Blogoversary week: The Highlights: General

So today I thought I'd focus on the highlights of my blogging life so far. Today's post is gonna be the general highlights, then tomorrow I'm going to write about the specific things that stand out for me. 

1. Actually starting my blog. 

It might sound stupid, but starting my blog in the first place was such an amazing thing for me. I've really enjoyed shaping it and interacting with other bloggers and getting involved in the whole book-blogging thing. It's given me confidence in my ability to actually write something that people want to read, in my ability to keep something like this going and make it a success and even in going for my dream career (to work in publishing).  I seriously can't imagine what I'd do with my time if I stopped blogging!

2. Meeting some awesome people.

I'm not going to list everyone, because that would take up atleast a blog post in itself. But I've met some amazing bloggers this year and they've all inspired me in some way. You can see some of my favourites in both of the sidebars <----> 

But there are a few I want to mention by name. 

First up, Fiktshun. Rachel at Fiktshun is a HUGE inspiration to me. Her blog is the sort of blog my blog dreams of becoming. She's a thoughtful, organised and imaginative blogger. I love all her features and everything is always so carefully written and formatted. She's so passionate, whether it's about a recent release or an old favourite (I think we ALL know how she feels about the Soul Screamers series). She's one of those bloggers that has really found her 'voice'.  

Next up is Liz from Planet Print. We are eerily similar. We acknowledged this the other night when we created our  scale: The complex and highly scientific scale by which we measure the immorality and therefore hotness of male fictional characters. Otherwise known as the Nick-o-meter. We both have the same obsession with amoral characters, the same tastes in TV shows, similar tastes in books and very similar attitudes. Neither of us sleeps, both of us are addicted to junkfood and we're both fairly lazy. There might be 4 years and some miles (I don't know how many exactly) and a North/South divide separating us, but we talk pretty much everyday and I'm very glad I found her! 

Finally we have Brodie at Eleusinian Mysteries. I love Brodie because her personality just jumps off the webpage and hits you in the face.  She's so enthusiastic and excitable and this comes across in all her posts and comments. She also runs amazing events and I can't believe how much planning must go into them!

There are a tonne of other people I could mention, but I think it's safe to say that if you're reading this, you're probably one of them ;) Thanks to all of you for your conversations, your tips, your book recommendations and your totally awesome blog posts. 

3. The books.

I've discovered SO many new authors/books since starting blogging. I'm going to do a post later in the week about how my reading habits have changed, but lets just say I wouldn't have read nearly as many awesome books this past year without blogging. (The Hunger Games, Divergent, Anna and the French Kiss, Delirium, Saving June, the list can go on.) I love how reading everyone's recommendations and reviews, seeing their enthusiasm for certain books really drives me to want to read them too. I love being caught up in the frenzy of love for a particular book--it's all so fun!

So there we have it, my general blogging highlights! Tomorrow's post will be on all the specific things I've loved about blogging and so will probably end up being much, much longer.

Don't forget to enter my blogoversary giveaways!
UK giveaway
International giveaway