tell me something tuesday...

Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.

I’ve been meaning to join this feature for awhile but I’m just now getting out of a long term blogging slump and putting together a {somewhat} regular posting schedule.

I’m going to kick off my participation by answering both this and last weeks questions since I had drafted but didn’t post last Tuesday and they do seem to tie in together.

---

Question from 5/16
How do you keep up your blog?

Question for 5/23
What do you do when you hit a blogging wall?

The short answer is…I don’t. Or just barely. lol

December will mark my 8th year of blogging and I’ve gone from posting 7 days a week, hosting charity auctions and challenges to barely one post a month to my current level of 3 days per week.

I think most bloggers like schedules and planners and can offer brilliant insight on how to be a better blogger. I’ve learned that doesn’t work for me - I’m a pantser and I don’t fight it anymore. I’ve also learned variety is the spice of life and I blog about whatever I feel like now – instead of forcing myself to talk books when I’m in a TV, movie, food blogging kind of mood.

To break it down a bit…here’s how I read/blog

Reading:

I read really fast so I can read up 5-7 books per week. Double that if they're novellas. I have started making sure I squeeze in fun reads. I’ve cut WAY down on ARC’s and I don’t review everything I read anymore. That’s what helped me get out of my epic 2 year reading slump. I accept no more than 2-3 books for review per month and those are usually from authors I’m pretty sure I’ll love and one take a chance on new to me author.

I’ve been posting a picture of my monthly TBR pile at the beginning of each month (usually about 6 books) . I don’t knock myself if I don’t stick to it but it’s helped keep me on target since my goal for 2017 is to knock down my older books TBR pile.

Including fun/non review books - I typically read up to 20 books per month.

Blogging:

Like I said I’m a pantser. Currently I do 3 posts per week.

Monday: Either Monday Minis – mini reviews or Monday Musings where I discuss my reading struggles or bookish news (cover reveals, netgalley finds, book mail etc).

Tuesday: - I might try to do this feature weekly or at least monthly - we'll see how it goes.

Wednesday: a full book review from my scheduled TBR pile

Friday: Friday Fast Five: A collection of things that I’ve either done for the week or things that I’m hoping to do for the weekend – like TV/movies, food, my pets…really anything that brings a smile to my face and reminds me of my One Word New Years resolution – Joy

Drafting/scheduling posts:

Again. Pantser!

I write everything the day before or if I’m really ambitious TWO days before lol I’ve gotten really wild and had posts ready for up to two weeks but that’s rare and honestly I’d rather be spontaneous. I know…I know…but it works for me.

I don’t keep detailed lists or charts. I keep track of my reading on Goodreads and have a post-it on my computer screen to remind me of scheduled reviews and items for Friday Fast Five.

Miscellaneous:

I visit blogs to comment in the morning every or every other day – time permitting. I don’t use any of the readers. Instead I have my regulars bookmarked and run through the list and click on interesting posts links via Twitter. I try to find new blogs through comments and fold in a few new people each week. 

I answer emails and review requests 1-2 times a week. You can read my post from last year here about how I handle requests along with the form letter I use.



I’ve almost given up and closed down the blog several times during the past few years. I seem to be catching a second wind though. I think the days of posting daily are over and stats/numbers etc aren’t important in the same way as they were to me back in my heyday but I’m having fun with it now. It’s a hobby for me and I’ve learned to let go of anything that makes it more job like. Ironically – whenever I get in the IDGAF mindset – the blog does better lol I think because I’m being truer to myself and having fun and it shows.

So that’s pretty much how I blog and how I knocked down my blogger wall.

I'd love to hear what works for you!