Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.
If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. Participation is optional and never required.
May 17th: How long have you been blogging? And has your blog changed over time?
I started by blog, That’s What I’m Talking About, on January 28, 2010 (link to first post), as a place to discuss in better detail the books we were chatting about on Twitter. I didn’t write reviews at the time, but then suddenly, I did. My first review, Demon Moon by Meljean Brook, was just a discussion about what I was reading and why I loved it. I didn’t realize that is a review!
When I first started, book review blogging was at its peak. I quickly decided I wanted in on the game and sought direction from some of the bigger, more established blogs of the time. We were all on Twitter and everyone was so helpful. I tried to get numbers up with contests and special features. I added friends as reviewers and cranked out content.
As book blogging and its influence on the market declined, I struggled with what I wanted and where my blog was heading. My review partners found themselves unable to commit to reading and writing, and my own life was busy with two young kiddos. I knew I didn’t want to give up, but I needed to make some changes. I started blogging for me, rather than trying to grow numbers and influence readers. I decided that if my thoughts on books helped others decide what to read, then that was great, but I wasn’t going to aggressively go after views. I’m in a happy place.
Visually, my blog has morphed over the years. I started with some basic graphics and eventually figured out how to make a banner and such. Then in 2013, when my blog was transferred over to WordPress, I hired a designer to make it shiny and new. Finally in 2018, I updated my blog again, simplifying a lot and creating the current look with the help of a friend. I still love the design and don’t have plans to change it anytime soon.