Book Talk: How Personal is Too Personal?

10:30 Cilla 10 Comments


(I hesitated to tag this as Book Talk, as this isn't quite about books and more about blogging, but this is the tag all of my discussion posts are under, so anyway.)

In the process of giving this blog a makeover, I began reconsidering my About page. Writing introductions are always difficult to me. I have a hard time deciding what might be interesting enough to share, or what might be interesting but utterly irrelevant. Add privacy concerns to the mix, and the struggle is complete. The current blurb I have is already a revised version of my first draft, and I'm still not happy with it.

The same concerns surfaced when I was writing my October Rewind post. How much personal happenings should I include? Or should the post be strictly filled with book-related things? I personally enjoy getting to know a little bit about other bloggers' lives away from reading and blogging, but I have also found that I tend to skip over anything too detailed.

There are some personal details that I definitely wouldn't share, such as my last name and birthday. You knows, things someone might be able to use to hack into important accounts... I'm also disinclined to share photos of my face, though I rarely feel like posting a selfie anywhere online anyway. However, everything else seems to fall in a gray area. I don't mind talking about my love for certain TV shows, for instance, and I don't mind talking a little bit about where I'm from.

I don't think I've quite figured out a balance yet, but hopefully it'll come with some practice!

I want to hear from you: how much personal info is too personal for you? What do you feel comfortable sharing on your blog?

10 comments:

  1. Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction8 November 2015 at 04:53

    I share a lot on my blog, but that's just what I'm comfortable with. I agree that everyone has to find their own way with this and that it's complicated. You kind of have to feel your way until you figure it out - but less is always better until you do!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Cilla9 November 2015 at 22:15

      That's a good advice, Nicole, thank you!

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  2. Jamie E.8 November 2015 at 14:53

    I struggle with this too. I have been trying to open up more this year. Especially as I would love to have a few reading friends in our community. I want to move beyond the blogging parts at time and keep the humanity in things. But between being socially awkward and shy I don't say much. Plus, as you said the sharing too much. I don't do selfies really, nor do I often share where I live (generic region, maybe). My b irthdate-no way. So it is a tricky balance. I've started to open up about things I am interested in, life events or projects or generic work stuff. But exactly what I do, where I work, etc is a no go. Granted. most info about me can be added up and likely put together, but for safety I don't go handing it over.

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    1. Cilla9 November 2015 at 22:20

      I too am socially awkward and shy! And I would love to have reading buddies in this community too, so I'm glad to know I'm not alone in this. :) It sounds like you're managing a good balance. I agree about birthdates. I actually started to put mine on Twitter and then thought better of it. Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Sab Reads Books8 November 2015 at 15:12

    I don't mind putting my last name or anything online, I see hacking as not too common in this community because we're a community of mostly good people, but I can definitely see the concern.
    It might be because I'm in the selfie age and I love sharing things with my online friends, and haven't had anything bad happen to far! Fingers crossed, though. I feel like a lot of people could have the potential to find me in person if they were adamant enough. By the time I learned the dangers of over-sharing in the online world, I had already had and forgotten a billion different profiles on a billion different websites.

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    1. Cilla9 November 2015 at 22:25

      I think I've had internet safety concerns banged into me way early on, and that's why I'm wary. It's good that nothing bad has happened to you so far - and hopefully nothing ever will! :)

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  4. Bunnita8 November 2015 at 23:30

    I had worried about that but I made a decision recently to be more personal on my posts. I think your blog is your space just do want you feel is comfortable.

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  5. Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight12 November 2015 at 14:09

    I like personal stuff. I love to know who I am talking to, and I am pretty open about stuff too. I mean, no, I am not giving out my social security number on the regular, but other than that? Meh. I know some people are more private, and that is absolutely fine! But I do like to read stuff about the person behind the blog from time to time for sure!

    I mean, going to BEA last year, everyone saw my full name, town, and face. I guess they could have stalked me if they were so inclined, but I assume there are more fun people to stalk? ;) I do know what you mean about glazing over personal stuff sometimes. I mean, I don't need a 20 minute diatribe about you running out of milk or something, but otherwise, I love it!

    P.S.- Check your email that you signed up for the Discussion Challenge with. You may or may not have won the giveaway last month (spoiler- you did.)
    Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight

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    1. Cilla14 November 2015 at 09:34

      You seem like plenty of fun! Not that I'm going to stalk you of course, haha. I get your point though - I'm definitely on the more private end of things, but it probably doesn't hurt to mention things like my favourite TV shows. :) Thanks for stopping by, Shannon!

      (And I'm still really excited about that P.S. omg)

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Thanks for reading! It makes my day to hear your thoughts and I will respond asap. :)

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