Top Ten Tuesday: Blog-related things I’m thankful for

Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Today’s theme is a freebie as long as it’s Thanksgiving- or thankfulness-related, so I decided to go with top ten blog-related things I’m thankful for. I’ve said before that one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life was moving my blog from Tumblr to WordPress. Yes, interaction is better and my follower count has skyrocketed, but in general, I’m just so much happier with what my blog has become.

So, without further rambles, here are ten things that I’m thankful for that have happened on my blog, related to my blog, or because of my blog. (In no particular order, except I saved the best for last.)

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BOOKISH CONVERSATIONS

I had a book blog for almost five whole years before I decided to move to WordPress and in that time, I maybe got like two people talking to me about books? I moved my blog here and within a week, there were people commenting on my reviews. I was shocked then (and I’m honestly still a little shocked now) that so many people want to talk about books with me, but I love it and I’m so thankful for it!

MORE CONTACT WITH AUTHORS

I have had such nice conversations with authors this year! And not just authors asking for reviews, but genuinely nice conversations with genuinely nice people. This is so new to me and it stresses me out a little bit (I feel like I’m talking to a celebrity every time) but it also makes me so happy!

CONNECTIONS WITH PUBLISHERS

If you would have told me at this time last year that I’d have publishers emailing me and asking me if I want to review an ARC or join a blog tour or be added to a mailing list, I would not have believed you. But those are things that are happening and it’s so great!

SO MANY ARCS!

Have I ever in my life had as many ARCs as I’ve had this year? I don’t think so. I’ve been lucky to be approved for ARCs on both Netgalley and Edelweiss, as well as Penguin First to Read. I got ARCs at BookCon and I’ve been given ARCs directly from publishers, authors, and PR companies. I’ve even gotten ARCs from some of my favorite authors this year! (And a woman at a bookstore gave me an ARC once too!) I am so thankful for so many ARCs!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

So, my favorite thing is when someone is reading a book and actually thinks, “Hey, I bet Sara would like this.” AND THEN ACTUALLY LETS ME KNOW. I write down every book recommendation and I will get to all of them eventually!

PEOPLE ACTUALLY THINKING I’M FUNNY

The people in my real life never really think that I’m funny. (I feel like, 99% of the time, they just don’t get my sense of humor.) So it makes me really, really happy when I get a comment that I made someone laugh or that I made someone smile… or even if someone just comments a 😂 emoji.

MORE SELF-CONFIDENCE

This kind of goes along with a few of my previous things, but knowing that people actually want to talk to me, want to read my reviews, and think that I’m funny has made me so much more confident in my real life. I’ve taken more control of my life this year, both personally and professionally, and I don’t think that would have happened without this blog.

PUSHING ME OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE

A few things that have happened since I started this blog:

1. I’ve picked up books from new genres and read a lot more nonfiction than ever before!
2. I’ve reviewed new formats, including a ton of audiobooks and, more recently, a lot of graphic novels!
3. I did some beta reading? I never thought I would (1) get the chance to do that, and (2) actually enjoy it, but I did!

I’m sure that there are so many more things that have happened, but these are the three that I can think of right now!

NEW FRIENDS! 💖

I did a whole Top Ten Tuesday post about my favorite bloggers, but I wanted to mention, once again, how much I love the book blogging community and how happy I am to have made actual friends through this website. There are people all over the world that I talk to on a regular (or at least semi-regular) basis and I love it.

AND ONE FRIEND IN PARTICULAR

Are you sick of hearing me talk about my favorite blogger, Daniel? Hmm, too bad. Daniel and I started talking a little over six months ago when he sent me an email about my blog and we just haven’t stopped. We met up in person a little over a month ago (you can see my post about it here) and it was the best. I never would have met Daniel if not for this blog, and meeting him is the #1 thing I am most thankful for this year.

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Did you do your own Top Ten Tuesday post today? Feel free to leave your link and I’ll check out your post! What are you thankful for this year? Let’s talk in the comments!