I’m about to share all my book blogging secrets. I know. What even is this madness?! SO appreciate it while I spill all before you (although technically this tag should be the “not so secret life”, right?).
Deep breaths, Cait, deep breaths.
Thanks for the tag Danni!
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1. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A BLOGGER?
I’m in my 4th year! I started off as a travel blog, merged into a writing blog, then faceplanted into book blogging. And here I am. NO GETTING RID OF ME. I’m like a fabulous barnacle.
2. AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL STOP BLOGGING?
IS THIS A HORROR STORY TAG?! Blogging is life. I am a writer and a bookworm and as long as those are the two driving passions of my existence, I’m going to keep blogging.
I may stop if:
- A dragon eats me.
- The apocalypse comes and running from zombies becomes more life fulfilling than tweeting about it.
- Australia loses WiFi FOREVER. (Which is the definition of the apocalypse.)
- My TBR falls on me and squashes me flat.
3. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BLOGGING?
I quite like the moment when the entire internet is chanting “CAIT FOR WORLD RULER! CAIT FOR WORLD RULER!” I just know it’s a regular phenomenon.
But that glorious thing aside, I quite like:
- Comments! I love getting them. I LOVE IT. When I post (7:00pm every night, I’m nothing if not punctual) I often chew my nails nervously in anticipation of the first comment. I love talking to people. I love comparing bookish opinions! I LIKE MY FRIENDS.
- The book blogging community is downright fabulous. I can’t believe I blogged for years not knowing so many epic people were out there, just waiting to be attacked into friendship. Everyone is nice and supportive and clever and funny. I know everyone is funny because so many people say “Yeah, well, I’m not going to be your minion because I’m taking over the world.” HAHA. Isn’t that adorable?! People have such quaint senses of humour. There can only be one world ruler, by the way, and it is me.
- Taking photos of books. I really adore doing this. It’s so much more fulfilling than photographing humans. (Ugh.)
- Formatting posts. I love putting together posts. I like writing them, I like fiddling with font sizes and which sentences should be bolded. I like finding the perfect gif. OH. And I like writing lists. Like I am doing now.
- Lists. Lists! Lists! Lists!
4. WHAT IS THE WORST THING? WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE IT OKAY?
- Self doubt. Did that post I write suck? Is my opinion stupid and wrong? I’m not blogging like everyone else, so AM I DOING IT WRONG?
- When people hate on my reviews. Not like “oh I disagree with you”. (Disagreement and discussion is ALWAYS welcome.) I’m talking about when people take a moment out of their days to absolutely tell me I SUCK and that I’m immature and deluded because I didn’t love their favourite book. Ugh. I know those people are the trolls and should be ignored, but it’s hard. It is.
- When I come face to face with design or HTML or coding problems. I would love to be good at HTML. I would love to know how to tweak my blog! I DO NOT. I CRY SO OFTEN BECAUSE I DO NOT. Everything baffles me. Ughhh.
- When I send back negative reviews to publishers. It’s sily. IT IS. Publishers don’t expect all their reviewers to love all the books. But I still feel like an ungrateful cacti when I send back negative reviews.
5. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO CREATE/FIND PICTURES TO USE?
This is hard to gauge because I take photos. All photos are my own! HUZZAH! I’ll spend hours taking photos and editing them, but it’s mostly for my instagram. Then I use the pinterestable (totally a word) photos for headings on my posts.
Gifs though? I take AGES to find gifs. Unless I decide to theme a post Supernatural because, well, hello:
So helpful, thank you. #bestfandomever
6. WHO IS YOUR BOOK CRUSH?
My bookshelf. Because I’m 99% sure that if it falls on me, it will crush me. Therefore I figure it’s best to be attracted to it now while I’m still whole.
7. WHAT AUTHOR WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ON YOUR BLOG?
I dislike how vague this question is. What am I doing with this author on my blog. Interviewing them? Letting them guest post? Eating them for dinner? THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS.
I love authors, but I’m also terrified of them because they’re fabulous. But I have undying adoration for Maggie Stiefvater. She scares me, though, because she’s too awesome. I would like to interview her, but I wouldn’t. If that makes sense.
8. WHAT DO YOU WEAR WHEN YOU WRITE YOUR BLOG POSTS?
Clothes?! Doesn’t everyone?! UGH. DON’T TELL ME IF YOU DON’T. I DON’T WANT TO KNOW.
If you wish to be specific, right now it’s winter so I’m hudled under 36 quilts and wearing jeans, socks, three shirts, and a jumper. I’m a cold frog. It’s my icy soul that doesn’t help things.
9. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO PREPARE?
Prepare what?! I guess it takes me zero time to prepare. If I’m going to blog, I sit down and blog. If I need to blog and don’t feel like it, I select a clone to do it for me.
10. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE BOOK BLOGGER COMMUNITY?
I LOVE THEM ALL. I think there are snarky sides. I’ve met bloggers I just couldn’t click with and I think we ruffled each other’s dragon scales the wrong way multiple times. But you know what?! Not everyone has to click. I’m sure I annoy a lot of people because I USE ALL CAPS TOO MUCH. And also! Exclamation! Points! Which are kind of! Irritating! Sometimes! And I’m absolutely fabulous, so that would be annoying for less-fabulous people.*
But mostly everyone is awesome. I have so many friends, like seriously, I feel like I have hundreds of book bloggers I could call a friend! And I have many people who support my blog and — just — nnnngh I CANNOT EXCLAIM HOW APPRECIATIVE I AM.
* I’m joking.
11. WHAT DO YOU THINK ONE SHOULD DO TO GET A SUCCESSFUL BLOG?
Write the blog YOU want to read. Don’t feel pressured to format your posts or write content “like everyone else”. #BookBlogAdvice
— Cait (@PaperFury) June 24, 2015
This is my most favourited tweet ever, by the way. I’m monstrously proud. BUT ALSO! YES. THIS. I think there can be pressure to blog a “certain way”, to have the book blogging plugins, to format reviews just so and to follow the trends. I feel like everyone is getting into photography at the moment. AND THAT CAN BE GREAT! Don’t get me wrong! But if photography doesn’t sit well for you and you don’t want to do it, or it frustrates more than excites you — don’t. Same as you should keep whatever schedule you want. Format your posts how you please. If you’re unconvetional or weird or just can’t get it “right” like everyone else — JOIN ME, BECAUSE I AM THE SAME.
Also, don’t copy blogs you love. Everyone’s methods for success are different. Some bloggers give away books, some always review the latest releases, others do tutorials, others always write meaty discussions. I write informally with (hopefully) plenty of humour and ridiculous food puns. Where else can you go on the internet and be accused of being a pineapple except at my blog?! HMM?? Figure out what works for you. Experiment, yes. Get inspiration from, yes. Copy, no.
I would like to tag ALL THE PEOPLE, by the way, because if I have to spill my secrets (these weren’t that secrety) then you should too! SO STEL THIS IF YOU LIKE. And I’ll also specifically pick on:
Emily @ Loony Literate // Brett @ Brett Michael Orr // Aine @ Writing on a Vintage Typewriter // Jeann @ Happy Indulgence // Felicity @ Felicity Helen // Rosy @ The Review Diaries // Aimee @ Deadly Darlings // Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight // Wesaun @ Oreos and Books
-~-
YOU ARE JUST SO FABULOUS I CAN’T GET OVER IT!
But seriously, your posts are always amazing and hilarious and I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH!
Elly xx
(Sorry, I let my fangirl out. I should probably put her back or who knows what’ll happen!)
ZOMG, WELL THANK YOU. *ADJUSTS QUEENLY CROWN* YOU KNOW. I DO TRY HARD. 😉
Oh well now, this is such a lovely book blogging tag. And I agree, no one else accuses me of a pineapple. So … maybe you’re wrong there. *gasp* On a more serious note, though, I feel like we generally have the same joys and pains when it comes to blogging, except that I find fiddling with HTML and CSS really fun and photography is more like, ‘Oh darn, I don’t want to spend 3.4 minutes looking for and sourcing a stock photo so let me spend 8.4 days taking a photo of random items in my house.’ I do enjoy graphic design, though.
Your answer to question six is the best.
Which author to visit my blog … well, as you said, the question was vague, so I’ll go for GRRM and rip the next books out of his fingers. It’ll work. *nods*
I am the only pineapple accuser in existence. I AM A SPECIAL SNOWFLAKE FOR THIS REASON, SEE? AHHHH I’m dying laughing at your 8.4 days taking your own photos. ME TOO. Except it’s just 8.4 days taking a good enough photo and then trying to edit it when I have no idea how to edit anything…but I feel accomplished afterwards. SOMETIMES. hehe.
Oh oh you do that to GRRM. And then tell me all the things.
OOH A BOOK TAG, HOW FRABJOUS. I haven’t done a book tag for suchhhh a long time. Although some of these are worded in such a vague way.
I would definitely have J K Rowling on my blog. No competition there. Imagine if she could just live INSIDE my blog…
Best things??? Previewing my posts, tweaking things, previewing them again and them being BEAUTIFUL. OH, and scrolling down and seeing all the pretty pictures on the left hand side 🙂
I’ve been getting more into book photography as well because it’s so much FUN, but I have to admit I still have a strong love for gifs. Soooo I do both 😀
I WILL DEFINITELY DO THIS TAG.
I know right?! WHERE ARE ALL THE TAGS GONE?! They seem to burn all in a rush and then die out for ages. xD hehe. Someone needs invent some new ones.
AH YES. I COULD’VE GUESSED YOU SAY JK ROWLING. XD
Omg, I love previewing posts too. I love seeing if everything is pretty and lined up (although when it DOESN’T line up, that goes on the hate list becuase omg, even WordPress sometimes fights with me). xD I LOVE HOW BOOK PHOTOGRAPHY IS GETTING SO POPULAR!! *whispers* When are you going to get an instagram, tho?? Come on. It’s another perfect procrastination method.
I’ve had lots of different blogs over the years, but my current one is the one that stuck.
I’d love to have Julie Kagawa on my blog.
The best thing about blogging is finding out about new releases and being able to talk to other people who love books. The worst (and it’s not so bad) is sometimes you don’t get to read what you want, because you have too many review copies to read.
Julie Kagawa is AWESOME. Although I am only a small bean of a fan because I’ve only read two of her books (Talon and Rogue) but I looove dthem so much. (DRAGONS!!) and now I want to read every book of hers of ever.
I TOTALLY CONCUR WITH YOUR BEST/WORSTS! Omg, so much angst for when books drown you, right!?! I’ve been keeping my TBR successfully low this year, but I’m missing out on reading a lot of books I would’ve liked. *sigh* IT’S HARD TO BALANCE IT ALL.
I’m hoping that you don’t get eaten by a dragon or swished by your TBR anytime soon because I quite enjoy checking out your blog 🙂 I also hate sending negative reviews to publishers, I like “thanks for the book, i hated it but please send me more in the future! p.s. the cover is pretty”. And finally, I love the supernatural GIFs too. There is always one to fit your needs! So helpful! 🙂
I’m hoping I don’t get eaten by a dragon either. I’d like to ride a dragon or be a dragon…but not be digested by one. I have my preferences. OMG YES TO THAT EXACT WORDING OF AN EMAIL TO A PUBLISHER. Me too. It’s the whole “I hate this, but send me more” that just makes me cringe. Whaaaat if they decide I’m too mean of a blogger and BLACK LIST ME FOR ETERNITy??? *collapses on the floor sobbing* And publicists are uber nice too, so I don’t like breaking their hearts. (Tbh, they probably don’t care, hehe. But I’m prone to small bouts of drama. I know…such a surprise. XD)
Or to be like Jake Long in American Dragon, he could swap between human and dragon, that would be cool 🙂 Me too, I’m always scared they are going to hate me forever and I’m going to make them cry! I always make sure to add something nice on the end as a kind of apology/’please don’t hate me’ kind of way! Being a book blogger is hard!
Ah that was a nice post! I think HTML and coding are the most frightening aspect of blogging for everybody, lol! Thank god, there are some good tutorial out there. By the way, you definitely write with humour. 4 years of blogging! I feel like a baby next to you.
I know so many bloggers who are absolute wizards at html and coding and gahhh I AM JEALOUS. But still utterly inept. XD Awk! Thank you! I’m so so glad it’s amusing. *flails in triumph*
This less fabulous person loves your fabulousness and doesnt find it annoying at all.
WHAT ARE YOU EVEN SAYING, TINA. YOU ARE NOT LESS FABULOUS. YOU ARE UTTERLY FABULOUS.
LOVE your book crush. Best book crush.
And there are few things more uncomfortable than someone clearly trying to be someone they’re not, especially when you know the person they *really* are is so much more appealing than the fuzzy half-version of who they’re trying to be.
ULTIMATE BOOK CRUSH!!
Ah, yes, that is sad. I feel like it’s sad when reading a blog and then suddenly their style changes in a BLINK and it doesn’t flow very well. I mean, we all need to find our voices and it’s not always a smooth journey BUT YOU GOTTA BE YOUR OWN VOICE.
Look, I hate to break it to you, but there are an awful lot of people trying to take over the world. Notably, Disney, McDonald’s, and high fantasy novels.
Love your answer to question six. Very logical.
Best things about blogging–I love talking to other bloggers who love books and writing, and the book blogging community is awesome. And comments. Comments are pretty great too.
The worst thing? Hmmm. Tie between battling with PicMonkey in order to make illustrated quotes, realizing AGAIN that I didn’t write my Writing on Wednesday post that I supposedly do every week but almost never do, and arranging images in posts. Blogger is exceptionally difficult about this. I thought instead of listing titles for books I’ve read in 2015 I’d just set up a page with the covers and the ratings underneath. Yeah. Right.
But they are all FAILING besides me. I’m absolutely doing marvellously. And as soon as I finally get a book published – world domination complete. :’) I’m so excited. AND YES THANK YOU I WAS VERY VERY LOGICAL IN #6. THAT IS JUST WHO I AM.
Comments are life, they totally are. I wish I had 28335 more hours in my day so I could get around to ALL THE BLOGS and comment on them. *sigh* There are just SO MANY EPIC BLOGS AND BLOGGERS I WANNA HANG OUT WITH.
Blogger is a pain about images. >_> I admit, that’s one thing I absolutely ADORE about wordpress is how it let’s you do what you want with images.
“Where else can you go on the internet and be accused of being a pineapple except at my blog?! HMM??” Honestly, Cait, I do so enjoy the pineapple theme of your blog. Whenever anyone asks me what my favourite frequently-pineapple-referencing-blog is (this happens often, you understand) I don’t hesitate to say PAPER FURY.
I’d have Maggie because she is queen forever, but no, really, I’d have JK Rowling the eternal bae … OR NO DEREK LANDY THAT MAN OF MARVELLOUSNESS! Ooh, but can I have dead authors?
PS people who dislike the use of CAP LOCKS and EXCLAMATION MARKS(!!!!!) …. why are they blogging, anyway? WHAT DO THEY EXPECT FROM THE FANGIRLS??!!!!!!
IT DOES HAPPPEN OFTEN. I just know everyone regularly talks about pineapples in every day conversation. *nods* And we are in total agreement that Maggie is queen of the fabulousness for ever and ever and I CANNOT EVEN BECAUSE SHE IS SO AMAZING. And you can totally have dead authors. Just think how amazingly popular your blog would be, right?!
Great post! You better watch out for that bookshelf though… and any dragons who have escaped from the zoo. The best thing about blogging MUST be the people! And also… that sense of achievment that you wrote something and posted it and even if no one reads it IT IS OUT THERE. It is something to be proud of. Although yeah, when self doubt invites itself to the blogging party… :'( But YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IF YOU TRY (even becoming ruler of the world. I PUT MY FAITH IN YOU CAIT. TOP QUALITY WORLD DOMINATION (please) OR ELSE) ♡
THE PEOPLE OF THE BLOGGING WORLD ARE ENDLESSLY COOL. I’m always surrounded by such talented writers and designers and afjdslakfdj I just love it so much. This was actually a really fun post to do because it reminded me why I love blogging. :’)
I APPRECIATE YOUR FAITH IN ME. I SHALL RULE. *dons crown and holds sceptre*
Yes, I hate taking pictures of people too. I like taking pictures of trees and books. That is what I excel at. I would love to have Garth Nix visit my blog (because I fangirl about him over there lots ) or else, hmmm, Tamora Pierce (I think you know which authors I LOVE UNDYINGLY at this point…) Also I wear clothes while I blog (clearly we are just the same…sort of) I love interacting with people and writing book reviews and I hate… organising things and designing things. (I’m currently planning our blogoversary post for Saturday and there is so much stress. What if I forget something?)
Anyway, this post was all kinds of awesome, thanks for sharing 🙂
HA YES. GARTH NIX. AUSTRALIANS FTW. And I’m endlessly glad you and I agree on being clothed while reading. I think we have excellent opinions on this one, tbh. GAH. Planning special posts are really hard actually, yus, for sure, I always freak out that I might forget someone when I’m listing people to thank. The pressure is real. :O hehe
Response to Last Comment: I AM VERY JEALOUS OF YOU FOR GETTING THE REST OF US LIVE HERE EARLY, AND I AM SORRY FOR CORRECTING YOU. I MOMENTARILY FORGOT YOU LIVED IN AUS. DON’T ASK HOW.
THIS COMMENT:
Cait, I was rolling in laughter whilst reading this post. I can’t breathe. ALL THE CRY LAUGH EMOJIS.
YOU DON’T USE CAPS TOO MUCH, IN MY OPINION. BECAUSE, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH, DEAR. NEVER. And! You! Don’t! Use! Too! Much! Exclamation! Points! Cait! You’re fabulous, and far! from! annoying! I find you a delight in the blogosphere. I’ve yet to meet one that hasn’t so when you said you weren’t best friends with everyone, I was a bit shocked. It’s normal, it definitely is, personalities don’t always mend together into automatic friendship. But you seem like one of those people that gets along with everyone. I loved your book blog advice. Your answers to 8 & 9 had me rolling. So vague, right?!
And, girl, *takes off earrings* *rolls up sleeves*, anyone trolls you, just point in their direction, I will always be ready to throw down, and sass trolls.
Thanks for tagging. I tagged you in The Sibling hood of The World Bloggers Award, you can check that out here: http://wp.me/p6aDX4-6H.
I also did this tag, although I am very very pleased that you tagged me: http://wp.me/p6aDX4-6H
To answer your questions, I’ll copy and paste.
Authors:
Becky Albertalli (I would die for this woman, love her)
Adam Silvera
Alex London
Kate Scelsa
Victoria Aveyard
Nic Stone (OMG, PLEASEEEE.)
Heidi Heilig (yessssss.)
Emily Skrutskie (PLEASSSEE)
Brie Spangler
Jeff Garvin
Traci Chee
Ki-Wing Merling
Becky Allen
Best Thing:The discussion among the community, Twitter chats, and well done rants and discussion posts. The ideas from this community such as #weneeddiverseblogs and the upcoming #atmybookstore campaign, both by Nicole Brinkley at YA Interrobang. I also love when people randomly tweet at me saying how much they love my blog, how they love my posts, my personality/etc. It’s difficult to evoke more than a brief smirk out of me (which doesn’t last long enough for you to see it as more than a quick twitch), even harder to bring me to laughter, and so much joy comes from being involved in the book blogging community, and the book community, as well.
Worst Thing:The stack of outlines I have waiting…it’s a problem…LOL. I use my magical productivity powers to get work done. I write more posts, worsen the problem, and also am happy because MORE CONTENT=MORE ART=ME MORE HAPPY THAN NOT. Also, if I need solace, I’d probably talk to Nic, B, or John. Especially Nic. More flailing about her, later.
HAAAA DO NOT BE SORRY! I did mess up the years so. xD That was awkward. hehe
ZOMG THE FACT THAT YOU WERE LAUGHING JUST = MY DAY MADE. I AM SO PLEASED. *parties quietly* And I agree! NO SUCH THING AS TOO MANY ALL CAPS OR!! EXCLAMATION!! MARKS!! They are life basically.
And I knew you’d say Becky Albertilli! I JUST KNEW IT. Although I ashamedly don’t even recognise a lot of authors on your list. :O FAIL, CAIT, FAIL. (I desperately want to read More Happy Than Not!)
And afjdksal it is the best feeling when someone tweets you something nice, right?! It is the bestest thing in the world.
Lovely post, as per usual! The question about what you wear to blog is quite amusing. I suppose it might be like “do you blog late at night or early morning in PJs?” or “do you blog in normal clothes during the day?” hah I don’t know…*shrug*
If I could have ANYONE on my blog, doing whatever the heck they wanted, I’d choose J.K. Rowling. 🙂
-Lauren
Aww, thank you! 😀 IT IS ENDLESSLY NICE TO KNOW PEOPLE LIKE MY POSTS. LEMME JUST HUG YOU AND FEED YOU CAKE REAL QUICK. I suppppose people could blog in PJs. *nods* I know people who live in their PJs but I love my jeans, hehe.
OMG JK ROWLING FOR SURE. YOUR BLOG WOULD BE FAMOUS BY DEFAULT.
Okay, but I am most definitely always using that answer for the next time if anyone asks me if I have a crush. Yes, it’s INGENIOUS. Because even if they prod the likely is is that I’ll probably end up naming a person that doesn’t exist, ia.K.a fictional characters XD
…also, would you mind if I was a sneaky little bloggling and stole this tag? XD
I agree, comments are definitely the best part about blogging. So many fabulous people *whispers* I shall like to conquer, uh, befriend them all xD Fabulous post, as always :’D
YOU ARE SO WELCOME. I’M HERE TO HELP, GIIVNG YOU GOOD COME-BACKS FOR HARD QUESTIONS. I always ship characters with each other, not me. Because I am peculiar like that. x)
DO IT. TOTALLY STEAL IT!! Any tag I do is open to be taken! 😀
Fun tag! And sorry for the spamming robot comments you get – not cool! Favourite part of blogging? All the cool, like-minded people you meet. Least fave? The work and pressure of blogging that can come with blogging. Sometimes that can detracts from the awesomeness that is blogging and makes it less fun, so it’s important to not get lost in why you do it! Lastly, that princess/Supernatural GIF is life. Also, I like your energy and excite! and CAPS. It’s always fun visiting and you make the stay an entertaining one 😉
Ah yes, there is a bit of pressure in blogging, right?! And it can get overwhelming. Gahh. BUT THE GOOD OUT-WEIGHTS IT I AM SURE. And it’s super easy to find people who share the same fandoms so afjdlkafds that is just glorious.
Ah I am here to learn your secret to being fabulous and I was not disappointed 😀
I too love the bookish community, I might not agree with everyone but 99% of the bloggers I have met are solid good eggs. So supportive and relatively drama free– at least where little old me hangs out.
I totally agree with writing the blog how you want! It’s easy to tell when a blogger is just emulating someone else’s success. Though I don’t think anyone can copy you, your use of bold fonts and CAPSLOCK and so distinctive XD!
As always I love reading your post!!
I have met many eggs too, NICE EGGS. I like eggs. And I do think it’s relatively drama free too! I mean stuff does explode and people do get offended buuuut mostly it’s super nice and basically everyone is polite and supportive and BLOGGING HUMANS ARE SO NICE. :’)
I totally think when you blog in your own style it kind of brands you and it’s GOOD. I love being all capsy and fangirly and !! and saying random food things and just gah. YES. And if I’m having fun then hopefully everyone else will too, right?!
First of all, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOO MANY CAPS. They make posts jump out.
Winter. I miss winter. Because, I’ve just finished a week of days all in the 100’s.
Just because I’m curious (and because I’ve wanted to know for some time), how do you post a gif?
~Chloe
GOOD. I AM IN TOTAL AGREEMENT ON THE ALL-CAPS FACTOR. ALL CAPS FOR THE WIN. *parties quietly*
Oh it’s super easy to post a gif! On blogspot, just save the gif file and upload it as a photo! Always upload instead of copying, though, because sometimes your gifs will disappear otherwise. Let me know if you have any other questions! HAPPY TO HELP.
THANKS A BUNCH! Can’t wait to try it! 😀
~Chloe
Someone has a blog called Oreos and Books?! I am so dropping in for a visit. Well, I won’t be doing the picture thing anyway, ha ha, with my sucky Kindle camera everyone would unfollow my blog. Yeah, I have been accused of “personality leakage” and “gif abuse” a few times. Red hair, don’t care. About the clothes thing. I guess people really do get weirded out. My son plays online team video games with his buddies, and once I guess he off-handedly mentioned he was only wearing his boxer briefs and his friends were horrified. Now every time they are getting linked together for a game, they make him swear an oath that he is wearing pants. AND YOU HAD BETTER NOT EVER STOP BLOGGING!!!! I WOULD MISS YOUR CAPS LOCKING AND EXCLAMATION MARKS!!!!
YES DO. WESAUN IS FABULOUS AND SUPER NICE! 😀 Zomg what on earth is “personality leakage”???! I love how you blog! It’s totally unique and I love it that I’ve NEVER EVER mixed up your blog with someone else’s. YOU ARE SO YOU AND IT’S SO GREAT.
Awww. :’) THANK YOU. I LOVE ALL CAPS SO THAT AIN’T STOPPING ANYTIME SOON. SQUEE.
This is a wonderful tag. (And those dethroners and their delusions of grandeur, ugh. I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS MY QUEEN (unless there is no cake, in which case I will not never no. Goodbye, world ruler) Yes, you are fabulous. And blogging for yourself is the BEST, although I do like learning from y’all (we have a rather special post coming up about that, btw. Saturday I think). I enjoy your blogging style and general wonderfulness, so please don’t stop! 😀 😛 :L 0_0
OH PLEASE. Do you really think there will be no cake? There will always be cake. My motto will be “LET THE PEOPLE EAT CAKE” and hopefully I will live longer than Marie Antoinette (who apparently didn’t even say that for real but pfft, let’s not let that ruin a good story).
Some of these questions are very vauge ahah.
I hate sending and writing negative reviews – I just hate it. I dislike seeing the worse in everything hence why I find it hard to 1. dislike a book. 2. write a review about it. I just feel so horrible.
I love the book blogging community just like I wish I could give everyone a big hug. ALL OF US.
Oh good, at least I’m not the only one who thought they were vague. xD
I feel absolutely mean when I hate on a book too. 😐 And plus, in the back of my mind, I know that my hated-book is always going to be someone else’s favourite. grrrr. And I try not to be too snarky but I DO GET SNARKY.
I hate hate HATE in-depth photo editing (the stuff where you have to go in with a blending tool or pattern patcher to fix problems). So much tedium! However, I love love LOVE reading books that I plan to feature on the blog. I can pretty much stop whatever I’m doing to read and say, “It’s not relaxation. It’s research!”
Ok, so I’m super curious. What’s the copyright policy on using things like gifs or captioned pics from shows and movies? I’m a timid mouse when it comes to using anything I didn’t make myself. I actually took down a Gilbert Blythe post last year and still haven’t put it back up because I haven’t found any pics of him I like that are clearly public domain. I know I know, first world problems, right? 😉
Ohh, I’m weird because I would looooove to know how to do in depth photo-editing. ULTIMATE DREAM. Although I can imagine it’d be a bit annoying. Although I’d probably go quality over quantity…although right now I probably do quantity…oops. hehe I LOVE READING BOOKS. 😀 IT’S JUST SO FUN. hehe
Ah, well, I don’t really know about gifs. I really honestly think it’s not a big deal. I mean, you can use book covers and movies aren’t owned by a particular person right? I don’t claim to own the gifs and I figure the copyright on them isn’t like on photos but tbh I DON’T KNOW.
Thank you for so graciously spilling your secrets with us.
Like you, I do not really want to have my favorite author on my blog. Partly because I really cannot choose a favorite, but also because I would not be able to handle their fabulousness. I am talking about a fangirl meltdown of epic proportions. Like passing out or something even more embarrassing like making a typo. I love authors, but all of their awesomeness sure can be intimidating.
My favorite thing about book blogging has to be the conversations. I just loving talking to people through comments, emails, Twitter, and sometimes even Facebook. I really enjoy being able to share my fangirlish ramblings with people who feel the same way. I also love being able to brighten someone’s day, like through an amazing comment like this one or a tweet with a picture of a cute puppy. Making people smile is the best thing ever.
The fabulousness is TOO INTENSE. I think I probably put my favourite authors on a pedestal too much?! BUT I CAN’T HELP IT. *collapses in a puddle of admiration* How are they so freakishly awesome??? x) And I absolutely agree. Making people smile = my favourite thing.
First off: As far as your advice goes about blogging, that’s great! I really do think I blog in a totally “me” way and I blog what I want to read, which is pretty nice because then I can go back and re-read my blog posts and feel nice and satisfied (ahem, that was a joke). I *do* wish I was more funny though. Me and humoristic writing just does not go well together. (That is one element of your blog that I kinda wish I could emulate, but since I can’t I just enjoy reading your humor…)
Which author would I like to visit my blog? Probably Catherine Farnes. I’ve tried unsuccessfully to figure out how to contact her because she’s been a huge inspiration to me with my writing and she doesn’t have a website or *anything* that I’ve been able to find which is rather sad… So, if she visited my blog then I would possibly get a chance to tell her how wonderful she is, right?
Awww, I’m glad you like my humour though and it’s not TOO wacky. hehe everyone is always telling me I’m super weird IRL and I just say “WELL AT LEAST MY BLOGGLINGS LIKE IT.” hehe
Agh not even a website?! That is sad! I really love how so many authors are really active online because it’s like you can adore their book and then go see their blog or twitter or something and it’s fjalkds it’s just amazing.
This is so cool, I loved your answers – especially the last, and the book crush one, haha! 🙂
I’m fortunate enough that the author I’d like most to visit my blog – Louise O’Neill – will be doing so in November! For an interview as part of Sex in Teen Lit Month II. I am sooo excited! 😀 Though nervous! I get worried that my questions might seem stupid, haha! But they have been sent, so fingers crossed! I’m just so glad Louise agreed to take part, it’s so awesome!
The best things about blogging: Raving about books! The conversation! Discovering new books! The community!
The worst things: It can take up so much time. Seriously, I’ll sit down to write a post, thinking it’ll only take an hour, and several hours later I’m still at it! This week’s TTT was a killer. The photos, the links, remembering all the books. I was there for hours, and I had other things I wanted to do. I wish some things didn’t take so long. I can’t seem to think of anything else right now. I know there are other things but they’re not coming to me, haha.
It is the only way to have a book crush, tbh. 😉
AFDJASL REALLY??!?!?! THAT IS SO AMAZING! 😀 I was on a list to interview Cassandra Clare but it never eventuated so, yes, sadness. Although on another blog I used to co-blog at I ONCE INTERVIEWED CORNELIA FUNKE. SO YES. WIN. Are you organising that event though??? All the way in November? YOU ARE SO ORGANISED I’M IN AWE.
Ah, yes, I do agree…it kind of zaps time away. I can work on a post for hours and not realise I have. XD
Yay! Another tag. Thanks, Cait.
And I will quite readily let you rule the world, because if I ruled the world it would all go downhill pretty quickly. YOU SHOULD NOT LET A CLUMSY, AWKWARD INTROVERT ANYWHERE NEAR WORLD RULING. I might declare war on Canada by accident.
I SEEM TO ALWAYS TAG YOU DON’T I?!! Ahhh, is that okay?! Lemme know if you hate tags. XD
Yes, I am the only one who can rule the world wonderfully and efficiently. Although if we do lose Canada, I mean…not much loss?
I rather enjoy the Vancouver bakeries, so we must keep Canada. Declare war on Iceland or something.
And don’t worry. I love tags.
okay, okay, that makes sense. I can’t see how Iceland would have delicious desserts, so yes, we will do without it.
I loved this post! And I, too, wish I knew more about how to tweak things, but I don’t, so I just do it my way…and I’m happy with it.
I don’t “prepare” for my blog posts, either…I get an idea, I sit down, I do it. LOL
I do make a choice to participate in some memes…but my discussion posts are born of an idea…or an inspiration from the world out there, or in my interior world.
Thanks for sharing.
SO TRUE! Actually I get like 90% of my discussion ideas from some random word I’ve said in a comment on someone’s blog or something. I think the best way to get inspiration is to go out and catch it. hehe. *hi fives for just doing and not preparing*
I’m so curious about your travel blog!
THE THOUGHT OF YOU *AND* MAGGIE STIEFVATER ON ONE BLOG…my brain can’t even handle it. Please make this happen!
I love lists, and you are the List Master. I think we could fill an entire book with your titles.
*whispers* Just look in the archives. Or better yet: DO NOT. But seriously I havne’t changed blogs so all the content is lurking back there in awfulness.
I’m pretty sure I’ll write a memoir one day entirely in lists. <– life plan
Uh oh, you probably shouldn’t have told me about the archives…
I will be the first in line to read Life: A List when you publish it.
OMG YOU’RE EMBARRASSING ME, MARAIA. XD
*hugs*
AAAAAGH I’M NOT EVEN A BOOK BLOGGER, AND I CAN RELATE TO EVERYTHING. ….. Though it rattles me that you’ve been blogging 4 years. What the heck. THAT’S OLD FOR A BLOG. (did you know most blogs only last 3 to 6 months? MIND BOGGLED! {or should I say…. BLOGGLED. Aha! ahaha. Heh. Yeah, I know it’s sad to be legitimately amused by that.})
YASS WE HAVE A GIF FOR HAVING A GIF FOR THAT. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT! *fandom hug*
Also, the Soul Or Not bit made me snicker.
Okay bai.
Zomg, really?!! only 3 to 6 months?! THAT’S SO LITTLE THO. I’m probably going to have this blog until I’m 900 (I am living to 900 btw) and be like wacking the keyboard with my cane or something. I LOVE BLOGGING TOO MUCH IT’S PROBABLY NOT HEALTHY BUT WHATEVERS. HEH. Bloggled. BLOGGLED. You get the award for this one.
*faaaandom flaaaail*
I made the mistake of “copying the blog I loved” when I first started. It got me into a mess of confusion and self-doubt. Never again! Also, I LOVE CAPS AND EXCLAMATIONS!!!!!! 😉
So glad I found your blog! Reading your posts are the highlight of my days now.
DON’T WORRY. ME TOO. I started off by trying to emulate the professional/famous-ish blogs and formatting my post like everyone’s and just trying to post the same content and noooo. It made me really unhappy. Blogging in your own way is THE ONLY ANSWER. AND I’M GLAD YOU LIKE EXCLAMATIONS AND CAPS!! BECAUSE!! I’M ADDICTED!! XD
I really have nothing to say to this except
a.) fabulous post made of win, not to mention enlightening and hilarious (as always!!)
b.) supernatural gifs
c.) YOU HAVE INK AND BONE???? AAAAAAAAAHHHHH I AM SO SO SO VERY VERY EXTREMELY JEALOUS I’M DYING TO KNOW HOW IT IS PLEASE TELL ME WHEN YOU READ IT ALSKJDFLKSDJFLKSJFLKSJD
Ahem.
LISTS. LISTS ARE LIFE.
I WILL PROBABLY REVIEW IT BECAUSE IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND I’M 9000% SHALLOW, BUT I WILL ALWAYS REVIEW BEAUTIFUL BOOKS. *strokes cover of Ink and Bone. And lists. Liiiiists. I think one day I’ll write like a memoir and it’ll be in lists. *nods*
“I’m like a fabulous barnacle.”
This will be my mantra forever.
You are literally the best. Of course I’m sure you know that. 😉
IT IS A GLORIOUS MANTRA. We need it on a tee-shirt. WE DO.
AWK. *smushes cake in your hair* You are wonderful.
I so agree with your advice to new bloggers, Cait. It’s easy to copy what another blogger does and imitate their style even if it doesn’t suit you, but that will only make blogging a drudgery. Making the blog what you want it to be and writing what you want to write is the best thing you can do for your blog. You might not have the same audience as other blogs, but that’s alright because you will gain the audience that is right for your blog, and that will make you so much happier.
Yessss. EXACTLY. And tbh, I’ve been the deluded pineapple before and really tried hard to emulate the epic/famous bloggers. I had to spend a while finding my niche and style. *nods* But it’s worth it. It makes blogging 10000% fun instead of something to dread. 😀
OK I NEVER GET IN A FIRST COMMENT so I’m glad to see that you post at 7:00PM. So that means in my time zone, uh…you live somewhere in Australia right? THAT IS 14 HOURS AHEAD OF ME. Wow you’re from the future. Anyways, that means I’ll have to wake up at 5AM to comment first on your post. Ha. haha. HAHAHAHAH. No.
QUESTION: What do you use to edit your images? What DSLR do you use. Actually the more useful question is what lens do you use?
I’ve been wanting to take better book photos, but I’m still learning. There isn’t a bright enough room in my house unfortunately, so if you have any tips on having a white or bright background, please let me knoww
THANKS FOR SHARING ALL YOUR SECRETS CAIT 😀
YES I LIVE SOMEWHERE IN AUSTRALIA. hehe But yes, I’m far into the future. Your tomorrow is going to be quite a nice day, Val, just sayin’. *acts wise and knowledgable* And pfft, you could totally get up at 5am JUST FOR ME to leave the first comment. I know you’re dedicated like that. 😉
WHAHAHHH JUST KIDDING.
Ahem.
OH oh I use a Nikon D300 and I have no idea what lens it is. I’m hopelessly inept. It’s whatever default lens one buys when one buys a camera. Aaaaand I use Picmonkey. I’m actually going to do a tutorial on how I edit my images. ALL THE FREE WAYS. Because, omg, I can’t afford photoshop and I’d have no idea how to use it anyway. :O Do you have any places under windows? My bed is directly under a window so it’s like PERFECT. I lay white blankets on top and then use them as a background. I also just bought a piece of cardboard recently to use as a white background. I’M GONNA POST ON IT. *nods*
Aw don’t worry Cait. All of your post our fabulous!.
My favorite part about blogging probably has to be putting up a post then a few hours later finding all of these likes and comments.
YESSSSS. I like posting at night so when I wake up in the morning there’s comments and things to squawk about. 😀 SO MUCH FUN.
Ooh, I love this! I’m stealing this.
I would love to have Maggie Stiefvater on my blog too. That would be fabulous and intimidating–I totally understand.
And there are so many great things about book blogging! So many. So so many.
YAY I CAN’T WAIT TO READ YOURS! Maggie Stiefvater is just too fabulous for words. Plus she’s epic at writing and music and art…I mean, HELLO TOO MUCH AWESOMENESS IN ONE PLACE. *collapses*
Great tag! I think your blog is fabulous in every way! 🙂 I am still working on taking pictures of books. I think I can capture people and animals a lot better than books, but I am working on it. Instagram is making me. Keep up your awesome-ness! 🙂
Awk, thanks, Theresa! 😀 Instagram is GREAT motivation. Although *whispers* I totally end up spending waaaay too much time on photos and editing. xD But it’s addictive and fun!
Haha, I like your style! And your exclamation marks. And your Supernatural gifs 🙂 🙂 :).
(Thank goodness for SN, they seem to have a gif for everything).
What would do without SPN?! THEY LITERALLY HAVE A GIF FOR ANY AND EVERY OCCASION. THEY ARE LIFE.
Yeah, I don’t think any blogger I’ve ever read, besides you ofcourse, has called their audience, I mean minions, pineapples. It’s kind of fabulous! And I <3 <3 <3 getting comments too! Almost every blogger I've encountered so nice! I'm pretty sure that blogging attracts fabulous people. My least favorite things are self doubt or no inspiration when I really really need it. Uggg… On days like those I just want to sink into a puddle of blankets and chocolate ice cream…
I don't always take advice, especially when it's good advice, but in this case, I'm going to take your very good advice and blog all the things I want to read about!
(P.S. The time you take finding gifs is well spent, you do a marvelous job of it!)
I am here to fill the need in your life to be part of a fruit salad. Isn’t that just so helpful of me? LIKE WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITHOUT ME REGULARLY CALLING YOU A PINEAPPLE?? I’M SURE THE WORLD WOULD END. *nods*
And I agree! Most bloggers are just SO NICE and it’s really nice and refreshing. *showers all fabulous bloggers in cake*
Well, one of the best things are other bloggers, especially if their posts are so amusing I have to read out parts to family members, and that brings me to tears of laughter….. being crushed by bookshelves and TBR piles! I really like how you write your posts and everything…. except gifs…. I personally find them annoying…. But I get that other people like them so I survive 😀 They just don’t stop moving and distract my eyes from the text… But the rest of your blog is so cool that who cares if I don’t like gifs.
I know what you mean about wanting to interview authors but well… they are so amazing that i’d surely do/say something wrong , like they are not actually human…. yes well….. you know what I mean….
ZOMG. YOU MAKE MY DAY. AJDFKLAS REALLY??? I’M SO GLAD IT WAS FUNNY! 😀 Ah, I understand about the gifs. I used to be gif-overboard but I try to limit myself to under 3 a post (unless I do a gif review) I love them for the expressions but they can be distracting, right?! AFJDSLKA BUT THANK YOU FOR LIKING MY BLOG DESPITE THAT.
Psst Cait… *whsipers* I absolutely adore you and your posts and Paper Fury is my favorite blog of ever. *hugs* But shh…nobody can know!
And I completely agree with everything you’ve said here. I think the blogging community is such an amazing place. There are so many great, talented and just genuinely nice people here. I think it’s so great that the internet has allowed people from all different corners of the world to unite and talk about what they love.
And ugh…that’s’ absolutely ridiculous that you’ve gotten comments like that Cait. 🙁 It’s a shame that some people just aren’t mature enough to understand that not everyone can love what they love, you know?
Thanks for sharing and, as always, love this post! ♥
*whispers* Well you are clearly my favourite then Zoe of Fabulousness. *tackles hugs you with cake* AND HUMANS OF THE BOOK COMMUNITY ARE JUST WEIRDLY LOVELY. SO MANY NICE HUMANS! AWK! And I think people do try to mostly focus on positives and fangirling and it just makes things so fun. :’) We’ll just ignore those random trolls right?! hehe
Number 11 is so important! I’ve struggled quite a bit in the past year with formatting and writing content that fits my personal preferences. I used to be extremely concerned with what everyone else was doing on their blog but I’ve realized that I need to focus on what I like! I mean, and what would interest other people, but still – myself as well! Great post and funny as always!
YESSSS. ME TOO!! When I started book blogging for real (I used to be more of a writing/travel blog) I was so uber obsessed with formatting and posting like everyone else. But omg, NO NEED. Doing your own thing makes your blog so much more interesting and fun, imho. x)
AAAGGH! I love your exclamation points, darling, but in that one sentence my brain had to stop for each one and it felt terribly like mind control. You evil overlord.
HA. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. I am very evil and very overlordish (totally a word) sometimes, you know.
OMO number six was hilarious XD You are the best thing to ever Cait XD
YOU ARE SO WELCOME FOR A GLIMPSE OF MY EPIC WIT. :’)
First of all Cait, you’re funny, I like you even more. 😉 Anyway, it was so great to read about your blogging experience and I agree with you on a lot of terms. Formatting posts and writing lists are just soooo funnn. And dealing with a stupid bug in blog design is quite annoying as well. Designing the blog itself is soooooo funn people who have never done it are freaking missing outttt. Comments are super fun as well! My heart flutters everytime I get on because HOMG SOMEONE WANTS TO ACTUALLY TALK TO MEEEE (WHAT IS LIFE). Anywho, great post and thanks for sharing! 😀 (I have used the words so fun and super fun wayyyy tooo many times in this comment…:P)
~Kaitlin
WELL I’M GLAD I’M SOMETIMES FUNNY. ULTIMATE AIM = ACHIEVED. hehe. And awk, lists are life. Also formatting posts?! I have no idea why, it’s just very soothing and fun. :’)
If Australia permanently lost its WiFi, I would diiiiiiie. Or become an actual deluded pineapple.
You would die and I would die and we would be dead forever.
CAIT FOR WORLD RULER. (I say that now, but then when you do take over, I’ll probably depose you and take your throne for myself. I feel it’s only fair that I warn you ahead of time. But I’ll make sure you’re kept in a comfortable, book-lined prison with a special slat in the door so the guard can slip chocolates to you. After all, I may be evil, but I’m not mean.)
I’m with you though on the comment love–I’ve only been blogging for almost a year now, so I’m still very new. But I remember the agonizing first month or so with no comments, and then I was so excited to get my first comment and then suddenly a steady stream of commenters–not many, but still there. I was like, #ICanDieNow.
Seriously, though, I love your blog, and I’m glad that you don’t plan to stop blogging because that would be awful. But, however, I can’t forgive you for introducing me to Game of Thrones because GAH IT HURTS SO MUCH, HOW COULD YOU CAIT? I’m like, two hundred pages away from the end of the first book, and I want to read the next one so much, but what if I run out of chocolate. WHAT WILL I DO THEN, CAIT? (Side note: I reeaaalllly hate Sansa, and I kind of love Tyrion. But I totally get why Jon Snow is your baby.)
Hmm, if I had an author visit my blog–well, I’d be tempted to say Ray Bradbury, but he’s dead, so if he visited my blog that would be just….a little bit awkward. So maybe my next choice would be, everyone ever. Although, I did have Elizabeth Veridan comment on my blog (I think I spelled her name right–she wrote Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls, among other things).
The worst thing about blogging–well, I’ll actually be talking about this in next Wednesday’s post, but, I can’t keep track of time–I’m good with hours and minutes. But a whole month could pass and I might not even notice. So I’m always afraid I’m to just forget to write a post and just skip a week or a month or, I don’t know, a year or something without even realizing. The best part of blogging is writing the posts. I mean, sometimes I struggle to think of something, but I enjoy taking a break from editing my book and writing something shorter. It’s nice on my brain.
HA. You’re hilarious. Truly. Do you really think I would be an easy person to catch? HMM???? I will have hoardes of protection minions and probably a secret tree house so I could live there if the populace got rowdy. I will subdue you all with cake so you all fall into sugar comas and then I will rule serenely. #goodplan
I think I went for an entire yea blogging with no comments! Well, apart from supportive family. xD But, tbh, I wasn’t networking AT ALL and I think that’s where a lot of bloggers collapse at, becuase how do you network? What does it mean? I NEEDED ALL THIS ADVCIE WHEN I WAS A NEWBIE.
ZOMG YOU LIKE GAME OF THRONES?!! AHHHHH I AM SO HAPPY. Pain is coming. Forget winter. A Storm of Swords = best book in this entire universe and I love it so much. And everything hurts and I hate it all. SEE?! GAME OF THRONES MAKES YOU HATE AND LOVE IT AT THE SAME TIME, IT’S SO TERRIBLE YET WONDERFUL. Sansa is annoying but, tbh, she’s like 12 and she’s an idiot and that’s not that unrealistic. I was an idiot when I was 12. I LOVE TYRION. Jon is being a rotten pumpkin in bk 4 (I’m up to bk 4 omg!!) but TYRION IS MY ULTIMATE FAVOURITE. And can you believe I love Jaime Lanister?? I DO. DON’T EVEN ASK JUST KEEP READING.
Winter is my favorite season. I wish I were huddled under 36 blankets right about now… (though when it does get to winter, I’m sure I’ll be hoping otherwise). I think your blog advice was very good and it’s very helpful for the newer blogglings like me, so thank you for that!
hehe, I always want the opposite season of what it was. I’m disagreeable like that. 😉 But I DO like winter, I just hate having my hands so col I can barely type. *shivers* It’s warming up now so YAAYYYY.
You are hands down my favorite blog and I read your posts every day. I am terrible at comments but I will try and start doing more because I know you love them. Also, I met Maggie Stiefvater last year and she is so quirky and delightful! I’m sure you two would be fast friends! Thanks for your posts and wonderful humor!
AFJDLSKA REALLY?! OMG KRISTALYN. AHHHH I JUST NEED TO HUG YOU RIGHT NOW AND FEED YOU COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF CAKE.
And zomg you met Maggie Stiefvater?!! AHHHHHH. I think I would just forget what words were if I ever did meet her. Because fabulousness.
I agree how the comments and community are the best part of blogging! They motivate me to keep going with my blog. Wow that’s crazy how people tell you your reviews suck, etc. because I think they are FABULOUS! I also agree about your blogging tip. Write it because you want to and b/c you enjoy it.
The review-hate doesn’t happen TOO MUCH, so I’m lucky. But one goodreads review I did got SO MUCH HATE and yet it’s my most “liked” review ever. People are confusing. >_>
No WiFi = the apocalypse. True. So true. XD
An author I would invite to visit my blog. Hm, I think I’m with you. Authors are beloved but scary. I mean, they’ve actually written books that are, are- PUBLISHED! All humans are scary in general, but now you want me to talk to an author? I happen to think they are the best sorts of humans, but I couldn’t talk to one.
The worst, is I think self-doubt, like you said. Was I too ranty? Did I say that right? What if I’m misunderstood? Then I get over critical of myself like, Ashley you’re like a fish who doesn’t know how to swim. How is that possible? Do you even know what you’re posting about? (I really do ramble a lot. Can I just say that’s my style? If rambling is a style, I claim it!)
I CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO THINK OF A WORLD WITH NO WIFI. I’M GOING TO PASS OUT. OMG.
AFsakjfld authors have done ALL THE THINGS. They’ve got experience and talent and and and…I pretty much am just in total awe.
Agh, yes, self-doubt is just a real killer for creativity, right?! I think it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who cries under it though. xD I think maybe all artists gets stuck in loops of self-doubty-ness sometimes?? RAMBLING IS A STYLE AND YOU DO IT WELL.
This is a great tag! It has question I actually want to see your answers too!
The book blogger community is so great. I’m so glad to be a small part of it. Your last bit of advice is seriously the best. I always try to write a blog that I want to read, and if I feel like I’m not measuring up to other book blogs, I just remind myself that that’s okay. Usually the more I believe in my content, the less it matters if other people don’t like it so much:)
P.S. The GIFs are always on point in your posts, haha
Yesss. It took me a LONG TIME to not envy other blogs. I really had to focus on just writing the kind of blog that I enjoyed reading and I’M DOING IT. *nods* I think everyone would have uber happy blogs if they did this.
Loving your answer to number six! Personally, I think book crushes are weird. Or at least I haven’t found someone I like yet. I discovered upon re-reading that my book crushes from when I was little are totally like my man today! Yay for good pickins! And I know exactly what you mean about having an author on your blog. I would TOTALLY love to talk to Patrick Ness.. but I totally wouldn’t want to! Maybe if I could like, talk to him for an hour and then erase his memory so he’d never have to see me be so unfabulous.
I like a TON of book characters, but. But I ship them with whoever they need be shipped with in the book. Why would I ship them with ME when their partner in the book is obviously the perfect bean in the world for them?!! hehe, all my childhood book crushes were like the psycho crazy ones so. Erm. Yes. Let’s hope I don’t get married. -_-
AHHHH PATRICK NESS!!!! I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. Yes but no. XD It’s a tough life being an enthusiastic fangirl.
I know! When I was little my book crush was Artemis Fowl. Like… the crazy selfish child genius kidnapper.
Can you believe I still haven’t read Artemis Fowl!? FOR SHAME, CAIT. XD
For SHAME indeed! Read it NOOOW! It’s one of my favorites. Especially later on in the series when you get to see the chaaanngeessss
I TOTALLY understand wanting to interview a fabulous author then decide not to because the idea scares you. GAH. How do you talk to someone amazing and not turn into a rock?
Best thing about blogging? I met you and your fabulous blog! (and your food puns too lol)
Exaaactly. They are WAY TOO COOL and here I am, a tiny puny cucumber who cannot even get her words straight. *collapses flailing*
AWK. YOU MAKE MY DAY, ELLA. I SHALL KEEP YOU AND FEED YOU CAKE.
“Attack them with friendship”
Lol, so that’s what I’ve been doing wrong all these years, an amusing post (as always), however you’ve given me something to think about, maybe I need to change some of my blogging methods.
As long as you’re blogging how you want to blog then I think you’re like well on the path to complete awesomeness. 😉
Hehe, your response is hilarious. But I hate to burst your bubble: world leadership is mine. Haha 🙂 No, just kidding. We can share. You can have Australia, if you want 😉
BAH. YOU’RE HILARIOUS AND ADORABLE. HAVE YOU SEEN THE STRENGTH OF MY MINIONS LATELY?? THEY ARE ALL OVER THE WORLD AND READY TO RISE AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE.
Hey I am a new teen writer/blogger and I absolutely loved this post! I was wondering if you could check out my blog and/or share it on your social media or on here I would really appreciate it! Thank you so much x
letteredblood.wordpress.com
Thanks for stopping by!
Love this post! One author that I would LOVE to have on my blog is Courtney Summers. I adore every single one of her books. But seriously, I don’t think I could handle having her on my blog. She is amazing and awesome and I would just be a blabbering, fangirl mess if I were ever to interview her. Or heaven forbid, actually meet her.
I knoooow the feels. Some authors are just too incredible for words. *collapses flailing*
HI, CAIT!! *waves frantically* I’M BACK!! (Well, for now. I may possibly disappear again without warning when school starts in a few weeks, but for now I AM HERE TO VISIT YOUR AWESOME BLOG. Can you believe it?!)
Anywho, to discuss your post:
“I have undying adoration for Maggie Stiefvater. She scares me, though, because she’s too awesome.” I feel similarly, to be honest! I mean, I don’t always agree with all of her opinions or everything she says, but even though logically I know she’s just another person like me, I’m still awfully impressed by her; to the point where I feel like I want to go to one of her book signings, but I’d be kind of nervous to meet her, except that I’d also have a million things I wanted to say to her and not enough time to say them all. So that’s a dilemma.
Also, it’s so odd to think that you have self-doubt about your posts! You always come across as so confident here on your blog, and you get so many comments, I wouldn’t expect it–but I guess it just goes to show that self-doubt can creep up on anyone, anytime, anyplace. Blasted self-doubt. Just know, though, that I think you’re super cool, and keep doing what you’re doing. Including calling us deluded pineapples, because you’re absolutely right–if you don’t, no one else will! 😉
OMG WHO IS THIS PERSON. DO I KNOW YOU. XDXD AHHHH HIIIII!! *tackles hugs you* It’s been forever. :O And school does have a habit of swallowing people and things and whole continents, right? I hope you’re doing well?!!
I’m the pathetic melon that just basically agrees with everything Maggie Stiefvater says. Tbh, I’ve never even spoken or tweeted or ANYTHING with her because I’m such in awe. I’m so pathetic. xDDD hehe
OH BUT THAT IS GOOD. Because I like to act like I know what I’m doing on the blog and that everything is peach pie…buuut, at the same time I think it’s good to confess I’m a ball of nerves most of the time and I second-guess my posts and my opinions ALL THE TIME. *collapses*
AWWW. YOU DELUDED PINEAPPLE. :’) YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL.
YES, school is much like a black hole (except that sometimes you can claw your way out of school for the summer; not so much a black hole 😉 ). Anyway, though, I am doing well–thank you for asking!
I agree, I think it’s good that you’re open about some of your self-doubt. I try to be open about those kinds of things a lot, too, like with my anxiety; I mean, don’t always bring it up or announce it to everyone I meet, but I also feel like it shouldn’t be some taboo subject, and if it comes up in a conversation I’m okay with talking about it. I know not everyone is comfortable doing that, but I think when you are comfortable with admitting that you have insecurities, it can be a freeing thing.
Also, THANK YOU. YOU ARE WONDERFUL, TOO! *tackle-hugs*
OH OH I AGREE. I think anxiety shouldn’t be a taboo topic. Not ever. And i also think it’s nice to know that other people have the same struggles, right?! That’s why I do like to confess I have nerves problems and insecurities about my posts. xD WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
Excuse me, Cait, you must be mistaken… I rule the world. Ahem. Anyway, I also love the book blogging community. It’s a little bubble of happiness. You know if your TBR pile falls on you, we’ll always be here to dig you out of the MOUNTAIN OF BOOKS. And I don’t think there is a gif Supernatural doesn’t have. You can follow the entire series just through gifs.
HAH HAHA HAHA HA. You are so adorable making jokes like that. *pats your head* *summons hordes of minions* *lets them glare at you*
I’m absolutely pretty sure the ultimate aim is to be able to do a whole episode of SPN by just watching gifs. Someone make it happen. It’s like an online comic book.
This tag is brilliant!!! I hope it somehow circles over to me, to be able to do it!
Like you, I’m not very good at HTML, I know a little bit, back from when I used Blogger, where I had to input all my plugins manually. and every time I want small text I have to put in the HTML. \
Gif’s are my staple! I am stealing your “i have a gif for that” and USING it. My motto. I have found my senior quote.
i would love to have John green on my blog, GRANTED I’ve *shamelessly never read any of his books but, he is hilarious! Very bookish and I think your the girl version of him. Funny, bookish, and AN AMAZING, witty, writer! 😉
“I write informally with (hopefully) plenty of humour and ridiculous food puns. Where else can you go on the internet and be accused of being a pineapple except at my blog?!” -Cait
AND THAT IS EXACTLY why I follow your blog.
JUST STEAL IT, DAISY. I GIVE YOU PERMISSION! hehe (I steal tags often, actually, because they’re fuuuun.) Omg, me too, though!! I was JUST getting the hang of doing things in blogger when I switched over to WP and now I’m an inept octopi again. 🙁 Zomg, why haven’t you read a John Green book though?! THEY ARE AS HILARIOUS AS HE IS. He’s just such a nice dude though. And he just is like everyone’s friends…his vlogs are epic. x)
OH! THANK YOU FOR THE TAG CAIT! Yeah, I’m one of those people who use all caps way too much… I’m super excited to do this tag though so. And I love your answer to “Who is Your Book Crush.”
And for when I do this, would I be able to steal your tweet? I will definitely give you credit for it 😀
THERE SHOULD NOT BE SUCH A THING AS TOO MUCH ALL CAPS BECAUSE THEY ARE GLORIOUS AND FUN AND NECESSARY. *nods* And yes you can steal my tweet. 😉 If you embed it you don’t even need to credit/link because twitter will do it for you. 😀
This post just cemented the fact that we should be best friends. I found myself nodding a lot throughout this post and going, “Holy crap, that’s so me!”
During my first few months of blogging, I didn’t try to make a lot of friends, and that fact saddens me a lot now. Recently though, I’ve been trying to reach out to as many people as I can because PEOPLE ARE FABULOUS. Also formatting is life.
I’ve had people hate on reviews too, and normally I try to respond in a respectable manner. Unless I feel like they’re attacking me personally, then I delete said comment from evil person. AND SENDING BACK NEGATIVE REVIEWS IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST! I feel so guilty and I crumble a little inside.
I also wear clothes when I blog. Go us! And I just sit down and blog. HOW DOES ONE EVEN PREPARE TO BLOG?
“Not everyone has to click.” <– THIS. I agree 140%. <3
Awesome post, Queen! And thanks for tagging me! <33
YES WE SHALL BE BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, AIMEE. PARTICULARLY SINCE YOU ARE SHORT AND I AM SHORT SO THEREFORE IF WE STAND ON EACH OTHER’S SHOULDERS WE’LL BE NORMAL HEIGHT. #ultimatefriendship
Ahem.
Internet people are so fabulous and I wish I’d known how to network and make friends earlier too. xD Even though you always find those people who are simply prickle bushes when you connect. Eergh. BUT HEY THERE ARE LIKE WAY MORE FRIENDLY PEOPLE THAN WEIRD ONES. (Unless they’re weird-and-friendly people = aka me.
Yesss this post is full of fabulousness and sage advice. Cait you are AWESOME ALWAYS. Definitely not copying blogs, sometimes while blog hopping everyone seems to be doing the same thing at the moment. Of course if people aren’t enjoying things, they’re not inclined to keep on doing them. How frustrating are coding problems? Where are the coding gods when we need them.
AWWWK. THANK YOU, JEANN. What can I say? It’s who I am. *flips hair majestically* 😉
I need like a coding elf or something that can just live my room and pop up to make my blog splendid every now and then because that would be fabulous and solve 90% of my blogging problems. It’s weird though, I see a LOT of people doing things they seem to not like doing. 0_0 I don’t understand why!!?? Like they’ll be writing a style of post and mention that they hate writing this or whatnot. IT’S JUST SO WEIRD. Blog in a way that interests you = a good blog. *nods*
I want Sarah J. Maas on my blog!!! 🙂 I got to meet her in real life but I freaked out far too much and could barely say my own name! 🙂 I’d love to be able to interview her for the blog and ask her ALL THE QUESTIONS. LIKE WHY!?!? HOW!?!?! WHY!?!?!…. WHY!?!?!?!!??!!?!?!!?!?!?
Best thing about blogging is the wonderful community! IT’S AMAZING!!! And you, of course 😉 The worst is definitely the self doubt. Like I have a discussion post tomorrow about my love of Celaena and I am so worried that I just haven’t got my feelings across enough and I’m just waffling on. I get far too worried that people will hate my discussion posts and then never seem to post them. BUT I AM DETERMINED THIS TIME!!! My name is Charnell and I WILL NOT BE AFRAID!
THAT’S EXACTLY HOW I WOULD BE IF I MET MAGGIE STIEFVATER. So basically I don’t want to meet her. xDD She’s too fabulous, to be honest, and I am a mere pineapple frond.
ZOMG I CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS CELAENA DISCUSSION. I WILL BE ONTO THAT AS FAST AS ANYTHING. And pfft, I don’t hate your discussion posts. THEY ARE AWESOME. I’ve realised mine have gotten quite long-winded these days. Oops…so I’m trying to cut back and write smaller ones but LONG ONES ARE JUST SO MUCH FUN. tHERE’S SO MUCH TO SAY ON SO MANY TOPICS. *collapses on the ground*
As a photographer, I totally agree that taking pictures of books is way better than taking pictures of people. Books sit still and don’t demand that you Photoshop their pimples.
Terri M., the Director
Second Run Reviews
They are just so much nicer and don’t fuss, right? When you say “here pose in this bush” no one is whingeing. #booksarebetterthanpeople
I absolutely adore authors. They are my rockstars! But I’m also intimidated, and maybe just a tiny bit scared of them. (because some eat hearts for breakfast) 😀
And comments! YESSSS!!!
The book blogging community is indeed amazing. There can be lots of drama sometimes but our common love for books always prevails. What a fabulous community to belong to. 🙂
You always win the internet, Cait. And dragons forbid Australia loses Wifi. *shudders* What are we going to do without you, oh spectacular world dominator?
Oh my, stop Cait, stop. No thinking about people-eating dragons or scarily heavy TBR piles. What would the book blogging community be without you and your fabulousness? We all love you and yourr blog, Cait! I think you really need to kick this world domination thing into high gear – what a world we’d be missing out of if you never got the chance to complete that goal! 😉 And ignore the haters. You don’t deserve them. And yes, Maggie Stiefvater + Paper Fury = need too happen. Now.
OMG THIS WAS MILDLY A HORROR STORY, WASN’T IT? Let us hope dragons do not eat me (I’m sure I’d taste awful anyway) because the world would just collapse without me blogging copiously in it. *nods*
I may steal this tag. It’s a pretty good one. XD I like meeting a lot of people in the blogging community. Thanks to you I’ve met even more than I could otherwise. ^ ^ If I could have one author on my blog to interview or guest post it would have to be Suzanne Collins. 🙂
storitorigrace.blogspot.com
Yay! Totally do steal it! 😀 I like the behind-the-scenes sort of tags. Awk, I would have Suzanne Collins in a heartbeat too. I WOULD ASK HOW SHE IS SO AMAZING AND THEN PROBABLY CRY AND SAY NOTHING ELSE INTELLIGENT.
Hahahaha. XD
I love the phrase “attack into friendship” hahaha. I feel like I was doing it wrong all these years.
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO MAKE FRIENDS FOR ME. *attacks*
I LOVE this tag! So you know, thanks for tagging me 🙂 I seriously cannot imagine you ruffling anyone’s scales EXCEPT maybe a dragon, because I bet that dragon is a jerk. Also, knowing that even you get nervous about comments makes me feel MUCH better about my obsessive stalking of my email to see if anyone commented yet- it is SO scary! I mean, what if THIS is the day that no one wants to visit anymore?
And I feel like it would almost be easier for me to learn how to make my OWN gifs than spending the inordinate amount of time searching for them. Because seriously, hours. Also, were your Cait Clones made by the same dude that cloned Dolly the Sheep? Because um… that didn’t end well. Just saying.
We can just obsessively stalk our emails and hug our comments and fret needlessly together then, shall we, Shannon?! WE SHALL. I’m petrified that one day no one will comment on a post and I’LL JUST DIE OF TEARS AND EMBARRASSMENT AND SADNESS AND IT’LL BE PATHETIC. *nods* So far, it hasn’t happened, but pffft. You never know, right?! ;D
I tried making a gif once. IT WAS HARD. I only did it once and it was such a sucky gif and I lost it. Sheesh.
Oh and no no, my clones are much better than Dolly the Sheep. At least I hope they are. Sometimes they malfunction but…we don’t talk about Clone #7, okay? We just don’t.
First off- SUPERNATURAL GIFS. YES. YEEEEEEAAASSSS. My first post literally consisted of 1/4 words, 3/4 SPN GIFs.
Secondly- Your posts are amazing. In addition, I just cannot get over your photography. I envy your skills and wish to steal your camera while you are sleeping,
THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN EPIC FIRST POST TO ME. XD (My first post was basically the Jabberwocky poem and nothing else intelligent. -_-) aFJDALKS THANK YOU THO. THAT JUST MAKES MY DAY. :’) I am mildly in love with my camera.
Pfft, those people who are ‘annoyed’ by you are just jealous of your fabulousness 😉
WELL YES CLEARLY. *flips hair* 😉 xD
Cait, how do you even manage to blog every single day? I struggle for twice a week!! You give such great advice too. Gahhhh.
Ps, after making the switch to WordPress do you find it easier to format your posts? You mentioned about HTML confusing you but blogger sizes my photos and text really weirdly, does WordPress help with that??
Well I don’t quite post EVERY day. hehe. I take one day off a week, or sometimes two if I’m behind on answering comments (like right now, omg, so sorry!) XD
YES WORDPRESS HELPS WTIH THAT. I have more trouble, like, with the coding/designing part of blogging, I mean. When I was on blogger, agh, I hated how it wouldn’t put pictures were I wanted them and it screwed up the text and ALL sorts of annoying things. One of my biggest WP loves is how I can put my photos where I want them. :’)
Popping over from Goodreads 😀
and These are so true! I live in Aus too 😀 So if our wifi dies, that would be awful!
YES IT WOULD BE AN AWFUL TRAGEDY. *collapses in despair just thinking about it* Fingers crossed the apocalypse comes with steady wifi, right? *nods*
Yes I hope so! not the appocolypse part but the wifi part haha
I HOPE YOU NEVER STOP BLOGGING. Or get eaten by a dragon. That doesn’t sound fun.
This community is definitely the best, even at its worst. And I’m glad you love comments, even if they’re super late (because I can’t seem to figure out the best way to attack visiting/commenting other blogs and I know I haven’t been on here in a bit I’M SORRY I’LL DO BETTER).
lololol @ your book crush. Your TBR is going to get vengeful one day, so WATCH OUT.
I LOVE your blogging advice! I’ve struggled before trying to find my own voice and just do what I want instead of catering to the pressure of reviewing the latest ARCs/popular releases and posting like every single day. I’m over that by now, and my blog pretty much reflects that attitude of “I’ll blog what I want to, when I want to, and how I want to.” But still, it’s a struggle, especially when you don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere. So I hope people realize that just being themselves will help them find a direction and a voice. And that everyone just wants you to be YOU. Don’t focus so much on the stats but on who your audience is and how to entice them.
As to your last q, I love interviewing authors but it is SCARY! I’ve interviewed some of my faves before, and I think they went okay? I just try to be funny and creative with my questions, and I hope that is reflected well and that the author enjoys answering them. I think it’d be so cool to interview Maggie Stiefvater, but it feels like she’s so out of my league or whatever. Haha.
When will you finish blogging? WHAT A QUESTION TO ASK. I really enjoyed your honesty in this post, Cait, though. I haven’t met a blogger yet who I didn’t get along with or had really negative comments, but from others experiences I feel like I can understand a little of how it feels. It’s awkward and difficult and unhappy. And I’m really glad you shared that. I think that, for people who’ll face it in the future, for in many cases it’s an inevitability, hearing you talk about it openly and the fact you’re okay with it, it’s going to help a lot of people.
I mean, our queen reigns and she reigns well, no? You show diplomacy and kindness. You’re a good queen, Cait. I’ll not try to steal your throne.
*waves regally to the mere mortals below* There pretty much is no fault with me, let’s be honest.
hehe.
AWK, but thanks Romi. <3 I like to be really open about this stuff, because I feel like a lot of us think it, and it's nice to know where not alone, right?!
This blog post made me smile because it mentioned all the things I love most about blogging as well – the people, the comments and discussions and the fact that there are so many different and individual blogs out there. Yes, they all deserve the love possible, and should all be unique to themselves! I spent some time this year feeling like I should be changing my blog because it wasn’t as cool or reviewed all the latest books. But now I just read what I want to read, and mix it up!
I really enjoyed this tag! So much that I actually did it on my blog too! You are so much fun! Literally had me laughing the entire time!
Stay FABULOUS!
Yayy!! I’m glad you liked my post. ;D THAT IS LIKE THE NICEST THING TO HEAR OF EVER. <3
I would DIE to be able to interview Jennifer Niven. But she just friended me back on goodreads, so I’m going to let that suffice for now. I’d also love to interview Rick Riordan, Christopher Paolini and Tolkien(sadly he is dead, but I intend to find a way to the underworld so that I can interview him)
OMGGG SHE FRIENDED YOU?!?! SO BASICALLY YOU’RE FAMOUS BY DEFAULT NOW. *collapses in admiration* Do interview Tolkien. Because it’d make you very very famous and please ask him how to get to Hobbiton for real, because I need to go and live there. ASAP.
Found your blog through Wanderer’s Pen and just had to say that your blog is so adorable! And you are totally funny:) I will be following until you bore me and I decide to stop following you (hopefully that’s never, right?). You say your not good at HTML and neither am I, but your blog is still so pretty! How does everyone else do it???
Your answer to Number Eight!!!
Normally lots of all caps drive me crazy but I don’t mind when it’s tasteful and quirky (which yours are) and intentional as opposed to sloppy and constant and annoying. Anyway, hilarious post:)
Omg, thank you, Kayla!! *waves* YOU ARE SO NICE.
My blog was actually designed by my relative. 😂 I honestly KNOW NOTHING haha, but I’m so glad you like the design. ;D
Haha – I try:)