Hi guys and welcome to Let’s Talk Bookish! Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme, created and hosted by me, where we discuss chosen topics, share our opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts.
Today’s topic is: Things You Wish You Could Ask Other or More Experienced Bloggers (suggested by Lydia @ Lydia Schoch)
Thank you so much to Lydia for the topic! There are a lot of blogging successes that I’d love to learn the magical recipe for. Below are some things that I’d love to ask anyone who has been in this community. Honestly, if you have any tips or you know the answers or you just want to share your opinions, even though you’re not an “experienced” blogger, I’d still really love to hear what you think!!
How do you balance blogging/reading and your everyday life?
I don’t think I’ve found my groove yet, even though I’ve been doing this for like 9 months. Sometimes I’m too lazy to write posts, or I write posts when I have homework to do, or I choose to read instead of blog. I just do whatever I feel like at the moment, because I’m not very good with schedules per se. So what are your tips for balancing life and blogging or reading?
Is social media necessary to get a large readership/followers?
I think the obvious answer is that yes it helps, but I want to know if it’s really absolutely necessary. I don’t have Facebook, or Twitter, or Instagram, and my only form of social media is Goodreads. I don’t think I want to branch out to Twitter or Insta anytime soon, but I do still want to have more readers without having to go that route.
What do you think makes people want to come and read your posts?
Guys, if you know the magical recipe for this, or any tips and tricks, I’d love to hear them all!!
How did you know when you found your blogging voice?
What was it that made you go, “Oh, I’ve found my voice, I’ve found my signature style, this is who I am as a blogger”?
What’s your favorite dessert?
Just because, you know, I like random questions 🙂 Do share in the comments below!!
This Week’s Participants:
Jane @ Blogger Books | Kelly @ Books on the Brain
Do you know the answers to any of these? Would you like to share something or just add to the discussion? Are there some questions you’d like to ask other bloggers? When did you realize that you’ve established your blogging voice? What is your favorite dessert? Chat with me in the comments below!
Eternity Books 
What a fun topic! I love this! There are SO Many questions that I feel like I need to ask more experienced bloggers, because even after nearly two years of blogging, I still am clueless. Haha. How to balance blogging/reading in my every day life is something that is always changing for me. There are certain periods of time when I’m perfectly on top of everything, and others when I’m drowning in the weight of it all. It all honestly depends on a plethora of factors in my personal/work/school life, so I can never fully have a strict schedule!
Oooh, I LOVE desserts. My favorite would probably have to be key lime pie or a really good fruit tart. 🙂
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Yay, I’m so happy that you do! Haha, I don’t think anybody will have all the answers, but at least you’ll be less clueless than me….
That happens to me as well. Sometimes it’s super easy to write post after post, and sometimes I just don’t have time or the energy to do anything. It’s good to know that it’s not just me 🙂
I haven’t had a fruit tart before, but I’ll be sure to try key lime pie when I get the chance!! Thanks for reading, love 💚
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Balance is hard but in my experience it’s better if you don’t fret about it. If you don’t feel like reading, don’t. Don’t force yourself into reading or blogging or Social media, because the experience will become pretty stale. Don’t think “but my followers will expect a post!”. The truth is that we all follow so many great blogs but we cannot memorise everybody’s schedule so one missed post will mostly go unnoticed. Maybe if you go on a longer hiatus, tell them “hey, I’m going on a hiatus. Be back in a month!” Reading a little in the morning before the day starts helps me with the balance btw. 😊
I was never really interested in a big follower count so I can’t really help with that. 😅 Followers are gained by interaction though.
Your voice? When you’re on a roll the words will come from your fingers and you don’t really have to think about it. It’s more feeling, at least that’s how I would describe it. It’s also about confidence. Sounds corny but if you believe in the words you’re writing it sound good too. If you’re not sure about it and rewrite everything then it will probably sound awkward too.
So, enough blabbering from me. That got a little out of hand. 😅
Also, fruit. I like fruit. Ever tried dipping apple slices in peanut butter? 🤤
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Haha, I love to fret and worry about every last detail, so that’s a little hard, but I think I have a much more relaxed outlook when it comes to blogging, so I’ll definitely keep that in mind. I try to read in the morning too, mostly because if it’s a good book, then my day starts out amazing 🙂
Ah, yes, I’ve definitely got to work on my blog hopping skills lol
Sometimes, I just feel passionate and I let my fingers work and find the words, but I usually end up going back and rewriting parts of it. It never occurred to me that that was my voice that I was possibly “censoring”, and I’m going to look out for that next time and make sure not to over-edit it. Thank you for the tip 💚
Aww, I love that you’re blabbering, even though this isn’t really blabbering lol. I always love responding to comments, especially the long ones 💚
Ooh, I like fruit sometimes, but I’m kind of really picky when I choose to eat apples lol. I prefer them juicy and crunchy (I hate the juicy but soft-ish ones). And I’m not a fan of peanut butter, but my sister always always eats that, so I do know about it.
Thank you so much for commenting and sharing some tips 💚 Happy reading!
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I also always struggle with balancing! Sometimes I can write posts for weeks in advance, and other times I’m writing it the evening before, becasue I couldn’t find time earlier!
I don’t think social media is necessary, but as you said it will definitely help! Also peranolly I think Bookstagram is a very nice community!
I would love to know that recipe as well haha!
I still don’t think I’ve found that yet
Anything chocolate!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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I know!! The struggle is real. Sometimes I’m on a roll and I’m cranking out post after post, and then some days I’m so lazy, I don’t even want to open WP lol
I’ll keep that in mind if I ever decide to do join something!! Though I’m not much of a photographer…
I’ll make sure to let you know if I ever learn it’s secret!!
Well, I hope we both realize and find it one day (preferably sometime soon lol)
Yes!! I love chocolate cake, and brownies!!
Thanks for commenting and happy reading 💚
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I don’t know that there is a right balance to work/school and reading and blogging. I know there are months where I find it difficult (this month has been hard), but there are other months where everything is sort of seamless, so I guess it depends on what other stresses or obligations you have. But I think acknowledging that this will change over time helps.
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I also don’t think having a huge social media presence helps. My Twitter was non-existent and I don’t see a lot of similarities between my original Instagram followers and my blog followers. In fact, if anything, I think having the blog has boosted the other way, as I’ve found bloggers I follow on both of those platforms. What has really boosted my readership is blog-hopping, but also having that voice you ask about in the below section. A lot of my new followers are people I’ve not heard of before.
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Honestly I have no idea why people come and read my posts. 98% of the time I’m just waffling into the abyss about a book or how sick I’ve been lately. But I also think I’m kind of friendly (?) and I try to be nice. I subscribe to the life value of “treat others how you would want to be treated” so that’s part of who I am. But umm, relatable content? I know that I love my Overwatch recommendations posts, but not too many other people do as they don’t really know the Overwatch characters. I would like to do more like this though, so maybe I’ll pick a popular TV show and do recs for their characters one day!
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Ahhh, the blogging voice. This one is hard. I started off wanting to be professional and write proper reviews, but over time I’ve definitely relaxed a lot more. How I write now is how I would speak to you if we met on the street, and I think that’s how I’ve found MY voice. I really just wanted to be true to who I am, and this is what works for me (and seemingly for other people too). I think that so long as you don’t come off as trying too much, and therefore sounding insincere, then you’ll be fine!!
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Black Forest cake. It’s my absolute favourite. I am quite partial to butterscotch pudding as well though. 😂
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Thank you for the long and detailed comment!! I absolutely loved reading it 😘💚 And now to replying!
I hope next month is much kinder and easier for you! *hugs* Blogging can be stressful, and I guess it does fluctuate and that the balance changes with each new obstacle added or removed. Hmm, this is interesting and I didn’t think about it like that before.
If that’s the case, then there’s no reason to add more stress by having some other social media. Thank you for sharing that! Yeah, blog-hopping definitely helps. I’m just a bit lazy right now lol. But I’m going to get back at it!!
Aww, I can tell you why I love reading your posts. I love them because of your waffling, and rambling, and sarcasm, or gushing, and you just being your incredible self. I’ve always got this huge smile when I’m reading your posts, and your Off Tangent Thoughts always end with me laughing out loud. You are definitely, no doubt about it, 100%, I-want-to-edit-that-question-mark-out-of-your comment really friendly and awesomely spectacularly amazing 💖💖💖🥰
I hope you do it, and that I know the TV show (I don’t watch TV and I’m helplessly clueless 😂😂) so that I can relate and love it as much as you do!!
I actually started out with similar goals, but I think I’m a bit more relaxed (not completely, but more than before) and I hope I find my signature self as I relax some more. I think I do try too hard and I want to loosen up more and just be…me. But I’m not sure I know what exactly me being “me” is or means? Idk, but still, a huge thank you for the advice, and I’m going to try your tips 💚💚
I’ve actually never had a Black Forest cake?? I mean, it sounds delicious, and that it is like chocolate heaven, but I’ve not had it?? This has to be my next baking
disasterattempt for this weekend. Also, I’m going to go look if you have a recipe because I’d love to try yours!! I haven’t had pudding either (and yet I call myself a baker 😂) but I’ll be sure to try that whenever I do have some!!LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my love!! THANK YOU for this amazing comment back!! 😍😍
We ALL have self doubt so I think it’s best to just try and be yourself (even if you don’t know who that is just yet)!!
I love baking too, and I’m terrified to try making black forest cake. It’s so involved!! I think fear of failure holds us all back a lot. 💕
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You are absolutely welcome 💖💖💖 (Now can I edit that question mark out please? 😂)
Thank you for the advice hun.
It definitely does hold us back. And the cake sounds like it’s going to be a serious challenge, but I wish us both luck in conquering it!!
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😂😂 No!! The question mark represents all my self-doubt!! 🥰
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Alright, ok, fine 😂😂 Don’t doubt yourself too much though 💚
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I generally have a good balance between reading/blogging/life. I read every night before I go to bed. When I’m feeling really motivated, I read at lunch and after work. I do most of my blogging on Sunday and schedule posts for the week. I try to post something every day, but if I have to skip a day, I try to remind myself that this is a hobby and it’s not supposed to be stressful.
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I’m glad you do. Yes definitely, blogging is for fun, and not a job and it should never be stressful though it is lol. I’m glad you’ve got a routine and that it works really well for you 🙂
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Great questions! I have the same problem with balancing blogging, reading and life. I try to blog as much as possible, but that’s often only Top Ten Tuesday, WWW Wednesday, Let’s talk bookish and my first thoughts or a completed review if I find the time to finish or start a book! So I have my three signature days and then whenever I have a lot of time, I try to write all the tags I’ve been tagged so I have a reserve of posts if time is running out…
I wouldn’t say social media is necessary for blogging, I have twitter myself and that only brings about 5% of the readers to my blog. The main positive thing is when I tag authors in a tweet, some reply and then take a look at my post (not like Jk Rowling or Leigh Bardugo, but authors like Victoria Aveyard, Cynthia Hand or Brittany Cavallaro) and that’s always awesome!
I believe the thing that makes people want to read your post is pictures. I automatically like a post if I notice a lot of gifs or book covers, it makes it funnier and easier to read!
Happy reading and I hope I could help!
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Thank you! Yeah, LTB and WWW Wednesday are the only two posts that I always, no matter what, try to keep. That’s a great idea, but I sometimes lose the motivation to write, and so I could have some tags, or a bunch of reviews to write, but I won’t do it because I’m not feeling it.
Oh wow, so it’s not necessary at all! Aww, that must be amazing having an author reply to your tweet!! I’m so glad you’ve experienced that!!
Yes, I do like posts with lots of pictures, but I’m not really sure how to incorporate them into posts and make it seem unified lol. I’ll just have to give it a try and see how it goes!
Happy reading to you too, and I’m so glad that you shared your tips and tricks 💚
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You’re welcome!
Yeah, I also never write when I’m not feeling it because I don’t want to force anything as this is a hobby and also some kind of sacred space for me!
And yes, replies from authors always make my day even if it’s such a small gesture!!!
And yes, I totally get that pictures can sometimes seem untidy or make the post less unified, I have the same problem haha!
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That’s amazing, and I’m glad that I’m not the only one who feels like that!
Haha, I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t know how to do that! I guess we’ll just have to try and make it work 🙂
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Haha I know me too! 😁😁😁
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Isn’t it nice when authors reply to your reviews of their books or tag them on their twitter/retweet your tweets? I find it so considerate. Colson Whitehead may not re-tweet your post, but he may say “thanks a lot” on twitter, and I found authors such as Graeme Macrae Burnet, a once Booker Prize nominee, and Claire Adam so responsive. It is always so nice, even if they know your following is not much. I come from film blogging and that is definitely something that was entirely new to me.
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Yes! I’m always beyond happy when authors reply, retweet or even like! I know it’s not much but it’s a very nice gesture and coming from successful authors which might even be your favorite ones, it makes your day!
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