Meet Simant, she is the blogger behind Flipping Through The Pages

1. Hello Simant, please introduce yourself and tell us about your blog?

As I told earlier, I am Indian blogger who has recently sparked her ambition of reading again. Yes it was late 2016 that I started reading again, so almost 80% of time if you would ask whether or not I have read a particular book, then my answer would be No 😛

I am a software engineer and happily married for 3 years now.

I started my blog on my birthday last year so this year celebrated my first blogiversary 🙂 My blog, Flipping Through the Pages, brought up a lot of changes in my life. I started it because it keeps me motivated to read more.

2. What was the deciding factor that made you go “Yes I am doing this, I’m starting my own blog!” ? Are you passionate about what you post on your blog?

As I said earlier, I was not a reader always. I used to read when I was much younger and left it when I was in college, but I always knew that I loved reading. One day I was scrolling through Instagram (when I first discovered it) and the first thing that came to my mind was to search for book accounts. And when I did, ahh, there was a huge crowd of #bookstagrammers. I was literally in shock with what I had seen, I’d never imagined the book community to be so large. Then I logged in to my Goodreads account (which I had made like years ago), updated a few books that I had read in my early days and realized I was nowhere near to be called a reader, though I loved reading! At that moment, I decided to start reading again.

It was Nov 2016, I guess. In Jan 2017 I made my Instagram account for books, started posting my reviews there and on Goodreads. But I realized I couldn’t say as much as I wanted to say on those platforms. Then the idea of being a blogger came to my mind. I asked a friend if it was a good idea, and he said, “yes, definitely!” I started googling famous book blogs and came up with the overall idea of what my blog would be like. I wanted to make my presence felt outside my personal life; I wanted to do something as a hobby apart from my 9-6 job. So finally, on 14th July 2017 (and that’s my birthday) I launched Flipping Through the Pages 🙂

Yes, I am definitely passionate about what I post here. Well, no a days I am going a little slower, but I always try to post whenever I get time and always try to bring up different content.

3. How would you describe your blogging style and persona? How meticulous are you, when it comes to the conceptualization up to the execution of your ideas?

Most of the bloggers are pretty fast and can easily create 2-3 posts within 2-3 hours. But for me, it normally takes 2-3 hours to create a single post (that’s the reason I am never able to schedule posts in advance). I put a lot of efforts in each of my posts, from Graphic to writing and what to write and what not to.

As for my blogging style, I think I am normal one like the others. I don’t know if there is anything special in my blog, but I know this that whatever I write, I give my 100% to it 🙂

4. What do you want and hope your readers to take from the content you share?   

I try to post genuine content and thoughts. Even when I post reviews, I try to explicitly explain the good and the bad. I want the readers to understand my experience about a particular book. Even if I have given a book 4 stars I always try to give the reason for not giving that one star. I want the readers to read an honest review of mine.

I have started #blogging101 series this year and many bloggers have appreciated it. I really want the new bloggers to get help from it. I remember, while starting my blog, all the trouble I went through while researching. I am trying to help the new ones in whatever way possible 🙂

5. What is your blogging mojo? How do you stay inspired and motivated to continue running your blog?

I would be lying if I say that I haven’t faced in low days where I just want to quit blogging. Being married and with my regular 9-6 job, it really becomes difficult to adjust blogging in that schedule. I often find myself conflicted as when  to write posts and when to read books.

But every time, I feel low, I remind myself just one thing: the reason I started blogging in the first place. I wanted to share my book love with others and hence I am here. This certainly keeps me motivated.

6. What is your long-term goal/plan for your blog?

I would definitely like to see my blog rising. I want more people to interact with my blog. My goal is to gain at least 500 followers by the end of this year (i don’t know if that is possible). The more the merrier! I have planned many things for my blog, but obviously, the time constraint is there. I have to post more discussion posts for sure. I am planning new posts in #Blogger 101 series that would be beneficial for bloggers.

I have a few meme ideas, too, for my blog. I am thinking to start a series of Book vs. TV adaptation posts.I need to post more Author Interviews. Also, I want to continue my Sunday Travels post, because travelling is my second love 🙂

7. Who is your favourite marginalized main character? It doesn’t have to be from a book, it could also be from a movie, tv series, games, comics etc. Why is this character your favourite? Marginalization is the process whereby something or someone is pushed to the edge of a group and accorded lesser importance. This is predominantly a social phenomenon by which a minority or sub-group is excluded, and their needs or desires ignored. A marginalized person can be people of colour, the disabled, mentally ill, the lgbt+ community etc.

I am going to mention my recent love here- Simon from Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Simon was freaking cute and awesome. He was so adorable. I liked all the cuteness and of course all the Oreos 😛 That line from the book is still with me: “Why being straight is default”. I mean yes, why?

8. It is important that marginalized people are given platforms to shine and bring awareness to their movements and plights. If you believe so, why is it important to you?

We really need more books including LGBTQ+ community and we as readers are the ones who can provide them the maximum support. The society have to accept them like the normal person and the more we read and understand about them, the more we can expand the knowledge. I just want that every community should have equal rights.

9. It is crucial that in whatever we do, we should always strive for both equity & equality, what advice can you part with, when it comes to using our platforms to give a voice to the marginalized?

As I said above, yes we need to create an atmosphere where everyone is equal doesn’t matter which community they belongs to. Books are a great medium to teach everyone about these things and spreading the knowledge.

We as bloggers, certainly should promote these kind of things because we are capable of doing it.

10. Last but not the least, what’s your take on the blogging communities? What has been your experience within the community?

So I am going to complete my first year this month and I can’t explain the joy that this community has given me over this year. There are bloggers like Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books who made me feel accepted and welcomed. She has definitely become my favourite blogger. Then there is Fanna who is like my soul sister. There are so many other amazing bloggers (I can’t name them all here) who have always helped me and encouraged in one way or another.

If you are new blogger then communicating with others is certainly the best thing that you need to. This community is full of lovely people who will help you whenever you need them.

Here are some of Simant’s favourite blog posts.

10 Things Your Blog Needs If You Are a New Blogger (or not)

Welcome to another post in Blogging 101 series. I missed the last month post for this series but I am glad I am back with that 🙂 This post is specifically targeted for new bloggers but…

Some Random Bookish/Non-bookish Facts About Me

I hate books with movie covers, I seriously do. Given the choice, I always prefer to buy the alternate edition of the book, because the movie covers make me feel as if the book is not real…

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green | 10 reasons it demands to be read

If you have been following me on social media and on this blog for quite a time then you must know that John Green is one of my favourite authors. I just love his writing. Now he…

You can find Simant on the Social Media sites, listed below, clicking on the various names, will lead you to her account.

Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Instagram • Bloglovin • Pinterest • Google+ 

You also can be featured, so everyone can also see your thoughts, I’m too lazy to change the questions right now, but I just might in future, but I’m still taking on people who want to be featured. This series I hope can go on until December. Here’s the link to all the information you need to know —> PSA: Sign Up for my Guest Feature Post

I’m a huge fan Simant, and I’m so glad she took the time out to do this and is a guest here on my blog! You definitely should follow her, her content is amazing.

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