Blog Questions Challenge

I read a few of these “bear blog question challenge” posts in the past few days but a moment ago I saw that Kev has decided to join the party even though, as he wrote, his site doesn’t run on Bearblog.

And since you kindly asked Kev, I’ll be happy to answer those questions on this gloomy Sunday of early January.

Why did you start blogging in the first place?

I wanted to have a simple tool to keep myself accountable and I also needed an excuse to write more in English. And that’s why on January 1st 2017 I woke up at 5 am and coded myself a blog. I posted a somewhat detailed history of my personal site years ago.

What platform are you using to manage your blog and why did you choose it?

Kirby. Started on Kirby, still on Kirby, will stay on Kirby for as long as Kirby exists (or until I find something better, not that I’m actively looking for it). I can’t remember if I started on Kirby 2 or 3 though. I am currently on Kirby 4 and will upgrade to 5 as soon as it’s out.

I used it because it’s the tool I also use to code almost all my client projects. It’s file-based, it’s simple to use, it’s a pleasure to work with, and super flexible. I also enjoy the community so it was a no-brainer. I didn’t really consider other options at the time because when you have a tool that works why bother looking for something else?

Have you blogged on other platforms before?

I had a few Tumblr sites but it wasn’t really blogging. I was posting almost exclusively pictures. So I think the answer is no. My personal blog started on Kirby and it’s still on Kirby almost 8 years later.

How do you write your posts? For example, in a local editing tool, or in a panel/dashboard that's part of your blog?

I write on iA Writer, do a quick grammar check with Grammarly, and post using the admin interface. The workflow is the same no matter if I write at my desk or on my phone while I’m on the go.

When do you feel most inspired to write?

When I’m annoyed and frustrated by something or someone, and I end up writing massive rants. Other than that, it’s all very random. I don’t think I have a specific moment. When I feel it’s the right time to do it, I sit down and I do it.

Do you publish immediately after writing, or do you let it simmer a bit as a draft?

I write and I hit publish. I don’t proofread, I don’t do drafts. As I wrote before, I’m not a writer. I treat blog posts the same way I treat emails or text messages. You don’t let an email sit there for a few days and then come back to it. You write it because you have something to communicate, you hit send, and you then move on with your day. That’s exactly how I blog.

What's your favourite post on your blog?

Always the next one.

Any future plans for your blog? Maybe a redesign, a move to another platform, or adding a new feature?

I plan to completely rewrite the CSS of my site and switch from SASS to native CSS and split it into multiple files because I hate to load unnecessary CSS. I’d also love to have a variable version of my typeface available and not load three distinct files but I don’t have the necessary skills to make it happen so I’ll live with the fact that those three files have to be there.