Writing

Blog Therapy Session Friday

Every once in awhile I get a bug to change my blog.

I post a questionnaire about it and you’re all like, “Don’t change anything!”
I like you for that.
However, I don’t change anything and then the cycle repeats.
And then we end up with another lame ass post like this.
I think it’s natural for a blogger to compare themselves to other blogs and get bored looking at the same template or material day-in-day-out. I mean, shit. I change my hair color, apartments, jobs, and cities about once a year (slight exaggeration on all except for the hair), so the itch for variety is always stirring in my bones.

So, this is where the therapy session part comes in…
(And don’t say, “Well, Lauren, the reason why you change your hair color so often is because that is how you deal with stress and major life changes and it falsely keeps you feeling like you’re moving forward”…. because I already know that.)

Hipstercrite has turned into something more than I could ever imagine.
And, you know, I kind of like her, but I want her to become more stream-lined- visually and content-wise.
She’s a little too all over-the-place for my comforts.

So with that being said, what changes would you like to see on my blog? I heard a couple of grumbles about not doing Debbie Downer personal posts at one point. I’ve been thinking of doing themed days, like “Pop Culture Mondays”, “Lauren Talks Your Ear Off About Her Obsessions Tuesdays”, “Austin Wednesdays”, “Something something yada blah blah Thursdays”, and “Fashion Fridays”. What do you think?

Lend me your thoughts, ladies and gentlemen.

Also, I’m going to do a giveaway soon. I promise it will be good and weird.

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28 Comments

  • Reply VegKat September 17, 2010 at 6:21 pm

    First, blah blah blah I love your blog just the way it is.

    Second, I actually like the idea of theme days. Oh, and I miss your delicious-yet-totally-underrated-man days. Just sayin'.

  • Reply amy September 17, 2010 at 6:23 pm

    I know what you're saying, and I sort of think it's the nature of a lifestyle blog (as much as I hate that term). Sometimes I look at my friends who have really specialized blogs: style blogs, food blogs, etc. and it seems so focused compared with mine! That said, I think that structuring your posts in weekly categories is a good idea, but not sure I'd limit myself to a specific category every single day. Like right now, I have two days I week I do specific posts: Friday Favorites and Monday Dose of Cuteness. I really like having that kind of focus a couple different days a week, but I say don't tie yourself down to categorized posts every single day. What if you want to talk about something that doesn't fit? What if you don't have anything that week to say about __(fill in topic)__? You know.

    Whatever you decide to do, I will keep reading, as I'm sure others will. πŸ™‚

  • Reply amy September 17, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    oops. two days A week. πŸ™‚

  • Reply Emily September 17, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    im shit with keeping regular features, ive got a 'spooky sunday' feature that I keep forgetting about. dont change your blog ok, i like it just the way it is and i dont care if you dont

  • Reply Billy Apathy September 17, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    I think you should have like dancing hamsters and flashing colors all over the place. I think that would totally professionalize your blog a little more.

    Do what you gotta do. I won't stop reading. Unless of course you actually do put dancing hamster and flashing colors, cause I might have a seizure or something.

  • Reply Sophie Neutron September 17, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    I understand your desire to find some focus for Hipsterctite. And I don't even hate you for it. πŸ˜›
    Your daily theme ideas sound good. But if you had daily themes you'd be locked in and probably feel obliged to have a new post almost every day. That could be a lot to live up to!

  • Reply LEB September 17, 2010 at 7:20 pm

    Themed days are great, because they not only give you a general topic so you're not fishing around for stuff to write about but they're just plain fun.

    I say limit it to just one theme day. My vote's Pop Culture Monday. Or maybe Tribute Thursday? I always look forward to reading your posts and wouldn't want to miss out on the other stuff that doesn't fit into any category.

  • Reply NeonRaine September 17, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    I think that themed days are a good idea too! But, I don't know, maybe not have too many? Build it up slowly?

  • Reply Tom September 17, 2010 at 7:54 pm

    I just wrestled with the same question. I have decided to do what I like best (which is writing personal stories), but to do it less frequently. So far the added freedom from only having to post 3 times a week, has given me time and energy to tackle some of the longer, and more personal stories that I could never find the time for.

    PS – Don't you dare drop the Debbie Downer personal posts. Those are some of your best posts. The ones that come across as the most sincere and authentic.

  • Reply Tom September 17, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    I just wrestled with the same question. I have decided to do what I like best (which is writing personal stories), but to do it less frequently. So far the added freedom from only having to post 3 times a week, has given me time and energy to tackle some of the longer, and more personal stories that I could never find the time for.

    PS – Don't you dare drop the Debbie Downer personal posts. Those are some of your best posts. The ones that come across as the most sincere and authentic.

  • Reply theTsaritsa September 17, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    I think all you need to do is put up a new pic in your header for Fall. Maybe an orange and black outfit for Halloween. That's my suggestion.. πŸ™‚

    I followed you again on Twitter– I'd be flattered if you'd reciprocate!

  • Reply IT September 17, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    Gee! Do you think you only have 1400 followers because you need to change your blog?

    You know you're gonna do whatever you're gonna do. I mean who are you really doing this for?

    It's nice that you include all of us in the thought process. That way we aren't too surprised when a change is made. Have fun!

  • Reply DavidRayDog September 17, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    Dancing, flashing hamsters would rock. A weekly poker game blog could be interesting. Or a bowling blog! With video – love the bowling alley sounds!

    Uhhhhh, maybe those would be too much like sports reporting . . . let me get back to you on this.

  • Reply KeLLy aNN September 17, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    you are one of the most beautiful ever changing Butter~chicks I have ever cyber met.
    I ofter wonder what it would be like to be in my 20s, at this time; since you remind me of me at that age, I get to live it vicariously through you.
    I do like the idea of the yadda yadda Thursday; The more impromptu of you, the more I feel it.
    just sayin…

  • Reply Barbara September 17, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    The theme idea is great. People enjoy repetition and knowing what yo expect each day. I'd try it out and see how it goes.

  • Reply Benny September 17, 2010 at 9:44 pm

    Hmm… yeah, I'd definitely get down with themes. I suppose what you talk about is consistent enough that, at this point, you could probably catalog it. Although I wouldn't follow it too closely. I enjoy the surprise entries that turn out to just be about you. If you had "talk about only myself and not pop culture" day, it wouldn't be the same.

  • Reply Summer September 17, 2010 at 9:48 pm

    I think themed days sounds good. And the ones you suggested are already things you are good at writing about. I say give it a shot!

  • Reply Randall September 17, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    I'm anti-theme days. Unless you desperately need them for prompts, which I don't think you do, they're really not a great idea, and there are so many blogs and bloggers out there that employ them. It's kind of beneath your skill level at this point, and it's just going to make us lazy readers because we'll be able to say "ah, it's Monday, she talks about breakfasts, I can skip this," or "well, here's Wednesdays, time for the cookie-cutter entry about celebrity x.

    Plus, I think if you lock in to doing something like that, when odd idea for a post about your mother, or your past, or your decision to change your hair or your blog comes up, you're going to put yourself in this place where you're trying to decide whether to do what you actually want to do, or keep to some arbitrary schedule. And your spontaneous posts are what I love. Your stories and your tributes are why I keep coming back. Maybe I'm wrong [I doubt it, but I'm clearly in the minority of being against the theme thing], but I don't come here for the content so much. I come because I'm taken with how Lauren handles the content. How she presents it to me, along with the when and the why.

    I feel like if you start adding schedules, themes, templates, and other restrictions to that, there's going to be less of why I keep coming back — which is you, lady.

  • Reply Christine Macdonald September 17, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    Change is good. It matters what you like. The rest of us will follow.

    πŸ™‚

    PS: Love your blog and will love whatever you change it to. It's the person behind the curtain we adore.

  • Reply Hipstercrite September 18, 2010 at 12:33 am

    holy crap, everyone! thank you so so so much for taking the time to respond to this post. i really appreciate all your feedback and time spent checking out my blog. you guys give me the want to keep moving forward and for that, i am forever grateful.

  • Reply miss miss September 18, 2010 at 2:59 am

    theme days rule!

  • Reply Just Plain Tired September 18, 2010 at 3:36 am

    Since I'm new to this blogging activity I really don't feel qualified… or something, to give any change advice.

    They say resistance to change is human nature. After reading your post it doesn't look this is an issue for you though. πŸ˜‰

  • Reply candacesue September 18, 2010 at 6:46 am

    You know, at first I used to resent you. I don't know why exactly, it doesn't even make sense to me. I think when it came down to it, I was just jealous of the experiences you've had and the creative life you live. I'm sorry i took that out on you with out really trying to understand what you were really like. I know I don't really know, but when I think about it, I think you are a kind creative,kind, person, just trying to make her way in the world. I have no room to talk really because I am completely drunk and listening to the Spice Girls, but i think you are an awesome person. Keep doing what you are doing, I think it is great.

  • Reply Kate Weber September 18, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    I'm new to your blog, so I wouldn't change anything! But I'm sure whatever you decide to do, it will look super cute!

    http://www.simplykateweber.blogspot.com

  • Reply Susie Q September 19, 2010 at 9:42 am

    love the idea of themed day to days but would love if you could just keep up the surprise posts that you're so good at as well, just to keep us off guard!

  • Reply Susie Q September 19, 2010 at 9:44 am

    too*

  • Reply The Other BG September 21, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    I'm with Randall, above: I don't like themes. They're clichΓ© and often uncreative. And, if you make your blog like all of the others, I'm sure I'll end up losing yours in the mix.

    I've been reading Hipstercrite for only a few months; what keeps me reading are your deeply honest and sometimes profound posts, which often include the "Debbie Downer" posts, as well as your original fiction, my first sample of which (the one with the green glow outside the car) reminded me immediately of B.E. Ellis even before I knew you were in literary love with him.

    So, if you want my opinion, keep doing your thing, or even give us a bit more of your thing. If you want to leave something out, maybe stay away from Jeff Goldblum and Rick Moranis for a while.

    That was my brutally honest opinion, but keep in mind that yours is one of my three favorite personal blogs in the entire universe.

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