Today I have for you a list of book blogging misconceptions that often lead to a myriad of people thinking that blogging is somehow just a hobby.

While it is my unacheived goal (dream) to have an audience that is not merely composed of friends and other bloggers, I’m writing this post to all the people who undervalue and misunderstand blogging and book bloggers as a community. Obviously some bloggers do consider blogging to just be a hobby, but for the most part bloggers put in more effort, money, and time than the average hobbyist.

Misconception #1: Blogging is easy!

WRONG. Blogging is incredibly difficult, although it is rewarding and fun in ways that make it very worth the hard work. Bloggers spend time writing, editing, scheduling, taking photos or creating art, and managing publicity. Although this varies from blogger to blogger, the difficulty of managing a blog is undeniable.

Cait at Paper Fury has a wonderfully accurate and entertaining list of what Book Bloggers actually do!

Misconception #2: Bloggers are not professional!

Wrong again! Book bloggers are incredibly professional and proficient in a variety of skills: writing, editing, Social Networking, WordPress (or other platform skills), HTML & CSS, Web Design, Marketing, Photography, Social Media, etc.

Running a blog is practically like running a very small business, except you don’t get a profit usually.

Also, book bloggers bring another book specific skill to the table: READING. Duh! Here’s a post I wrote for my university’s Lit Journal blog: What It Means to be a Professional Reader! (Hint: this mostly involves the exchange between readers -aka bloggers- and publishers through services such as Netgalley! If it isn’t obvious enough, that exchange can be the result of building professional relationships with others in the book industry!)

Misconception #3: Blogging is cheap (or free)!

OH GOSH NO. It absolutely is not. While there are free and cheap options for bloggers, most bloggers want to have complete control over their blog and its content and have to upgrade to paid versions or services, such as hosting, domains, or premium wordpress options. I haven’t even mentioned design costs, stock photography/photography equipment, editing software, and all the other costs that can result from professional blogging!

Amber at The Mile Long Bookshelf has an incredible post explaining why book bloggers may need to become self-employed! She has an accurate list of costs from blogging as well as ways to generate an income from a blog!

Misconception #4: Blogging is a personal, solitary practice…

While blogging can be very personal for some people, it’s not a lonely activity at all. There’s a lot that goes into blogging than can be one-sided and solitary, but that’s mostly just the behind-the-scenes work that sets up for the bigger picture: offering content and ideas to a community of people who are reading and interacting with such blogs.

While there are various goals that book bloggers have when starting a blog (my own goal is to connect readers with wonderful books and to promote reading), there is an obvious necessity for community and social interaction. So without a doubt, gaining a community is absolutely a goal as well. Bloggers write for themselves a lot of the time, but they’re also writing for their audience (and sometimes, even their customers depending on the blog- aka professional blogging).

If you’re a blogger, what misconceptions have you heard of or had to dispute? Do you blog as a hobbyist or as a professional, or somewhere in between? If you’re not a blogger, did these misconeptions surprise you or were they obvious? 🙂