The Blogger Recognition Award (#2)

August 13, 2016August 13, 20167 Comments

Hey everyone! It’s Saturday and I am finally posting. Today I am doing The Blogger Recognition Award for the second time. I did this August 11th, 2015 so around a year ago. You can find it here. I was nominated by the lovely Donna @ ChocolatenWaffles’ Blog! Go check her out for all things bookish and fun.

RULES:

Write a post to show your award
Give a brief story of how your blog started
Give two advice to new bloggers
Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog
Select 15 other blogs you want to give the award to.

My Blog Story:

I have told this many times. If you are tired of hearing this, just skip to the advice and nominations. Otherwise, here we go!

My blog started on June 23rd, 2015. I had just finished reading a book called Genie Wishes by Elisabeth Dahl. Genie Wishes is a fairly short book. It’s about a girl named Genie who becomes a blogger for her class. At first she doesn’t enjoy it but then she gets into it. Seeing how much fun Genie had made me think “Hey! I could do that!” So I started my blog. It was originally called readersandmore hence the URL. When I started I thought nobody would read my blog and it would be a flop. A bit after starting I realized that Random Reads was more suitable. And that’s how my blog got started. It’s not an inspiring story but it’s the cold hard truth.

My Advice To New and Old Bloggers:

According to the rules, I just have to do 2 pieces of advice. For the sake of this, I will do 5 instead.

Blog for the right reasons.

Just because your best friend is blogging doesn’t mean you have to. If you don’t enjoy blogging then it’s not your thing. Make sure blogging is fun and enjoyable for you. It should never feel like a chore.

2. You don’t have to post everyday!

At the beginning I felt like I had to post everyday. I thought that if I didn’t, my followers/readers would think I wasn’t committed. Now I know that’s not true. I don’t post daily and I have 245 followers and counting. Don’t get stressed if your busy with school, work or on vacation. Your real followers/readers will stay with you if you have to miss a day or go on a hiatus.

3. Make sure to have a theme that fits your blog!

Most think themes are not important. For me, a blog layout can really make it or break it. There are hundreds of themes; free and paid that you can pick from. Keep in mind the type of blog you have or plan to have. Find the right one for you and you’ll be golden.

4. Use pictures and other details in your posts

Lighten your posts up with a silly meme or gif, quote or something else that fits what your blogging about. No blog post is boring but I personally love seeing pictures to go with the writing. It shows me personality and creativity. Try adding a picture or two to your next blog post and see what it can do.

5. Be yourself!

I know this is cliché but it’s important in blogging. Nobody wants to read a blogger’s blog if they are phony or fake. It sounds rude or mean but it’s true. I don’t want to read a bunch of made up things. It’s different if you write stories and poems. That’s creative. Making yourself into somebody you’re not is not.

Nominations:

I’m doing some newer followers for both me following them and them following my blog

Drew @ The Tattooed Book Geek

Caitlin @ Bathtime Reads

Milou @ Simply a Book Drunkard Blog

Hannah @ Book Freak-Out

@ Not-So-Modern Girl (New blogger just started yesterday!)

Lucy @ Lucy’s Literature Emma @ Llady Literary

Kristina @ Accio All The Books

Amy @ Read.Dream.Live

@SkyBluYABooks ( New blogger started August 1st!)

@Miss Books and Things Blog (New blogger started a couple of days ago!)

@Writing the Dream Blog

PaperJasmine @ These Paper Words

Martin @ A Pretty Wonderful Book

Emma @ Llady Literary

Sheri @ Read in a Flash!

And anyone else who wants to participate! Don’t forget to link me so I can see your story and advice 😀 No pressure to participate though.

That’s a wrap! This was just as fun the second time around. Thanks for the nomination Donna! What is the most important piece of advice you’ve learned blogging so far? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more tags and awards!!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

1 Year Blogiversary!!

June 25, 2016June 25, 201626 Comments

Hey everyone!! Yesterday (June 23rd) was my 1 year blogiversary. Thank you guys so much for being on this journey with me. Whether your a new follower or have been with me since I started learning the ropes, you all mean a lot to me. Without you guys, I wouldn’t be here right now. To celebrate, let’s look back on what I’ve learned and achieved through out this past year.

All Time Stats: (As of 6/23/16)

Posts: 263

Visitors: 2,076

Best Views Ever: 45 on May 15th, 2016

Followers on WordPress: 195

Followers on email and WordPress: 2oo!

How Did It All Start?

It was June 23rd, 2015 and I had just finished reading a book called Genie Wishes by Elizabeth Dahl. It’s about a girl who is appointed as the class blogger. She blogs around a theme and what’s going on. It was a great book. For some reason, it really motivated me to start a blog of my own. I had always loved reading, writing and books so that’s what my blog ended up being about. If you were here at the beginning, you probably remember that Random Reads wasn’t the original name. Just like the URL, it was readersandmore. I later realized that that name didn’t suit the blog. It was too simple. That’s how Random Reads got started.

What Are Five Things I’ve Learned?

I’ve definitely learned more than five things in this last year. These will be the five most important things.

Don’t feel like you have to blog everyday.

At first, I felt like I had to blog every single day. If I didn’t my followers wouldn’t like me and then I wouldn’t gain followers. Those were my thoughts at first. Now I know that that’s not true. True followers and fans of your blog will stick around. Whether you have a schedule, randomly post, or rarely post, the true followers will stay. Even if you go on a hiatus for a lengthy amount of time, don’t feel ashamed or worried. Blog as much as you want.

2. Don’t blog if it feels like work.

If blogging ever feels like work to you, take a step back. Do you need a bit of a break? New content or ideas? Is this just not what you want to do? Ask your self those questions. Blogging should be a fun thing. Whether it’s a huge part of your life or not, don’t let blogging become a stressful chore.

3. Communicate with bloggers!

This is a huge thing that has really made my blogging experience. Interact with bloggers around you on WordPress. Find people who have the same interests as you. I have so many amazing book blogging friends who have made me smile and made me inspired. If you don’t communicate, you won’t learn new things and make new friends.

4. Stats Don’t Matter

Yes, I still look at stats pretty frequently. In reality, stats don’t matter. It doesn’t matter how many views you got that day. It doesn’t matter how many visitors you got. All that matters is that you enjoy what your doing. If you can look at the stats and feel motivated to continue and become better, go right ahead.

5. Scheduling is your friend!

Going away on vacation? Busy the next day? The scheduling option will save your life. I’ve learned that this option can seriously save you. All you have to do is sit down and crank out posts. It will save you the stress of wondering when you will have time to blog.

What’s Next?

Since I’ve reached 1 year of blogging, I’m obviously going to look ahead.

– I’m not quitting anytime soon 🙂

-More book reviews

-I will continue to do memes (ex. Top Ten Tuesday)

-More amazing things!

-Reaching 200 WordPress followers

-Reaching 1,000 followers!!

-2 years of blogging

-So much more!!

I know I’ve said it so many times but thank you for following me. Your love and support is what really keeps me going. I love you guys 😀 I hope this post wasn’t too long. I wanted to keep it as short and sweet as possible. On a side note, I REACHED 200 FOLLOWERS!! Well, including email followers. WordPress doesn’t seem to count that though. When I officially reach 200 though, I will be doing a Q&A. You can find the post here. Don’t forget to drop me any questions you want me to answer. I don’t have many yet and want a nice big post to celebrate the milestone.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more to come on Random Reads!

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀

My birthday!

November 6, 2015November 6, 201525 Comments

Hey everyone! Today is my birthday! I’ll definitely do a post and let you guys know how it goes 🙂 I’ve chosen not to reveal my age for personal reasons but I will do some confessions. 11 to be exact, since November is the eleventh month.

11 Confessions:

I love to listen to music as much as possible. I’m actually listening to music as I write this.
I am yet to have my first kiss.
I love reality TV and cartoons.
My least favorite subject in school is Math.
I own a lot of pink things but don’t really like the color that much.
My favorite soda is Root Beer 😀
My book character crush is Ron Weasley (I’m only on the 4th Harry Potter book. No spoilers!!)
I am reading the Harry Potter series for the first time right now.
I share a birthday with Emma Watson.
I hope to go to London and New York some day.
I hope to be an author or a profession to do with animals.

Now I’m going to do 6 pieces of advice:

Follow your dreams. Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not possible or not worth it.
Be yourself. This is what many say but nobody wants to be with or interact with someone who’s faking their true identity.
Don’t be insecure! This is tough and I even struggle with insecurity. Everyone is created differently and nobody is the same. That’s what makes the world more beautiful.
If you’re a writer, write! Don’t put it off. I have a major problems with that and it hasn’t gotten me very far
Don’t anyone or anything for granted. Somewhere, someone is wishing for what you have.
Try your hardest. It’s simple but tough too!

Thanks for reading and Stay tuned for a birthday haul/update. You might want to remind me 😉

~Makayla the Bookworm 😀 xx

The Blogger Recognization Award

August 11, 2015August 11, 201512 Comments

Today I have been nominated for another award called the Blogger Recogization Award. This award has quite a few rules so without further a do; Here they are:

Rules:

Provide a link to the original post on Edge of Tonight: http://eveofnight.blogspot.co.nz/2014/10/lets-celebrate-whos-up-for-award.html
Write a post to show off your award!

-Give a brief story about how your blog got started

-Give a few words of advice to other bloggers

-Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.

-Make sure to attach the picture of the award (Either hold down or right click on photo at bottom of page, save the photo and insert it into the post and provide source if you feel needed)

Nominate 15 other bloggers to give the award to (not including yourself or the person(s) who nominated you
Let the bloggers nominated know they have been nominated and provide a link to the award post.

My blog begins:

On June 23rd 2015, (I haven’t been blogging long) I decided to start my blog. I had just finished reading the book Genie Wishes by Elisabeth Daul that I have raved about a few times. The book was about a girl named Genie who becomes the class blogger and finds herself. That book was enough motivation to begin blogging. Not a very exciting story but that’s how Random Reads! (Originally called Readersandmore) was created.

My words of advice to new and experienced bloggers:

-Blog about something you enjoy!

Its not fun when you feel forced to blog about something you don’t enjoy. Blogging is supposed to be fun not work or a dreaded activity.

-Be Yourself!

I know this is something that is told to you by everyone from your teachers to your grandmother but it’s true. Nobody wants to read a blog post that sounds strained or forced. They want to read a post by someone who knows what they’re saying, has personality and has the ability to keep readers engaged.

-Try to be organized!

I personally don’t have a blogging schedule or planning ahead posts but I know how important that is. When school starts and life becomes more rushed and busy, it’s important to know what your priorities are. That way there you have less stress and more time to spend doing homework, grading tests, or whatever you may need to do that is school or occasionally relaxing related.

-Don’t give up!

No matter what don’t give up! I know it’s something that everyone tells you but followers and viewers don’t just start pouring in right away. At the beginning I wasn’t sure if anyone would even read my blog. Now I have around 40 followers and I get at least one new one a day. If I had given up I wouldn’t be where I am today. No matter how much you want to give up, just stay positive and keep posting!

I am nominating:

@Bianca@UltimateFangirl

@Analee@Booksnacks

@misslizziemcguiness

@kosmogonic

@MichelleKim

@whereshappy

@WillowGlass

@AtimMercy

@AnaSpoke

@Margret

@donniesapphy

@eloquentparadise

@bookdreamer24

@dailywriter

@orangepondconnects!

Phew! That’s a lot of people! I apologize if you have already done or been nominated for this award. I don’t have much of a way of knowing that unless I’ve read your post or you nominated me. I can’t wait to hear your blog’s origin and what advice you have to offer.

Thanks for reading and Stay tuned for more posts to come today!

~Makayla the Bookworm 🙂

Below is the award. Directions on how to put it into your own post is above in the rules.

Best of luck!