Having A Blogger Identity Crisis // Let’s Talk Bookish

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books and Dani @ Literary Lion where we discuss certain topics based on prompts allocated for each Friday of the week. You basically share your opinions and get into the conversation by visiting each other’s posts. You can find the August schedule here or here.

Today’s Let’s Talk Bookish topic is Having A Blogger Identity Crisis, which was suggested by Rukky @ Eternity Books.

I love that we are talking about blogger identity crisis this week because this happens! It is real! I feel like most of us feel bad about having a blogger identity crisis moment, but in all honesty, it is all part of the process and we ought to normalise it!

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A BLOGGER IDENTITY CRISIS? WHAT TRIGGERED IT? HOW DID YOU GET OVER IT?

Yep, I had a blogger identity crisis moment early on in my blogging career last year. I think it was mostly because I was so intimidated by everyone that was already well established on this platform and I was still searching for my ‘voice’. What I didn’t realise at the time was that I need to experiment to actually figure that bit out rather than trying my hardest to stick to a schedule that I thought was the “right” one.

Once I realised that I was in crisis mode, I took a step back and posted a lot less content. I rearranged my content to reflect what I really wanted to write about rather than writing to fit in with what everyone else was writing in the community. Rather than trying to stick to all the tags and memes, I became extremely picky. I chose to stick to doing my own thing and linking up if my content fit the prompt or meme. Basically, I started writing what I loved to write about.

HAS AN IDENTITY CRISIS EVER LED YOU TO SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THE DIRECTION FOR YOUR BLOG?

Well, yes! The content I write now is a lot different from what I was writing when I started the blog a year ago. Now I focus more on book reviews, discussions and new releases. I love connecting with my readers, so I started up my Sunday Sum-Up feature. Then I realise I love talking book hauls, so I brought in my monthly book haul posts.

Now I am way more comfortable in my own blog than I was before. When starting out I felt like I was trying to fit in rather than belong. But realising that I didn’t have to fit in brought on a strange sort of courage to experiment and be spontaneous. I used to be so upset that my blog didn’t really look as pretty or aesthetic as the others out there. Once I got over my little crisis, I just took the leap and experimented with colours, widgets, and everything else to come up with an appearance that I was proud of.

So yeah, my blogger identity crisis led me to what I really wanted to do with this blog and sort of own it!

DO YOU THINK HAVING AN IDENTITY CRISIS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE CAN HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER BLOGGER, OR IS IT JUST A SIGN OF INSECURITY?

I think this is very subjective. Personally, I think identity crises are good opportunities to step back and look around at the big picture, but they can be debilitating as well. It can take time to come out of one and that slow recovery can be frustrating.

I don’t think identity crises are signs of insecurity. Personally, I go into crisis mode mostly when I am confused and sort of… directionless. I always take time to adjust and remind myself that I belong. I almost always go through an identity crisis when I try to fit in instead of belonging. So, I think it’s more of a sign of knowing something isn’t right and subconsciously urging yourself to re-evaluate.

What was your experience with blogger identity crisis?

My previous Let’s Talk Bookish posts:

• August 20: What Is One Book Everyone Must Read?
• August 13: Can Books Be Effective Horror?
• July 23: Does Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a Book Good?
• July 16: What Are The Best Ways To Get Over Reading Slumps?
• July 9: Should Books Have Content Ratings?