Flights of Fancy | How I Blog

By Birdie

I’m not sure how fascinating anyone else will find this, but for some reason it’s been on my mind a lot so I thought I’d jot it all down and see if anyone else manages their blog the way I do, maybe get some blogging tips from how others.

My Schedule

Schedule

I was obviously heavily influenced by my time at Badass Book Reviews.  Co-blogging is really scheduled, and we used Google calendars so I got really used to working that format, monitoring it and scheduling everything in advance.  Following that schedule has become like second nature and now I still check and work it, probably more than I should.  Birdie Bookworm lives and breathes by that schedule.

The way I work my calendar is actually pretty simple.  I don’t have too many categories.  Blue events are planned, green are for those that are drafted, red is for those that are scheduled.  I use pink to note release dates of upcoming releases  That’s it.  I found when I used too many colors I would get too confusing.

I’ve heard other’s find using this system difficult, but for me it’s so easy.  I can pop over to Google and look at the calendar, and I can have it as a widget on my phone.  Easy access and simple process, even on the go.  I tried using a spreadsheet, but found it far too cumbersome to maintain.

ARC Reviews

netgalley

Here’s where my obsessiveness kicks in.  I have rules about my schedule.  For instance, I don’t like two similar topics back to back, if I can help it.  (Sometimes I can’t.) I don’t like to read two genre’s back to back.  I also only prefer two reviews a week to be scheduled.  I only do one meme a week, or try to, and Tags only on Sunday.  I have no idea where these rules came from.  I didn’t read them anywhere, like a how to of book blogging.  It’s just my own parameters that I’ve made up.  The things that make me feel good about how Birdie Bookworm flows.  When something doesn’t fit the way I want it to, I obsess about it until that date has passed.

The easiest way for me to handle ARC reviews is to immediately put them on my calendar, somewhere between the week before the release date preferably.  Because I adhere to the schedule diligently, I won’t read the book until right before the review date so that everything is fresh in my mind and I don’t have scheduled posts sitting around for months.  That means that no matter how excited I am for that advance copy, I’m going to make it wait.

I know that sounds strict, and sometimes it does feel stifling, but it helps me keep the stress of reading and blogging down and it simplifies my online life.  Plus, there’s something nice about knowing exactly what you’re reading next without having to hem and haw like I used to.  I have a ready made plan at least a month in advance.  If I want to read something spontaneous, then I get a couple weeks ahead on the schedule and read what I want.

That’s it, those two things are the secrets to Birdie Bookworm.  This is how I keep everything straight, and it works for me.  Now I’m curious, what works for you?

About Birdie

Don’t look for her in any bar, club, crazy raging party, or anywhere there may be a large gathering of strangers. She’s more likely to be found tucked into the corner of the couch watching one of her favorite shows, or preferably under a comforter with her current novel.

17 Responses

  2. Angela

    I write everything out on a calendar, too. When I first started blogging, I was more random about my placement of posts, although like you I tried to avoid having too many similar posts back to back. Recently, I’ve gotten into a routine where I have some sort of discussion/list on Mondays, memes on Tuesday and Wednesday, and book reviews on Fridays. Other random posts go on Thursdays if I need something to fill in. Seems like we have a similar style!

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    1. Birdie

      LOL! It does sound like we have a similar style. It actually helps me to keep the stress level down, knowing what I have to complete each week. It also helps me get ahead. I can sit down on the weekend and do all my non review blog posts right away. 🙂

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    1. Birdie

      LOL!!! That’s exactly what I thought when I was writing this. It’s so similar to what we used to do on BBR. Just, now all the color coding is for me. 😀

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  4. Anna

    Using a Google calendar to schedule posts is a good idea! I might try that– I’m still trying to figure out the best way to plan posts. I’m such a big fan of Google everything [[docs, sheets, slides, etc]] I can’t believe I’ve never used their calendar!

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    1. Birdie

      I’ve tried other ways too. I’ve tried a physical planner, book style, and a spreadsheet, but nothing felt as simple and natural as just using my google calendar. Plus, it’s so easy to just drag and drop the dates around if I need to adjust.

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  5. Jackie @ toomuchofabooknerd

    This is a great schedule! I have a blog journal where I write things down by hand but I’ll have to try a calendar on my computer because I feel like it’s easier to move things around!

    And I’m the same with ARCs! I read them 1-2 weeks before the release date so I have enough time to write the review but it’s not too far away so I forget all about it! 😊

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  6. Whimsically Meghan

    I love how strict you are to your schedule, but I have to say I am as well. I like having and knowing what I’m going to post when. It makes life so much easier and I don’t have to worry about what I’m going to be posting. For some reason I’ve fallen into this pattern where I have my reviewed books all ready a month in advance I just have to publish them, I have no idea how that started but it’s been working so far so I haven’t run out of reviews. I’m also very advanced on my TV Tuesday posts, I have weeks of posts ready. Clearly I’m watching and reading more than I’m posting! 😛

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  7. Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight

    I use a spreadsheet, except my color coding is red for not started, yellow for in progress, green for ready to go! Lol. But I also like to balance out book reviews when possible not just by genre/type of book but also by rating. I try not to have two reviews for low rated books in one week for example. And I also have random scheduling rules I’ve come up with lol. But I do that because, otherwise, I’d be floundering each week for what to post. This way, it’s again with the balance and it’s easier for me to make decisions on what to post.

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    1. Birdie

      Yeah, that’s exactly why I like to schedule it too. I’ve never even thought about the kind of ratings I post. I’m usually not that caught up to be able to organize that.

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