Cait just switched blog names from Notebook Sisters to Paper Fury! In celebration of the new name, she’s hosting a tag for all! Hip, hip, hooray!
#1: Why did you start blogging? GOOD QUESTION. Well, I’d had a blog since I was eight, where I blogged about what I ate for lunch… my cat… school… I mostly used my blog for my friends and family, and I think some of my mom’s friends read my posts. Anyway, I followed a bajillion blogs. (I still do.) One day, I stumbled upon a BOOK BLOG! I was ecstatic. Soon, I found this whole community of book bloggers that I followed, and a year or two later, I asked my dad (he’s a web designer! what a plus, right?!), to help me design a book blog. And… voila!
#2: What’s the story behind your blog’s name? Originally, I was brainstorming names for a book store. (I want to own a book store one day and was bored, so… yeah.) Among the others, ‘For the Bookish’ stood out the most. When I was setting up my blog, I thought For the Bookish would be the perfect name for a book blog for bookish people just like me! =)
#3: How many designs have you been through since you started blogging? (Pictures! We demand pictures!) I’ve only been blogging since April, but two, really. The first one looked like this:
Remember that theme? It was so long ago… 😛
And the second one looks like this!
There was another theme I made that lasted for about a day… it was similar to the current theme I have now, but very simplistic. The header had a drawing of a cat and a stack of books, which I loved, but I really liked the first original theme better. I definitely like the current theme I have now, though!
#4: Have you ever switched blog platforms? What made you move? If you haven’t ever changed…why? Nope! I’ve always had WordPress, and I’ll always will. That first blog I told you about? I used WordPress! I began that blog when I was eight, so that’s… five years of WP! I’m very familiar with it and love it!
#5: How long does it take you to write a post? What’s your postly process like? Usually about 30 minutes. Reviews take me ten or fifteen, mostly because as I read a book, I write down quotes and things I like or dislike, so when I write a review, all I have to do is convert the list into paragraphs, and gather images and GIFs and such. When I’m writing other posts, I type it up, delete some things, add some things, edit, and add images, and then I publish or safe the draft to post some other time. (Like I’m doing with this one!)
#6: Have you ever been super nervous about a post? Why?! What was it? No… never have. Not really. I’ve considered posting some of my writings and short stories, but that does get me antsy… I’ve kind of avoided doing that, but when I finally get up the courage to share something with you all, I probably will be a bit nervous.
#7: Do you have a blogging schedule? When I’m on a blogging roll (I’ve been known to not post for a week or more… oops), I post every other day, and type up posts on the in between days. Or when I’m feeling inspired, I write up a bunch of posts in one day and then post them sporadically when I don’t feel like blogging.
#8: Do you tell people In-Real-Life about your blog? Their reactions? Uhh… well, not really. I mean, I do, and I certainly don’t mind people “In-Real-Life” looking at my blog… I don’t know. I’m not exactly the most talkative (ahem. I mean, to people I don’t know well), person, nor do I brag or talk about myself a lot, so it doesn’t really come up. (Though my family does tell their friends about my blog, which is cool.) I
#9: Top ten blogs you read/comment on the most! Go! Go! In no particular order: Bookish Serendipity, Butterflies of the Imagination, The Measure of a Book, Christ is Write, Rachel Coker, Books for Christian Girls, A Splash of Ink, Paper Fury, Go Teen Writers, and Inside Out Magazine.
#10: If you could change/improve things about your blog, what would they be? Hmm… I’m going to turn this question into “If you could change/improve yourself as a blogger” if that’s okay! And I would probably comment on other blogs more. Blog more frequently. Join in more tags and linkies. Read more! Tons of things. I’m not the perfect blogger, but I enjoy blogging and love connecting with other bloggers! =)
That’s it for the tag! Be sure to go and visit Cait at her new location, Paper Fury.
Until next time,
You have gotten me interested in book blogs. I think it would be really fun to have a book blog. But I don’t know if my parents would let me have one. Can you think of any good reason I should have a blog? Your blog name is FABULOUS darling ;). I love it. I love your posts and I know all the books you put up here will be clean and good.
Oh and I have a question. How do you even start a blog? Does it cost? Is there a website you can use to make one? Is it pretty safe? Thank you.
By the way( sorry one last thing) I looked at your to be read list and one for the murphys is really good. I was reading it when my grandma died( we had been visiting them) and it has a special place in my heart. And I have a few book recommendations. I recommend percy jackson or harry potter( I dont know if your allowed to read those). If you like babysitting or are interested in it read the babysitters club grafic novels. The giver is an amazing book. I love the whole giver quartet. The seven wonders series is good. And inkheart. Inkheart is a series. Bye for real
Okay so to answer all of your questions… there are many different websites that make it really easy for you to start a blog. WordPress is my top recommendation (I use it), and Blogspot is another common, easy-to-use one. Starting a blog is completely free – there are usually free themes you can use for your blog if you use WordPress or Blogspot (or any other blog-hosting website – there’s Yola, and Weebly, and SO many more, but WordPress and Blogspot are the best, in my opinion). However, there are themes and designs that cost money, and they can get pricey. (At least for me, since I’m only 13, haha!) I’ve always used free themes, and then customized it the way I wanted it. (I’m using the theme Mary Kate http://angiemakes.com/themes-demo/marykate-wpcom/, but I changed the header and fonts.) It also costs money to have your own URL, or “domain name.” My blog is at forthebookish.com, but if I didn’t have a really awesome dad who set up my own domain name, it would be forthebookish.wordpress.com. And as for if it’s safe, I’m not allowed to have any social media (besides Pinterest, lol), but my mom and dad do allow me to have a blog. It just depends what you and your parents’ standards are, and what you decide to put up about yourself. Some bloggers don’t use their real name and say where they live, which is perfectly fine – like I said, it’s up to you. =)
and about the books you recommended – those all sound great! I’m not allowed to read Harry Potter (and honestly don’t have any interest too 😛 ) but I’ve wanted to read the Percy Jackson series. I have the whole Giver quartet, too! And the babysitters club is awesome. I will have to check the others out. Thanks, Brooke!
By the way, I love getting comments from you. They’re always so sweet and make me smile!
oh and if you do look into getting a blog, a REALLY great website for tips and tutorials is http://designyourownblog.com/ It’s super useful!!
I looked at all the websites you wrote and they were amazing. I will try to ask my parents about a blog this week or next( it matters when I get the gut to do it :)). WordPress looks good. If I do get a blog you will be the first person I tell( besides maybe my cousin). If I get one I will have to have you do a guest writing( or whatever you call it. 🙂
Oh, great! I hope you do. I would love to do a guest post if you get a blog! =)
I agree Brooke, Harry Potter is great and so is Percy Jackson! Plus, I love the 2nd Percy Jackson series, Heroes of Olympus!
Wow, I looooove your new theme! Typewriters are something that I am obsessed with (I actually have one! And I type on it!). Check out my blog @ http://www.writersdigestbyolivia.weebly.com ! By the way, Brooke ^^ I use Weebly, but WordPress is also one I explored and it looked great!
Okay thanks Olivia! I’ll look into that and I will check out your blog too.
Thanks, Olivia! I’m obsessed, too, only I don’t have one. 🙁 I’d really like to, though! Your blog looks really good! I can’t wait for more posts! 😉
Thanks! I got mine from the back of my aunt’s closet… 😉
It’s so cool that you’ve been blogging since such a young age! I just started blogging for the first time this year, but it’s been really fun so far, and I think that it will turn into a lifelong hobby. I’m always nervous about posting my writing, as well. Yay! I’m so glad that I’m on your top ten blogs list! Thank you so much! Oh, and by the way, I love your new theme.
Oh, definitely. I don’t see myself quitting blogging for some time, either.
Isn’t it nerve-wracking, posting your writing? Of course, critiques are great, but it is a little scary – I always wonder if my writing is as good as I think it is or worse and so many other things!
I LOVE your blog! It’s a pleasure 🙂 And thank you so much! I love the way it turned out.
This is such a cool tag! Thanks for linking to me. I don’t comment on your blog nearly enough, but I read all of your posts. I’ve never been super nervous about a post either and my schedule is kind of sporadic, which makes two of us!
I am about to die. You have not posted anything in weeks. I love your blog , Emily. You sound like a slightly older(about one year or so) version of me ;). Please please please post something.