to MY flow and not what the author, publisher, or tour organizer dictated. 





Not mine



• Readership: Since Talk Supe's early days, my focus has always been readership with followers coming a close second. What's the purpose of writing up posts if NOBODY is reading it right? You can have a LOT of followers but if it's not balanced by page views then it sort of defeats the purpose. I hit the 1M page view mark before 2014 ended and I consider that a big deal since Talk Supe doesn't have a huge following compared to other blogs. That's very encouraging on my part.
• Following: This has always been a struggle. Talk Supe's been around for 3.5 years and I must say gaining followers has always been a challenge. Hopefully 2015 will be a kinder year on this front for me.


• Reading Goals: I met my Goodreads goal with flying colors!
• Diversity: I feel I didn't diversify much last year.  


• Social Media: There's so many platforms and outlets out there I may need to get my own social media expert just to manage my accounts. My ineffectiveness in this front is a toss-up between disinterest and being overwhelmed (or probably I'm just not cool enough). I'm still at a loss at this point on how to handle my Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Goodreads, and now tsu, without being redundant. So for now, you'll see/feel me more via the blogosphere than anywhere else until I figure this shit out.
• TBR: It's still crazy and I don't think I'll ever conquer this beast for as long as this blog is alive.

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Plans for 2015

I'm not going to draw this part out because all I know at this point is the what and I'm still working out on the how. 

• My Blog, My Pace: I found doing things at my own pace and preference helped me enjoy this hobby again so you won't see a huge resurgence of tour stops and what not here. Also to help balance my read:undread ratio I will do my best to be more choosy when it comes to requests and to only get the same (or less) amount of books I read the previous week.


• Partners: I looked for co-bloggers late last year and though it was hit or miss, I'm intent on finding one to work with. It's not so much as getting a post up, it's more on offering a different kind of content for you out there. I'm sure y'all are tired of me.


• Old and New: I plan on reviving some of the old memes and use it sporadically and coming up with new ones that's more reflective of ME versus what I think y'all want to see here.

Admittedly I got roped in to the pressure in the past but you know what, I realized that despite what other bloggers are preaching, it shouldn't be a competition. I'm not getting paid to do this, accumulating free reads to last me several lifetimes, getting invites to participate in fun stuff, and getting blurbed in a few books is enough compensation for me. To me it means that my voice was heard, some people liked and/or valued it, and some even think I have a certain influence.

I don't have to reach out or feel the need to be friendly with every author whose work I like/love or be impulsive to join their streat team or what have you because it's unrealistic to begin with. It's better for me that way anyway because I dislike getting defensive emails/comments/messages from people because I don't seem to "get" their work. It's that sense of familiarity we have that makes them feel comfy enough to correct my review. Guess what, your books are like art, there's a million different ways readers can interpret it because you add emotions to your book and humanize your characters regardless if they're animals, aliens, people, or whatever breed you chose them to be. I can be sobbing my heart out over some scene while some other person is laughing their asses off. Leave it alone and just be GRATEFUL someone took the time to read your book, thought about it long enough to review it, and used their resources to get it out there. If you're not pleased with the feedback then you should either write a textbook or stay out of publishing. Get over yourself, there's no way everyone is going to "get it" exactly as how you envisioned it much less like/love it. Stop controlling the masses opinion and filtering what should and shouldn't be on review sites and blogs, and maybe, just maybe, that kind of energy will lead to more people buying and reading your novel. That said, there are some exceptions like responding to rudeness which I don't condone however I don't think responding the same way will help the situation. I don't mean to gripe hard about this but with all past incidents regarding behaviors in this sphere I'd hope by now people won't be as clueless.

Not mine

Lastly book blogs are a dime a dozen and the "next big thing" is rounding up the corner, it might be a new blog, an existing one that had an inspired season. Bottom line is followers are as fickle as technocrats, they want to be herded by the newest, coolest, and latest thing and I just have to be at peace with where I'm at and do my own thing with much sincerity and drive. I want to enjoy what I'm doing and hopefully that enjoyment inspires me and seeps through Talk Supe and becomes affecting in that way. 

This is it for now, sorry for the extra ramble towards the end and really if you want the super short of it I say FUCK IT!  2015, so help me God, you're going to be my bitch. Cheers!