I was recently reading Becky @ A Fool’s Ingenuity’s post about The Fear of Not Having a Post Queue, and it (once again) made me realize how random and disorganized my blogging really is. If I manage to have a post or two in my drafts, it’s a miracle. Most of the time, I write my posts on the fly and hit Publish thirty seconds after I’m finished with them.
For the most part, I’m fine with my haphazard blogging style. I’ve never been big on planning, and I often find that my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants methods give me flexibility. The only reading and blogging I ever schedule is for blog tours, and I’ll admit that I’m often finishing those books last minute (though I’m actually very conscientious about getting everything up on time—I’m disorganized, not irresponsible!). Still, at times like this, when I have a lot going on (editing, homeschooling, etc), it would be nice if I had a post or two in my back pocket. Maybe I should change my ways … Nah, probably not.
BUT one problem that I have noticed with my tendency to write and post in the spur of the moment is that I’ll often think of something that I meant to say (or that I should have said) AFTER I’ve hit the Publish button. On several occasions, I’ve even gone and added to a post after I’ve already posted it in order to clarify or say something that I forgot to say. (Or to, you know, fix an error, but that’s not really the type of changes I’m addressing here.)
I’m wondering, does anyone else do this? Do you see any problem with it? Let’s face it, it’s not like there are tons of people out there quoting me, so even if I change something, it doesn’t really affect anyone but me, right?
I mean, ideally, I’d write my post and then let it sit for a day or two so I could re-read it and re-evaluate, but I’m guessing I’m not going to change my ways anytime soon, so I guess this post is really just a warning … if you’re one of the first readers of my posts and you come back later, I can’t guarantee that the post will be exactly as you left it. What can I say, I like surprises.
Do you ever add to or change a post once you’ve published it or do you consider the post “untouchable” after you’ve hit the sacred Publish button? I want to know!
Okay, I’m done with this post now … time to hit Publish.
This post has been linked up to the Book Blog Discussion Challenge.
I schedule posts, so usually I don’t add to them after they’re published. I skim them the day before they’re scheduled to go up. Sometimes I’ll add to them then. I’ve fixed typos after they’re posted. I’ve also reworded sentences that commenters seemed confused by. I know there are some bloggers who go back and update old posts, but I don’t have time for that.
I almost never schedule anything and it causes me pain sometimes. Just yesterday, I waited till the last minute to write a review and then had a server issue and lost the whole thing! That meant my post ended up going up late because I had to write the whole thing over again (not to mention the fact that I was super stressed and mad at technology!).
Sometimes I’ll go back and add a point or two, and sometimes I’ll reiterate those points in a comment, just in case the previous commenters missed it. But I don’t do it often.
I don’t know that I’d say I do it often—but lately I’ve been a little more rushed, so I’ve noticed it happening a bit more.
Hmm, that’s interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever actually done that! But I plan ahead. I write my posts 1-2 weeks ahead of time so I usually have plenty of time to think about what I’m going to say. I HAVE, however, thought of points AFTER that could become their own post entirely. Does that make sense? Like I’ll make a blog help post then realize that I forgot a few things, but instead of adding to that one, I just create a whole other post because it really could stand on it’s own lol
Oh, I’ve definitely come up with post ideas based on a post that I’m writing. That’s the best—it’s like two for one!
I schedule my posts and will update them before they publish, but I’ve never added to or changed a post once it’s published, aside from correctly typos.
I think lots of people have this philosophy—makes sense (but I probably won’t change my ways). 🙂
Since I take notes while I’m reading, I don’t usually come up with anything to add after posting. If I’ve made a mistake of some kind, then I might do it. Otherwise, on to the next book/review!
I’m always in awe of organized people who take notes while reading. If I’m reading a Kindle version, I occasionally add in notes, but that’s rare. Strangely, though, it’s usually my discussions that I end up adding to, not my reviews.
I add and delete stuff after I publish. Not all the time. I find myself doing this when I schedule a post, then check to see it live. Then I see typos or realize something I wrote is unclear. I usually don’t mind doing this until it goes out in the email. I have them scheduled for three days a week, so anytime before then I might change something.
I try to catch it before email too, but my emails go out every day and sometimes I post literally right at the last minute before they go out, so…
Ooh interesting. I think for the most part I just let them go! Of course if I notice some sort of typing error or if I wrote the wrong name…I go back and change it and hope that not many people caught onto said error! LOL! But I like to think I basically touch on all the things I want to talk about be it a review or whatever. I sometimes slow myself in the writing of the post at the time and make sure I hit on whatever notes I wanted to touch! But yeah if anything I only go back to correct some minor spelling error or other mishap error!
Strangely, I very seldom do this with reviews—it’s usually discussions that I realize that I missed something I meant to say. I think I HAVE done it for a review maybe once or twice—but only pretty much right after I posted it.
Even if people were quoting you, I think you’re totally allowed to change your posts or reviews or anything whenever you want. I mean, it’s YOUR writing. You’re allowed to change your mind or want to clarify or something! But I usually write my posts so far ahead that I edit them multiple times before they’re posted lol. So most of the time I don’t feel the need to change anything except maybe right after I post them since there always seems to be something I don’t notice or don’t decide I want to change until it’s after midnight and the post is up lol.
You make a good point. I don’t really think of my blog as something super permanent (even though I don’t really delete posts)—it’s the internet, after all! I think that’s one of the benefits of the online world. (Of course, on the flip side, you can never TRULY get rid of anything on the internet, so there’s that.)
Oooh. That’s a good discussion you got going here! I have anxiety, so I always go back and revise things. I am undecided on sharing that the post has been edited or not. But, it’s really interesting how other bloggers approach the writing process.
If I’m changing something major or important or more than just a few people have commented, I put in a note to say I’ve updated. Otherwise I don’t worry about it. It’s interesting, though—a few people have mentioned anxiety. I can see how posting might make be harder if that’s an issue.
I have edited posts after the fact, and I don’t think there’s anything really wrong with it. I try not to but it’s like you said- something I wanted to say but forgot to, or something like that, so it’s usually not a big deal to add it.
What I have found sometimes is if I DO have a post done ahead and it looks fine, but then when it’s time to go live all of a sudden I find stuff I don’t like- because now someone’s about to actually read it! And what looked fine before doesn’t look so good now. 🙂
Yes—I definitely do that too. The post seems fine BEFORE I hit Publish but then I read it again and think, “Wait, that’s not what I meant exactly.” I think you must be right that it’s something about the fact that people will be reading it now.
I try and schedule ahead as much as I can, but it doesn’t tend to happen all that often. LOL I do add things after I’ve published though – not all the time, but it happens! I actually did that with my current post, like more than once. LOL
-Lauren
Yay! I’m not alone!
Can I just say YES to being disorganized, but not irresponsible!! That is totally me too!! I never have posts pre-written. The only thing I started doing was making drafts of discussion TITLES that I want to write at some point. They’re all blank inside, but it reminds me of posts I was thinking of writing.
Anyway, I don’t usually go back and add. But I definitely go back and fix errors– because eek!! All my posts seem to be full of them no matter how much I try to proof. I think the most I would do is add or fix a graphic, not change the actual text of the post. I guess I get nervous that if someone already read it and commented it might change what their comment would mean?? Or also, I’m just lazy 🙂
Glad I’m not the only responsibly disorganized person out there. There’s a certain art to balancing those, right? I don’t think I’ve ever changed a post in a way that would affect comments I’ve already gotten (and most of the time when I have added something I do it early enough that only one or two people have gotten to the post yet).
I changed two published posts today. Not really content, but a typo and a missing image. I have a store of reviews, because I have to review right after I finish the book or it will never happen. I will re-read it the night before I publish, but I don’t really go back after, unless I find a glaring mistake.
Sam @ WLABB
I don’t often add to reviews—it usually happens with discussions. I’ll read the post and think of something else I wanted to say, so then I’ll end up adding it. Guess I should have made that distinction!
[…] Your Fiction Addiction wonders If You Ever Add to Your Posts After You’ve Published Them? Mostly my additions are typo corrections, as I’m a lazy proof reader on my own […]
I have anxiety, so I change my posts all the time. Plus, I’m new to blogging.. so there is that. You are not alone.
When you’re new, it totally makes sense that you’d still be figuring things out. I’m four years in, but apparently I’m still doing it. 🙂
I have gone back and edited a few posts, usually after I see through the comments that people seem to be misreading what I wrote or focusing on part of the post that I did not see as the main issue or somehow assuming that I said the exact opposite of what I actually wrote (perhaps they only read the title of the post?). I usually note that I’ve edited the post and why I wish to clarify things. But sometimes I just do a follow-up post.
I can think of one or two times when I did that (and noted that it was an edit). Sometimes you think you’ve been really clear and then people start to comment and you think, “Wait, that’s not what I meant!”
I kind of consider posts untouchable after I’ve published it, unless I realise there’s a glaring/embarrassing error in it! It’s probably because it takes me ages to actually complete the final version of the post, that by the time I publish it, I feel fairly certain I’ve said what I wanted to say.
Even though it takes me ages to finish, it seems I’m never truly satisfied. Sigh.
It’s hard to change your ways when it comes to blogging so really no judgment. Fly by the seat of your pants. I know what you mean about editing after posting, though. I’ve done that before and I am guilty of not reading through before posting and missing the fact there is a sentence that makes absolutely no sense. I don’t think you’ll be alone in changing stuff after the fact. I find it most annoying when I post a discussion and forget to add something I thought of in (because I thought I’d added it) only to find a commenter has said exactly what I meant to. I love it because it means I’m not alone in my thinking but damn it means I can’t go and edit now because I look like I’m stealing.
I’ve actually said to a commenter before, “Oh yeah, I actually totally meant to say that.” And occasionally I’ve said I’m planning to add it to the post. 🙂 Hey, no rules in blogging, right?!
I would say most of my reviews are written quickly and right after I read the book. I then schedule and forget. I rarely go back. Discussion posts take me longer to write as I’m not as confident in what I’m trying to say. Again, once I’ve published, I tend not to go back. The main reason is I just don’t have time with life and work. I have no issues with it though and would possibly go back if I had time,
I rarely change anything in a review. It happens much more often with discussions though. I notice that lately I’ve been busier and so I’ve been rushing a bit more and then I remember things I meant to say but didn’t. Hopefully it’s a season that will pass. 🙂
I often realize I forgot something and will go back to edit. More so on my lifestyle blog than my book blog though heh.
Glad I’m not the only one who does this!
I know what you mean Nicole! I’m a panster-spur-of-the-moment blogger too. I wish I had more time to plan but I don’t so I do have to go back many times to fix things 🙂 Your post look implacable so good for you! Great Post
Yeah, I just don’t have time to build up a backlog of posts. I wish!
I have absolutely done this. No shame, Nicole. We are messes but it’s FINE. We’re happy messes anyway 😉 I am not a scheduler, as you know, so yeah, sometimes I will think of something while I am trying to fall asleep and like, get up and add it hah. Of course, anyone who already visited will miss out on whatever nonsensical gem I come up with at 4am. Just another reason to keep on coming back ?
I knew that if anyone was going to be with me in my craziness it was going to be you, Shannon. We are two peas in a very disorganized pod!
I’m usually in the same boat as you – ‘ideally’ I would write a post, come back to it in a couple of days, and make some additions/changes, but that never happens. Lately I find myself thinking about a post a lot before I finally write it, so I usually get all my thoughts in but inevitably once I hit post, I think of some small detail I want to change 😛 I’m often correcting typos ^^; I won’t make changes more than a few days after I’ve published a post. I also don’t make changes if someone has already commented.
I’ve made changes after a comment or two, but nothing that changes the overall message of the post or anything.