You might remember that earlier in the month I asked if anyone had any questions they would like me to answer as part of my Over To You theme.
I have already posted the answers to the first batch, which you can read here: Questionnaire Number 1. Now it’s time for the second batch.
These questions are all from different people. I’ve included their Twitter names, so why not pop over and give them all a follow.
@theblog centre How do you manage working full time (as in not on your blog) and then doing so much research for your blog posts and put so much effort into blog topics and your blog itself?
This is something I ask myself regularly when I’m rushing around trying to get everything done! I’d love to say it’s down to being organised, or self disciplined or some other good quality, but truth be told it’s not. My organisational skills go so far as knowing what’s going out when and that’s about it.
It’s a combination of extremely late nights and near misses when it comes to deadlines.
I genuinely enjoy blogging, so it doesn’t seem like fitting it in is a chore. I make time for it the same way anyone makes time for their hobbies, although I have to admit if my hobby was something like knitting or something, I probably wouldn’t be sitting up until gone 4am some mornings getting it sorted.
@lexicalcreation I’d love to hear whether you’ve ever felt or realized just how global your following is? Maybe a comment linked to a blogger from a surprising country, or an opinion was expressed that didn’t apply to your culture, or maybe someone just misspelled the word “favourite” until you realized that they really didn’t?
I realised pretty early that I had American readers as I chat to some of them regularly on Twitter. I think the major realisation on how far my blog had gotten was when I was reading a post that linked up to #AnythingGoes. It mentioned the price of item the post talked about, and the currency was in rands. When I read the bio of the blog, I found out the lady was in Johannesburg, which really made my day.
@justsayingmum – Why you blog and why did you start and are the reasons still the same now?
Originally, I started my blog with no real idea what blogging was all about. The plan was to blog for a couple of weeks to find my writing voice so I felt a bit more comfortable writing my first novel (which I’ve now finished). It didn’t take me long at all to fall in love with blogging, and over a year later I’m still here.
Now, I blog solely because I enjoy it so much. I also learnt along the way that blogging and fiction writing are two very different things. On my blog, I’m me. I talk as I do in real life (minus the swearing). Fiction writing needs many different voices, few of them my own.
@onlycrumbsremai An imaginary dinner party, who would you invite (living or not, famous or not, etc ) what would you eat, would there be any theme?
This is a really interesting one. My first thought was my late grandparents, but I want to keep this light hearted and fun, so I’m going to not include family or friends, living or dead, and instead go for something a bit different.
Jeffrey Dahmer – I’ll be honest, I find the idea of knowing what goes through a serial killer’s mind fascinating. This guy was seriously disturbed to say the least, and I would love to just ask him why. You know, what made him want to do that.
Adolf Hitler – Like the serial killer, this mind fascinates me. I would like to ask him if he ever truly believed what he was saying, or did it seem easier to pass the blame, then it got out of hand and he had to go along with it rather than lose face? I would like to ask him just what the hell he was thinking.
Sigmund Freud – Since studying psychology, I’ve found Freud’s ideas both twisted and sort of logical to an extent. Although a lot of his thinking is outdated, some of it still holds true today if taken a bit more metaphorically than literally. I would love to pick his brain.
J K Rowling – I realise she seems a little out of place with the others, but as modern feminist, I would be interested to see what she had to say to Freud. Also, it would be nice to have someone normal there 🙂 And it can’t hurt that I could ask her how exactly to get a literary agent to actually respond to a query.
@mess_and_merlot When/why you started. How you have grown your blog, what it means to you now etc?
I have already answered part of this above, but here’s the rest. I started March 2015, but I started really taking it seriously around May. I’ve mainly grown it through social media, but learning about SEO has had a big effect on growth too.
It means so much to me. Obviously I love writing, but a blog is so much more than that. It’s my own little place with no editor calling the shots, my own deadlines and a place I can write about whatever I want.
@el_clayton I’d probably ask how you get inspiration for blogging and if you ever get writers block, what you do to combat it?
I get a lot of inspiration from what’s happening around me – overheard snippets of conversation, things I’ve read etc. I also find choosing a theme each month helps me to be inspired because I know the sort of thing I’m looking for.
When I get writers block, I do one of three things
- I put some loud rock music on.
- I walk away. Just for five minutes or so and wait for something to click in my head
- I just start writing. Even if it’s not about what it should be about. I often start with a stream of consciousness that’s just random thoughts in my head. Eventually, something useful usually pops out and I delete the first part. Here is a post where I did just that: A Post About Nothing Be warned though, it’s a bit of a jumble of random weirdness.
@petitelibrary Worst blogging mistakes and what you learnt from them
I have dropped some huge clangers in my short time blogging:
The Time I Tweeted The Wrong Link: I spent a full two days once tweeting out the wrong link to a post and wondering why it didn’t get very many views. This was back in the day when I hadn’t discovered you could preview the URL of a scheduled post, and I would attempt to work out what it would be. I did this for months and only got it wrong once, so it wasn’t so bad.
The Time I Scheduled A Month’s Worth Of Posts To Go Out At The Wrong Time: Yes, this was a classic. It was for the April A to Z Challenge where you are advised to have all the posts prewritten ad scheduled. I did that. It’s advised to make them live midnight as blogs from all over the world take part so it hits the maximum time zones over the course of the day. I thought I’d done that. Day one, and my post doesn’t publish until 1am. Unbeknown to me at the time, WordPress doesn’t allow for day light savings time (actually it does, but I had it set to the wrong time zone).
The Time I Tampered With Code: I think this was probably the worst thing I did. I’d only been blogging a few months, and I had no real idea what HTML even was, never mind CSS or how any of it worked. Still, in my wisdom off I went to change some code embedded in my theme (I know, I’m cringing too and I’m the one who did it). Needless to say, it went horribly wrong. I lost several posts, some changed order and I lost loads of images and my theme looked all weird. And of course, I hadn’t thought to back up or even copy paste the original code. Cue some fast learning of code and a lot of cursing.
I’d like to say that what I learned is not to make the same mistake twice. That was true of the coding issue (I have played with it since, but only the parts I understand) and the scheduling, however, I have tweeted the wrong link since. I managed to miss the end of one when I copy pasted it.
@YummySeconds What do you enjoy most about blogging?
It’s hard to pick just one thing. I love writing, I love reading and replying to comments and I love reading other people’s blogs, but I think the main thing is the community. It is such a great bunch of people. When I first started out, I was under the (very wrong) impression that bloggers would be highly competitive and keep their tactics close to their chest. I couldn’t have been further from the truth.
It’s one of the most friendly communities I’ve come across online, and I love how everyone shares their knowledge and strategies and helps one another. I have met a lot of new people though my blog, many of whom I now think of as real friends.
Thanks to everyone who submitted a question. These questions have really gotten me thinking.
You can find me here: Twitter Facebook Bloglovin Pinterest and Instagram Please do stop by and say hi!
That’s quite the dinner party. I think I’ll pass, however. Yikes. You do like the twisted minds 😉
Lol, I do, it’s the psychologist in me!
Thanks for adding our question. The effort and late nights/early morning commitments show.
Wishing you all the best for your future in blogging –
You’re welcome 🙂 Thank you so much
I’d be happy to join that dinner party. Some great choices.
You got some really interesting questions. Thanks for taking the time to answer them!
Consider yourself invited 🙂
Ah brilliant, thanks for answering my question – that makes a lot of sense to just start writing and see what happens! Not sure I would be joining your dinner party though- sounds intimidating!
Love your mistakes list too – the code one sounds particularly scary, I would have been panicking. Thanks for including my twitter handle. Ellen
Thanks for submitting it 🙂 The just write and see what happens thing works for me! The party might be a bit worrisome lol! I did panic, like really panicked, but I try to look at it as everything’s fixable – that could be a mistake in itself!
This has been such an interesting read. I’ve been tinkering a little with HTML from time to time and tend to just copy & paste from tutorials as i don’t understand it enough myself…..I think I would have gone into a cold sweat had I messed the code so much 😉 Thank you for including my dinner party question, quite an eclectic bunch with JK Rowling & Hitler!
Angela x
Thank you 🙂 I did – the sweat, the tears, the swearing lol! The dinner party would be pretty lively I think 🙂 x
“[B]logging and fiction writing are two very different things. On my blog, I’m me. I talk as I do in real life (minus the swearing!). Fiction writing needs many different voices, few of them my own.” Very important to remember that when you blog. I post occasional fiction pieces, but usually, as you said, I’m me when blogging.
It is important to be yourself on your blog and write for yourself too 🙂
Your dinner party guests are interesting I bet the conversions you would have would make for twisted tales 2! Nice insight into your blogging life #bloggerclubuk
You have a great point there! Thank you 🙂
This is such a brilliant idea… It’s great to know more information about you and your blogging life, very interesting and yet so inspirational. #BloggerClubUK
Thank you 🙂
I enjoyed reading this post and learning more. Congratulations on publishing your book by the way! That is so cool! Angela from Daysinbed
Thank you Angela, I was so excited!
It’s great to hear your blogging story. What you have achieved in just over a year is fantastic but then if you are up until 4am you are clearly committed! And you wrote a book! Incredible. #BloggerClubUK
Thank you so much 🙂
Loving the questions, and definitely would like to be a fly on the wall at the your dinner party – a very eclectic mix of guests! Glad its not just me who has made all those blogging mistakes x
Thank you 🙂 Feel free to join the party! Lol, no it’s definitely not just you x
Haha minus the swearing! Brilliant!
#BloggerClubUK
Lol, thank you 🙂
You’re very dedicated! I’m not sure I will ever be that committed but I do really enjoy writing 🙂
#BloggerClubUK
As long as you enjoy it, that’s all that really matters!
Well, nosey old me loves bloggers answering questions so I really enjoyed this post, Debbie.
I’d be too scared to attend you dinner party!!
Oh, I do hope I avoid any major mistakes on my blog. I’ve had some issues and near misses…Like realising 4 months in that my blog wasn’t being backed up and realising I didn’t have any security in place to protect my blog.
Thanks for sharing.
#BloggerClubUK
Thank you, I love a good nosey into other blogger’s lives too! Oh, that must have been an awful moment when you realised. I’m pleased you realised in time though 🙂
Really interesting read, thank you! The clangers make me feel a LOT better too. 😀 #BloggerClubUK
Thank you 🙂 Lol, we’ve all been there, and it’s good to know others have done similar things too!
I love this feature – great to read some of the questions as I would have asked them too. It’s so encouraging to hear that you’ve grown through social media and SEO. I also love your dinner party, I agree with meeting Hitler…I am most intrigued by his mind and also have been. Thanks for hosting #BloggerClubUK
Thank you 🙂 It’s always good to hear about how others have grown, it makes you see just how possible it is. I’m glad I’m not the only one that is intrigued by Hitler!
This is a great idea and brill that I am reading this right now. I’m extremely new to blogging-my 3rd week in fact! Some of the things you mentioned in this post I have no idea about and others I have only just learnt about…its been a very steep learning curve. I’ve been wondering how it’s possible to fit everything in as I’ve been up till gone 1am on far too many nights but it’s kinda nice to know that many others probably are too! Looking forward to the next set of answers! 😊👍 #BloggerClubUK
Thank you 🙂 It really is a steep learning curve, but it’s a rewarding one too. Whenever you learn a new thing and your blog benefits, it’s such a good feeling. There are plenty of us sat blogging away into the night!
I really need to learn more about coding. I too work full time, and am a single mum so find it hard to find the time but never feel like blogging is a chore, more like a mind dump onto the screen. #BloggerClubUK
It must be really hard to find the time! It is good to get everything out though, and like you say, it’s not a chore when you enjoy it 🙂
It was really interesting reading your answers and they made me realise how little I know…! I’ll try and learn from your mistakes 🙂 Alison x #BloggerClubUK
Thank you 🙂 Please do, at least then I won’t have made them for no reason at all! x
i like the idea of everyone posting their blog posts at the same time 12 is quite late for us isn’t it. Of course 1am is out of the question (apart form us diehards!). Sorry you lost those posts – if you know Alice (the Fairy Blogmother) she is always good for a shout out if you get in a pickle and she knows just about everything about code and is writing a series of books on blogging and its technical aspects in plain English as we speak. Jo x
It was really good having them all go live together, but yeah, only the diehards were still around to see it lol! Thanks for the advice, I’ll be looking out for those books! x
Great idea for a interview. That sounds like quite a dinner party! I would never attempt to touch the code on my blog, just the thought of it going wrong scares me X
It would be an explosive party, that’s for sure! I wish I had just left it alone too lol x
Great set of questions with great honest answers. If you ever held that dinner party you would definetely need to film it!! #BloggersClubUK
Thank you 🙂 Oh yeah, that would make some interesting TV!
Great post and your dinner party sounds amazing! I always feel stumped when I face that question, it’s just impossible to choose but I think J K Rowling may well be in my top five also! #BloggerClubUK
Thank you 🙂 I spent a ridiculously long time narrowing the dinner party down! Got to have JK Rowling 🙂
I must say, I would totally have Jeffrey Dahmer as a dinner party guest as well, I have a thing about serial killers, I love reading the books on them and watching documentaries. I think that would be a great dinner party for sure. Congratulations on publishing your book, that’s an amazing achievement to say the least. #BloggerClubUK
Jordanne
I do too, it really fascinates me! Thank you so much 🙂
I have this weird thing about wanting to know murderers motives. I think all people have a motive for what they do so why are murderers any different!! Really good to get to know you a bit more #bloggerclubuk
Me too, it fascinates me! Thank you 🙂
I love things like this, I’m a bit nosy and it’s a great way to get to know the person behind the blog. #bloggerclubuk
Thank you 🙂 I’m the same lol!
its really interesting to learn more about bloggers that you have been reading for sometime. I love the fact that blogging was only a trial for writing your novel and now its a love!
#bloggerclubuk
Thank you 🙂 Me too, it’s crazy how quickly blogging grabbed me!
Love this idea Debbie! I love getting to know other bloggers and your questions are so interesting! Thanks for hostessing #bloggerclubuk
Ah! I’ve had the same problems with wordpress daylight savings I woke up ready to join a linky and was like ‘where’s my post?!’ and I can imagine a lot of swearing when you adapted your css. Interesting dinner guest choices too. I admire your reasons
I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t know about the daylight savings thing! There was a lot lol! Thank you 🙂
These questions and answers were fascinating. From my past work I have met, talked to, read reports on, and represented very many killers, of very different types and motivations. It is interesting, though it gets to you after a while. Serial killers are very distinct from others in their motivations and their thinking, but I think are also the ones that will always be hardest to understand, and I’m not sure anyone ever fully does. I find child killers very interesting. Not people who kill children, children who kill. Our reaction as a society to those children is also interesting.
I also always found the Nazis interesting, though (perhaps strangely) there are leading Nazis who I think were more interesting & more inexplicable than Hitler, who I’d perhaps have been more interested in. Probably wouldn’t want to have dinner with any of them though!
Freud & JK Rowling I agree on! #BloggerClubUK
Thank you 🙂 I imagine it would definitely get to you, but it must have been fascinating getting to talk to them and find out their motivations, although I agree that maybe we’ll never fully understand it. I find children who kill interesting too – how does a child so young even think to do something like that, and societies reaction is fascinating too. We are quick to lay blame with the parents, films, TV etc, but never with society itself.
I think the Hitler thing is a fascination with how he was magnetic enough to get so many people behind him, so probably it would be best to talk to some of his followers and find out what they saw in him.
It would be a bizarre dinner, that’s for sure!