You can’t learn to blog unless you make mistakes and I have made plenty! It’s an ongoing adjustment to understand what works and what doesn’t. I’ve been blogging for five years and all it takes is a dip into my earliest posts (and some recent ones too) to see what didn’t work.
The cringeworthy posts – you can only laugh at them, make some changes and move on. Because WordPress is such a supportive place, I know it’s okay to be myself and try new things.
So in the spirit of full disclosure, I’m sharing my worst posts, in terms of terrible titles, zero likes and bad wording.
Read them if you dare!
8/20/13: The Idiot: thought-provoking with an excellent plot – I’m sure my approval would please Dostoevsky!
9/18/13: Straight Man is well-written, but… – I guess I don’t need to mention the author.
3/1/14: Headed off to Thornfield Hall! – Oops, no author or title! Many readers are sure to miss this Jane Eyre reference.
7/28/15: They grow to fly – better stick to book reviews, Book Club Mom!
Do you have any cringeworthy posts you’re willing to share?
Thanks for visiting – come back soon!
Book Club Mom 
I’ve had plenty of hastily published posts with spelling errors (wondering, and cringing at, how many are still there that I haven’t caught!)
We do the best and then we move on to the next one. It’s all in fun and within a very forgiving blogging community. Thanks for reading!
Thank you for being honest, Barbara, and encouraging us to be the same. I think I’ve got too many to mention. 🙂
Well we’re in good company, then! I admit to deleting some of my truly worst posts because I couldn’t bear to see them! Thanks for stopping by.
The perfect post as Halloween approaches, Barbara. I have many frightening posts in my past! 🙂
Haha! Well we can all laugh together then. Thanks for reading!
Those posts aren’t so bad, Barbara. Btw, Paul loved the Idiot so much, he went on to read everything by Dostoevsky. I haven’t read anything by him!
Hi Jennifer. I admit to deleting the really bad ones, but you have to find your ground somehow. I read The Idiot in college and thought it was fantastic. Then I re-read it a few years ago and found it just as great, but much harder to follow than I remembered. Russian names can be tough. One day I will try another of his books. Kudos to your husband for reading them all! Thanks for reading and commenting. Hope you’re having a great and scenic Sunday. Pretty gray down here!
Raining here all day, Barbara. I asked Paul which of those books were his favourite and he started to say Crime and Punishment but then said he couldn’t pick one, but maybe 5 or 6! 😁 That’s how much he loved that man’s writing.
I’m impressed!
At least you can have a laugh at your mistakes, Barbara. I am lucky, I met Sally Cronin early in the game and followed her lead to a certain extent. It helped me a lot.
Yes, you have to laugh at the mistakes because they can’t be changed. And seeing what other bloggers do is a big help and inspiration. Thanks for reading and commenting, Robbie.
Oh, I’ve cringed looking back at some of my old posts and am so thankful for where I’m at now, Barbara. But, honestly, I don’t think your posts are bad at all. I think your blog was new and you hadn’t gained the following yet. You’re a great writer! My two cents. 🙂 Have a nice Sunday!
Oh, thanks so much. Hope you are well and adjusting to your daughter’s move! Working on that here too 🙂
All is fine, Barbara. They’re safe in their new home and we’re face-timing tonight. 🙂 Thinking of you, as well. 💗
That’s good – it’s all just new chapters, right? Have a nice weekend!
I have TOO many to share. 🙂 This kind of made me happy. Because it IS supportive here. We aren’t always ‘great’ at our passions. And we can chuckle at our own mishaps. 🙂
It’s a very forgiving place to blog and a great way to make friends. Thanks for reading and commenting, Chatter! 😉
You’re welcome 🙂
I think some of my most cringe-worthy blogs were the first author interviews. They’re so stiff! But I won’t share because I don’t want to embarrass those folks again!
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your older posts but we’re always much harder on ourselves than others are on us..:) Well, usually..:)
We’ve all been there, legit or not. But you wrote, and that’s all that really matters..:)
Hi George – yes we are our own harshest critics. Thank you!
This is a great question. I don’t know if I do anymore or not. A few years ago I went through my blog and deleted anything that I thought was awful or poorly received. I felt like I needed a clean start so I made it so. It was de-cluttering, blogstyle.