Reading is Inevitable

If you've poked around bookstagram a bit, you might have noticed terms or acronyms that are commonly used, and yet you have no idea what they mean. Don't you worry. I think everyone was a bit lost in the beginning. But, luckily for you, I'm here to explain what some of these foreign "words" mean. Shall we begin? Okay. So first up is the word "bookstagram" itself. I think this one's pretty easy to dissect. You see the word "book", and then the ending of "stagram." (Wow, that makes a whole lot of sense! Just, wait a second, please.) The word is a combination of "book(s)" and "Instagram", creating the mish-mashed version of "bookstagram." For anyone confused (although I don't think it's too complicated), just think of it like a ship name. For instance, "Percabeth" is a combination of Percy and Annabeth's names. "Caleo" is a combination of Calypso and Leo's nam...

Hello, fellow bookstagrammers! Today I'm sharing with you yet another installment of the Navigating Bookstagram series, and it's all about using Instagram's business tools for bookstagram! But what exactly are  Instagram business tools? Instagram has been offering tools and insights for businesses to use since 2014, but more useful, updated tools only came out in the spring of 2016. By connecting a Facebook account to the Instagram page, users can now see analytics on each individual post and their posts as a whole, as well as information on the demographic of their followers. Additionally, if they add the feature, users can view insights on their Instagram stories. Setting Up Business Tools First, you'll need to create a Facebook account and/or page. Once you have a Facebook account, you can create a business page by clicking the down arrow at the top of the screen and "Create Page." From there, choose from the options they give you (below). Wha...

Hey there, everyone. I realized that this series is called "Navigating Bookstagram - Stories  & Tips From a Small(er?) Account", even though I don't often post about my own experiences on bookstagram. Last time I tied in both our story and some helpful information to make a post, but today, I decided to specifically talk about something that is happening to us. The hopeful idea is that, by sharing my story with you, you can maybe learn and avoid some things and we can get to the bottom of this. The bottom of what, you may ask? Well, I'll tell you... So, as you know if you follow our bookstagram or read my last Navigating Bookstagram post, we were previously inactive on bookstagram. For a long...long...long...time. Before starting to post again on the 9th, we were inactive for a month. And before we posted those three pictures in late June to early August, we were inactive for another month before that. So, minus three pictures, we were pretty much inactive...

I'd like to use this post to discuss periods of inactivity on bookstagram, including what they are, how they happen, and what happens as a result of them, as well as a little story about our own, current state of inactivity. Periods of inactivity. We all have them, right? Those days or maybe even weeks where you don't post anything. Whether it's because of a lack of time or inspiration, camera issues or personal issues, we all have them at some point. In fact, if you keep up with our bookstagram, you would know that we are actually in a state of inactivity right now. A good amount of the time, periods of inactivity aren't planned. (Or at least that's the case with us.) They just happen because you're busy and don't have the time, or something sudden has happened. Sometimes, you just can't post one day and then the next, and so on and so on until, when you actually have the time to post, you're so "out of practice" that you simp...

Back in early June of 2016 (June 3rd, 2016, to be exact), I wrote a letter to "future" me on my hopes and dreams for Reading is Inevitable, not only including the blog but also the bookstagram. Now that it's been over a year and "future me" is now "present me", it was time to open up the letter and see how much Reading is Inevitable has grown! To read my letter, read the text below. Dear Julia, How is the blog? I am sure that it is not exactly what you have wanted for the blog at this point. Running a blog is tough! Oh, don’t forget to write that post on what you have learned so far, blah blah blah. Although, if you decided to follow schedule, you should have already written it. If not, you’re late! Anyway, moving on, I suppose I should write down some of my wishes and hopes for the blog at this point. I hope that we have a new design (not too fond of the current one…?), or at least that it’s a bit more colorful or bright. I hope that Emi...

Today I'm sharing with you another installment of the Navigating Bookstagram series! (Yay!) Something that you've probably seen around bookstagram by now are the monthly challenges that some bookstagramers hold every month. (That's why they're called monthly challenges....) Monthly challenges can be really helpful, especially when you're just starting out as a bookstagrammer. A monthly challenge is basically a list of picture prompts for you to continue throughout the month. Some prompts are based on a holiday that might occur on that day (ex. red, white, and blue on the United States' Independence Day). Prompts can be specific or vague, leaving room for interpretation. (Although some bookstagrammers do have explanation of prompts available in their captions or on other platforms such as blogs.) Most prompts are posted by the bookstagramer(s) hosting them in the form of pictures on Instagram, so that you and other participating bookstagrammers can post t...

In my more recent Navigating Bookstagram posts, I discussed SFS's, one way that you can increase the amount of attention your page gets. But another really helpful way to do so is to get featured on a bookstagram feature account. I know, I know: it sounds impossible, but it's worth it. A bookstagram feature account is exactly what it sounds like. It's an account that's sole purpose is to feature other bookstagrammer's work (I say other because, usually, these accounts are run by other bookstagrammers). There are a lot of accounts out there, and they pick pictures/accounts to feature based off of the pictures. Some accounts have certain themes such as outdoor pictures or flatlays. Accounts like these are not only a good way for you to get your content put out there, but also a great way for you to potentially find other accounts with content you like. How to Participate Okay. So how do you get featured on one of these feature accounts? Usually there are in...

As you, my fellow bookstagramers know, bookstagram can be a pretty tough place to gain attention. While we all love books a great deal (after all, we did dedicate a whole account just to the art of being a bookworm), in the end, popularity might boil down to what you've read or your picture quality. Tough stuff right there. I mean, we all love books, so why should it matter which ones we read? So what if we don't read the most popular books on bookstagram? Those dystopian YA books with futuristic societies or tons of action? Who ever said that classic books were bad? And, no, I'm not just talking about those Puffin classics with the beautiful covers - but the ones with less visually appealing covers, too. Who said that our pictures necessarily had to be good? I mean, sure - this is Instagram we're talking about, a social media network built upon pictures - but when did we let that get in the way of what we came here to do? When did we let a less popular style or ...

All the way back in the beginning of April, I published a post on shoutout-for-shoutout sessions (SFS's) in the bookstagram community, specifically entering  them. Now, I will - after promising to do so back in my first SFS post - finally discuss hosting your own SFS. Em and I have done two shoutout-for-shoutout sessions in the past: one on our own when we hit 1,000 followers, and one with a group of bookstagrammers in honor of the then-new year, 2017. Therefore, shoutout-for-shoutout sessions can be hosted by one account or a group of accounts. As mentioned in my previous post, besides single and group shoutout sessions, there are now two types of SFS's. These two types are post SFS's and story SFS's , the latter available due to the relatively recent addition of Instagram Stories. Basic Guidelines for All SFS's No matter the format of your SFS, there are some basic guidelines that most bookstagrammers follow when hosting a shoutout session. To start, s...

I know that I promised a different addition to the Navigating Bookstagram series, but there’s something important that happened last Wednesday that I feel like I should share with you, my fellow bookstagrammers. If you haven’t noticed, there has been some bullying (or at least some unkind words) in the bookstagram community lately. For instance, I have seen issues over rep searches, where people argue over not getting picked and create issues for everyone involved. I’ve heard of a shop that had to not have reps and might have even closed, and have also heard of people who have been directly hurt through direct messages. I think most bookstagrammers can agree that the bookstagram community is a safe one where we’re all united by our love for books. I know that when Em and I joined bookstagram, I was shocked at how wonderfully nice everyone was. But sadly that hasn’t been the case lately. That’s why five bookstagrammers who recognized this organized the #booksNOTbullies anti-bul...