I’m back this Friday participating in another Let’s Talk Bookish post, as always hosted by the amazing Rukky @ Eternity Books and awesome Dani @ The Literary Lion! For this week, our topic is: Posting Process, suggested by me!
I won’t lie: I suggested this topic in a completely self-serving manner, because I wanted to know more about how other bloggers organize their lives! I am a sucker for behind-the-scenes type posts and process posts. Not only do I really enjoy it, but I also like learning others’ methods to see if there are any places I could improve myself.
Let’s discuss!
Posting Process: Planner Edition
After blogging for nine (!!!) years, my posting process has evolved and changed quite a bit. I honestly don’t remember what I used to do, but I do know that I absolutely adore my current method, which feeds into my little planning heart and makes it beat. It was unintentionally inspired after I began using Kal @ Reader Voracious’s Ultimate Book Blogger/Reader Spreadsheet a few years ago. I wanted the spreadsheet to have an online collection of my books and reading progress. But, it also introduced me to using monthly calendars to plan out my blogging content.
And wow, did that just bloody change the game.
So, each month, I plan out what I want to post. My goal is to post Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. With a few reoccurring blog series that I post at the beginning and end of each month, those are always easy to slip in. Then, on Fridays, I check the prompts for Let’s Talk Bookish and see which interest me! If I have any outstanding reviews, those go in, too.
After planning all of that content, I check to see how many available spaces are left and go with where my heart takes me! Sometimes, it’s personal posts to help me process something, themed tags I haven’t yet completed or just something random I want to get off my chest.
Planning out so far in advance is so refreshing, because it helps me know what I’m doing and save time when I sit down to write the next week’s post the weekend prior. Scheduling posts is a life-saver in terms of posting regularly.
It’s also helped that I took away pressure from myself, in regards to posting. Not feeling a post I planned to write? Okay, write something different! Miss a post? No problem. Post four times a week instead of three–or only once? Go for it.
So, that’s my posting process! What about you? Do you have a specific or methodic process like me or are you less rigid and more free-flowing? Let me know in the comments!
![HAPPY PRIDE MONTH, EVERYONE! 🏳🌈
Queer writers deserve to have our stories told. And I want to help more writers get there.
So, in honor of Pride, I'm increasing my normal discount for all queer writers (10%) to 20% off all full manuscript edits booked the month of June 2023.
A few finer details:
Full manuscript means you can choose between three services: a developmental edit (what I'm best at!), line edit or proofreading.
You'll book in June and pay a down payment to secure your spot, but our actual edit can be anytime between now and May 2024. That way, I can be as available for as many queer writers as possible!
Even with this discount, you can still take advantage of my payment plans!
As always, I will never ask you to disclose or prove how you're queer (nor will I share it). Simply tell me you'd like to take advantage of my pride month discount and I'll take it at your word.
I wrote more about it (including a few reminders, if you're a queer writer and you're struggling) in the blog post linked below.
https://thoughtsstainedwithink.com/calling-all-queer-writers/
[Image description in alt text.]
#writing #writinghelp #editing #amediting #amrevising #edits #freelanceeditor #SFFWriters #fantasywriters #writingcommunity #writing #querying #amquerying #writersofinstagram #writersofig #WIP #editorial #developmentalediting #nowbooking #queerwriters #edits #pridemonth #pride🌈](https://thoughtsstainedwithink.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
Ohh I am going to have to try that spreadsheet! I wish I was better at planning and wonder if that will help me too. Thanks for sharing!!
Kristin, I LOVE that spreadsheet. It was such a game changer for me and I really hope you enjoy using it, if it is something you try out!
I’m a huge planner and my method is actually really similar to yours! I schedule in reviews first, then my regular monthly posts, and then the leftover spaces get filled as the days go by or just stay blank. It’s so nice to have flexibility and not feel pressured to have things all the time.
Yes, I love that method (obviously). And yes, as someone who hasn’t been able to post or blog hop or respond to comments in the past few weeks, having no pressure is honestly really nice! I am so glad you found a method that works for you!
Most of my regular posts are discussion memes, and I tend to write them a week or two in advance. I write reviews on Goodreads first, so copy them across into a post that is already pre-formatted, a few tweaks and those ones are ready to go.
That sounds like a solid method!!
Kal’s spreadsheet is now my BIBLE for scheduling posts. I’m not sure how I did this before I found it.
Honestly, same.
I have only been doing this for…eh, a month, but I have already started to see the advantage to planning, even though I don’t do arc/book tours. Yet. But I am posting a lot more than I thought I would, and even keeping track of ‘is next week’s top ten Tuesday done?”or “Do I have a topic for my Sunday Brunches for next month…?” is getting tricky. I built myself a virtual monthly calendar in Zinnia, with virtual flags that say “not started” “need topic” “started” “scheduled” and “posted!”. I try to stay several days ahead and this way, I have a visual reminder of what I need to focus on next.
That sounds like a great system! And honestly, I didn’t figure out a blogging system until the last few years. I pretty much winged it my first half a dozen years and it’s definitely changed and evolved as my blog and myself have, so I’m always a fan of trying out a method and then seeing what works and what doesn’t for you!
I used to plan a ton and work about three days for one blog post but with work becoming hectic lately, I end up coming up with the idea AND writing etc. the day before posting. It is not ideal but I can’t help it now, unfortunately.
Oh and I’m also very curious like you, so I’m definitely going to check out more posts on this.
Yeah, my day job has kicked my ass lately (hence not posting or commenting or blog hopping lately!). But, I’m excited to FINALLY start blog hopping on this topic today!
I’ve never been great at keeping up with a blogging schedule, but I used to blog regularly enough that it didn’t matter so much. Lately, I’ve been in a huge blogging slump, though. I’m hoping I can change things, but I also know that sometimes I just need to focus on writing and not stress about the blog. That’s where I’m at now, so I have to be okay with not being able to do everything.
That is such a hard reminder to remember (letting yourself breathe and listen when you need to take breaks or not do something as often as you used to), so that’s awesome that you’ve recognized that!! I hope that you have been able to write and enjoy it! Blogging will come back when you’re ready! <3
😭😭😭 not me wandering into this post and seeing my spreadsheet template plugged 😭😭😭
I am so honored that it’s been a game changer for you and has helped develop your own schedule. I plan my content out monthly as well with the knowledge I move stuff around or swap out intended reviews when slumps happen.
It seriously has been (and not just for me, as I bet you saw in the comments). 🥰