THE BOOKTUBEATHON IS FINALLY HERE!!!!! Nothing is more exciting in the summer than read-a-thon season! The BookTubeAThon is a yearly read-a-thon hosted by the lovely Ariel Bissett over on YouTube. It is an event that brings together book lovers and reviewers on all platform across the interwebs, including BookTubers, Bookstagrammers, and the fabulous bloggers on Twitter (who up until now I haven't realized are nameless nomads. Don't worry, Twitter peoples, you are loved nonetheless!). It is a time where everyone can join in on united reading through Twitter sprints and YouTube and Instagram challenges for all to participate in. If you want to participate and are looking for where to start, click play on the video below for all the details!

       I absolutely LOVE the book community on Instagram. There are great books, great people, and most of all, great photos! If you are looking to start a bookstagram, or just wanting to post a picture of the book you're #currentlyreading, here are some tips on how to edit your pictures.

       Now, before we start going to town, we need to prep for our bookstagram photo shoot. Make sure if you are taking your photos inside, you take them where there is a lot of natural light. I am fortunate enough to have a sun porch in my house that provides the perfect place to take my pictures, but you can take your pictures any place with lots of light. Windows, doors, and the hole in your roof are all perfect for natural light.
       You also want to make sure the background of your photo is in order. If you're taking your picture in your bedroom or in front of a bookshelf, make sure that everything behind the focus of the picture is pleasing as well. Nobody and I mean nobody wants to see your dirty laundry on the floor behind your current read.
​       Tips for taking great photos:

• Having a (semi-) consistent theme, where all of your pictures look nice together makes your page look very professional and cohesive.
• Make sure your background doesn't distract from the focus of the photo. A busy background can take away from your whole picture.
• Get creative! Use random knick-knacks from around the house, clothing items, your body, your friend's body, and create something new. If you start building things out of books, good things will happen.

       Hello everyone, and welcome to a new piece on my blog: Quizzical. It's a piece where I make a book related quiz for you to enjoy. My first one is all about finding the genre of book for your current reading mood. I hope you have fun with it, and if you do, please let me know what other types of quizzes you would like to see in the future, along with other questions or changes I should add to this one. :)

       1. Blogging
First things first, find a user friendly website builder. I use Weebly, but I know that a lot of bloggers use WordPress. Once you have decided on a blog name, design, and layout, you are ready to start cranking out posts. What I like to do is find a day of the week that I'm not busy, sit down, and write a few posts ahead of time. This way, I don't have to worry about writing a blog post when I have homework and practices to get to. Another tip is to come up with post ideas before sitting down to write. That way, you know what things you are going to write about, and you're not staring at a blank screen.
       2. Social Media
I definitely recommend getting an account where you can plan your social media posts ahead of time. I use Buffer, but I know some people use HootSuite, and other websites with the same idea. Nothing is more stressful for me as a blogger than worrying about social media posts. Another tip along these same lines is to take all your Instagram pictures ahead of time, especially when you have both time and good lighting.
       3. Reading Habits
After you start blogging for a little while, you start to see a decrease in your reading output. Make sure you are taking a book everywhere with you. You'd be amazed how much reading you get in while waiting in line or a few free minutes during lunch. Getting a book read is an essential part of book blogging, and I sometimes get so worked up about what's going on online, that I forget why I'm really doing this. It's to share what I've read online and discuss it with other people with the same interests.

       Do you have a blog or any blogging tips? Please share them in the comments below!

As she starts figuring out this weekend's post,
Ashton

       Did you participate in the BookTubeAThon? What read-a-thon should I participate in next? Leave your comments below!

While she recovers from her reading extravaganza,
Ashton

       What did you think of this month's challenge? Would you like to see me host my own challenge? Leave a comment below!

From her viewfinder,
Ashton

       What do you think about monthly challenges? I am definitely participating in another one this month, but I am thinking about doing one in the future. Would you participate?

From behind her camera,
Ashton

       That's my rating scale in gifs. I hope you found that entertaining and useful at the same time. Feel free to comment below the blog posts that you would like to see from me in the future!

From her book rating throne,
Ashton