I’m not the perfect blogger. I may like to share tips, tricks, and tutorials, but I by no means consider myself perfect and all-knowing. I make mistakes. I sometimes do things half-assed. I get lazy, or forget about my schedule. Hey, we’re all human.
So, today I want to do something a little different – I want to share a few of my blogger confessions. These are things that maybe I should be ashamed of doing as a blogger, or things that I definitely don’t recommend you to do ;P
I may have a schedule, but I’m not that ORGANIZED
I mention that I have a schedule often, and I do, but I am not organized at all. I’m not one of those people who has posts written weeks or months ahead of time. I’m a week-by-week type of blogger. Sometimes, if I’m extra lazy or unorganized, I’m the few days to the day before type of blogger.
I usually set aside a day or two a week in which I write the following week’s posts, and that’s about as far ahead of schedule I’ve ever gotten. Yep. I’m not the greatest with that. Although, I enjoy it that way. I remember what I wrote when the post finally publishes, if I wrote it any further ahead, I’d probably forget everything I wrote down 😀
Source: Tumblr
I write all my posts in visual, not text view
Most bloggers I have talked to write their posts in the text view (html), but I just never have. When I started it looked intimidating, and now I am just so used to writing my posts in the visual view that I don’t think I’ll ever switch. I don’t do a lot of custom changes to the way my posts look, so this works for me. I also like to see how it looks while I’m writing it, and not continually go back and forth. Does that make me lazy? Yeah, it probably does >.<
I suck at spelling and grammar when writing posts
Source: Tumblr
I was always a fantastic essay writer, not to toot my own horn or anything. I just always got 100% on my essays and praise from my teachers. Yet when I write a blog post all of my grammar and spelling knowledge basically flies out the window. It might have to do with the fact that I don’t get graded on this and I feel like I’m chatting with friends and not submitting a formal article. Either way, I know that some people get annoyed with grammar and spelling mistakes so when I write a post I can’t help but be worried.
Yet, I’ll keep writing like this. I love feeling like I’m having a casual conversation with y’all 🙂
I don’t have a reading schedule, even for ARCs
Which is the #1 reason I do not actively seek ARCs or other review copies. If you accept an ARC, you’re agreeing to somewhat of a contract that you’ll review the book by a certain date. I don’t read well under pressure, I will usually end up hating the book. This also applies to reading schedules. Every now and then I’ll set a goal to finish a book by a certain time, but I don’t do this regularly. This is why I go through several “review droughts” on my blog — usually a week or two in which I’ll have zero reviews for you guys. Slumps, ya’ll.
It seems like I can sum up all of these into one statement: I’m a lazy blogger. Well, shit still gets done and I still have fun using my methods!
Tell me, what are some of your blogger confessions?
36 Comments
I always scheduled post a month in advance xD Idk why, but I just feel better in case I would be busy or life gets in the way later that month, at least I would be prepared. I don’t really check my grammar, and I do understand how it annoys some people xD But my most shameful blogger confession is: I don’t like writing reviews. I know, I know! I just didn’t enjoy it as much as other types of post. Amazing post Molly!
Ah, I wish I could do that! It would 1. save time and 2. reduce stress! hahaha I’m just really bad at time management >.< OMG that is so funny that you don't like writing reviews. I don't really like to either! Sometimes I love it, especially if its a book I'm really excited about or a book I REALLY hated. But if the book didn't get a huge reaction out of me, I dread writing reviews. I feel like they all sound the same! hahah
Also, thank you! I'll check it out 🙂
Pshhh girl, I am “aw crap it’s 11:47pm and my post still isn’t done” blogger, so you’re good ? Seriously, I still haven’t decided what to post for tomorrow, let alone written it. As for visual editor, I absolutely write in it! I only switch to html to fix junk. I can’t write in html, too hard for me to visualize. I am pretty decent with a reading “schedule” but it’s more of a… suggestion than a schedule. Like I know I need to read certain books by certain dates and then can factor in my mood accordingly haha. I figure, if it works for you, then you’re doing it right ?
hahaha I can’t do that! Whenever I’m that late for a post, I just say screw it and post it another day or the following week >.< Is that worse or better? hahahah You're a better reader than I am. I am a mood reader but even if there is a deadline even a month away, I'll find every reason why I'm NOT in the mood for that specific book hahaha
I never write my posts in text but I do check them in text before publishing for coding errors preview mode won’t show and I use that to copy-paste reviews on GR with the correct formation too; like you said, I like to be able to see how it looks while I write it. And I never schedule – if I was that organized, I’d be posting more stuff LOL! I only request/receive ARCs I really want to read so I read them immediately after I get them or as soon as I’m done with whatever I’m reading.
Oh, that’s smart to copy & paste it to GR ! I never thought of that. Even when I get a book I really want…I’ll find a reason why I don’t want to read it yet haha. I just hate deadlines…… xD
You and I share a lot of the same confessions. I’m a last minute, sometimes same day kind of blogger. I keep telling myself that I’m going to be more on top of things but I haven’t come through on that yet. One day. Ha!
I have a list for everything, spreadsheets and all of that jazz. I read on a schedule. I tried to read whatever I felt like reading a couple of years ago and I just didn’t get any reading done so that method went out the window for me.
I do write all of my posts in text view but that’s mostly because I can’t figure out how to make the font size smaller on the visual text. I’m weird, I know…now all of you guys know too. Yikes!
I’m ALMOST a lost minute blogger. I stopped doing the same day writing & publishing thing. Now I just say “screw it, I’ll post it next week” hahah Also, man, I wish I could read like that! I would honestly get through my TBR so much faster if I did but I have tried and it fails every time! Although, what usually happens is that I decide to read a different book than scheduled…so at least I’m still reading?! haha As for visual, if you can use plugins, Tiny MCE is a great one so that you can just easily change your text size, make it bold, and all of that just like you would in a word document!
Great post! I do have a schedule and I write posts in advance, but I also believe that it’s not necessary in any way. Everyone blogs in a way that works for them. I can’t get creative when i feel rushed and when I am not ahead I feel rushed, so I do my best to stay ahead so I can keep being creative and come up with new ideas for posts. It works for me. But I can also see the positives of writing your posts shortly in advance. There are posts scheduled two months form now and it will take a long time before anyone gets to read those.
I do write all my posts in text view and only once I’ve written the whole post I check the preview to see how it looks. But I am so used to writing in text view that usually it’s just a few sentences wordings that I change. I like how empty the text view is, there is just your text and code and it just looks calm.
I am the worst with spelling and grammar and actually have a plugin in my browser that correct my spelling. It’s really handy. Everything I type it’s correct and it’s embarrassing to look back at older posts and see how many mistakes I didn’t catch there while being convinced I had gotten them all. I don’t mind seeing mistake sin other people their posts. So I wouldn’t worry too much about it.
I don’t do well with a reading schedule either, which is why I rarely accept books with a deadline. I do sometimes, but even with arc’s I usually just read them whenever I feel like it. yes that does make me feel bad sometimes, but eventually I’ll get to them.
Ah, that makes sense! I stopped writing posts the day of because I didn’t like feeling rushed and felt that it changed the quality. But I do write a post the day before often. I’ve just never been able to get further than one week ahead! haha
I am literally the opposite for the text view! I think it looks SO crazy. All that code hahaha visual is so much more calm and pretty to me 🙂 My colors even show up on there (like the pink and gray lines under my headers). I love it
Same! I use Grammarly, but I use the free version so it doesn’t catch some of the more complex things. Oh well lol
Ahhhh THANK GOD I’m not the only one that reads arcs that way! I read them whenever >.< I TRY to read them around the month of release but sometimes that doesn't happen. I have one from May that I never got to, so I think I'm just going to give it away lol
I’m terrible at grammar anymore. I the same as you though– I used to be SO good at writing essays, but now I can’t figure out when to use a comma and I’m too lazy to look it up. I hope when people read my blog they don’t get turned off by that stuff 🙁 Also– I’m terrible at organization and reading schedules. I write every post the night before. Every. Single. One. But I have been actively trying to read books on time!! That’s something I’ve been bad at in the past. Great post. I think other bloggers need to hear that we’re not all perfect and super organized and knowing of all the blog things!
I wouldn’t worry about it! Personally, I don’t notice those types of things when reading other people’s blogs. It’s just not important to me because it’s not meant to be formal! 🙂 Also, that’s exactly why I wrote this post. I’m definitely have some blogger envy, but I just wanted to remind people that we’re not all perfect! 🙂
I schedule now but for the longest time I was a wing it, seat of the pants type blogger- I’d write up stuff whatever and post it more or less that way. And I get about reading schedules- that’s one reason I don’t request ARC’s, I don’t want to HAVE to read something, you know? Or worry about a percentage or having it by pub date. I just read what I like. And yeah I have lots of grammar errors I suppose- some I catch, some I don’t. 🙂
I think if it works for you it’s good. 🙂
It seems like most people all share these same blogger confessions. So as you said, if it works for you it’s good!
I so agree with the schedule haha I have a lot of things set up in the calendar so I can be responsible and organized…Yeah sometimes it works, but most of the time, it doesn’t haha
I also write in Visual! Sometimes, I use Text to tweak a few things. As for the grammar, I’m bad. I try to fix all the errors, but can’t. I type really fast and I know how to spell and write correctly, but typing fast doesn’t help with that at all!
Genesis @ Latte Nights Reviews
I have the next 3 months planned out, BUT I don’t write all the posts that far ahead. It’s more of a guide of what I’ll be talking about rather than when its getting published. If that makes sense? For grammar and spelling, I don’t really worry about it too much unless someone else points it out. However, there have been a few times where I reread a post and I’m like “oh shoot……that doesn’t even make sense, its like the ultimate run-on sentence” haha. I use Grammarly to fix minor mistakes, but it doesn’t always catch the more complex ones >.<
I pretty much always use visual for my posts. I only use text to fix and tweak things. I had no idea most people do their posts in text!!! I have the worst grammar and spelling. I think I fix most in my posts (maybe) but it is awful in comments. I do kind of follow a reading schedule but it is in my head and loose if that makes sense. Great post!!
I guess I was wrong??!!?! I had talked to several bloggers and they all talked about HTML view…..but everyone commenting uses visual!?!? hahaha I don’t know >.< I don't even use it for small tweaks. For grammar and spelling I use the free version of Grammarly, but it's not perfect. It doesn't catch everything. So sometimes there are mistakes, or I just don't write in a very formal way haha
Love it! I tend to switch back and forth between visual and HTML and rarely get ARCs too. I have enough deadlines in my life.
Tanya Patrice
Girlxoxo.com
Ah, right! Enough deadlines! Reading is for relaxing 🙂
I don’t write in text view, either. I just think basic changes, like font and such, is easier the other way and I do like seeing how it actually looks. Plus staring at all that HTML for a while gives me a headache. But I WISH I could schedule stuff early. I’m so busy that I’m lucky to get anything scheduled a few days ahead, and some posts are written at midnight and posted right away. I definitely need to work on that. Awesome post!
Ah, same. I usually can’t make sense of the html view. I know a few basics, but it’s just so much easier in visual. Also, that font the html is in drives me nuts. Scheduling can be hard. I go through phases where I’m a week ahead, and other times (like now) where I’m writing the weeks posts the day before the week starts (which is late for me). But I’ve never been one of those people who can have 25 posts scheduled, that’s crazy to me! I’m jealous of those people haha
Also, thank you! 🙂
I’m the same way when it comes to Arcs. I use to request them, but not anymore. I tend panic when I get close to the release date, and then reading almost becomes a sort of chore or an assignment. That’s not fun! Reading is supposed to be relaxing and an escape for me.
When I first discovered Netgalley I went crazy with it. I quickly learned my lesson haha (although, at the time I had no idea what an ARC was and what I was supposed to do with it). But yeah, I don’t like feeling like I HAVE to read and arcs definitely make me feel like that.
These are ALL me!! I only recently created a schedule, but it’s definitely more of a loose guide and I normally only write posts 1 or 2 days in advance at the most. Otherwise I’m always writing the post the day I’m planning on posting it ? I write all my posts in view mode too, am TERRIBLE at spelling and especially grammar and don’t have any kind of reading schedule.
I never write posts the day of because I have them publish at 6am hahah BUT I have written posts the day before. Like you said, its more of a “guide”, for me its a guide of what I’m going to be writing that week rather than when it’s going up lol
Haha, yeah, that’s definitely understandable! I suppose it’s easier for me because of the time differences because I always schedule mine at like 10-12am so it’s easier to get it done during the day (even though I probably shouldn’t be relying on that ?)
yeah, time zones probably play a role in it haha. I don’t really know why I chose 6am but it seems to work. I’m usually the last person to enter into the day so 6am for me is like 6pm for a lot of my readers haha >.<
Wait, people actually write their posts in text view???? I always write mine on visual because text view looks so weird ? I don’t really have a schedule, though I’m trying to post once a week now that school has started. I’ve never received an arc and I think I’m probably one of the few people who hopes I never do (maybe not never). I would hate to have to review a book after reading it, cause a) I suck at reviewing b) I’m too lazy c) sometimes I just don’t know what to say. Plus there’s no way I’d get to all of them since I’m more of a mood reader!
WELL, I thought so! I had talked to several bloggers who do but most of the people commenting on this post all write in visual! So, maybe not? hahaha — I have to have some sort of schedule or nothing would get done, I’m just a procrastinator. Basically, the schedule is just there to give me an idea of what I’m posting each week, rather than the day it’s going up. As for arcs, I don’t request them but I have gotten them from book events, which just makes me feel guilty because I rarely ever read them by the pub date >.< I'm like you, I'm such a mood reader that deadlines and what not scare me. haha
Thanks for stopping by !
Oh goodness no, I could NEVER write my posts in the visual view! I never even check to see how it looks because it always looks all weird and off and switching over just screws up my html. Reading through all these comments I’m surprised that so many people use visual because I just hate it so much that it never crossed my mind other people might like it lol.
I think I’m pretty opposite all your confessions though 😛 I do schedule a lot of posts ahead (though it’s kind of sporadic because I have some posts months in advance and others that go up late because I’m still doing them that night). And I don’t have a real reading schedule, but I do read mostly review copies. A lot of the ones I get are backlisted though, so there’s no deadline and thus no pressure. And the ARCs, I’m still able to work them in with my mood reading as long as I have enough time in advance. If someone gives me a copy of their book three days before the release date, well, that’s too bad because that’s not happening lol.
I’m honestly surprised too! I’ve talked to a few bloggers and they all write in html view, but I guess there are more visual people here haha — Based on some of our previous discussions, it seems you have a lot of custom css and html going on, so it probably makes more sense for you to do the html view. I don’t have any custom, really. And I’m lazy, I juse use Tiny MCE for text editing in visual.
Also, I know you post ahead of schedule! hahahah I’m always jealous when you talk about how far ahead you are and that actually inspired that confession. I just can’t write that far ahead. But hey, whatever works! I don’t receive a lot of arcs (if any), but I do receive review copies from indie authors, and I always let them know that I am horrible with deadlines. Even if I am given months, I rarely every make it. I just like to rebel ;P
I’ve just discovered your blog and it is wonderful! I don’t have a reading schedule as well because I pretty much suck at sticking to it, and I write all my posts in visual view as well (and then I tweak it in text view). I’ve subscribed, thanks for sharing!
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence
Aw thank you so much! 😀 I’ve been following you on twitter for a while but somehow never managed to find your blog?! WHAT IS THIS. I love yours too it’s so cute!
Yeah, it is so hard for me to stick to a schedule. It makes me feel so bad when I have ARCs though 🙁 Also, it seems like I only talked to a very small group of bloggers in regards to text view because most people DO write in visual hahaha.
I cannot believe I did not find your blog sooner! It is so pretty and well-written (no signs of grammar errors, so no need to worry).
Anyway, I totally relate to all of these. I always write my posts in visual since I am not a great coder. I will always think in words and images, not strings of code garbled together. HTML has become one of my best blogging friends over the years, but it does not have to constantly be in my face.
It is so great to find another blogger who is not planned a year in advance already. I mostly write my posts a couple days (or even the night before) they go live on my blog. I like to live in the moment, and there is nothing more energizing (or terrifying) than writing a post hours before I need to post it.
Aw thank you! 🙂
I still suck at using HTML, I don’t even do the small changes before publishing a post >.< I suck hahah.
It's funny because I used to write posts more than a week ahead but the longer I blog, the more I procrastinate. You'd think it'd be the other way around lol