BBAW 2011: Blogging

The world of blogging is continually changing. Share 3 things you think are essential, tried and true practices for every blogger and 1-3 new trends or tools you’ve adapted recently or would like to in the future.

The usual, I think...I have some views which I say often enough. I will again repeat those here:

1) Keep your reviews simple, and to the point. We don't want the story. We want only your views.

2) De-clutter you blog. Too manly blings put off the readers. I totally detest music, blinking stuff and also I don't like white fonts on black background. It hurts my eyes and I think it hurts many other's eyes too.

3) Keep commenting forum reader friendly. As we all know blogger has introduced the embedded comment box, and it has been a while now. Somehow I don't find it user friendly, especially if one uses word verification. Why do I have to click it at least thrice to get my comments through? It truly pisses me off. I also don't like the Disqus/intensedebate way of commenting. Both take a while and I kind of desist from commenting there unless , it is something I can't miss. Open id is a good way. Wordpress uses it, although it is somewhat different. Commenting on wordpress blogs is a pleasure. I don't mind comment moderation and/or word verification, but both being used together, is not a good option. Have either of the two, not both. 

BBAW 2011: Readers

Book bloggers blog because we love reading. Has book blogging changed the way you read? Have you discovered books you never would have apart from book blogging? How has book blogging affected your book acquisition habits? Have you made new connections with other readers because of book blogging? Choose any one of these topics and share your thoughts today!

I have always been a reader. I used to keep a journal with the lists of books I read. But nothing more than that. A book blogger friend, Lotus Reads, was a frequent commenter on my poetry blog, rooted. Once she tagged me for a book related meme. I never knew anything about those memes. But I did participate. I wrote about a lot of books that I had read over the years. I could recall books from so long ago. (I do have a photographic memory). She kind of forced me to start a book blog. I did that in 2006. I posted a few reviews but stopped. it took me 6-8 months to post on a regular basis. I have not looked back since then. 

Then I found Dewey, who helped me finding book bloggers by her love for community. In a way, what we see in the book blog world is mainly her contributions. ( I do miss her presence). I won a lot of books from her giveaways. She used say, Gautami is so lucky to win! I also entered other giveaways and won a lot of books from almost everywhere,.(Now I am NOT so lucky!!)

I did not know of authors/publishers offering books. I read a few posts about how to acquire books. So I started to request those. Even a few of those genres I usually did not read. Rest, they say is history. Now authors/publishers offer me novels and I get to pick/choose. I do request those that interest me. Book blogs help me in making up my mind. I do pick up books which otherwise I wouldn't have.

Book blogging has made me look up new genres, new authors and people from all over the world. I am richer for it! I have made some lasting friendship with some. It doesn't matter we have not met, not one bit! 

BBAW 2011: How Do You Do Community?

 How Do You Do Community?

The world of book blogging has grown enormously and sometimes it can be hard to find a place. Share your tips for finding and keeping community in book blogging despite the hectic demands made on your time and the overwhelming number of blogs out there. If you’re struggling with finding a community, share your concerns and explain what you’re looking for–this is the week to connect!

I have been blogging since 2005, I started my poetry blog, rooted, back then. I started my book blog in 2006. I have come a long way. I have expanded in my reading and continue to do so. My book blogger friends take a lot of credit. They deserve recognition for that! If we don't have visitors or comments on our blogs, we feel kind of empty. And we strive to be known. 

We meet similar minded bloggers and tend to stick with them. But I also think divergent blogs help us in spreading our wings, So make it a point to subscribe to new blogs. Use the feeds to do that. And visit regularly. Take part in memes. And return comment love. That is how a community thrives.

I am undergoing a massive reading slump since last October. A WHOLE YEAR. The memes have kept me going, have kept me in touch with book bloggers and I am encouraged all the time to read. That is a good thing. When we are down, bloggers rally around! They are very supportive. They send mails too. I am glad to be part of all this. I am glad that the world is a better place because of it and is smaller too. How to build community? Visit, Comment, Stay in touch! Introduce others to new bloggers. 

Update: Let me say this: I am NOT able to read novels but I am reading a lot. Poetry, Science papers, Politics, Global issues, News and Travelogues, although short ones. Maybe I should read non-fiction books. I never thought of that!  

BBAW: Interview with James of Ready when you are, C.B

I have known James for very long. He is one of the first male book bloggers, I came across. WE do have something in common. We are both teachers. I am basically a math teacher, while he is an English one! I have always wanted to interview him and thought BBAW 2011 was a wonderful opportunity. We kind of did interview swap but I am posting it one day after the scheduled one for BBAW. I am very happy to have him here today. New bloggers, do visit him, he reads very different, interesting books!

1) How did the name of your blog came about? Any backgrounds?

The phrase comes from an old story about movie director Cecille B. DeMille.  When he was making Cleopatra there was a scene of several thousand extras marching through the gates of an Egyptian city.  He had just enough light left for one take.  He called action and everyone went through the gate then he called his cameramen to see how it went.  The first one was in the crowd.  Too much dust, I don't think there is any footage we can use.  The second was on top of a distant hill.  Sorry, but the film jammed in the camera--we didn't get anything.  Finally he called up to the cameraman filming from the top of the huge gate.  He called back, "Ready when you are, C.B."

I've used the pen name C.B. James forever.  It's just my own names James B. Chester backwards.  When I started blogging, the phrase was just the first thing that came to my mind while doing the set up in Blogger.  I've thought about changing to something more bookish, but I like it.

2) I know you are an English Teacher. How do you pick out books for your students?

I start by picking books I think they will enjoy.  Then I look at appropriate reading levels and age appropriate material.  I also prioritize classic literature whenever I can.  I stray away from popular books like Harry Potter because I figure most of my students will read those anyway.  I'd much rather get them to read a book they wouldn't have picked up otherwise.  The world will serve them up all the vampires they can handle.  So I look for quality books they'll enjoy that they wouldn't have found otherwise.

3) How do you think the blogging world has changed over the years? Do you like the change?

I think the blogging world is more or less the same as it has always been, though many of the faces have changed.  I don't see as many little awards or give aways as I used to.  Of course, it could be that I'm just not getting as many little awards as I once did.  The large number of challenges that were all over the place years ago have settled down into a much more manageable number of regular, yearly events.  There are many people I used to read on a regular basis who have moved on, which is to be expected.  But, new people have come along to keep things lively.  

4) What is it about blogging that keeps you going? If you ever think of changing your blog, how would you go about it?

Blogging has become a habit for me.  When I finish a book, I start an entry with a few notes, expand on them over a week or two's time and then publish.  I've come to enjoy the challenge of coming up with something interesting to say about the books I read.  I've changed the design of my blog a couple of times.  Whenever I see a new level of design on Blogger, I usually jump on board right away.  I like the technological aspect of blog design though I'm not all that good with it.  I do think that everyone trends towards simpler, more elegant designs over time.  I think I've done the same.

5) Do you envisage yourself blogging after 10 years  from now? Why/How? 

To be honest, no.  I'll be keeping this blog for many more years, but ten seems like a very long time to me.  I suspect something else will come along that I'll move on to.  I'll still be reading book, though.  

6) Do you aspire to be a writer ever?

I did at one time.  My short stories were rejected by some of the best periodicals in America.  As far as novels go, I wrote one and a half first drafts, but I never took anything all the way to publishable condition.  That's when I came up with the C.B. James pen name.  That was well over 20 years ago now.  I've no interest in trying to become a professional writer now-a-days.  Any residual desire for that I work through on my blog.  

Thanks James, I loved having you here!

BBAW: Interview Swap with Serena Of Savvy Verse and Wit

In the previous years, I used to interview myself. But this year I decided to take the plunge and after enrolling in BBAW, I got myself a interview partner. She is Serena of Savvy Verse and Wit. So without much ado, here I go, first with her blog header:

1) I like your blog name. How did you think of it?

I toyed with a lot of different names for my blog.I wanted the blog name to signify its content, which I hoped would be writing, reading, and a bit of humor.
Being a poet, I always loved verse and I love the word Savvy, so all that was left was Wit. It is really not that great of a story to tell. Kind of lame, right?!

2) Does your family know about your blog? Do they read it?

My husband has an email subscription I set up for him, but he doesn't read it really, just glances at it.  That's a whole other story for another day.  My dad has a subscription and does the same.  I've told others about the blog on Facebook, but I'm not sure if other family members read it.  Many of them are not big readers or writers, so I doubt it.

3) What is that makes you happy about blogging?

I just like to write and this gives me a daily reason to do so.  I love reading and talking about books, so the blog is a natural fit.  I do like seeing comments, especially comments about the book I'm reviewing or the author I've interviewed.  However, I wish there were more discussion during the Virtual Poetry Circle on Saturdays.

4) You know I am an Indian, who lives in Delhi. Have you read any Indian authors? Blogged about it? Please do mention it..

Hmm...Indian Authors...I honestly don't pay attention to nationality. These are some of the authors I've read from other nations:  Nafisa Haji, Kamala Nair, Sweta Vikram,Thrity Umrigar. However, I'm not sure all of these women were natives to S. Asian nations like India. I really prefer good stories, no matter who writes them.

5) Now that you have a baby, how has it affected your reading and blogging?

O goodness. Having an infant changes everything, but once you have a routine, it gets easier. However, you have to be prepared for those days when the routine is just not working out because that will happen whether you want it to or not. I generally read at night after she's gone to bed or on my one day off when the hubby is home to watch her all day, which is either Saturday or Sunday, depending on his work schedule. There are those occasions when we both have time to do other things when she's sleeping during the day, but she's pretty active and awake during the day most of the time. Blogging happens late at night or on my lunch break from work.

6) One last question, I know you read poetry. Do you still write it? Can you share something with my readers? 

Writing poetry has been tough.  I haven't been inspired, which might be partially related to my lack of sleep.  I can share part of a poem I'm still working on, but remember its a very rough draft.  Thanks for having me, Gautami!

Coffeeshop by Serena M. Agusto-Cox

Bag slung over shoulder,

plopped onto wooden chair.

I drag the laptop out, place it on the table.

Flipped open, blank space,

blinking cursor waiting,

waving, staring at me.

My fingers tap the keys,

the table, my thigh.

Run up and down the side of my leg,

waiting for words to flow

free from my brain through nerves

into my fingertips tapped out on square keys.

When words fill the page

My mind is afire, passionate,

eager to type the next phrase and see the new world.

Creation dripping like espresso into my mug.

Next I post a picture of her Family. She was kind enough to share it with us.



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Now to check out my answers, for her questions, go visit her here!!

BBAW 2011: Community

While the awards are a fun part of BBAW, they can never accurately represent the depth and breadth of diversity in the book blogging community. Today you are encouraged to highlight a couple of bloggers that have made book blogging a unique experience for you. They can be your mentors, a blogger that encouraged you to try a different kind of book, opened your eyes to a new issue, made you laugh when you needed it, or left the first comment you ever got on your blog. Stay positive and give back to the people who make the community work for you!

I have 590 subscriptions on my Google Reader, which comprises of Book Bloggers, Poets, Writers, News and Random ones. More than half are of Book Bloggers. I have sorted those as Crime Fiction ones, and Literary Fiction and anything in between. I value each and everyone. So how do I choose only two? Isn't that a difficult task?

I am not going to highlight two blogs just like that, picking randomly. I know there are some blogs which get chosen over others. We are kind of biased. We all end up selecting them. Only them. In the process, we forget that it actually works against community building. Introducing a new blogger to our regular blogger friends should be our goal. That is what I will do here:

Soul's Music: It is a poetry blog and Elizabeth writes mystical poetry, the kind which touches our soul. She has very aptly named her blog, Soul's Music. I admire her for her poetry, and her beautiful insightful comments. Do check her out. You can tell her, I sent you to her blog!

The Parrish Lantern: A literary fiction blog, it covers a whole range of that including poetry. It is one of my favourite blogs out there. You can check it out, if you like to read real good books!