Even though I am, let’s face it, 99% flawless…I am pausing in my flawlessness today to talk about embarrassing blogging mistakes. Because, yes! I have made them to! And sometimes it’s rather encouraging for us to throw caution to the wind and confess that sometimes our brains function less than an unripe avocado. Then we can all commiserate in our embarrassments.
So while I prefer to think I’m an immortal flawless overlord who never falls on my face…here are some confessions.
1. I’VE SENT REVIEW REQUESTS FOR BOOKS TO THE WRONG PUBLISHER.
Publishers are kind of the Almighty Wonders Of The Bookish World to me. I’m in awe that they even give out free books for review. And I always meticulously research who to ask for what and release dates and blah blah. So you can imagine the distress of typing in THE WRONG PUBLICIST’S EMAIL.
I have done this not once, but several times. Excuse me. I feel like a sliver of sawdust and stupidity.
2. WHEN I WAS A SMALL, GREEN, NEWBIE BOOK BLOGGER I TWEETED A NEGATIVE REVIEW AND TAGGED THE AUTHOR.
I KNEW NOTHING, okay?! It was like the 3rd ARC I ever got and I was trying to follow all the rules and tag all the right people (new to twitter too at that point) and I…I…don’t think I thought authors read tweets?! NEEDLESS TO SAY…they replied so nicely and I died a little inside. How could I?!? AGH. BURY ME.
3. SPEAKING OF TWITTER…I STARTED MY TWITTER ACCOUNT PURELY TO ENTER GIVEAWAYS.
I believe this is one of the Great Taboos Of Social Media. BUT HOW COULD I KNOW THAT?! Once upon a time I was a green newbie blogger who was entirely oblivious to everything. (Oh wait…I am still mostly oblivious to everything…) But twitter is a fiendish thing and I quickly became obsessed in graciously tossing my humorous 140 character quips to the world.
But my twitter origins are dark and evil.
4. I’VE CONFUSED BLOGGY BUDDIES WITH THE SAME NAMES.
Should I be admitting this? YES. I AM BEING A REAL HUMAN TODAY FOR YOU. (It’ll probably never happen again, so enjoy this. I’m 97% perfect on most days of the week.) But I once typed a long detailed reply comment out to someone I thought I knew…but then I realised their blog URL was different. I didn’t say anything too embarrassing. BUT STILL. They probably wondered why I replied like a long lost buddy and referenced something they’d never blogged about. Ha…hahaha…oh dear. Bury me.
5. I’VE MIXED UP BOOKS SO BADLY I’VE ENDED UP READING THINGS THAT WERE…NOT OKAY FOR ME.
I read YA. You know why? Because I am a delicate fragile flower and think adult life is scary. So you can imagine the terror when I mixed up You by Charles Benoit and You by Caroline Kepnes. One is about a 15 year old and a mystery. One is about a predator who obsesses about having sex with women he stalks. WORST STILL…I requested You by Caroline Kepnes for review. It’s probably the only book I’ve requested and buried without finishing. I’m embarrassed to have wasted a publisher’s time. But. Save me from myself.
6. I FORGET BOOKS SO FAST THAT WHEN SOMEONE ASKS ME TO EXPLAIN MY REVIEW…I CAN’T.
Which is all sorts of awkward and I’m 99% sure there are humans on Goodreads who don’t think I actually did read the book. I’m sorry. I DID, I PROMISE. I just…what happened?
7. I MISSPELLED HUMANS’ NAMES ALL. THE. TIME.
Now this might not seem like a devastatingly embarrassing mistake. But it is to me. Why? Because I’ve been plagued ALL MY LIFE by my name being misspelled. My name is not hard to spell. Neither is my full name. In fact, it’s a very common spelling. But nooooo people spell me with a K or they put Ys in when there should be I’s — and basically it pains me so much to have my own name misspelled. Ergo. I should take special attention to others names, right?!? RIGHT?!?
I’ve horribly misspelled blogging friends’ names. Also my favourite authors’. By the way, I do not admire Susanne Colins. I AM DYING OVER THAT ONE STILL AND IT’S BEEN 2 YEARS.
8. I VLOGGED ONCE AND BASICALLY NO.
I’ve done a few vlogs with my sister and — noooo you cannot see them. I took them down. They were adorably cute, of course, but entirely embarrassing. Peoples, I am so shy that I avoid mirrors. And while my sister talked intelligently, I spent most of the time concentrating furiously on looking in the camera direction, or looking everywhere but. I’m acting, obviously.
9. WHEN AUTHORS HAVE SPOKEN TO ME, I BASICALLY IGNORE THEM BECAUSE I’M TOO NERVOUS.
Can I…can I just…not be right now?! This is so mortifying!! I am in such awe of authors that if they actually tweet me back or whatever I DON’T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND. So I usually favourite and say nothing. How does one communicate with authors? Do they speak the human language? Wut r werds anyway.
So if I ever seem rude on the internet, there’s a 97% chance that I’m in awe of you and am terrified to speak. The other 3% chance is you’re weird and what even.
10. I’M STILL CLUELESS ABOUT 90% OF EVERYTHING AND JUST FUDGE IT.
Twitter chats? Knowing the right hashtags? Being on top of which book releases when? Knowing what’s popular? Making my blog graphics consistent? Understanding HTML or CSS or SEO or ABC? Knowing the right time to post? Networking efficiently? Design? Grammar? I HAVE NO IDEA OKAY?!?!
It probably surprises you! I mean, I have quite a large blog and I sometimes say knowledgeable things. But mostly I’m just flapping along in my own little clueless blogging world. So if you don’t have it together, guess what? Me neither.
OH I’VE DONE THE WRONG PUBLICIST ONE. I HAVE. IT WAS MORTIFYING. Thank goodness I don’t have to talk to these people in real life or I’d never be a blogger. You’re not alone, Cait 😉
I LIVE IN UTTER FEAR OF IT, TBH. I’ve done it several times…and I’m sooo frustrated because I totally thought I’d researched it out. And they probably think I’m a ninny who sends of requests helter skelter without thinking. XD GAH.
I commented on a blog thinking it was a different blogger just the other day, which was awkward because I thought it was a girl who had beta read for me, and instead it was a girl who … actually, I’m not even sure how or when I picked up her blog and added it to my reader. It was a bit awkward, but she was understanding.
Awk, the feel is real for this one! >_< I only did it my mix-up-two-blogger's-names the other day and I'm still cringeing about it. AGHHHHH.
Oh my God. Hahahaha this is FABULOUS. I LOVE IT! And lol I remember the first time I made a Twiiter account – it was to enter a giveaway as well! But obviously I learnt about blogging etiquette and such, and now I am awesome. Send the wrong publisher a review request?! OK, I have to admit that sounds HILARIOUS but has thankfully never happened to me 🙂 Although that bit about forgetting WHY you wrote what you wrote in your review has haunted me for life. Cheers to the attention span of a goldfish, and the memory of a…some short term memory loss animal. <3
Hehe, I’m glad I’m not alone in my devious twitter origins. XD I cringe to think how spammy my account was back then. :O AHHH THE REVIEW IS THE DEATH OF ME. I tell people to read books and then they come back wanting to discuss and I can’t even remember. *dies of shame*
I am shamefully admitting that I have also done 90% of what you just said. AND I’M STILL EVEN NEW. Oh, God. It’s a nice feeling that I’m not alone in this embarrassing hole of the book blogging community. *virtual hug*
Well I am an OLD BLOG and I’m still doing horrifically embarrassing things. XD SO WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER, MARA. XD
I ONCE SPELLED AN AUTHOR’S NAME WRONG IN A REVIEW. I. Was. Mortified. Luckily I’d just started blogging and I *think* I changed it before anyone saw and noticed — but still. I wanted to crawl into a metaphorical hole and die.
HA I UNDERSTAND THIS. I think my “Susan Colins” was actually a question to someone’s “who is your favourite author” question on goodreads. I’m not sure if they friended me or not, but after I clicked send I was mortified. THEY PROBABLY SPAMMED ME AS A DUMB SPAMMY PERSON WHO DOESN’T EVEN HAVE A FAVOURITE AUTHOR. *dies*
When Shar and I began blogging, we would use other peoples pictures from the internet without crediting them, and I’m so ashamed now, but I’m pretty sure we just replaced those with the book cover pictures… Typos are also so embarrassing, particularly when they’re in the title of your post. Thanks for sharing these, Cait. It does really annoy me when my name is mispelled, but I’ve done that a couple of times too….
AHHH BAD YOU. XD Although *whispers* I totally did that too. Just took random stuff off pinterest. 0_0 Not for very long though, before I wised up but OMG SO EMBARRASSED ABOUT MY ARCHIVES. I should really dig through them and make sure I cleaned all that up….Typos can be evilly embarrassing, right?!
I would never misspell your name Sharni. I KNOW THE PAIN OF IT.
I identify with #6 so hard. I can’t count how many times I’ve told my husband or a friend that I’ve finished a book and they say, “Oh, what was it about?” And I have to reply with, “I DON’T REMEMBER I READ IT YESTERDAY DON’T JUDGE ME.” I’m sure people think I’m inattentive. But especially if the book was dull–don’t expect me to remember anything!
YESSSS THAT IS ME TOO. Or else I have someone read a book I recommended and then, a few weeks/months later ask me what I thought about this part and it’s sooooo baaaad because I TOLD THEM TO READ IT BUT I DON’T REMEMBER. OMG. *buries self*
Haha, I’m guilty for some of those too. 😛 Everyone is I’m guessing. Also, hilarious post, like always.
YES. WE ARE ALL GUILTY TOGETHER SO FAR. XD
Hahaha I love this! No 6 – more often than I want to admit 🙂
#6 is basically the death of me the most often too. XD
When authors speak to me on Twitter I’m just like SOMEONE HELP ME WHAT DO I SAY??? Because authors are made of rainbows and sprinkles and I flail in their presence SO I TOTALLY GET THAT. I haven’t made too many embarrassing mistakes as a blogger (at least, none that I recall *gulps*) BUT I do remember when I had just started my book blog and I had just turned thirteen and literally knew NOTHING about the book blogosphere (I didn’t know about arcs, how big the community was, book blogger etiquette, I didn’t even really know what YA was as I mainly read middle-grade at the time. SO EMBARRASSING I KNOW.) and I would email all these bloggers and tell them how much I liked their blog (genuine emails, not spammy) and I was wondering if they could take a look at mine and then this one blogger replied and said “Don’t do that. It’s spam.” And I didn’t mean for it to be regarded as that but GAH IT WAS SO EMBARRASSING I STILL HAVEN’T RECOVERED.
BECAUSE AUTHORS ARE JUST TOO FABULOUS, AMIRITE?! OMG. I CAN’T EVEN HANDLE IT. *flaps and dies* I basically just am avoiding authors now. hahhah. They’re just TOO AWESOME. *fangirls quietly*
I was 17 when I started blogging and I knew NOTHING about the blogosphere. XD I didn’t even really understand what a blog was until I’d been plodding away for a few years.
omg, that is kinda mean though. *sniffles for small-blogger-you* I mean, I guess it could be seen as spammy?? BUT YEAH. POOR LITTLE BEGINNER KYRA.
I’ve sent an email to a publisher addressing them wrongly, without a subject, or yes, getting the publisher wrong. I’m pretty sure they were really impressed by me. And #10 is just ALL me.
We shall #10 TOGETHER, HUZZAH. Omg, does it make you never want to email again? I did it to HarperCollins and I think I didn’t email them again for 6 months…hoping they’d forget about me…
NUMBER 6 AND 10 IS SO ME!! Most times, I at least remember how I felt about a book, but not WHY. And no details. So when someone asked me the other day “Why?” when I said that I wasn’t completely completely crazy about the ToG series and Red Queen, I blinked. *covers face*
As for blogger mistakes, I have one to rival yours. This one time I’d signed up for a blog tour, and I was picking & editing potential questions from this long list I had for author interviews. I accidentally sent the unedited list to the author. And it was so obvious it wasn’t meant for her. I died a small death of embarrassment that day *wipes away tear*
OMG THIS IS ME, FAHIMA. YOU AND I ARE TWINS ON THIS MATTER CLEARLY. *dies* I often have people ask me to explain a comment I made in a review months later and I’m like “omg I don’t even know.” It’s sooo embarrassing. I do pay attention…sort of?!? hhaha. *ahem*
OMG THAT IS DEFINITELY EMBARRASSING. *cringes in second-hand embarrassment with you*
I can relate to a few of these but I’m sure I make my own mistakes. I’m actually forever confused about giving a critical book review! I mean if I didn’t like it, I didn’t like it. So what’s so wrong in giving a negative review, right? Or is it just immoral and unfair to authors and I’m being naive? I’d really like to know your opinion on this. 🙂
OH there is nothing wrong with writing a negative review at all. But I firmly believe one doesn’t need to fling that at the author. (I personally think author’s shouldn’t read reviews, good or negative…but that’s a topic for another time, hehehh) I mean, books are subjective and who wants to be told to their face that a person hated the book they’ve poured their heart and soul into, right?!? We can still dislike a book! NO SHAME. I just keep it amongst fellow readers. *nods* If that makes sense?
HAHA I love that you joined twitter to enter giveaways! Loved this post so honest, and makes me feel better about the million mistakes I have made!! Angelica x
WE SHALL MAKE MISTAKES TOGETHER, ANGELICA! HUZZAH!
Oh dear, these make me feel all the secondhand cringe. This reminds me of the time I e-mailed an author to ask her for an interview, an author whose book I HAD read, but… I totally got her name wrong. I immediately corrected myself in a second e-mail, but she never got back to me.
I’ll go hide now.
BAH. That gives me second hand cringe now. XD We shall just cringe mutually yes? Sometimes, omg, blogging is just full of horror moments…at least we can hide right?!
It’s nice to know that even you Cait have made mistakes. It gives me hope for the future 🙂
HAHAH. omg, YES. I am one of the most (secretly?) dilapidated bloggers of ever!! YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Oh Cait, this post made me smile! 😊 I absolutely loved it! I totally can understand and relate to all of these points as well! Although, I’m still a huge newbie and have not reached my one year blogoversary yet! (Which means plenty more mistakes to make in the meantime)
OMG CONGRATS ON 1 YEAR!! *flings cake and confetti at you* That is utterly fabulousness. So much time to make more horrendous mistakes with me. JOIN ME, JOSEPHINE, IN EMBARRASSMENT OVER ALL THE THINGS.
I’m with you on the vlogging one – even the word is terrifying.
I’ve been blogging three days and already messed up at least once – I changed my pseudonym just after I’d sent my first post live and rushed to change it before anyone saw it.
Which I managed…or so I thought.
I returned six hours later, only to realise that I’d only changed my name in the first half of the post. *Dies*
AGHHHH. *suffers at the word vlog* I mean, it was fun at the time, but I was also deadly embarrassed and just UNCOMFORTABLE. I don’t even share selfies on the blog because I’m that shy. 😛
OMGGG YOU’RE BLOGGING!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! THIS IS THE BESTEST NEWS OF EVER!! SQUEEE!! I am off to go see your new shiny blog immediately. :’)
Hehe I have made 90% of these mistakes, It’s nice to know that I am not the only one who made these blunders 😛 Loved this post <3
YESSS WE ARE TWINS IN THIS, RIA. *makes room in the box of shame* JOIN ME. I HAVE CAKE.
AH FUDGE, I send the wrong review requests to the wrong person ALL THE TIME AND IT IS SO AWFUL – especially as half the time it’s not TECHNICALLY MY FAULT, can publishers stop merging please and thank you.
Omg, that’s truuuuue. The publishers are to blame for this. Also publicists with the same name. (I swear 90% of the publicists for Aussie publishers are named Jennifer.) AHEM.
My worst mistake is assuming an author’s twitter handle is their full name, and then tweeting my review to some random person from the other side of the world….
OOOPS.
HAHAHHA OMG THAT’S GLORIOUS AND PRICELESS. XD
What a great topic! I confess to many of the same embarrassing things. Let’ see, I read so many books I too can’t always explain a review. You’re not alone! I’ve also sent review requests to the wrong emails. I want to stick my head in the sand. LOL I won’t ever Vlog. Don’t want to flub that on video. I’m mortified when I misspell a name. Can I blame it on my computer??
And I’m clueless about so much that goes into blogging. I’ve been wanting to update my blog, change a bit of the graphics and such, but I know I’ll mess things up and won’t have a clue how to fix them!
You are so not alone in this. I’ve asked other bloggers for help and they respond with enthusiasm. I’ve also helped others when I could. Not too much, as I’m a tech dumby. What a great world it is! We will always be learning and sharing.
Love those gifs too!
YESSS. Blame everything on auto correct! That is such a fabulous idea I shall do that too. *nods deviously* But omg, the wrong-email thing is just so mortifying, right?!! BAHHHHH. *dies*
But it’s true! Mostly everyone is so nice and helpful when one is drowning. :’) We have an epic community, right?!
hah Love this post! I have a Twitter but I don’t really use it much apart from giveaways, but hey! it’s whatever. I don’t have a fancy phone with the internet so I think if I DID, I could twitter and all that for other purposes.
-Lauren
I don’t have a phone either!! I just tweet when I’m on my computer. XD I LOVE TWITTER…but omg it took me months to figure it out. 0_0
These are so relatable!! Don’t fret, we’ve definitely all done it 🙂 I once mixed up the words voracious and vivacious…(and they are so cool! They both start with V!) which was awkward and had to be pointed out by a member of my family. Whoops.
I’m also too terrified of stalkers and creepy people to vlog, which is sad and lame and I’m totally disappointed in myself :p
Also, as I was typing this comment, autocorrect changed “vlog” to “clog,” and “autocorrect” to “autocorrefr,” neither of which make any sense in the circumstances. Technology. I sigh.
Omg I mix up voracious and vivacious SO MUCH. *facepalm* Actually I mix up lesser/fewer all the time too…and than/then. *hides forever* For someone who claims to be a writer, grammar and I do NOT get along.
If I was a more peopleish person and comfortable on camera, I would totally vlog! BUT I AM NOT. I am an awkward and flapping pineapple and I shall hide forever. XD I’m so shy I don’t even have profile pics on the blog!!
I loved this, Cait! I think talking about your mistakes only makes us like you more. =)
At least it makes sure you guys know I DO NOT HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER. 😛
LOL 6 & 9 are the stories of my life!
6 because I immediately forget about books as soon as I finish them. I have an awful memory so when it comes to writing a review or recap I really have to think it through. It’s great if I still have the book (ie the eBook hasn’t expired yet) so I can flip through and jog my memory. Even worse, is that I am scheduling reviews so far ahead in the future that when they get posted I barely remember why I felt the way I did let alone what happened!
And, 9 I get so shocked when an author an author responds to one of my tweets. I get type-tied and have no idea how to respond.
I am notoriously bad at not proof-reading my reviews enough before I post them. I’ve caught a few grammatical errors after I publish and a few times I didn’t fill in my template properly so I have all the blank spots still there, waiting to be filled 0.O
Agh to awful memories. I am utterly PLAGUED BY MINE. *flails and dies* Even if I really really like the book, I totally forget details so fast!! TYPE-TIED OMG. That is the best descriptor of it of EVER. XD
I haven’t made any of these mistakes (yay?) because I’m practically non-existent in the blogosphere (nevermind…), but, if you’re calling yourself unorganized and clueless about html, css, and everything else you’ve mentioned, you have a remarkable way of hiding it. Really.
So…if you’re all that…I’d be…what’s the next step under newbie? Well, whatever it is, I’m a bazillion times below that…and if you’re clueless about 90% of everything…wow, I guess I’d be clueless about 99.16% of everything?
The way you feel about conversing with authors? That’s kinda how I feel talking to fabulous bloggers such as yourself.
Aaaaaanyways…spectacular post! LOVED it!
I AM A PRO AT HIDING MY FAILLINGS. *flips hair regally* XD But honestly, I just cheat in every area and people think I have it all together and in reality I’m dyyyying. hehe.
Omg, DO NOT BE SCARED OF ME THOUGH. I’m just a deluded flapping pineapple! SERIOUSLY. We can have-no-idea-what-we’re-doing in mutual deludedness. *gives you cake*
Haha I love this post Cait! I feel you on not knowing what to say when an author replies to you. It’s like, I tagged you, but I didn’t actually think you’d even read my tweet let alone respond to it?! Someone needs to write a guide on what to do when an author tweets you
YES THAT’S EXACTLY HOW I FEEL TOO. XD Well, at first. Now I know authors sometimes read their tweets. hehh. So I basically never ever tag them. *nods* Write me this guide Michelle. PLEASE I NEED IT.
This, all of this, so good! Definitely made me laugh like crazy! I don’t know how to respond to authors either on twitter! Each time they actually say something and I know they read a review of mine, I freak out (majorly). Tagging an author of a bad review… outch! o_O
😉 great post!
I still am in total cringing horror of that moment and it was like 3 years ago!! I don’t even ever tag authors now. XD Not even for good reviews. I JUST CAN’T. AUTHORS ARE TOO GREAT.
Confession time! I also started my twitter account because of giveaways. So you are not alone in this 🙂
OH GOOD. We can huddle together in the box of shame. XD
Ooh, I was thinking “well, I don’t think if I messed up a book it could be too bad” but oh yeah. You prove that it could be really, really awkward. I would have been… completely horrified if I’d been expecting YA and gotten stalkers and sex and all of it!
I rarely try to remember my early days as a blogger- the stuff I did. *covers eyes* I’ve definitely done the “send the email to the wrong publicist”, but also I have requested a book from the wrong company. Which was awkward. The horror was real.
I joined twitter to publicise my blog. And boy, did I do that badly. I was so happy when I decided just to quit it! xx
YESSSS. Like I thought Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Shadow & Bone where teh SAME books…but at least they’re kind of similar and both YA. XD The You fiasco was not okay for me. haha. I’M A DELICATE SOUL.
When I wrote my review for The Darkest Minds – a book I LOVED and promptly proclaimed a favorite I should probably add – I called the protagonist Bree for the ENTIRE REVIEW even though her name is Ruby. I mean at least I was consistent, I guess? The review was up for MONTHS, and I only noticed when I wrote a review for one of the sequels and had to look for the review for the first book, so I could link to it. Who knows who saw that. Probably the author herself as luck has it. I might have tagged her, but I thankfully can’t remember. I READ THE BOOK I PROMISE. So much fail. I’m horrible with names in general, sometimes I read a book and I try to think of the protagonist’s name, and I can’t remember.
I also accidentally hit publish on a post that wasn’t nearly halfway done. I’m hoping no one saw it.
HAAAA OMG THAT’S TERRIBLE. XD AND WONDERFUL. I just find it marvellous that I’m not the only one making horrific mistakes. XD I wonder if the authors die a little inside at our fumbles?! 😛 I’ve said books publish on days that they don’t. -_- I PUBLISHED AN UNFINISHED POST TOO. But omg, I was so freaked I immediately took it down. So everyone thought my blog was having a spack because they all got emailed this non-existent post. So then I re-posted it and…agh, just a nightmare. XD
This was hilarious, Cait. It’s reassuring to know that you can at least fake being human. 😉 #6 is my favorite, though, especially with the gif. XD I definitely do #7 as well, which, like you, is especially bad considering how often people mess up my name. Basically any awkward situation you can imagine getting yourself into is probably something I would get myself into, given the chance.
YES. I make all this mistakes on purpose to be sure everyone knows I’m occasionally mortal. *nods regally* I’m kind of miffed how people misspell mine, haha. It’s like on of the top 100 names for my birth year. SO THERE MUST BE HUNDREDS OF CAITS, OMG, HUMANS, WHY IS IT SO HARD.
I have never met or heard of anyone else with your name spelling. 😛
Hahahahaha love this. First is to do a second quick proof read right before sending email. My Kindle Fire HD has a word anticipator function, it is like an uber-steroid Auto-C, that likes to turn itself back on unbeknownst to me. Once right as I hit send, I noticed that it had changed, “I’ll pass on that one,” to “I’ll put ass on that one.” It was to a publicist. Thank goodness they weren’t a publisher I wanted any further contact with. Hehe. Messing up book titles when tweeting (sometimes with the author tagged) my two worst ones were Of Unbreakable Things (it should be Breakable) and The Gates of Stone and Thread; there is no “The” and it’s Thread and Stone. I joined Twitter for the same reason. Lol. Don’t be afraid to author chat on Twitter! The worst that can happen is you will get ignored by Lauren Destefano and Maggie Steve-otter (I know how to pronounce her name, but not spell it). A.G. Howard is the best (I know how much you love her) and her buddy Bethany Crandell. Next time we are being silly on there I will tag you. We just finished a convo on Twitter that went from Twitter hearts to toe fungus somehow. Ha!
OMG I’M LAUGHING SO HARD RIGHT NOW. XD I haven’t had any embarrassing typos to publishers yet…but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. XD
Aww, and I know AG Howard is epic on twitter!! She’s actually the only author I’ve chatted to and not embarrassed myself mightily. xD
I can totally see myself doing ALL of these. But I really started laughing about the requesting the wrong book, especially because there’s such a HUGE difference between the two. And it’s funny about the misspelled name thing, because my name is misspelled so much. I get it spelled Anya a lot. Which is the Americanized version of my name. It’s funny, really, because I’ve heard that the way I spell it is the “hippie” way, when really it’s the traditional way and having it spelled Anya is technically the hippie way. BUT, that was just a long winded way of saying my name is misspelled so much that I don’t really care any more.
I wish I didn’t care about my name anymore…but I dooooo. Everyone thinks I’m “Kate” IRL. Literally even the BANK couldn’t spell my name even though we were sitting in front of them spelling it out. Worse they misspelled it twice so I had to keep going back to get new bank cards. For goodness sakes, my name is like the top 100 for my birth year. -_- AHEM. Least to say maybe I’ll stop caring one day?!?! 😛
YOUR BLOG HAS CHANGED YOUR BLOG HAS CHANGED YOUR BLOG HAS CHANGED!! Honestly Cait, it feels as if it’s been ages since I was here last, and you’ve managed to make your design, dare I say it, even better!
This post reminds me on what I’ve been missing out on my not visiting Paper Fury recently, as you are literally so hilarious! And at number five, I could actually picture the whole thing, and no, shield your innocence from the bad You book!
Your mistakes are kind of awkward, but I can remember one time when I wasn’t aware of the fact that Roald Dahl is in fact dead, I asked his publisher for an interview. With Roald Dahl. I kid you not. *a thousand face palms*
It’s good to be back, Cait, it really is!
Amy;
Little Moon Elephant
OMG HELLO!!! IT’S BEEN AGES SINCE I TALKED TO YOU!! the design is new at least! 😀 And squeee, I’m so glad you like it! *flails*
Omg yes. *looks for lost innocence* Between You and my mistakeningly watching Gone Girl I AM RUINED. *collapses*
HAHA YOUR ROALD DAHL STORY TAKES THE CAKE. XD
You are so cute I want to squish you! This post is hilarious and you shouldn’t worry because I’m pretty sure I have done almost all of the above. Blogging should come with a neebie manual for realz. Not just tellin you how to get arcs and set up your posts but for the “commandments” no one tells you about. I actually think this would make a great post! I’ve read You and it is intense so I don’t blames you. I just recent,y told a pub that I wanted shit it off when it should have been hit it off. *hangs head* we a,l do it but you are brave and hilarious for putting this stuff out there!
❤️Britt @ PleaseFeedTheBookworm.com
YAY WE ARE ALL SHAMEFUL BLOGGERS TOGETHER. XD haha. Is it bad that this is super encouraging?! 😛 But seriously. There should be a massive newbie manual…just of common sense things for those of us *cough*me*cough* who lack things like common sense.
Cait you are hilarious! LOL about You by Caroline Kepnes…I loved that book so much but I can definitely see how it wouldn’t exactly be up your alley! Yes I think in my early days I used to tag authors as well…until I realised it was bad form if it isn’t a bad review. That’s how we learn okay! Oh yes I’ve sent the wrong book request to the wrong publicist as well, tres embarrassing! I’m sorry for wasting their time! lol
Hehe, I know right?! Gone Girl and You…both are my innocence-losing-horrors. XD I just had no clue!! I shall stick to the childrens aisle forever after this. 😛 I don’t even tag authors for positive reviews anymore. o.O I just figure…me + authors = awkward messes. SO I KEEP TO THE BLOGGERS. At least we’re all embarrassing together. xD
okay so HAI.
IT’S BEEN A GOODLY AGE SINCE I COMMENTED ON ANYONE’S BLOG. (So it’s not just yours that i’ve been reading and not commenting on.)
BUT HAI.
I’m so happy I’m not the only one who makes an idiot of myself online…. Nice to see I’m with friends.
BUT I’VE MISSPELLED PEOPLE’S NAMES TOO, AND GOTTEN BLOGGERS WITH THE SAME NAMES CONFUSED AND I’M SO EMBARRASSED WHEN I DO THAT.
yeah.
You shouldn’t have taken the vlogs down, those suckers were hysterical.
YES YOU SADDEN ME. AHHAHHAHA
IM JUST KIDDING.
YOU’RE FABULUOS, TRESKIE. And yes. You are among clueless friends for sure. *flaps about awkwardly trying to get it all together* Ommmmg I find it super embarrassing to misspell names. It makes me feel like I don’t care. BUT I DO CARE I’M JUST…DELUDED. GAH. XD
PFFFT. Hysterical and embarrassing. xD
Being a relatively new blogger myself, it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who does dumb things. (Still haven’t got arcs or tagged authors though, thankfully) My main embarrassing moment is just not really knowing how to write reviews for audiences, which is clear if you read my early posts. (please don’t *dies*). I still don’t know how to use gifs, even though I’ve tried. I *stalked* your YouTube account back when you were a Notebooks sister, but I don’t think I saw much of you (thankfully, I’m sure). Anyway, thank you for the ‘everybody is just clueless’ reassurances!
Omg, I won’t look at your archives if you don’t look at mine. XD THEY ARE HORRENDOUS TOO. I think most bloggers quietly wish to burn their archives. hehe. BUt it IS kind of reassuring/encouraging to know we’re all messes together, right?! 😛
I have exactly nothing together. Nothing. I haven’t sent a request to the wrong publisher (that I know of?) but I did totally get the name of the woman I was sending a request to wrong. Like, I didn’t just misspell her name, I gave her a whole new one. That was embarrassing.
I confuse bloggers ALL the time. Ask Holly. For awhile, I confused her with some other chick named either Christina or Amanda. Or something like that, I don’t really know. I am HORRIBLE with that. Also, I remember the “You” debacle. I may have chuckled a little at your plight (sorry)!
Um yeah, my graphics match… nothing. My blog look hasn’t a thing to do with my blog’s name. I basically still feel like the most ridiculous little newbie on the face of the blogosphere, and I get nervous around the veterans. I feel like I have absolutely done more stupid stuff than this, but I am probably just trying to bury the memory. Good news? I think most of us are messes. Those people who have it all together are the strange ones 😉
HA. OMG I’M WITH YOU. There are two Aussie publicists called Clare and Claire and they work for different houses but I LIVE IN MORTAL DREAD OF MIXING THEM UP. It’s just not fair, really. Why are names so hard?
OH YES. GO ON LAUGH. While I look for my lost innocence. *cries*
I’ve only become self-conscious of my graphics recently. Like, should they match???? Should I have a consistent font?? And I mix up between photos and random stuff I find online and OMG JUST NOTHING IS THE SAME I AM LIKE A NEWBIE TOO. XD It is comforting to know we’re all messes. haha.
Oh, Cait. I totally feel you! I haven’t done most of the things you mentioned here, but I’ve had my own fair share of blogging mistakes. (I should be with you inside the box of shame.) Your #9 is one of those. I don’t know how to talk to authors! And bloggers, too! Twitter’s favorite button is a lifesaver because otherwise I would just be staring at my monitor, thinking what to say. I’m also pretty much clueless about everything, but eh, whatever. 😀
*squishes over* I think we can all fit in the box of shame for a little while. XD hehe, is it bad that it’s really encouraging that we all fail sometimes?!?
Agree with you one everything haha.
I have quite a few things that are on this list
I don’t just ignore authors but anyone that I meet. I am a really shy person and when I met new people my anxiety levels are through the roof it’s bad.
Misspelling names – what a wonderful thing right?
Thanks for an awesome post.
Meeee tooooo. Like I used to want to try and connect to authors? But gee it just gives me such anxiety so what’s the point!? I might as well save myself. haha.
Secret: not even going to read this because I get second-hand embarrassment so badly. SORRY.
HAHA, YOU’RE HILARIOUS. OKAY.
I still live in mortal fears of mixing up book names with publishers and authors, I double check like three or four times before I send off an email XD I have not made any serious blunders YET… but I accidentally tagged an author when for a three stars review once, and I think she got a bit upset. I AM SORRY AUTHOR. I have learned now. I also hate sending review links to publicists informing them I didn’t like the book they sent me (AND THAT I REQUESTED OMFG) cos I feel like an ungrateful brat BUTTTT I can’t lie. I wish there was a guide on how to write these awful emails *sobs*
AGH. IT IS SO HARD, RIGHT?!?! I never tag authors anymore. Not even for 5-star reviews. XD I just figure…meh. I’ll read, they can write, we need not talk right now. lol I STILL FEEL SO MORTIFYINGLY UNGRATEFUL FOR DISLIKING BOOKS. I’ve just got a bad review for a requested book right now to write and wahhh. I don’t want to. XD I jus twish I liked all the things.
As someone who is still struggling to understand the hundreds of little things that make up bookstagram I really appreciate this post! It’s comforting to know that even book blogging QUEENS like yourself have make mistakes/still aren’t 100% organised all the time! The book blogging community is probably my favourite part of the internet but there’s just so much to figure out you know? Like I just figured out what NaNoWriMo stood for a few weeks ago :’)
AHHH ARE YOU ACCUSING ME OF BEING A QUEEN?!? *BLUSHES* But YES, omg, even this queen is somewhat mortal at times, I promise. I love everything about blogging but omg, I have MANY failings. *nods* And I think maybe we can like understand what all the things are but it still is hard to remember to do them all RIGHT. XD
Ooh, those were funny 😀 I once said to the publicist, “Your book sounds so interesting!”, to which she replied, “Great! I’ll tell the author…” The next time, I made sure to read the entire letter before responding!
HAHA. Omg I understand the pain. I DO. XD
Oh man, I’m a GUILTY girl right here!! Most of these… yup, right here too. *blushes*
*blushes with you* LET US HIDE IN SHAME TOGETHER. XD
#10. Yes. Yes. And Yes. I”M AM 100% Confused when it comes to social media. For real. Which is scary considering how much time I spend blogging and such. See, I like connecting with people and yet learning all the rules is fantastically hard. What do you do to seem like a friendly fellow writing blogger and what turns you into a creepy stalker? I mean, I think it’s great when people follow my twitter and Facebook and blog and all that and comments are amazing… But does liking everything get old? Cause it doesn’t when they do it to me… BUT WHAT ARE THE RULES EVEN? I’m sure there must be a book out there somewhere.
#8 I totally disagree. I thought those vloges were so funny and who cares if you don’t look at the camera? Let’s take a second to be a little weird and just say: Australian accents are SO cool. I have some friends from Australia and I”m pretty sure I could just sit and listen to them talk for hours on end. (Hopefully that didn’t cross into the creepy gray area????) So yeah, your vlogs were actually really cool.
And… I’m probably going to get thrown off the blog but… #7: Sorry, Sorry. Sorry, But um, I’m not sure if “Cait'” is a common spelling in the US because although I think it’s totally great and all that, I’ve never seen it anywhere except here. But, but, but, AT LEAST PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT! I have a sister named “Helena” and people who we’ve known for YEARS still pronounce it the wrong way. Same with another one of my sister’s who is named Johanna. People are seemingly clueless after being told the correct way dozens of times and since they already find it rather confusing to have four girls in a row we’ve kinda given up.
All that to say: This was a great post! I make so many mistakes on my blog that it’s a little crazy. Sometimes I even find typos (scary!) because at times I’m in a huge rush like when I’m almost late for my non-writing job and I just want to get the post up asap. I normally go back and fix those, though.
And speaking of that, Um, I would continue but I have to get back to work now.
OH, but before I go: Thank you for posts like these. They really are wonderful.
EEeep, thank YOU, Aidyl. <3 Your comments are always the nicest of ever. JFADKSLAFJDKLAJ BASICALLY.
Omg, the friendly vs creepy sometimes worries me too. XD I tend to be a proficient liker and not a commenter, so then I wonder if people just think I'm stalkily liking their stuff but not talking?!?? OMG WHAT IF I'M DOING EVERYTHING WRONG. *has mid-blogging-life-crisis*
HAHAHA. OMG YOU'RE SO SWEET. XD I didn't delete the vlogs or anything (I never delete anything) but I was still so embarrassed. XD And yes! At least people got to see my fabulous Aussie accent. *flips hair* My sister is a wonderful vlogger. If she'd stuck around in the blogging world we might even have done more BUT YEAH. Alone I am too shy.
AGH NAMES ARE SO HARD. I think maybe it IS an American thing because I just realised that I grew up in a church full of Americans…so maybe that's why none of them EVER got my name right?!? I was always "Kate". -_-
ANYWAY. YOUR COMMENTS MAKE MY DAY JUST SO YOU KNOW. <33
Oh I forget absolutely everything. I am so glad its not just me!
OMG GOOD. WE CAN BE DORY TOGETHER IN THIS.
Perfection. Dory is a fish I can live up to being.
LMAO oh god, I did THAT. I have accidentally made the mistake and either e-mailed the wrong publisher about the book or accidentally wrote the wrong publisher name in the email. Oh my god, those things always make you kind walk away from the computer and bury your head under the pillows and scream, ESPECIALLY if its a book you really wanted lol.
I have pretty much done everything on that list XD at some point or another,.
YESSSS. THEY DO!! It’s just so horrifying. I hate looking like I didn’t research, when I DID. And I’m sure the publishers are just thinking “Gee this stupid blogger is just not even caring” and meanwhile I’M JUST HAVING A DELUDED DAY OR SOMETHING AND AM SO MORTIFIED. hehe.
There were these two bloggers who had the same names, and I would always get so confused! For the longest time I thought they were the same person who just kept changing their blog design. How does that even happen?! *hides in corner*
I am always misspelling names. Especially those crazy ones. I almost always misspelling Rick Riordan’s name wrong. Or is it Riodran? I don’t even know. As well as. . . you are going to hate me. . . the author you love so much. She wrote The Raven Boys. I just call her Maggie S. Because I slaughter her last name every time I even try. *sobs*
I’ve done the vlog thing a couple times. I rather like it. But I have NO IDEA what I am doing. How long is too long? Lighting? What is good lighting? Editing is terrible. How do you do good transitions? Also, I use my phone camera because I have nothing else, and it doesn’t always turn out great. . . And you know how I can’t spell anything? I can’t pronounce anything either. The poor authors’ names and book titles. DISHONOR! Dishonor on me, dishonor on my cow.
AGH! Yes! What do you even do with hashtags? I don’t get it either.
Oh, man. If an author were to speak to me, I might drop dead with shock.
And I kind of want a twitter. Because that’s where are the authors are (I vote that they migrate to Instagram. . .). But at the same time, I fear social media overload. O_O And just forget about Facebook. I’ll haunt Insta and that’s about it.
OMG I HAVE DONE THIS TOO. Except I did it backwards…because their BLOG names looked the same so I was just all like “oh what is there name? Is it THIS or THAT? Idek” and totally thought it was one blog/one person. I…I shall just go sit in the corner of shame now. XD
I actually physically sat down and TRAINED myself to spell Stiefvater. I was fully “if this is going to be my favourite author, I need to spell it right”. Shows my level of fangirling, doesn’t it? 😉
TWITTER CHATS KILL ME. I CAN’T EVEN. I think a lot of people must think I’m a twitter snob. But I’m actually just clueless. XD Twitter is fabulous though…because it’s like EVERYONE is fair. No one is going to see your tweet more because you paid, like on facebook. *nods* That’s why I adore it.
Ahh, this made me smile at the end of a very hard day in work,. There may have even been a little chuckle in there too 🙂
I have also spelled an authors name wrong and once messed up on the book title and it ended up nothing like what the actual book was called.
I accidentally posted a big author announcement an hour before I was meant to because of the time difference. And it was an announcement about her being signed to a publisher, so I spilled the beans before the publisher could even announce it! GAH, that one was embarrassing. But come on, time difference is hard!
Also I a constantly spelling normal every day words wrong. Mostly because I type so fast and then I can’t be bothered to go back and check what I’ve written, so then I just post it and then my best friend spends the next hour text me all the words I spelt wrong in my text.
Ooooooo! Also, went to a book event at a bookstore and made plans to meet up with a blogger I had been chatting to online for a while. Got to the event and strolled right up to this girl (who I thought was the blogger) only to have the ACTUAL girl walk up to me like 10 minutes later and introduce herself. Turns out the girl I had been talking to wasn’t even there for the event, she had just nipped in to buy a book! EEEEEK!
Glad to know I’m not the only one who is a total doofus! 🙂
Eeeep, I’m glad it made you smile. MY JOB HERE IS DONE. *flails and collapses* AWK. And isn’t it the worse when you’re then trying to find the book on the internet WITH THE WRONG TITLE and it’s just…bleh. I’ve also told people books released on the wrong days and used the wrong edition of book covers and the publicists’ have actually asked me to change it. SO MORTIFYING. >_< XD
Omg!! That is terrifying!! I tweeted a cover reveal early once and was asked to take it down. *hides* Time differences ARE hard!!
HAHAH THAT'S HILARIOUS ABOUT THE BOOKSTORE THOUGH. OMG. XD At least you're a nice friendly person, right?!? 😛
Honestly, these mistakes are absolutely obscure to me. ARCs? Nope. I’ve taken once an ARC because the publisher requested ME to do this, but it wasn’t the Genre I’m actually in to, also I’m not a very frequent Blogger. And I needed two months for the Review Copy. So it made me feel all guilty for myself and the publisher and that review did no good to me. I shyed completely out about ARCs and you can practically chase me with them.
On the other hand at least I understand HTML and CSS. Just, it doesn’t help, because blog templates are coded in XML and PHP. So, thanks, how helpful is it, when you can only understand half of your template and the other half is like and stuff. But at least you’re the master of posting regularly, Cait, that is something that me little Pineapple never manages 😀
I actually did confuse different bloggers with same names a couple of times. But they weren’t any of my best buddies, so that was just fine, because I wasn’t tempted to use insiders. There were none. Just, when I visited their blog, well, that was a surprise 😀
Oops… I put some stupid code in my comment, but it only made my comment bold. Well, that is embarrassing too 😀
I wrote about the templates “and the other half is like <b:if> and <b:ifelse> and stuff. Which should now hopefully appear properly 😛
HAHA DON’T WORRY. XD Actually wordpress likes to turn ALL my comments italicised. -_- I tried saying no, but apparently this blog has a mind of it’s own. ANYWHO.
That’s fair about the ARCs! They’re not for everyone. *nods* It was one of my biggest wants to get my blog big enough for ARCs, but I think it depends on one’s blog and their preferences for sure. *nods*
I don’t understand ANY OF MY TEMPLATE. My relative does it ALL but I live in fear of the day he leaves town or whatever and I’ll have to fumble about on my own. 0_0 I’ll probably never change designs again!! hehe.
Ohhhh, yes. I love me some organisation and consistency. Scheduling is my best friend. I actually feel all odd and untethered if I don’t schedule my post at exactly the same time each day. XD
Ah, well I’m weird all of the time. It is who I am! So, I’m surprised you reply to my comments. haha.
BUT I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS. <3 You are so fantastic!! And I love reading your blog too!!
*GASP* NUMBER 2???
I’ve always been afraid of Number 1. I think I’ve sent the email and I think to myself “Oh crap, was that to the right person?!” Then I refuse to check, because I don’t want to live with that embarrassment!
The husband and I have recently started a Disney vlog and it soo awkward to watch myself and point out EVERY SINGLE FLAW.
I KNOOOOOOOOW. PLEASE HIDE ME AMBER. I AM STILL MORTIFIED AND IT’S BEEN 3 YEARS. And just the other day I tagged an author in a tweet that was raving over how wonderful their book was…and someone else commented and said they hated it. And THE AUTHOR APPEARED AND SAID HELLO/THANKS/BYE. *dies* I mean, that wasn’t me. I was flailing about their book. But still…I felt horrible and embarrassed that it was connected to me and just. BLEH.
I love you Cait. So much. Just. Gaaahh. Let me hug you.
I always make mistakes on everything and am constantly mortified and seeing this post and hearing that one of the people I most admire in the blogging world makes mistakes too and is human and just I feel so much better about life and thank you for sharing and making me feel this way and you’re the best. <3
LET ME HUG YOU BACK THEN, DEBORAH, YOU FABULOUS PINEAPPLE FROND. Yessss, I thought this post might be fun for that reason. XD I often look at my favourite blogs that I admire so much and I’m like “omg they’re perfect”. But I DOUBT IT. We all have embarrassing moments, right?! We shall all just continue being embarrassing and occasionally burying ourselves. BUT WE SHALL DO IT TOGETHER.
6,9 and 10 I do all the time…
The others… not so much….
Therefore I must be more perfect then you! (I’m only joking!)
~Thing 1
Since we are all confessing… I must confess that I spent a long time at that Benedict Cumberbatch gif….A LONG TIME
~Thing 2
HAHHHH. YOU WISH, THING 1. *collapses laughing* Ahem. But yes. Let us just continue to ignore authors because they’re too fabulous. NOT OUR FAULT tHEY ARE SO GREAT, RIGHT?
OMG. YES TO ALL OF THESE. I completely relate to you in each and every one of these points Cait. Mixing up bloggers with the same name or just calling someone the wrong name in general is so, so embarrassing, and I always feel so bad afterwards. *goes to hide in corner* Thanks for sharing this and, as always, fabulous post! ♥ Glad to know I’m not alone! 😉
IT IS SO EMBARRASSING. *digs a hole big enough to bury us both* I’m still mortified over my last blogger-name-mix-up. XD
This post is so good! I relate to some of your… embarrasing situations. Although my Twitter origins were to play some game in the computer when I was 11. xD #6 is so me it’s scary! I forget about books too. Damn, Fast. Except some of my all-time favourites, but STILL. It’s uncomfortable. D: One mistake that is not here… at the beginning of this year I joined (and abandoned) NetGalley, I requested a book and I got accepted. I panicked and I left and never went back. Later I realised I would not be able to read any ARCs at all because I barely have time for reading, but Ishould not have ran away like that! *hides* Sigh, I missed coming to your blog.
AWK, VANE!! I MISS YOU TOO!!! I was like gone from the blogosphere for a week and now I feel like I haven’t talked to everyone in ever. XD I shall be fixing this directly and popping to your blog too. *nods* EEP. 11yo you is forgiven. 😉 17yo me should’ve known better for the twitter. haha. My account was so spammy. And now it’s spammy with allcap shriekings over books, but at least that’s a little more forgivable, right?! 😛 HAHA. AHEM.
And I understand the running away from Netgalley. I DID THAT TO EDELWEISS. I did review the book I got sent, but after that? Sheesh. I was out of there it was so confusing.
EVERYTHING. OMG ALL OF THIS. YES.
I can relate to #1 so much, I can actually feel the secondhand embarrassment coming back. (Admitting is the first step, haha.) And sometimes when I talk to authors on Twitter, I take about three hours to reply before writing something basic or throwing in about a thousand emojis.
LOL. I did #3 for the same reason. Also, #4 is MY GREATEST BLOGGER FEAR. I have yet to actually do so, though I HAVE confused authors books in front of them on Twitter and they’ve noticed. GOD WHY.
As always, lovely post, Cait! 😀
YES. ADMITTING. Aren’t we all being brave here? :’) I’ve just basically decided that I cannot interact with authors EVER and keep looking like a smart human. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME. hehe.
Haha. XD Some of these aren’t so bad. Here in the States, your spelling of Cait isn’t that common, but I’ve noticed for Australia it is, so it’s probably country barrier. XD Everyone here spells it Kate or Cate. And to be honest … I also joined Twitter to do giveaways too. XD
Ohhh, that could be it!! Because I used to go to a church when I was small that had a LOT of Americans and no one could ever seem to get a handle on my name. -_- And I’m just sitting there going, “HOW HARD IS THIS?!?! SRSLY?!?!” XD I usually get Kate. One day I shall make peace with it…but not this day. XD
Haha. XD
‘wut r werds’
Cait you make me laugh and smile so much XD you’re the best. Seriously. I love reading your blog and talking to you because you always make me happy.
AWWW, LISA. DITTO TO YOU. YOUR EMAILS ARE MY FAVOURITE THINGS OF EVER. <3
AWWW THANK YOU
HAHA! Oh god, yes! I think I have probably made all of these mistakes for myself. Except for the Twitter one, I started it for the blog. I have been doing a few vlogs and it is sooo embarrassing. It takes a lot of guts every single time to press publish. I cringe thinking about them out there on the interwebs for everyone to see haha.
BUT YOUR VLOGS ARE ACTUALLY SO GOOD!! And also good quality. Mine were done with a 4th gen iPod so you can imagine… heheh AND YES. OMG. Sometimes I feel like there’ll be a day when I’m not nervous about a post? But pfft. It hasn’t come yet. XD
I have an endless list of blogging mistakes that I have made. In fact, I could have written an entire book with just the sheer embarrassments of my attempts at blogging. I realize that making mistakes is human, and against all of my wishes I am a human (I still think that being a dragon would be better, but someone did not get the message).
Let’s start with the smaller mistakes first. For the longest time, I did not realize that you could schedule posts. I was always so in awe of the bloggers who constantly and consistently posted because somehow I just did not know that you could set posts to go live whenever you wanted them to. So, when I finally noticed the handy schedule button on my Blogger toolbar, I decided to try it out. I went on my blog the next day and did not see the post. And then I panicked. I did not realize you also have to “publish” the post as well as schedule it. (Which took me about an hour and many frantic Internet searched to figure out).
Also, I did not (and still don’t even though I think I am getting better) know how to make blog graphics that are actually visually appealing. I just pick some pretty fonts and colors and hope that everything turns out alright in the end. I have given up on making the images consistent too.
The biggest blogger mistake that I am going to reveal is that at first I did not realize that I set my comment system up so that I had to approve the comments before they actually appeared on my blog. For the first couple of months, I was totally discouraged because I was never getting any comments. But, it turns out that there were actually quite a few of them just waiting to be monitored by me. (Even now, I forget to check to see if any comments need to be approved).
So, there are just some of the prime examples of my blogging mistakes. Just know that you are not the only person who makes mistakes, Cait!
OMG THIS IS WONDERFUL AND MAKES ME FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. AHHAA. Is it awful that it’s good to share our failings?!? 😛 But seriously I know these struggles too!! I was okay with the scheduling, but for ages I didn’t even really know what a blog was. I didn’t know other people were supposed to read it. *facepalm* My sister sort of just said “START A BLOG!!” and I did with no clue. It took me 2 years to even get 10 followers. aHEM. So yes. We shall comfort each other in our embarrassing mistakes. XD
Twitter is my downfall, too many people have similar twitter names which I learned to great embarrassment! We are only human though, we make mistakes and hopefully (hopefully!!!) learn from them!!
Very nice blog.
No on this happening to me, but I do forget characters in books at times.
Thanks for sharing. Great post.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Blog
Bahahaha!! XD I’m sorry… I feel your pain. (But it’s still kinda funny?) I have done SO MANY embarrassing things on my blog/social media. I was having flashbacks to all of them while I read this. Don’t feel bad, all of us other *FLAWLESS SUPER-HUMANS* make mistakes too… (Hehe… I’m joking of course. I’m not flawless. AT ALL.) 😀
Thanks for being transparent!! <3
LOL, these are great! ” So you can imagine the terror when I mixed up You by Charles Benoit and You by Caroline Kepnes.” I’m DYING. Oh, Cait, I feel so bad for laughing but :’D I live in fear about emailing publishers about the wrong book, especially since I have anxiety so I reread over everything five times before I send it and often I’ll ask someone else to read it too. #7 haha, I do that all the time too so no worries. I get called Alice ALL the time and it makes me laugh. If it was my real name I’d probably be mad though 😛 Great post!
Oh god at #1. I would be totally mortified. I’m lucky I haven’t done this (I’m sure I was close to many times before I proofread), but I have called publicists by the wrong name, and that made me feel terrrrribleeeee. I wanted to apologize, but I waited too long. 🙁
OH YES at 6. I have a terrible memory, but I’ve been better at remembering books since I’ve started blogging. It’s kind of hard to sum up a book if someone asked. Book amnesia, tough. Lol.
Literally laughing with how much I relate to these. Especially the one about forgetting what I read. My dad can like remember how to get to a random gas station in a city he visited once in 1986 and I can barely remember a character’s name that I read about yesterday. It’s actually embarrassing!
I love this post, Cait! Being a foreigner I often straggle with names, half of the time I don’t know how to spell and pronounce them correctly. I just recently made twitter account and I’m still trying to figure it out. I’ve heard about You, can’t imagine how you felt when you got a stalker as a main character instead of another book.
It was such a relief to read this post! I feel so clueless and naive a lot of the time, so it’s comforting to know that the “pros” are human, too. Thanks for sharing!
Omg, I’m no pro XD BUT STILL THIS COMMENT IS SO AWFULLY NICE OF YOU. :’)
I love this article! #5 is so me! I read romance books, but I am way too much of a prude to read erotica. Sometimes, I get super excited about a book’s synopsis that I don’t check to see if its too racy for me. Once I got a book that was about post-apocalyptic threesomes. I was afraid to pick up my kindle for DAYS! I proudly own my prude status though and had a nice chat with the author about it! She totally understood and was very nice to me about it. I was still so embarrassed!
I am seriously one of the worst spellers in the world. My students catch at least 1 spelling mistake per class period! You would think that after 10 years of teaching I would have gotten it together but its my weakness for sure! I try to type everything and write nothing on the board in ‘real time’ because I will have to turn around and ask “how do you spell…”. Sigh!
Great post!
Agh, isn’t spelling the worst?!? xD I’m always so embarrassed at my copious bucketloads of errors. *heavy sigh* And omg, hehe, your post-apocalyptic threesome book sounds terrifying. xD
HAHAHA this is so utterly cute. But don’t worry. I’m sure some of us has made several of the same mistakes like tweeting negative reviews to authors. HAHA but I have to admit that I do make mistakes now too (especially after blogging for more than a year UGH), and last week, I just tweeted Happy book birthday to the wrong publishing company! xD they were so nice as to correct me but OMG *buries head in the sand*
AND I USED TO BE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO TWEETED PROGRESS OF READING. Which might not seem like a bad thing, but it actually is when you’re reading an ARC, and got so excited and tweeted the author a MAJOR spoiler. Author did not reply, but immediately tweeted an indirect tweet to me. “Readers, please do not tweet spoilers online especially if the book hasn’t been released.” MAJOR EMBARRASSSSSMENT.
I love this! I especially love because I was beginning to feel super intimidated by you and just thought you were perfect. It is nice to know that you are human like the rest of us. 🙂 I am also intimidated by authors tweeting me back. There have been a couple of authors who tweet me back or retweet me when I give a positive review. Sometimes, all I can do is to favorite the tweet. I have no idea what to say!
one time i commented on a girl’s post of books she loved and I recommended she read Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie….
her last post had been a review for that book
AND I HAD COMMENTED ON THAT REVIEW BEFORE RECOMMENDING THE BOOK TO HER
*dead*
I HAD SO MANY TABS OPEN AND EACH COMMENT WAS HEARTFELT AND GENUINE BUT I THOUGHT I WAS COMMENTING ON TWO SEPARATE BLOGS SOMEHOW AND IT ENDED UP BEING THE SAME PERSON a;lskjdf;alsjd AND WHAT’S WORSE! SHE /CAUGHT/ ME ON IT! She commented back, “Uh SJ… i HAVE read that book lol silly” lol i’m a moron
OMG THAT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING. XD HAHA. I still haven’t recovered from my comment mix up. *heavy sigh* And I always get worried about greeting a “new commenter” because what if they’ve commented before and I just don’t remember?!? GAHHH. >_> It’s always a worry, lol.
Dan and Phil! I’ve had some of these moments, especially misspelling names :O You are a genius!!
Ha Ha aw. You’re a genius!
Haha ur genius Cait
*blushes* WHY THANK YOU.
Omg this is hilarious! I can relate to many. Too many. But as for the names thing… People ask me how to spell mine all the time. Hate to break it to you guys, but it doesn’t get much easier than that. And number ten. Like what even am I doing??? I don’t even know half the time…
Oh my gosh, this post cracked me up! Especially #1 and #5- LOL. And oh my gosh I can totally relate to #9- I always just get so nervous that I have no idea what to say to them. Fabulous post, as always!
Awk, thank you Paige! 😀 It was definitely fun to write. hehe.
I can totally relate to number 2 and 9 hahahaha XD and I’m currently stalking your blog because it’s so pretty and I love reading your posts <3
Aww, THANK YoU. <3 That pretty much makes my day. 😂
Trackbacks
[…] Cait @ Paper Fury kept it real and shared some (embarrassing) mistakes she’s made. […]
[…] whilst I am spending this week pointing out my great failings (gawsh, I’m being humble aren’t I? Enjoy it. It won’t last), I shall be listing […]
[…] Cait @ Paper Fury shares some embarrassing book blogger moments. […]
[…] Cait @ Paper Fury admits her blogger mistakes […]
[…] Cait @ Paper Fury shares some of her embarrassing blogger mistakes. I’m sure we can all relate… […]
[…] @ Paperfury shares her most embarrassing book blogger mistakes. (I love […]
[…] × Cait is basically flawless buuut she does slip of every once in a while as a book blogger. […]
[…] @ Paper Fury shares her hilarious mistakes she’s made as a book blogger, unfortunate book blogger problems, and asks what is the worst type of character […]