In episode 10, Melissa and Jeni talk to Kriti Khare about book blogging.
Listen to the audio podcast here: EPISODE 10 - Book Blogging
Welcome to the Indie Chicks show! We are Melissa Koberlein, an author and professor of publishing and Jeni Chappelle, a freelance novel editor.
Indie Chicks celebrates and supports independent women in publishing. We’re a place for writers at all stages of the publishing process. So, whether you’re on the traditional route to publication or self-publishing, you’ve come to the right place for advice.
On this episode:
We’re talking about book blogging
End with an author tip of the week
This week we’re joined by Kriti Khare.
Kriti is an avid reader and learner. She expresses her love for lifelong learning by writing regularly on Armed with A Book about a variety of topics from how-to articles on bullet journaling, teaching, to learning better, though currently she is focused on posting book reviews/thoughts, author interviews. Through her Creator’s Roulette series, she showcases creatives on her blog. During the work week, she wears the Data Analyst hat and once home, she applies many of the skills she learns in her day job to blogging and life.
Here's the Q&A:
How did you first get started in book blogging?
I came upon it by chance actually! After I finished my teaching degree in April 2019, I was looking into expanding my blog and came across the Book Blogger List where I could list myself as a reviewer. I have always loved books and really enjoyed the two comparative literature courses during university. Once that connection was made, I decided to start writing my thoughts about books.
Everyone does reviews differently and I always try to research more ideas based on the books I read. That quenched the researcher in me. My data skills can be applied in summarizing my reading experiences. Suddenly, book blogging was the perfect way for me to keep growing and I was all in. I officially committed in July 2019 and it has been so much fun!
What are your favorite genres to read?
Currently, I am reading a lot of Fantasy, and have been gravitating a lot towards memoirs this year. Science fiction is another one of my go-tos. I enjoy realistic fiction and wish I was reading more historical fiction. I read just about any genre so it’s hard to find favorites.
What platform do you use to blog? Advantages? Disadvantages?
I have been blogging for a long time and have tried Wordpress, Blogger, Wix, and Medium. They all had their advantages but what I loved about Wordpress was the plethora of themes it offered. Once I found what I wanted my site to look like, there was no looking back. So, I opted for a self-hosted Wordpress blog and got my domain name. Wordpress offers lots of plugins and it has taken some experimenting to find good free ones that let me customize my pages, menus, and forms. I don’t have any complaints with it.
Do you have any advice for someone who wants to start a book blog?
Book blogging is a lot of fun, especially if you are on Twitter - the book twitter community is huge. If you are just getting started, I would recommend checking out some blogs, thinking about what you like about them and what personal touch you will bring to your own reviews. It will take some experimentation to find a review template that works for you. Don’t be afraid to try new things and ask the community for help. Reach out to book bloggers (I’m always happy to help), collaborate with them, read with them, do as much as you want to do! It will be overwhelming in the beginning because suddenly there will be so many books you will want to read and write about. But we have all been there and you will find your balance.
Tip of the week: If you’re new to the publishing world and aren’t sure how to get started, start a blog. Whether you’re interested in being an author or professional in the publishing industry, a blog can be a great way to test the waters. If you’re writing you can blog about the process, interesting research you’ve done for your writing, and upcoming projects. If you’re interested in being a professional in publishing (like a literary agent or editor) a book review blog or research on industry standards might be up your alley. Being a blogger doesn’t mean you have to be an expert. Research and learn along the way.
Thanks for joining us. You can find Kriti at her blog, Armed with A Book (armedwithabook.com),Twitter and Instagram (same handle _armedwithabook for both).
On our next podcast, we are talking about another great publishing topic. We will also have another Tip of the Week. And don’t forget where to find us! Find our podcast at indiechicks.net or follow us on Spotify or subscribe to Indie Chicks on Apple Podcasts. We also have the Indie Chicks channel on YouTube where you can subscribe. You can follow us on Twitter @Indie_Chicks or Facebook.com/TheIndieChicks.
So, remember, we’re all part of a publishing community, be kind and review your fellow authors’ books! Thanks for joining us!
Indie Chicks out.