In the 2 years and 9 months that we’ve started this anime blog, we never thought that we would reach this point. Before we became bloggers (or ani-bloggers) A. Goldman and I (D.J. Lewis) were just two college-aged guys who have been watching anime and reading manga since our childhood years. (Especially during middle school.) The though of even having a blog didn’t cross our minds until 2015, and since then we’ve learned a lot about the pros and cons of running one. We didn’t really have a good filler post topic but we hope this makes up for it.

PRO: Meeting Other Bloggers/Online Friends

Growing up it was hard to find other people who were interested in anime back in the 90’s and even the 2000’s. One of the coolest things about having an anime blog, is the fact that you get to meet other bloggers who also blog about anime. There were only a small number of people who liked anime back when we were in school, but it wasn’t until we met more members of the anime community that we found more fans like us. even though we didn’t blog about anime while in school, we went to anime conventions and took cosplay pictures of characters from all of our favorite titles.

At one point and time we were members of another online anime blog/community who we can’t name due to confidential reasons, and posted about what shows we were watching, and so much more. Having your own blog page or being a part of one allows you to connect with others who are just as passionate about anime, as you are.

CON: The On-Going Threat of Trolls/Haters

Thank God we’ve been fortunate enough to not have this happen often to us, but there are other bloggers out there who have tasted the bitter salt that is trolls and haters. No matter what fandom or online community you’re on or even apart of, there’s always those individuals who love to pick unnecessary fights or start beef. We’ve only had to deal with one incident back in 2017 on our Twitter account, but so far there haven’t been any problems since. Everyone’s got bullies, but when you’ve got an awesome community of friends backing you up, the threat just gets a little smaller each day.

PRO: Opportunities To Create Original Content

Having a blog is kind of like building your own store; you want everyone to come in and see what all the buzz is about, and even buy your product (as long as its in good quality). When it comes to blogging you always want to find ways to stand out from others who are doing the same thing you are; whether its doing a three-part writing segment, producing ‘in-blog’ music, or something special you want to offer to fans of your blog. Sometimes your blog is only as creative as the mind behind it, so never be afraid to try new things.

CON: Unavoidable Writer’s Block

This one’s self-explanatory. Whether you’re a novice blogger or you’re a writer for the New York Times, no one is safe from that mental monster that is Writer’s Block. It can happen right after you’ve written a well received blog post or story, or if you’re trying to figure out what to write after writing a series of well written posts. Needless to say, no one’s immune to Writer’s Block as a blogger or editor, but one of the best ways to help with this is to take a little break and head outside for awhile…

PRO: It’s a Mental Stress-Release After Working a Part/Full-Time Job

In this crazy world we live in there’s no doubt that we could all use a little mental vacation every now and then; especially if you’re an anime blogger. Blogging is actually a therapeutic way to take your mind off of all of the craziness that is our lives – even if it’s only for a couple of hours. If you happen to be in the house by yourself or in a small room while blogging, it can be even more relaxing because there aren’t any distractions.

Having this blog has helped us in more ways than one; especially when it comes to other bloggers, anime fans, voice actors, and anime distribution companies. We’re hoping that we can keep D&A going for the long haul, but no matter what happens D&A will be a part of our lives – and yours! 🙂