Blogging has become such a huge part of my life that I can’t imagine not doing it. I have been blogging for over 12 years now. While it’s all fun and there’s a lot that goes into the process. People often ask me how I manage to keep up with daily blogging and honestly, sometimes I ask myself the same question!
I blog from my armchair with my laptop on my lap. I don't have a desk or a fancy office and I don't think I would actually like that. I am comfy where I am with the TV for entertainment and the world passing by the window.
I’ve always heard that successful bloggers plan their posts well in advance and while I admire that level of organisation I'm not great at sticking to it and I really don't write my posts that far in advance. Most of my blog posts need writing in the week that they go live. Friday Favourites, my Word of the Week post, it is a linky that I have been joining in with probably over 10 years and it is a great way to recap my week. Then there's Project 365 - A photo every day I love recording all the random moments in my life and of course my meal plan can only be written the day or two before it goes live. Recently I have been joining in with The Wednesday Hodgepodge and on a Sunday I usually write that blog post when I see the questions from Joyce are live, it is really becoming one of my favourite posts to write for the week.
The only blog posts I write in advance are one's which go live on a Tuesday and Thursday and they could be about anything and my Share Our Lives blog post which is on the 2nd Tuesday of every month! The people who run the linky kindly gave the prompts I think in December for the whole year so I could get ahead writing those.
Thursday's are my day to panic! I feel the pressure to write posts for the weekend, those that I mentioned above. Thankfully they practically write themselves and being in the blog post writing zone it always gives me a kick up the bum to write other blog posts too which can go live at any time. I often lose track of time on a Thursday afternoon and the next thing I know is that Ellie is coming in from college.
My brain is full of ideas at the most inconvenient times like in the shower, just as I’m about to fall asleep or while I'm in the kitchen making tea. I could scribble down notes of my ideas but I don't and then when I come to writing a blog post my mind sometimes goes blank! Sometimes I’ll have a little burst of inspiration and write five posts in one afternoon and then nothing, apart from my weekly posts. Thankfully I always have some posts in reserve.
Taking photos should be easy except I’ll make a delicious meal, gobble it down and then realise I meant to blog about it or I’ll tidy a little corner of the house just right, perfect light streaming in but forget to snap a photo. I use Pic Monkey to edit my photos and I would be lost without it. I have tried using other apps and programmes but they all seem so complicated. My photos really have improved since my early days of blogging, I really do cringe at the one's in my early posts.
Blogging isn’t just about writing blog posts it’s also about engaging with other bloggers. One of my favourite parts of blogging is commenting on other blogs. I love reading what others have to say and leaving my thoughts. I am pretty consistent with commenting, if I join in with a linky I will try to comment on most of the other bloggers linking up. Linkies used to be such a big thing here in the UK but many of them have stopped now and over the last couple of years I have been joining in with quite a few from American hosts. It feels like the old days of blogging and there is an amazing community. I also go through my Feedly list every day, it is a feed of all my favourite blogs and the new posts that they have published.
I used to be big on promoting and being active on social media but I don't really bother any more. Life got in the way last year and I have never really got back into it. I share my new blog posts each day and that is about it. I think the only social media account I have kept up with is Instagram, I really do like sharing little bits of my life and seeing little snippets of other peoples lives.
How do you blog? Are you super organised or more of a last minute blogger?
I think I'm a bit of both. I'm organized ánd I'm an impulsive blogger as in I can't plan my posts months ahead.
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic! I am the same way as you as far as where I blog. On my couch with my Chromebook on my lap!! I don't blog five day or seven days a week- hats off to you for writing so consistently. I feel like it would stress me out a bit too much to do that! (Though I do appreciate that some like you, do write very often). I do a few weekly link parties. Participating in them has gotten me in the habit of posting more consistently. I used to write fewer posts. I have more time now and with the link parties, they normally provide a subject matter/questions which make writing posts easier. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteI definitely blog from my chair or couch with my laptop and rarely use my desk or a table. I try to have a mix of posts written ahead as well as some that are written more last minute. I try to make sure my posts are mostly finished a week ahead of time; but sometimes I can't (like I just finished my sentence a day post this morning for Friday's publication).
ReplyDeleteI love this post and you do a great job blogging! Thanks for sharing all of this. I am a mix of posting in advance and last minute, but I more a day or two in advance at the most these days! Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun blog post! I used to blog about once a week for over 10 years and then I sort of lost my mojo as my kids grew up. Honestly, finding your blog has reignited my love of blog reading. I look forward to opening your blog every single day. We follow each other on Instagram which is also lots of fun to see pockets of your day. My handle is @happilytexan.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun post, Kim! I've been blogging since 2007, but on Blogger since 2012. I don't plan in advance, and consider my blog more of a journal for me. It is fun, and I can't imagine not doing it. I did quit posting on Sundays. The best part has been meeting blogging friends in person! I go out of my way, when possible, to meet a blogging friend in person, and have met some just once and others often. I've never been disappointed. We are who we are, and so far, not one I've met in person has been other than they appear here. I'm not traveling to Europe, but if you ever come to Florida, please let me know!! xo
ReplyDeleteI also blog from my favourite spot on the sofa with my laptop on my knee. I've tried to be organized with is all but I change my mind that often about what I'm doing that apart from writing the linkies I want to join in with I'm trying to be relaxed about the rest of it. I did enjoy linking up with Hodgepodge Wednesdays but just don't have the time to comment as much as I would want to so I've paused that one for now. As you already know you inspired me back into blogging so thank you again x
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about your process. I am the opposite in that I cannot blog from a laptop on the couch or chair or bed. If I'm not sitting at my desk with a full monitor, a full keyboard, and a mouse, then I can't work. Hahahaha. I am just too picky I guess. I really wish I could get past that, though, because it would surely be convenient to blog on a laptop from anywhere!
ReplyDeleteMy blogging has fallen by the wayside lately, I've had a lot on! I try to plan my posts in advance but I think that sometimes my best posts are the ones that just pop into my head and I sit down and write out. I do need my desk and some peace and quiet though!
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