Reading 101: Book Buying on a Budget

I readily admit that I have a problem – I’m absolutely obsessed with buying books (nevermind the actually reading them part that might be implied by that statement).  Unfortunately, spending absurd sums of money that I don’t possess doesn’t mesh well with my current college student and prospective medical school student status.  Therefore, I’ve become creative with respect to maximizing my steady stream of bookish purchases while simultaneously having enough money to purchase food, pay for laundry, and all of those other unimportant things.

Reading 101: TBRing Like a Boss

I have a book buying addiction, and I cannot lie.  Particularly when it comes to acquiring books at a significantly faster rate than I can read them.  Death by ominously towering TBR pile appears exceedingly imminent at the moment and certainly would not come as a shock.  I use TBRing as a verb – that’s often the first indicator of a problem adorably cute bookish habit that all readers should partake in.

Blogging 101: ARC Basics

One of the most common areas of confusion for newer bloggers is ARCs – what they are, how to acquire them, and how to interact with authors and publishers.  While I am by no means an expert on ARCs and the requesting process, I’ve received a decent number of them over the years (and am currently sorting through a rather hefty pile of them).  Therefore, I’ve compiled a few tips and tricks regarding how to request ARCs and interact professionally with publishers.

Blogging 101: Basic HTML

Before I started teaching myself how to code, the word “HTML” sent me into a bit of a panic, primarily because I never completely understood it.  I couldn’t wrap my head around how garbled nonsense translated into beautifully designed web pages, let alone how I would go about replicating lines and lines of code.  When I began researching HTML to learn more, the sheer volume of information I was uncovering was overwhelming to say the least.  There were thousands of Google search results, and seemingly more variations and methods to go about writing HTML codes.  If you take away one point from this post, let it be this: do not Google HTML, for your own sanity.

Now that I’ve had some time to learn the ropes and experiment with HTML both here on Brewing Up Books as well as on several other platforms, I decided to compile a list and explanations of my most frequently used HTML codes.

Reading 101: How to Survive a Trip to the Bookstore

I am entirely unembarrassed to admit that I have a book buying obsession, and it’s gotten a bit out of hand recently.  Book buying bans are essentially out of the question, so how do I go about restricting the number of books I’m purchasing during my countless trips to the bookstore?  Stretching every last dollar so that I’m getting the greatest possible number of books for the smallest sum of money?  Prioritizing which books I want to purchase immediately versus which can wait a few months?  I’ve amassed a few tips and tricks that have worked well for me in the past with the hopes of helping a few fellow bookworms.

Blogging 101: Cobloggers

Are you thinking of inviting another blogger to join your site?  Are you not sure where to start or what you should be looking for?  Are you concerned about some of the issues that can arise from having multiple authors contributing to the same blog?

Here at Brewing Up Books, we’ve always had at least two full-time bloggers, as well as several highly overlooked part-time bloggers, such as our humor writer, Julia.  We’ve picked up a few tips and tricks along the way regarding finding cobloggers, establishing reasonable expectations for both yourself and your fellow cobloggers, and interacting with individuals who are 1,000+ miles away.

Reading 101: How to Survive a Read-A-Thon

If you’re an avid reader, chances are that you’ve participated in a Read-A-Thon or two (or twenty-seven).  I’ve participated in quite a few myself, and I’ve started compiling some tips and tricks that will come in handy whether you’ve never participated in a read-a-thon before or you’re practically a pro.

Blogging 101: Scheduling

When it comes to blogging, organization is essential, and it just so happens to go hand in hand with scheduling (I can hear the collective groans).  In the long run, however, scheduling can actually relieve stress, ensure that your blog remains active, and serve as an excellent motivator. We’ve compiled a few tips that we’ve accumulated through our personal experiences to help you set up your blogging schedule.

Blogging 101: Content

Content is inarguably one of the most important factors when it comes to running a successful blog – without good content, you won’t attract too many readers!

Blogging 101: Utilizing Social Media

Social media is an integral component of modern society – it’s practically a miracle to have a face-to-face conversation with someone without either of you glancing at a smartphone, snapping a selfie, checking Facebook, responding to text messages, etc.  In our technologically savvy world, your online presence can make or break your blog, regardless of whether you’ve just started out or you’re a weathered veteran who’s been posting for years.