Today we’re doing a tag! I know. I never do tags. But since I wrote in my 2022 goals post that I wanted to do more varied content (posting book reviews ONLY is kinda boring, no?) I wanted to get a head start. Not that tags are groundbreaking my any means, but they’re SO FUN to do.
I don’t even know who started the tag – This one has been floating around on the web for a long time in particular. And I was tagged by no one, so I really have no business answering these questions. But you know what, we’re going to do it anyway.
How long have you been a blogger?
Incredibly long and at the same time, not long AT ALL. This blog is pretty new, but I’ve been blogging since like, 2010? I used to have a small personal blog wayyy back, and even had a book blog before. But something you should know about me and my neurodivergent ass is that I get terrible imposter syndrome. And self-doubt. And then I start to think that everything I do is terrible and no one cares and I should just delete it all. But then I start missing the creative side and I end up here again. It’s my toxic trait as I like to say. But here I am, taking a vow. I’m not deleting anything this time, I’v spent WAY too much time and money on this website to delete it. AND I am determined to be active with posting. Because my creative side always wins anyways.
At what point do you think you’ll stop blogging?
Hopefully never. God. Blogging is so much fun. Especially book blogging. It combines two of my favorite things into one big master thing of joy. And I JUST vowed to never delete this website. So I’m never going to stop. When I’m 87 living in a nursing home I’ll still be typing away on my little book blog writing about the kick-ass YA fantasy I read that week.
What is the best thing about blogging?
HOW DO I CHOOSE? There are so many things I love. Let’s do bullet points because I love lists:
- Creating: I’ve always loved writing. So much that I even went to school for it. Seriously, when I was a little kid I used to write stories and draw pictures and force all my sisters and my mom to read them (even though my handwriting was probably illegible). I also drew an entire comic book from start to finish, I’m talking something like 24 pages and it had a whole-ass storyline. I’m not saying it was good, but I just loved doing it! Blogging scratches that same itch in my brain.
- Talking to other people about books: When I grew up I had no one in my life who loved books as much as I did. Frankly, I thought it was weird how much I loved books. But when I found the internet, I realized there are thousands, if not millions of us. So I get to geek out about my favorite books and characters with everyone here and on Twitter and Instagram.
- Expanding my horizons: Before I started book blogging and taking part in the booksphere (this is totally a word) I only read what I knew I liked: which was mainly historical fiction and some fantasy thrown in. Now I read so many different genres and diverse stories that I would have never found on my own. If I didn’t find this community, I don’t think I would have found even half of the books that I now consider my favorites.
What is the worst thing about blogging? How do you deal with it?
I think this question warrants more bullet points (this is totally not another excuse to use bullet points):
- HTML and WordPress stuff. The worst thing is when I try to fix something on my website and I just accidentally break the whole thing. It is VERY anxiety inducing. I also don’t really know how to code. I would love to know how. In fact, I’ve been planning to learn about it for a while now, but I’m also incredibly intimidated by it. Oh, and SEO stuff.
- When I don’t like or DNF an ARC: If you don’t know, ARC’s are advanced reader copies – versions of a book that are sometimes given to reviewers before the book actually comes out. I frequently read and review ARC’s through sites like Netgalley. Of course, you can’t like every ARC you read, but it’s always a little… awkward when you don’t like them. It’s dumb of course, and I’ve never had a publisher react negatively towards my negative review, but still, I don’t like it! (However, it is super important to always give ARC’s honest reviews, just saying).
How long does it take you to create/find pictures to use?
I take and edit all the pictures you see myself. I take pride in that, but it also takes me FOREVER to do. Especially because I recently have tried to up my game quite a bit. I DIY my backgrounds (like the one with all the pages) and take A LOT of pictures before I’m satisfied. And half the time I’m still not even satisfied, because I’m currently already thinking about how I can make my bookstagram pictures and blog pictures even better. (Sidenote: I usually take my instagram en blog pictures in the same session, so I don’t have to get out all of my stuff twice. My blog pictures are basically the some photos as the ones on my Instagram these days).
Who is your book crush?
Do you have a moment? SO MANY. I love Atlas from It Ends With Us. I love Red From Get a Life, Chloe Brown. I love Lila from A Darker Shade of Magic. I could go on and on. I love SO MANY characters. And not to be dramatic but I would die for all of them. For female characters I mostly like the super badass ones, and for male characters I like cinnamon roll cutiepies. You can see I Like my gender roll reversed, crumpled up and inside out.
What author would you like to have on your blog?
I have never had an author on my blog and that’s because authors kind of scare me. They’re like serious people with a serious career and they do super cool things. However, it’s a goal of mine to do more author interviews in 2022. I would love to have Talia Hibbert, Ali Hazelwood or Beth O’Leary on the blog. A girl can dream, right? I’m mainly planning to ask a few authors if I liked their books from Netgalley. Is there anyone you would love to see?
What do you wear when you write your blog posts?
I wear what I (almost) always wear: Leggings and a sweater. Preferably some warm cozy socks. Comfort before EVERYTHING. I am extremely particular when it comes to clothing (it’s a sensory thing) so I don’t like anything that’s too tight or uncomfortable on my skin. I also like to sit under blankets! I LIVE under blankets in the winter.
How long does it take you to prepare?
I don’t. Not really. I am just chaotic like that. Anytime I get an idea for a blogpost I write it down somewhere. Sometimes I just write a potential title for a post into a concept blogpost and save it. Other times I’ll write in a notebook (I don’t use notebooks as often as I’d like tbh). When I’m ready to sit down to write, I sift through my ideas and kind of write what I feel like. Other times I’ll have a lot of feelings about a book and have to immediately write a review after finishing it. I’m currently trying to get into the routine to blog every single weekday. On the weekend I try to write as much as I can to get a head start, although that isn’t always possible.
How do you feel about the book blogging community?
The bookblogging community is AWESOME. I definitely feel it’s not as big as it used to, but then blogs might just be dying out in general? (sad face) I have no idea if that’s actually the case (maybe I could write a blogpost about that, let me write that down). But everyone that is a part of it is so kind and loving and welcoming. I truly love the community and everyone in it.
What do you think one should do to get a successful blog?
You should actually just start. And write posts. Preferably often. That’s the thing: so many people are thinking about starting a blog but they never actually do it for some reason. Set the perfectionism aside and just get the ball rolling. You will get better at it as you go. And with platforms like WordPress it’s so easy to get started nowadays, you don’t even have to know anything about webdesign and you can start with a free domain. Other than that: try to interact with the community. That’s how it really becomes fun!
This is the end of the tag! I tag … EVERYONE.
I think it’s dumb that you can only do a tag if someone else ”tagged” you. Just do it if you like the questions. Consider yourself tagged. 🙂
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