#ArmchairBEA Day 2: Blogger Development & Genre Fiction

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

Day 2 of Armchair BEA is here.  How many bloggers did you 'meet' yesterday'? Hopefully you have already started to make some new friends :-)

The first Day 2 topic is Blogger Development When it comes to blogger development, to be honest I haven't given it too much thought or structure.  I would like to think I have developed as a blogger in the 2 or so years that I have been blogging.  Whether it is better written reviews, more reviews, scheduling more posts, gaining more followers.  There are so many different ways to develop as a blogger.

When I think development,  I think more structure, content and aesthetics.  There are of course other aspects of blog development but the above three are what comes to my mind straight off.

The biggest way I currently look at developing as a blogger is the quality of posts .  Depending on how busy life is, I can post anything from 1 post a week to 5-6 in a week but when it is predominantly memes, I have to wonder if I can even call myself a blogger as very little original though has gone in to some of them bar maybe a comment of a sentence or two before a book or the choosing of a certain quote from a book. Don't get me wrong, memes definitely have their place especially when it comes to keeping a blog active and ticking over but even I have to admit there are some patches when I have been remarkably light on reviews and original content.

For me, blog content is definitely something i want to work on.  Whether it be more reviews, or thoughtful posts about bookish or 'other' topics, i am still not sure but it is definitely somethign that is currently percolating in my brain right now.

The other way I still need to develop as a blogger is in my networking with other bloggers, and people of my community.  I do have a couple of local publishers that i now work with but other than that, the only real community networking I do is reviewing books I have borrowed from my local library.  This is definitely an area I need to work on in the future so I definitely will be doing a read around today to get an idea of ways  That i can do this in my community.

The second topic of the day is Genre Fiction.  For me, the genres that most draw me are Paranormal and Urban Fantasy.  What I like about these genres,particularly Urban Fantasy is that way fantasy and real life blend and the reactions of characters in a current setting react to be thrust into a fantasy setting or story where they live (so to speak) and the reactions of those around them.  

For me reading is mostly form of relaxation and escape so I tend to stay away from too many real life or heavy themes and it is the genres above along with regular instalments of fantasy and romance with the occasional contemporary that most combines for the relaxed escape.

That being said, I can be quite an eclectic reader when the mood takes me when I might read one genre or sub genre or subject e.g. werewolves or Angels non stop for a week, a month a few months then suddenly I am completely over that idea and can not bear to read anything with those subjects in them.  

I also love submerging myself in the world of a book and being in someone else's shoes for a while ( see escapism) and if I am deep enough in a book it can be like waking up in a dream

One thing I have to admit to really not getting despite my love of all things paranormal and urban fantasy like is zombies. I love witches, I love vampires and werewolves (in small doses) and angels but for some reason when it comes to zombies, I have absolutely zero interest. I am not saying this to attack or belittle anyone's taste.  I am truly curious as to what is so fascinating about them.  Given out much is out there in the way of zombies at the moment be it in the movies, TV or books ( Walking Dead, Warm Bodies, Alice in Zombieland), I would love to see comments below on why Zombies are awesome :-)

Lastly, since i think I have dribbled on enough, I think the biggest turn on for me in a book is time travel.  For some reason time travel (done well) is like honey to the bee for me.  Some of my most favourite books, movies and tv shows of all time all feature time travel.  The Ancient Future & Chosen series by Traci Harding, the Back to the Future movies and the tv show Quantum Leap & Doctor Who to name a few.  Others are Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park

and The Riddle of the Trumpalar by Judy Bernard-Waite ( Aussie time travel books I loved as  kid), Hourglass by Myra McEntire and a whole host of others that my too tired brain just can't think of right now.  I am not entirely sure exactly what it is about time travel that makes it so fascinating for me.  I think it might be the idea of time loops and paradoxes, meeting famous historical figures and all the other fun struff that goes with it .  

So that's it from me today in the way of genre fiction and blogger development.  If you managed to read all the way down to here, thank you for having the patience to deal with my ramblings and don't forget to let me know you stopped by :-)

Enjoy the rest of Day 2!