This quick set of meta blogging questions has been doing the rounds recently, and I was thoughtfully tagged in it by Thomas Rigby (thanks again Thomas!). This originated over on Bear blog but it’s been adapted for everyone else to join in if they wish!
The questions are:
- Why did you start blogging in the first place?
- What platform are you using to manage your blog and why did you choose it?
- Have you blogged on other platforms before?
- How do you write your posts? For example, in a local editing tool, or in a panel/dashboard that’s part of your blog?
- When do you feel most inspired to write?
- Do you publish immediately after writing, or do you let it simmer a bit as a draft?
- What’s your favourite post on your blog?
- Any future plans for your blog? Maybe a redesign, a move to another platform, or adding a new feature?
Ok, let’s fucking go!
Why did you start blogging in the first place?
I started this blog in 2022 when I was really fed up and trapped in my old job. I’d been stagnating for a while, and stranded in such a weird little niche, that I really didn’t know how I was ever going to get out of it. I didn’t have any ideas for what else I even wanted to do for a job, and just a thought in the back of my mind that maybe I could make a little bit of money writing. However, I’d not written anything for a really long time, so originally the blog was to give me a space to learn and play around with that, and honestly to just give me a challenge to learn something new!
Now I do it for so many reasons, some of which I wrote where: why blog? ❤️
What platform are you using to manage your blog and why did you choose it?
I wanted to self-host to have more control, and not have to deal with annoying ads messing up the look of my blog. I also was interested in learning a bit more about the backend workings of websites, and mess about more with CSS, so it’d give me the opportunity to do that. I only know a tiny bit of how things work, rudimentary CSS, through my job in software implementation, really barely anything!
The easiest way of having a self-hosted site for a non-technical person like myself seemed to be using WordPress as the CMS! I got a good new year deal with Hostingr including a WordPress install and it was all no effort to set up. So yes having this blog has a cost, but very few hobbies are free and this is totally worth it!
I know some people hate the block editor and while it does have some annoying quirks, and it admittedly confused me at first, I don’t mind it now! I really like the availability of plugins too, like Obsidian, there is usually a plugin out there to help solve a particular problem!
Have you blogged on other platforms before?
Other than a Tumblr way back when, and I can’t remember what I posted on that (mostly Mass Effect and Dragon Age GIFs I think!), I had other WordPress.com blogs in my mid twenties (over a decade ago). I used to post a lot about TV shows and recap Made in Chelsea and Game of Thrones. That was quite fun, I had a very quiet library job back then that allowed me a lot of blog writing time.
How do you write your posts? For example, in a local editing tool, or in a panel/dashboard that’s part of your blog?
I don’t get a lot of time on my PC to write, maybe a few hours at the weekend if I’m lucky so most things are written on my phone or ipad.
Sometimes I start something in Obsidian, if it’s a larger piece I’ve got notes for – like a more in-depth book review with analysis – but most posts I just draft directly using in the Jetpack app for WordPress. It’s not perfect but it does the job, and saves time to format as I go.
When do you feel most inspired to write?
Usually first thing in the morning after I wake up, which is annoying because I don’t have time to write then – unless it happens to be a weekend day and we don’t have plans!
Sometimes also when I’m in bed at night and really should be reading a book to help me sleep!
I guess in bed is the answer! Which when I think about it is the most relaxed quiet time I get in my day without other distractions.
Do you publish immediately after writing, or do you let it simmer a bit as a draft?
Most of the time now I’ll post right away so the majority of my website content is first drafts riddled with typos and mistakes! From time to time I do reread my stuff and correct those mistakes.
I don’t have the time for carefully editing and refining, I’ve just had to let go of turning to make things perfect.
What’s your favourite post on your blog?
I have many favourites, I love to reread my own blog! (Everyone does that right? 🌝)
This one rounds up some “get to know me” posts.
My review and analysis of Bunny by Mona Awad was so fun to do! This was the first proper book review on this blog, and I’d not been so inspired by a book since my English degree! I also did a similar thing when I read All’s Well which I also fucking loved!
I also had so much nostalgic fun reaching back to recall the Point Horror books I loved as a teenager!
The post I get the most visits for is my thoughts and review of Atomic Habits (especially at this time of year!). I always worry when I get a new comment it’s some productivity bro angry I didn’t like their favourite book, but most often it’s someone else (so far I think all women!) who also have a few issues with the advice highly questionable “science” in that book! It’s a book that inspires some conflicting reactions!
And also I have to say, I did have fun ranting about Malazan this year! I had a lot of thoughts and feelings to release! (I’m quite proud of my gif usage in my Memories of Ice review!).
Any future plans for your blog? Maybe a redesign, a move to another platform, or adding a new feature?
Well you never know I might decide to change my blog theme on a whim, but I’m pretty happy with this one for now.
I am always playing around with my blog graphics though – I do love to experiment with Canva! – I might mix things up a bit for the new year.
This year I’m going to try to post more regular weekly personal updates and where I am with my walking challenges. First one is here: Digest 20250112. We’ll be getting married this year so I’m interested to journal some of that experience (I’m not going full Wedding Blog, we’re eloping for a tiny 8 guest wedding in Scotland and making it as easy and stress free as possible!).
I’d also like to do more bloggy community challenges, like this kind of thing! I’ve been having so much fun with the book blogger’s Top Ten Tuesday.
I’m too shy to tag people (even online, I’m working on it) but even as a non-techy I like to read this kind of meta stuff about how and why people blog! Most of the versions of this I’ve seen have been on the more IndieWeb techy web devvy side from the folks I found through Mastodon, so I’d love it if we could break this out into the wider blogosphere, especially some of my booky bloggers! I know some of you guys have been around for many years!
If you do respond please pop back a link in the comments! (I broke my pingbacks a while ago… Still not worked out how to fix it…)
