Anniversary: 6 Months of Books & Munches equals GIVEAWAY! + Tips for new bloggers

Hi Munchworms!

The day before yesterday was a milestone. Six months ago I woke up, got to work and suddenly had the idea of starting a blog. I couldn’t help myself and was brainstorming blog-names pretty much all day, considering whether or not it’d be a good idea, if I’d keep it up…

Six months later I can happily say that I’m so thankful that I pushed through and started my amazing little corner on the internet!

I really did not think that my blog would grow like it has – over 600 followers? Seriously?! -, not to mention all the amazing and wonderful and awesome people I met! Not only bloggers and fellow bookworms, but authors as well.
I even met one of my fellow book bloggers about two weeks ago, because she won my giveaway and I decided to throw my schedule about so I could give Turtles All The Way Down to her personally! Might be one of my favorite blog-related moments so far, haha.

I can keep rambling like this for an entire post, but let’s cut to the chase! I’ve seen people sharing tips for beginning bloggers in posts like this and I feel like doing this as well. I’m keeping it brief though – or will try to… – with three statements!

∞ Stay true to yourself ∞

When you first find yourself in the blogosphere, loads of blogs look very intimidating. Don’t let it demotivate you! Don’t put pressure on yourself! We all have to start somewhere and we don’t learn everything with a snap of our fingers – unfortunately. Just do what you want, what you love and you’ll find ways to adapt your blog to your liking along the way.
Don’t post things because you feel like you have to post them – since, oh, that’s a topic everybody seems to talk about. So should I! It doesn’t work like that! People can smell it on your words if you’re just rambling because you feel like you have to. It’s so much more fun to read posts that show your passion and love for reading.

∞ Get ready to mingle ∞

If you want your blog to get that bit more attention, you’ll have to mingle with other bookworms. Trust me, it’s a hard step to take – I remember being scared to comment on people’s posts because.. what if I say the wrong thing?! – but it’s definitely worth it!
It’s the best way to meet fellow bloggers, bookworms and share your passion all over the place. Not to mention that people will be more curious about your own blog that way as well.

∞ Don’t feel pressured ∞

This counts for everything. Don’t feel pressured to read all the time. You have a social life, work, other hobbies. That’s normal. Read when you feel like it. Have a huge mountain of books on your TBR because you went on a requesting spree? Take a breather, read what you feel like reading and try to stay away from that request-button!
Don’t feel pressured to post every single day. I know people pretty much claim me to be crazy for doing exactly that, but I’m sure I won’t keep it up forever. As long as I can? Fine! But it’s not like it’s my monthly goal or anything. It just… Happens? If it doesn’t for you? So be it!
Don’t let your stats pressure you! Blogging is about sharing the passion, not about those numbers in your stats. Sure, those matter to publishers but… Is that really the reason you started your blog in the first place? If your answer is yes, then fine. But I think most of us started blogging to share the bookish love.

Of course, there’s a fun part to this post. Who would I be if I didn’t add a fun part, huh?!

A celebration wouldn’t be a real party without a giveaway, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do! The prize? A book!

But I’m going to give a Munches-twist to it – because I like being weird, okay? What’s the twist? You’ll find out if you enter!

RULES

1. You have to be sure BookDepository delivers to you. If not, you won’t even be able to receive the book if you’ve won!
2. If you’ve won, you need to answer within 48 hours of me announcing and notifying the winner. If not, someone else might get lucky instead..
3. This giveaway ends December 22nd!

YOU CAN ENTER HERE!