Last week, Kyria wrote up a few really interesting questions about blogging and encouraged us to answer these questions ourselves. So, of course, I used this chance to make it an entire blog post! Let’s talk about blogging, shall we?
When did you start blogging and why? Oh gosh, should we go all the way back to the very beginning? Like the days of Xanga and Diaryland? Because yes, I’ve been blogging since high school if we include all of my failed blogs along the way. I started this blog, though, in 2009 when I was starting journalism school. I wanted an outlet for my thoughts, a place to express myself. I always loved writing so a blog felt like a natural hobby for me to take up. We’ve been through a lot together, this blog of mine, and it’s amazing to have the story of my life from my 20s onward.
What was your first blog post about? When I migrated my blog from Blogspot to self-hosted WordPress, I lost a few of my earliest blogs in the move. So my first blog that shows up here is this one, where I give 10 random facts about me and then tag 10 bloggers. All of those bloggers are no longer blogging, so it’s like a graveyard of early-aughts blogging.
What is your most-used label and why? My most-used tag is “what I’m reading” (214 posts) and my most-used category is “Recurring Series” (590 posts). For a few years, I posted weekly “What I’m Reading” posts, so I think that’s why it’s my highest tag category. (Now I only post “What I’m Reading” updates once I have three book reviews ready and that’s usually every other week-ish.) I use the “Recurring Series” category for all of my ongoing blog series, like TGIF, Currently, Five for Friday, etc.
What is your most viewed post? And why do you think this is the case? I’m 27 and Scared to Move Out has more than 17,000 page views at this point in time. This was a really vulnerable post for me to write because I felt so silly for being anxious about living on my own in my late twenties. Until that point, I had been living with my mom and we had a great time living together. I have heard from other people that this post has helped them feel less alone because they have felt (or are feeling) the same way. Writing posts like these is cathartic for me to write, but they are also to help other people feel less alone. None of us is the only one thinking or feeling a certain way, I promise you that.
Do you answer comments on your blog? If so, what method do you use (email, post on blog, etc.)? Yes, I do! I am not as quick as some of you, but I do try to answer them as quickly as I am able to. I reply directly on my blog, after which you should receive an email (as long as you have checked the box that says “Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.”).
Do you go back to see if a blog post that you commented on got replies? If so, how do you keep track? Truthfully, I don’t. I try to remember to go back to the old post once I’ve commented on the next blog post and see if there’s been a reply but I don’t always do that. I like getting email replies, but I know that functionality isn’t available for everyone!
What blog that you still read now have you read the longest? Just like Kyria, I think it was Lisa! I can’t remember when I started reading her blog, but I think it was right before she turned 30 because I remember she went on to Paris by herself and I was astonished at that thought! At the time, I was in my early twenties and feeling very out of step with where I wanted to be in life (namely, married) and Lisa was a true inspiration for me. She reminded me that even if I didn’t find the love of my life in my twenties and was single on my 30th birthday, it would all be okay! Marriage may not be the end game for all of us. (Although it was for Lisa!) Anyway, Lisa gave me a lot of hope at that time and I am so, so grateful she’s one of the few people who stuck around in this blogging world. <3
Do you post on other forms of social media regularly? If so, where? Nope. My blog is linked on my Instagram profile, but I never promote my blog posts on there.
If you talk about people in your real life, do you use their real names? I do. For a long time, I used initials but now I just use their real names. I tend to stick to my nephews’ initials, although I have used their real names from time to time.
If you could get paid to blog no matter what you are writing about, what would your focus/theme be? This one is easy: books! I would love to get paid to write about books, bonus points if it’s not just about reviews but more of a wholesale look about the bookish life.
What topic would you choose to write about?