Busting the Newbie Blues

If you are a blogger you can share your expertise (or lack of thereof - in my case at least) participating in this nice event. First visit here and then take the right questionnaire, answer the questions and post them on your blog. I decided to participate just to summarize my several blogging months so far. Thanks Small Review for coming up with such a good idea and organizing  the event! I love the button btw!

• When did you start your blog? I started this year in June. I was bored. 
• Why did you start your blog? Because I was encouraged to do so and I found it a great way to share my passion - reading books - and share my views.
• What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far? Did you make any mistakes new bloggers can learn from? The biggest challenge...writting in more or less flawless English. It is not my mother tongue, you know. Mistakes....er... just look around. There have been plenty of them. I have had problems with the design of my blog too. Patience is the key - that and a good dictionary.
• What did you find most discouraging about being a new blogger? How did you deal with this? Lack of time can discourage you ok. Lack of followers and comments too. You visit other blogs and you see there are over 500 followers or more and you think 'I am a lousy blogger, I have nothing interesting to say, I will never ever have so many comments...'How do I deal? I keep remembering why I am doing this - for fun, for joy, for fun for joy...etc..and I eat chocolate.
• What do you find most encouraging? When somebody decides to follow and/or  comment I am overjoyed and so grateful I could kiss my elderly neighbour (and you should see her to understand the scale of my joy...)
• What do you like best about the blogs you read? Have you tried to replicate this in your blog? When I read a great review I almost always try to replicate it but in my own fashion.I like honest, open opinions and good sense of humour.
• What do you dislike about blogs you’ve read? Do you try to avoid this? I dislike repetitiveness of style. I dislike insincere comments.
• Do you have any advice for new bloggers? Find your own voice and keep it. Be honest no matter what. Have fun and learn new things all the time.
• How did you bring your blog to the attention of so many people? Er...really not a question I can answer. I have 16 followers. I appreciate their presence very much although it is not a huge crowd. I am not sure I want a lot of followers. Quality not quantity.
• Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience? No, that's all I suppose.