Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We’d love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join.  If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

This week's topic is "Tips for New Book Bloggers."  I started my blog about a year and a half ago.  And I was completely winging it.  I tried to figure it all out myself and there were definitely stumbles along the way.  But I'm now happy with my blog.  There are areas that I want to improve, but it really comes down to what I want.  I do have a list of a few general tips that I try to follow.

1. Think before you leap -- I see many (and yes, I was guilty of this) just jump into blogging without a general plan.  Plan before you publish.  What do you want your blog to look like?  Who is this for (audience)?  Do you want advertisements?  Do you see room for future growth or changing of direction?  Lay out a bit of a plan before you start blogging.

2. Schedule posts -- I learned the hard way to make posts ahead of time and schedule them.  I wanted to write a blog post every day, but life just seemed to have other plans.  Now I pre-write my weekly features (Music Monday, Top 10 Tuesday, Quote Wednesday, etc).  This leaves me time to write as I can or when inspiration strikes.  I don't feel so boxed in with the schedule. 

3. Don't be too rigid -- Along the same lines as #2, I've learned to be flexible.  Some weeks my posts take hit.  Others I have tons of time to write and be creative.  I've learned to let the writing flow not force it.

4. Ask questions -- If you want to know how to do something, ask questions.  If you like someone's design, features, etc, ask questions.  Bloggers are great people willing to share.

5. Don't be afraid to say "no" -- I see many bloggers over commit themselves to events, interviews, and review books.  I've mostly stayed out of all those things, but even I have to say no sometimes.  This is my blog, I need to run it as I see fit.

6. Create templates -- I have templates for every reoccurring feature.  These collect my thoughts and I think are helpful for readers.  Everyone has their own style of templates.  Find one you like and modify to fit your needs.

7. Back up your blog -- How many bloggers have recently lost posts and entire sites due to malfunctions?  Make sure your blog is backed up somewhere.

8. Feel free to brag -- You write for a reason.  Share that reason.  Don't be afraid to brag about your blog.  Tell others about it.  Have business cards made up (I have cute blue with owl cards that were basically free from Vistaprint).  Print flyers.  Hire a skywriter.  Whatever floats your boat.

9. Embrace or don't embrace memes -- I signed up for tons of memes in the beginning.  Many have fallen by the wayside.  But I have stuck with a few that I like (mainly this one!).  Memes are personal choice.  Embrace or don't embrace.  Whatever works for you.

10. Go your own path and enjoy -- Blogs are very personal (kinda the point, right?), so don't be afraid to change it.  If you are sagging or unmotivated, don't be afraid to radically change the blog or even take a hiatus.  This is supposed to be fun, remember!