The Bibliolater is 1!

08:00

As of today, it's been a year since I created my blog. So it's my blog's birthday. AHH, I KNOW!!
But let’s be honest: it really doesn’t feel like it’s been a year. Christmas (last year, not this year! It was only 2 days ago!) feels like so long ago, but I remember starting my blog as clearly as anything. I never expected for it to last, and I don't think I would have believed you, if a year ago, you told me my book blog would still be running!

Initial changes to my blog

I first started this blog to share my love of books, and meet new people, maybe even more to meet new people. Because I started out with a fandom account on Instagram, I’d already experienced the joy of internet friends, so creating my own blog was the next step for me. I was pretty devoted to that Instagram account, but a blog always appealed to me just a little more.


Also, I’d had previous experience with blogger anyway. I knew how to work the site pretty well, so actually setting up my blog wasn’t hard for me at all. The hardest part was the name...


Gah, I’m cringing just thinking about this! (I’m super embarrassed to say this, please don’t hold this against me guys...) 'Oh Look, Some Books!' was my first blog name. I don’t know why I ever settled for it! Thankfully I realised just how cringe-worthy it is (for me, anyway), and changed to Confessions of a Book Addict a few days later. I did love this name, and still do, really, but there’s lots of variations, and lots of blogs have similar names. It also meant I had to hyphenate the URL, so was a pain to type and got kind of confusing.

So, in the summer, I changed to The Bibliolater. I was thinking about this change for a while before I actually did it, though the name was the part I struggled on. The reason why I chose The Bibliolater was because the definition for bibliolater is: a person who is passionately enthusiastic about books (Google it if you don’t believe me!), and that's definitely me. I really like it, and don’t think I’ll be changing because I haven’t seen anyone with the same name! I wrote more about this back in August - you can read my post here.

Blogging has changed me, too


 Not just has my blog changed, but I’ve changed too, as the person behind the blog. At the start of my blogging journey, I was quite shy. Blogging brought me out of my comfort zone from Instagram, and as the community was so vast, it felt a little overwhelming to me. I didn’t know too much about blogging, so my posts and writing styles were very different to how they are now. I didn’t really visit other blogs, and I just wasn’t fully invested in blogging. I didn’t spend half as much time writing posts, and I barely even went on Twitter!


Now, it’s the complete opposite. I’m spending a lot of time thinking/writing about posts, and I spend a lot of time blogging! I try so hard to visit everyone’s blogs, and I’m pretty much addicted to Twitter. (You can follow me here *cough* shameless plug *cough*).


For me, I think I’ve accomplished a lot in this past year. My confidence has definitely grown, and so has my writing. I’ve learnt a lot about the book industry, and how to ‘do well’ as a blogger. I hope I learn even more in 2016, and develop even more as a blogger.

Thank-you for a great year of blogging, everyone! I have enjoyed every moment of blogging this year, and I hope next year is just as great!

How has your blog changed? Has it affected you in any way? I'd love to know how it (and you!) has developed! ☺

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19 comments

  1. Yvonne27 December 2015 at 12:27

    Happy first Blogoversary, wohoo! :D ♥ I know exactly what you're talking about - I had my blogoversary in August - and totally agree with you! It definitely doesn't feel like a year ... oh well. :D

    I also went through a name-change, although I'm still sticking to it ... kind of. Before "A World Between Folded Pages" (which is totally inspired by the Shatter Me series!) my blog URL was "thebookishpanda" - since I was first on Instagram and used this name everywhere else, I just thought it would be smart to use it on the blog as well, haha. :D

    And I can also relate to the shy-thingy. I'm a quiet and shy person in RL (which annoys me to no end!) but on the internet it's different - I'm more "outgoing" and even though I didn't want to use Twitter at first - I simply didn't know WHAT to tweet - I love it now! I met so many amazing people through blogging and definitely don't want to miss them anymore! :D ♥

    All the best fpor 2016 and that there'll be a lot more blogoversaries!
    Yvonne @ A World Between Folded Pages

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    1. Dulcie @ Riot Grrrl Reads27 December 2015 at 19:02

      I love your blog name - it's so original and cute! I love the Shatter Me series too, haha, so that's one of the reasons :D. The Bookish Panda is a cute name too; and it does make sense that everything matches too :)

      That's exactly the same with me! Twitter was quite daunting because there was just the feeling that no-one really cared about what I was tweeting... I've definitely overcome that! Twitter is a great way for me to interact with everyone too :)

      Thank-you, and you too! Thanks for dropping by, Yvonne ♥

      Delete
  2. Erika27 December 2015 at 14:48

    Happy blogging anniversary! The first is always a big milestone! :)

    ~Erika @ Books, Stars, Writing. And Everything In Between.

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    1. Dulcie @ Riot Grrrl Reads27 December 2015 at 19:03

      Thank-you! I totally agree - I think lots of people drop out before their first blogoversary, haha :D

      Thanks for the comment! ♥

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  3. Mia Hayson27 December 2015 at 16:54

    Hey! Congratulations on a year of blogging!! I can relate to being pulled out of your comfort zone and feeling shy at first. I'm pretty shy IRL but now a lot of the time I just ask myself what I'd say if I was blogging and then say that out loud.

    <3

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    1. Dulcie @ Riot Grrrl Reads27 December 2015 at 19:05

      Thank you so much!! That's a very good tip - I should try that out! I think I'm a bit different on the internet (a bit more 'outgoing') so I'll have to make sure I don't come across as too weird, haha! XD

      Thanks for the comment, Mia :)

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  4. Marie @ Drizzle and hurricane Books27 December 2015 at 18:20

    Yaaay, happy blogging anniversary!! :D

    Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books

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  5. Erin Tweed27 December 2015 at 23:48

    I just had a year of blogging in September and I definitely changed a lot (although, not my name--your old ones are GREAT XD). I also didn't interact much until the summer and am so glad I have! Blogging is such fun and I have loved meeting other bibliophiles--or should I say BIBLIOLATERS!

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    1. Dulcie @ Riot Grrrl Reads28 December 2015 at 12:21

      Name changing was something I was adamant on from the start (I knew I'd never have Oh Look, Some Books! forever! XD), so it was to be expected, haha :D

      That's kind of similar with me! I've met so many people (or bibliolaters!), and it made me enjoy blogging a lot more :)

      Thanks for the comment, Erin ♥

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  6. Fiona Bernadine28 December 2015 at 13:26

    This is so cool! Happy birthday to your blog, Denise! I wish I could give you a little cake with a pretty pink candle on top that you could blow! :D

    On a side note, I just want to tell you that it's heartwarming to read how this blog changed you. Congratulations on your achievements and for the big positive changes on yourself! I wish to see more of you as you develop and cope up with this ever-changing world of ours. You're awesome! You go, girl! xx

    Love, Fiona! ❤
    A Girl Between the Pages

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    1. Dulcie @ Riot Grrrl Reads28 December 2015 at 14:02

      Thank-you, Fiona, for this lovely comment! It means so much to me. I looove cake, so that would be much appreciated :D

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  7. Cloe29 December 2015 at 10:55

    Congratulations!! I only recently discovered your blog, and I just want to say that it's beautiful! I started blogging this year and it's really fun! I also hope the next year will be great for you! :)

    Cloe @ Mornings and Epilogues

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    1. Dulcie @ Riot Grrrl Reads29 December 2015 at 16:06

      Thank-you so much! I'm so glad you've got into blogging recently - I wish you all the best for next year too ☺

      Delete
  8. Alyssa Carlier29 December 2015 at 12:50

    Happy birthday! Haha, I started out with a terrible blog name too. I love the name bibliolater! Interesting story about how your online habits have changed, especially since I'm going to try and dip into the book photography circles in the next year. I only just met you, but I'm already certain this is a lovely blog! <3

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    1. Dulcie @ Riot Grrrl Reads29 December 2015 at 16:09

      Thanks! Ooh, I look forward to seeing your book photos! Are you posting on Instagram? I look forward to seeing your snaps. Thank-you! I hope we get to know each other more in the upcoming years :)

      Thanks for the comment, Alyssa ♥

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  9. Olivia's Catastrophe1 January 2016 at 06:55

    Congratulations on your one year anniversary! It's brilliant to know you have been developing an discovering what works for you and what doesn't in the blogsphere as time goes along. And it's so great to know you have been adapting to the blogging life and loving it. Here's to many more years!

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    1. Dulcie @ Riot Grrrl Reads1 January 2016 at 20:35

      Thankyou so much, Olivia! It feels great to have 1 year under my belt - I'm looking forward to even more blogging!

      Thanks for the comment, Olivia :)

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    2. Dulcie @ Riot Grrrl Reads1 January 2016 at 20:35

      Thankyou so much, Olivia! It feels great to have 1 year under my belt - I'm looking forward to even more blogging!

      Thanks for the comment, Olivia :)

      Delete

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