Meet Sarah, she is the blogger behind Earth to Sarah!
1. Hello Sarah, please introduce yourself and tell us about your blog?
Hi there, thank you so much for having me! I recently started blogging after being so inspired by the rest of the book blogging community. I can honestly say it has changed my life already as I have found a new found creativity and passion. I have worked in libraries for the past year and it was while surrounded by books every day and getting excited every time we would get a new delivery that I started to wonder if there was a place on the internet for people like me. And I soon found my new home! Books are my everything, and I love having a place to talk about them.
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?
I first started dabbling in Bookstagram late last year and soon realised there was such a big passionate community here. I saw that many of them had blogs and I thought “That’s what I want to do!”. It took a little longer to pluck up the courage but I feel like I’m now hitting my stride. I absolutely love working on my blog. I have wanted to be a writer since I can remember and grew up loving photography, so having a place that combines both has been so much fun. I am obviously passionate about books, but I have also started to explore other topics that mean a lot to me such as social media, mental health and the environment. I have lots in the works and I’m so excited!
3. How would you describe your blogging style and persona? How meticulous are you, when it comes to the conceptualisation up to the execution of your ideas?
I’m not sure if I have a ‘style’ just yet as I’m still finding my feet, but so far I would say pretty chatty! I tend to write how I speak and I think that’s coming through so far. It’s something I’d like to work on, and I’m sure comes with time and practice!
4. What do you want and hope your readers to take from the content you share?
I hope they come away feeling inspired and motivated, with some new book recommendations and feeling like they found someone they can relate to.
5. What is your blogging mojo? How do you stay inspired and motivated to continue running your blog?
I am a super organised person so I have a ton of spreadsheets, and lists on Google Docs, Trello and ToDoIst to keep me sane. If I have an idea at any time I can jot it down in ToDoIst, and then break it down into sections on Trello and then plan and schedule on a spreadsheet. I like seeing everything visually and am motivated by ticking things off my list! As well as that feeling of achievement that comes from putting time and energy into something you’re proud of, and wanting to share and talk with others about it. I am inspired every day by bookstagram and other blogs and seeing all their amazing content they’re producing!
6. What is your long-term goal/plan for your blog?
My goal is to consistently post at least three times a week. As for what I post my first priority is books, and long-term I would like to delve deeper into that and do more ‘discussion’ type posts. They take more effort, but I find them so interesting to read when I see other peoples, so I definitely want to join in! I also have more ‘Real Talk’ posts planned such as talking about working in a library, and other personal experiences. I also want to put my film degree to use a little and talk about all the incredible TV and movies I’m watching all the time, so I hope to introduce that soon!
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.
One of my favourite books I’ve read so far this year was The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. A huge reason for falling for the book the way I did was how well I connected with Starr Carter. She is a sixteen-year-old African American who lives in the Garden Heights, a mainly black, lower-class fictional neighbourhood. We couldn’t be more different in real life circumstances. I am white, from England, and had a middle-class upbringing. Yet, I related to her on such a deeper level and became fully emotionally invested in Starr’s story. I love how strong and brave she is, she stands up for what she believes in and speaks her mind, even when she is scared. She is loyal and kind and smart and has a strong sense of self. I hope to grow up to be half as brilliant as Starr.
8. It is important that marginalised people are given platforms to shine and bring awareness to their movements and plights. If you believe so, why is it important to you?
I 100% agree that the marginalised should have greater awareness and support in the quest for equality. Discrimination of any form completely baffles me sometimes – how can anyone be better or worse for such arbitrary factors such as gender, sexuality, race, ability etc. We are all human and I believe we should be standing together as one, now more than ever before. I’ve been a feminist as long as I can remember, and it is something I truly believe in. The fight has barely begun for equality amongst the binary genders, let alone all the other forms of discrimination people face every day. I truly hope we start to see a kinder, equal world by the end of my life, but I know there is still a long way to go for that to happen.
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 marginalised?
I think being aware is a great first step that not everyone is like you and then assessing how you can make what you create and share as accessible as possible. I have tried to make sure my blog design is accessible for those with dyslexia, I have alt-tagged my photos to make reading easier for those with sight difficulties. I have impaired hearing myself, so if I were to ever have audio content, I would always make sure subtitles where available. Writing using inclusive language is such an easy thing to do nowadays. Little things can make a big difference, to begin with, as well as not assuming who your readers may be and what their lives are like.
10. Last but not least, what’s your take on the blogging communities? What has been your experience within the community?
I’m still a newbie so I’m sure I’ve only just scratched the surface of what the community has to offer. But so far I have found it nothing but welcoming, friendly and full of energy and passion. The positivity and thoughtfulness in the community are really what makes it so special.
Here are some of Sarah’s favourite blog posts.
10 Books For Writers To Be A Better Writer
If you are looking for guidance and inspiration, then get your hands on these books for writers. Whether you’re just getting started or an absolute pro, you’ll find a book to give you that much needed boost…
The 15 LGBT Books You Should Read Next
To start, I listed five LGBT books that I have read and enjoyed in the last couple years. In fact, CMBYN is one of my favourite books I’ve ever read. The film is high on my list too! So, if you haven’t read it yet, and are going to read anything…
The Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag!
It’s my first time doing it, as I am new to the book blogging world, but it entails answering 15 questions about the books you’ve read so far this year…
You can find Sarah on the Social Media sites, listed below, clicking on the various names, will lead you to her account.
Bloglovin’ • Instagram • Goodreads • Pinterest • Tumblr • Twitter
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 —> Be a Guest on my Blog!
Naija Book Bae 