Nenia Campbell's Blog - Posts Tagged "positivity"
40 Things That Are Awesome
Because a big helping of personal drama and an influx of negative review trollers have put me in a bad mood, I thought it would be nice to focus on the positive things about being on this site as an author. :)
1. Seeing that +1, +2, +3, etc. on the friend request tab. I love making new friends, but I'm shy and hate making the first move, so just the fact that somebody liked something I posted enough to add me really makes my day!
2. Really hating a book that everyone else likes and then finding another negative review that says everything I wanted to say, but far more eloquently. It's such a warm, snuggly feeling, knowing you're not alone.
3. Finding out that I've gotten a new review for one of my own books. This always serves as an insta-mood-lift.
4. Typing in random shelf names in my browser and seeing what books pop up. Goodreads's shelf navigation really sucks, but I've still found some really cool books that way.
5. Requests for author interviews. This is, like, the highest compliment imaginable for me as a writer. I love that. <3
6. The hilarious cat pictures and memes that show up in my news feed. My laptop screen has suffered immensely from all the spit-takes I've put it through. STOP MAKING ME LAUGH WHILE I'M TRYING TO DRINK, GUYS. GAWD.
7. The sheer diversity of opinion when it comes to books and social issues and pretty much anything else. I love that when some big event happens, be it in the publishing world or the great beyond, someone always posts about it. I think I learn more from my GR and Twitter feeds than I do from the actual news.
8. Winning the first reads giveaways. YAY BOOKS IN THE MAIL! BEST PRESENT EVER. It's, like, always Christmas at my house and I love that. >:D
9. Out of print gems. Maybe it's my inner-hipster but I love reading books that nobody else has read. Plus, then you get that rush of adopting the sad little puppy-eyed book that nobody else wants. :'(
10. The fact that there are Listopia lists dedicated towards out of print gems. YES. That's what I'm talking about.
11. Getting likes and comments on my reviews.
12. Liking and commenting on other people's reviews. I think it's great that your friends' reviews show up first because I always check the review page to see if any of my friends have read one of my books before starting.
13. Stalking the status updates for my own books. I may have the cutest readers ever. Just saying.
14. Reading a really funny, well-thought-out, NEGATIVE review for a book I liked. Even though I may not agree with what they say, it's bound to put the book in a new light. LOL.
15. Getting a nice message from the author of the book I've read/reviewed. That's always nice - especially if it's negative. Most authors choose to contact me via my blog, rather than on GR, but I still always think it's really sweet when an author can be gracious about a review. Again, especially if it's a negative review. :)
16. When one of my readers friends me! That makes me happy. <3 I'm like, Yay! You liked my book (or maybe not) AND you still want to be my friend even after reading all that crazy stuff I wrote?
17. Stalking my friends' book shelves and comparing our ratings. One day, I kind of hope to meet someone who's read practically all the books I have. THAT WOULD BE COOL.
18. I think it would also be really cool to do a (your name here) challenge, where you make a goal to read as many books that someone else has read that YOU personally haven't as possible before the year is up. Anyone want to volunteer as tribute? >:D
19. Pretty book covers. They look so pretty on my shelves. Some of them remind me of holofoil Pokemon cards. *_*
20. Vintage bodice ripper covers! I like that GR has all the cover editions because when reading vintage romances I like to set my cover to the original hand-painted one.
21. My lovely Singaporean friend, Louisa, who designed all my covers. She did an amazing job and she's an amazing friend, and she got me into Lisa Kleypas books which is just all around amazing.
22. Receiving messages! Logging in sucks because then I have to remember what my password is, but I love the fact that someone cared enough to write me something personal.
23. When people do buddy reads for my books. I LOVE doing buddy reads, so I'm glad to see people having fun over my books together. <3 SO AMAZING. <3 I wish I could join. ;~;
24. Giving people book recommendations. I like to check the public listings and rec like 20 at a time whenever I'm bored. I've read a lot, and like to share my favorites. I recently had someone who I rec'd a book nearly a year ago touch base and tell me they loved the book! I had totally forgotten all about that, and was psyched all over again! Reading brings people together. <3
25. The yearly book resolution challenge! Even though I usually end up hopelessly behind and cheating in December, it's still good because it pushes me to read my books. (I have way too many books. They just sit around on my floor in big piles, mocking me.)
26. All the nonfiction enthusiasts. I have several on my friends list and they KNOW their stuff. I've found some great historical titles that way.
27. The fact that I've been in the top 50 reviewers for about twelve consecutive months! That's really freaking cool, and I thank you guys for upvoting my reviews and whatnot.
28. When I first became a GR author I was really afraid that I'd get a lot of crap for reviewing. But most people have been really nice and respectful (and of course, I try to be respectful in turn) and I've been having a great time. :D
29. On that note, I think it's cool when people ask me for recommendations based on my books. I'm like, YAY! I'M A GENRE! Or something lame and hyper and happy like that. I'm happy to provide recommendations, by the way. Not just for my books, but anything. I've read a lot, so I can usually provide a fair amount of comparisons. :)
30. The fact that all my main books now have over 100 ratings each. Fearscape nearly broke 600 ratings and I did a happy dance that day because I'd been going through a bad breakup and it gave me a lift I desperately needed. My specialty books (the sci-fi and my writing guide) are less popular, but I'm still surprised by how much people seem to like them. They are a niche thing. :)
31. When I'm the first on my friends list to read and rate a book, and then, after I post the review, seeing it pop up on their to-read lists! :D YAY!
32. The funny conversations I get into with people on their or my reviews in the middle of the night about random topics. 8D
33. The pictures people have sent me of my books in public libraries!!!!1 MY BOOKS ARE IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES. I cannot get over how awesome that is. I don't own any hard copies of my own books because - eep - I can't afford them, so seeing them with their own call numbers in the libs IN HARD COPY FORMAT really made me hyper. And when I sent the picture to my cover designer, she was excited, too. :D
34. Funny shelf names. It's great when people use their creativity like that. Especially given the limited number of characters you're allowed to use.
35. Making music playlists for books you like. I do this, and I've had a few people do it for my books. It's so fun and it is a great way to pick up new songs. Several of my readers on Fictionpress made playlists for my books, and that was how I learned about David Usher and Submersed, and also Ellie Goulding.
36. How sweet and polite and kind my readers are. Not just to me (though they are, which is great) but also to each other and to the people who reviewed my books and didn't like them. I LOVE the fact that I don't have a vigilante brute squad on my behalf, and whenever I see people complaining about authors whose fangirls (and boys) are totally out of control, I'm super happy that my name isn't mentioned. My readers are awesome, and I hold them in the highest esteem. <3
37. I'm also grateful that people still hold my opinion in esteem despite my being an author. I know it's not easy to be nonpartisan when you're rating the books of your peers (or your superiors), so it means a lot that I have a reputation for honesty and (for the most part) fair ratings.
38. Even though gifs are overused on this site, there is nothing that beats the perfect pun delivered with the perfect gif. I've cacklesnorted so many times because of this pitch-perfect delivery. :)
39. Authors who just randomly give their readers ARCs. THAT IS SO AWESOME. I still have half a dozen I need to review, so I don't accept them anymore, but I'm so happy when I see them being offered to other reviewers. It's a nice way to get publicity and just, you know, a nice thing to do. Sharing is caring. I love seeing authors who are okay with giving out freebies. It's nice, it's sweet. And it's a far better way to get attention than going around attacking negative reviewers or writing mean condemnatory blog posts.
40. All the people on this site who are my friends and followers. You guys spice up the site to make it what it is. Fun! I reading your reviews, seeing your posts, and being the recipient of your kindness and support. You make this site a better place to be, and I am all over that like white on rice.
What are you thankful for?
xNenia
1. Seeing that +1, +2, +3, etc. on the friend request tab. I love making new friends, but I'm shy and hate making the first move, so just the fact that somebody liked something I posted enough to add me really makes my day!
2. Really hating a book that everyone else likes and then finding another negative review that says everything I wanted to say, but far more eloquently. It's such a warm, snuggly feeling, knowing you're not alone.
3. Finding out that I've gotten a new review for one of my own books. This always serves as an insta-mood-lift.
4. Typing in random shelf names in my browser and seeing what books pop up. Goodreads's shelf navigation really sucks, but I've still found some really cool books that way.
5. Requests for author interviews. This is, like, the highest compliment imaginable for me as a writer. I love that. <3
6. The hilarious cat pictures and memes that show up in my news feed. My laptop screen has suffered immensely from all the spit-takes I've put it through. STOP MAKING ME LAUGH WHILE I'M TRYING TO DRINK, GUYS. GAWD.
7. The sheer diversity of opinion when it comes to books and social issues and pretty much anything else. I love that when some big event happens, be it in the publishing world or the great beyond, someone always posts about it. I think I learn more from my GR and Twitter feeds than I do from the actual news.
8. Winning the first reads giveaways. YAY BOOKS IN THE MAIL! BEST PRESENT EVER. It's, like, always Christmas at my house and I love that. >:D
9. Out of print gems. Maybe it's my inner-hipster but I love reading books that nobody else has read. Plus, then you get that rush of adopting the sad little puppy-eyed book that nobody else wants. :'(
10. The fact that there are Listopia lists dedicated towards out of print gems. YES. That's what I'm talking about.
11. Getting likes and comments on my reviews.
12. Liking and commenting on other people's reviews. I think it's great that your friends' reviews show up first because I always check the review page to see if any of my friends have read one of my books before starting.
13. Stalking the status updates for my own books. I may have the cutest readers ever. Just saying.
14. Reading a really funny, well-thought-out, NEGATIVE review for a book I liked. Even though I may not agree with what they say, it's bound to put the book in a new light. LOL.
15. Getting a nice message from the author of the book I've read/reviewed. That's always nice - especially if it's negative. Most authors choose to contact me via my blog, rather than on GR, but I still always think it's really sweet when an author can be gracious about a review. Again, especially if it's a negative review. :)
16. When one of my readers friends me! That makes me happy. <3 I'm like, Yay! You liked my book (or maybe not) AND you still want to be my friend even after reading all that crazy stuff I wrote?
17. Stalking my friends' book shelves and comparing our ratings. One day, I kind of hope to meet someone who's read practically all the books I have. THAT WOULD BE COOL.
18. I think it would also be really cool to do a (your name here) challenge, where you make a goal to read as many books that someone else has read that YOU personally haven't as possible before the year is up. Anyone want to volunteer as tribute? >:D
19. Pretty book covers. They look so pretty on my shelves. Some of them remind me of holofoil Pokemon cards. *_*
20. Vintage bodice ripper covers! I like that GR has all the cover editions because when reading vintage romances I like to set my cover to the original hand-painted one.
21. My lovely Singaporean friend, Louisa, who designed all my covers. She did an amazing job and she's an amazing friend, and she got me into Lisa Kleypas books which is just all around amazing.
22. Receiving messages! Logging in sucks because then I have to remember what my password is, but I love the fact that someone cared enough to write me something personal.
23. When people do buddy reads for my books. I LOVE doing buddy reads, so I'm glad to see people having fun over my books together. <3 SO AMAZING. <3 I wish I could join. ;~;
24. Giving people book recommendations. I like to check the public listings and rec like 20 at a time whenever I'm bored. I've read a lot, and like to share my favorites. I recently had someone who I rec'd a book nearly a year ago touch base and tell me they loved the book! I had totally forgotten all about that, and was psyched all over again! Reading brings people together. <3
25. The yearly book resolution challenge! Even though I usually end up hopelessly behind and cheating in December, it's still good because it pushes me to read my books. (I have way too many books. They just sit around on my floor in big piles, mocking me.)
26. All the nonfiction enthusiasts. I have several on my friends list and they KNOW their stuff. I've found some great historical titles that way.
27. The fact that I've been in the top 50 reviewers for about twelve consecutive months! That's really freaking cool, and I thank you guys for upvoting my reviews and whatnot.
28. When I first became a GR author I was really afraid that I'd get a lot of crap for reviewing. But most people have been really nice and respectful (and of course, I try to be respectful in turn) and I've been having a great time. :D
29. On that note, I think it's cool when people ask me for recommendations based on my books. I'm like, YAY! I'M A GENRE! Or something lame and hyper and happy like that. I'm happy to provide recommendations, by the way. Not just for my books, but anything. I've read a lot, so I can usually provide a fair amount of comparisons. :)
30. The fact that all my main books now have over 100 ratings each. Fearscape nearly broke 600 ratings and I did a happy dance that day because I'd been going through a bad breakup and it gave me a lift I desperately needed. My specialty books (the sci-fi and my writing guide) are less popular, but I'm still surprised by how much people seem to like them. They are a niche thing. :)
31. When I'm the first on my friends list to read and rate a book, and then, after I post the review, seeing it pop up on their to-read lists! :D YAY!
32. The funny conversations I get into with people on their or my reviews in the middle of the night about random topics. 8D
33. The pictures people have sent me of my books in public libraries!!!!1 MY BOOKS ARE IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES. I cannot get over how awesome that is. I don't own any hard copies of my own books because - eep - I can't afford them, so seeing them with their own call numbers in the libs IN HARD COPY FORMAT really made me hyper. And when I sent the picture to my cover designer, she was excited, too. :D
34. Funny shelf names. It's great when people use their creativity like that. Especially given the limited number of characters you're allowed to use.
35. Making music playlists for books you like. I do this, and I've had a few people do it for my books. It's so fun and it is a great way to pick up new songs. Several of my readers on Fictionpress made playlists for my books, and that was how I learned about David Usher and Submersed, and also Ellie Goulding.
36. How sweet and polite and kind my readers are. Not just to me (though they are, which is great) but also to each other and to the people who reviewed my books and didn't like them. I LOVE the fact that I don't have a vigilante brute squad on my behalf, and whenever I see people complaining about authors whose fangirls (and boys) are totally out of control, I'm super happy that my name isn't mentioned. My readers are awesome, and I hold them in the highest esteem. <3
37. I'm also grateful that people still hold my opinion in esteem despite my being an author. I know it's not easy to be nonpartisan when you're rating the books of your peers (or your superiors), so it means a lot that I have a reputation for honesty and (for the most part) fair ratings.
38. Even though gifs are overused on this site, there is nothing that beats the perfect pun delivered with the perfect gif. I've cacklesnorted so many times because of this pitch-perfect delivery. :)
39. Authors who just randomly give their readers ARCs. THAT IS SO AWESOME. I still have half a dozen I need to review, so I don't accept them anymore, but I'm so happy when I see them being offered to other reviewers. It's a nice way to get publicity and just, you know, a nice thing to do. Sharing is caring. I love seeing authors who are okay with giving out freebies. It's nice, it's sweet. And it's a far better way to get attention than going around attacking negative reviewers or writing mean condemnatory blog posts.
40. All the people on this site who are my friends and followers. You guys spice up the site to make it what it is. Fun! I reading your reviews, seeing your posts, and being the recipient of your kindness and support. You make this site a better place to be, and I am all over that like white on rice.
What are you thankful for?
xNenia
