There is a vlogger that I am subscribed to on YouTube named Zoe Sugg who will often go on for weeks without uploading any videos. When a new video finally does appear, she will often explain that “vlogging fear” prevented her from recording and uploading new content. I never understood this and often thought “How could she be fearful of vlogging when it is her career?” However, as I ease back into classes after a two-week break, I have struggled to sit down and focus on typing out a blog post. Even though I have been a student for most of my life and am used to assignments and deadlines, I have developed a bit of “blogging fear” myself. I struggle with feeling confident in the content that I produce and rather than doing my best and posting, I tend to just avoid it all together. Perhaps this is what Zoe deals with too. Taking a break from writing posts for two weeks and starting online courses has strengthened this fear, but I want to overcome it!
The tagline of my blog is “pursuing peace, one page at a time.” During the past few weeks of unknown with COVID-19, this statement has held true for me. Reading allows me to turn my mind away from what is on the news and give my brain a break. A blogger I follow Ashley Brooke, hosts a virtual book club on her website and I read March’s selection, Tweet Cute by Emma Lord. The book actually made me think about my Writing for Online and Social Media class because the book centers around the two main characters, Pepper and Jack and a Twitter war between their two family businesses. The book is really cute and the perfect distraction during quarantine. Through her book club page, I found my next read The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary about a man and woman, Leon and Tiffy, who share an apartment, but never see each other. Tiffy works during the day at a publishing company and Leon works nights as a nurse. They begin to communicate with each other through written notes and their friendship develops from there. I loved the main characters in this book and how their connection grows from writing to each other.
My TBR (to be read) pile is also growing during this time. I purchased the children’s book, Love Does for Kids by Bob Goff. I read the adult version of this book and loved it. For this version of the book, the author collaborated with his daughter to modify the book for children and added illustrations. I received the book in the mail and the pictures are bright and colorful and Bob’s writing is the same. I think I want to treat this book like a devotional and try to read a chapter a day while I am quarantined at home. I will keep you posted! Another book that I added to my reading list is Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster. The title of this book caught my attention, because I’m the kind of person who stresses over a $5 purchase from CVS, so when I saw someone I follow on Instagram was also reading it, I took it as a sign that I needed to buy the book.
I hope everyone reading is safe and sane at home! Let me know if you are reading or interested in reading anything particular during this quarantine! I would love to add more to my list. Thank you for reading!
Emily's Bookshelf 