Welcome to The Bibliosmile Project, a series here on Novels & Waffles that aims to spotlight how books (+ the bookish community), has brought smiles, happiness, and positivity into our lives. Through an ongoing series of guest posts, different readers will share their stories of bookish happiness and spread some much-needed positivity, sunshine, and smiles with us all. Hopefully, reading about how books have brought a smile to their faces, it will bring one to yours as well. You can read more about this series in my introduction and catch up on previous guest posts here.
If you’re interested in writing a guest post as part of The Bibliosmile Project, then please contact me at my email, [email protected].
Caitlin’s Bibliosmile Story
Hello, friends! Before I start my guest post, I would like to thank Kat so much for putting this feature together and letting me participate in it. Its advocacy is incredibly admirable, and all of the posts so far have been such a treat.
My bibliosmile story will be about how book blogging has positively impacted my life. I started my book blog in late February of 2019, and so far I’m convinced that it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. Here are a few reasons why!
It has saved me from boredom.
Since I’m a high school student, I am very blessed to have a three-month summer break, a two-week semestral break, and a month-long Christmas break every year. I vividly remember my semestral break last year, when I had so much free time that I actually got bored. Whenever I look back on that memory, I hate myself a little because that kind of time would be so precious to me now. I could’ve used it to blog or read!
Currently, I’m swamped with school, extra-curriculars, and on top of that, I’m trying to consistently read, blog and interact. My schedule is pretty swamped, which may seem like a bad thing, but I enjoy the rush. I love the fact that I’ll never run out of things to do!
I consistently read now.
I’ve been a reader since I can remember, but never a very consistent one. There were periods throughout my life wherein I never picked up a book, or so much as thought of reading one. Since I started a book blog, I obviously have to read, or else I won’t really have content.
And because of that, I’ve been reading so many new books that have brought such a positive impact on my life (see: Book Recommendations: Books Published in 2019). I’m also highly susceptible to FOMO (fear of missing out), so the fact that I’m reading the books everyone’s talking about is helping me battle it!
Needless to say, the community is so welcoming.
So far, I have encountered not one rude person in the book community! Sure, it has its flaws, but generally, everyone is incredibly happy to interact, be it through blog comments, Twitter replies and/or DMs. In less than a month, I found people to call my friends in the bookish community, because that’s just how amazing everyone is! And I appreciate that “big” bloggers still try their absolute best to interact with their audience no matter how large their following is. A good example of this is Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books, a true pillar of the blogging community.
Bottom line, this community has never once made me feel alone, and everyone has uplifted me in some way or another. Everyone’s kind words have made me feel like I’m part of something–that I was meant to be in the book blogging community, no matter how cheesy that sounds.
And that’s the end of the post! I loved getting to enumerate all the reasons why I love book blogging, and I hope you loved reading them. I can’t wait to see more from this feature. Kat is amazing for organizing it, and you should stan her. Okay, bye!!
Caitlin’s Blog Caitlin’s Twitter Caitlin’s Goodreads
How has book blogging positively impacted your life?
What is something positive that has happened to you lately? Please share your recent triumphs and successes in the comments so that we can all cerebrate together!
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I loved hearing Caitlin’s book-blogging story!!! I’m a little similar to her in the sense that I’ve always been a reader, but I’ve been reading so much more lately, especially this year. I’m thinking of sending you an email, so I can be a part of this fab project ;)
I’m glad you’re loving blogging and the community, Caitlin! Also this is such a cute project!
thank you so much again for having me Kat 💛💛💛 and for setting up this amazing project!
HI CAITLIN, I LOVE YOU! Hahaha! <3 This was such a sweet post! Blogging really helped me find a nice outlet for my spare time! Even though I'm pretty busy during the school year, and working part time too, it's always a nice, relaxing community to indulge myself in at the end of the day. I love the positive and uplifting spirit of everyone in here!
(Kat, I'm seriously loving this project so much! Reading all the posts just make me feel so happy :) )
This was such a great post and it rings so true! I don’t do well with unstructured time, and having a blog gives me something to do when I’d otherwise get frustrated when I don’t have things planned to do. And I’m definitely so happy to be a part of this wonderful community! I’ve even recently participated in a buddy read, which I never thought I’d have the chance to do!
Ahh.. this is such a lovely post and we our so lucky to have you in book community Caitlin (and Kat of course, I am loving this series)!! I agree book blogging is great to have something to do that quite different and evolving, I’m learnt a lot by doing it and it is very rewarding.
Also book blogging has definitely improved my reading– I actually completed my goodreads challenge this year and I didn’t know I could do that!!
And of course the book community is wonderful and always make you feel welcome!! Great post 💛