Combine open bar with fun music and my boyfriend’s very large, very Italian family and I kind of had a little too much fun last night, hence the challenge post being up kind of late today instead of the usual 12 a.m. EST which I have been scheduling it for. It’s 9 a.m. and I am marvelling over orange juice and coffee if that gives you my state of mind right now. Alas, I am pumped up to talk to you guys about my book blogging quirks because I totally have some weird ones.This post is part of a 15 Day Book Blogger Challenge that I started because I was feeling burnt out and then inspired. Check out the challenge here.
Talk about your blogging quirks.
- I always format and outline my posts before actually writing them, because this helps me to organize my thoughts better, otherwise I would be going on lots and lots of tangents.
- I use a ton of run on sentences.
- I have different folders for the blogs that I read and I always, always read every other folder before favorites because I am that person who saves the best for last (I also did this last night at the wedding dinner with the most delicious mashed potatoes I have ever had — I saved them right up until the end, like they were dessert).
- GIFs are pretty much my favorite and I almost always laugh over the GIFs I choose.
- I find that when I use a specific format for a review — like the question format for audiobook reviews — I have a much easier time getting them written.
- I always feel like my reviews have to be over 700 words and if they are not, then I feel like I am not working hard enough on my reviews, which is silly, but I just like to have meat and substance and for me, I need a lot of words to describe my feels.
- I am in a constant state of learning when it comes to coding, my blog, SEO, html, design. All of that jazz. I am okay with that, but I do try to incorporate what I learn constantly.
- After reading a book, I add it to my NEED TO REVIEW shelf on goodreads so I do not forget to write up a review, also I picture that shelf as a stern matron, you know, because I personify things.
So, those are my quirks and I am sure that they come across as confessions, but hey quirks are kind of like confessing things.
Do you do any of these things? Please tell me I am not the only weirdo out there.
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I love gifs and other images in reviews, but I haven’t really used them in my own yet. I should start doing that.
I have a love/hate relationship with gifs … sometimes they’re great and sometimes they’re just way overdone. And I think we’re ALL in a constant state of learning when it comes to blogging!
I love the idea of the GR shelf “need to review.” It totally sounds like a great way to remind yourself.
And I’m similar with reviews and wordcount. As I break mine up, the first part has to be at least 425 words and the second needs to be at least 500. When I used to break the synopsis out my reviews always tended to be 1200 words and it just felt too long. But anything less than the 925 and I feel like I haven’t said enough.
I love the GIFs you use in your posts. 🙂
I am a schedule fanatic. I keep an online schedule with Google Calendar and a written schedule book as well. I also like to do my reviews in word first and format before posting. I usually review books I read within the next week so I don’t forget to review them but I like the Goodreads shelf idea. Loving the challenge! Thanks for hosting.
I have a similar collection on my Kindle with books I need to review. It keeps getting bigger rather than smaller though!
Thanks for hosting this challenge!
I’ve been known to use my fair share of run-on sentences myself 🙂
I like the idea of reading all the blogs in other folders first, before the favorites folder. I’ve been pretty lazy lately and just reading the favorites first.
Haha, I always laugh at the Gifs I use, too. I crack myself up 🙂
I love GIFs. I try not to use them in all the posts but they are so much fun. They make me laugh.
I really need to start using a specific format when I review. I usually just write train of thought with very little editing other than spelling/grammar errors. I never really pay attention to word count. I enjoy reading reviews with bullet points though but am not sure how to incorporate those into my own review style. I can’t even contemplate using gifs. I spend so many hours browsing blogs and reading reviews, I don’t even want to consider how much time I would spend finding and creating gifs for reviews. I would never have time to read! I think I need to find a highly organized blog partner to even out my more random and impulsive way of blogging.
I format and outline my reviews before actually writing them too. Didn’t realize your reviews were so long-700 words! I usually shoot for 300 unless I just feel nothing for the book and then it’s 250 and done.
I love GIFs in reviews but I would probably stress too much about picking the right ones!
I’m also constantly learning things about the back end of blogging and I try to use as much of it as I can.
I feel the same way with my reviews…that they have to be a certain length or they’re not viable. I also like to learn about the “web” stuff, but a lot of it is still over my head.
I like run on sentences! It makes a post feel like someone is really talking to you. I have never checked to see how many works I have in a typical post–I’ve never seen a way to do it on blogger….I just checked my last one. 695 words…
Interesting! I’d never thought of doing a word count on my reviews. I always judge the length based on how long it looks. It needs to at least fill my screen from top to bottom in my current layout.
Hmm, a need-to-review shelf is a good idea! I’ve never thought of doing that, but it seems like it would be helpful. I may need to make one!
I don’t share many of your particular quirks. I actually do the opposite sometimes- my content is always finished first, and then it’s formatted. I also never outline. I have an idea of what the post should be like, and then I write it and whatever happens, happens. It makes for some very rambly posts, especially if they’re discussion posts, which is why I usually sleep on them for a few days, then do some editing.
I’m also trying to learn about my blog too. I took a HTML and CSS workshop and the coolest thing was applying my knowledge to my blog.
I actually do the first thing on your list as well! I like having my thoughts all organized out on the page before I even consider delving into my review. It’s always easier to keep track of everything I’d like to convey that way.
I also think I should start doing what you do, and create a shelf with the books I need to review on Goodreads. We’ll see if that happens 🙂
Lol! I do the same thing with my food. The most delicious things are to be consumed last, because who wants to end on a non-tasty flavor? The only exception is if it’s something that’s only good fresh and hot.
Oh, also, like you I personify EVERYTHING.