Let’s Talk Bookish: Can Bloggers Write Whatever They Want?

I am late again. My posting has been a bit all over the place so far this month. I’m hoping I can be more regular in the near future, but I can’t guarantee anything. We’ve had some unusual school weeks which has thrown me off my mental schedule.

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits where we discuss various topics and share our opinions. Today’s topic is Can Bloggers Write Whatever They Want? (suggested by Anna).

Prompts: Can bloggers just write whatever they want? Or are there boundaries they should respect even on their own platform? If a blogger is called out for something they post, are they obligated to respond?

There are exceptions to almost everything. Blogging is included in that. For the most part, I think bloggers are allowed to write whatever they want and about whatever they want. A blog is your space to get your thoughts out and share it. However, there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed. The number one thing to remember when blogging is to respect your readers and whomever/whatever you’re talking about. If you’re critiquing something or discussing something that you disagree with, be mindful of who’s reading your posts. You don’t want to offend anyone.

I don’t write negative things very often, mainly because I don’t really like doing it. Out of the 38 book reviews I’ve written for the blog, I think I’ve written two negative ones. I enjoy rambling about a book I loved rather than ranting about one I hated. Obviously all books have flaws that I’ll touch on, but I hardly write reviews that are mostly negative. Authors work so hard on writing their books that you need to critique them in a way that isn’t overly discouraging.

If a blogger posts something and someone calls them out on it, that blogger should at least acknowledge it. They shouldn’t ignore it or pretend that it doesn’t concern them. That would be disrespectful to both the person who pointed it out and whomever/whatever they were pointing out in the post. The blogger should respond and, if necessary, alter the post.

Blogging is a way to get your thoughts out. It’s like having your own little journal on the internet. But now, people other than you are reading it. And we, as bloggers, need to remember that. We need to remember to be mindful and respectful of both those who are reading our posts and the topic we’re discussing.