Hi everyone! So this is very scary and exciting. I’m moving blogs! Many of you will know that my dream has been to move to self-hosted, and because of an excellent series of events, I decided I couldn’t wait until the end of this year.
So I took the plunge. Being self-hosted means I have way more freedom, I have a dot com URL, and I can use plugins like CommentLuv so I can see all of your lovely posts.
Anyway. I’ll talk more about that later.
WANT TO SEE IT??? DO YOU??
It uses the theme I won from Ashley @ Nose Graze, (it’s called Vintage Flowers) and the tutorials on her site are the only reason I could even do this! I’m terrible at technology.
So it’s not ready to launch until I get back to Australia (I have to figure out a giveaway and a tag/blog hop to spread the word) but you can take a look at loonyliterate.com and be gobsmacked by its awesomeness (haha).
I would have left it a bit longer to tell you. Unfortunately, though, I installed a plugin that linked to my new blog, so some of you have already seen it. Yeah, good one, Emily.
Hopefully, all my email followers will transfer over, and I’ll do a URL redirect on this blog, so it should go…pretty smoothly. I’ll just have to remind everyone that it’s Loony Literate instead of The Loony Teen Writer.
LOONY LITERATE.
What do you think of the name??
Oh, also.
Unfortunately I won’t be able to reply to the comments on the posts I’ve missed. Because, you know, I’m organising the new blog AND enjoying myself in England (who decided that combination was a good idea?? Oh yeah, my impatience). But I HAVE read all of them and I’m impressed by how many people commented on Negative Reviews Don’t Mean You’re a Better Reviewer. This is why I love the book blogging community – for the most part we’re so nice!
So I’ll comment on THIS post, and the ones I’ve scheduled, and then there’ll be a final wrap-up post here, and then you guys will be commenting on the new blog.
To all those who have moved to self-hosted – how long did it take for things to settle down? What was the hardest thing?
The Loony Teen Writer 
Such exciting news Emily, and the new look looks beautiful, you should be pleased and proud to have taken the leap that you have, it’s risky, but can be rewarding starting a new somewhere. Good luck, and I’ll be sure to join you there! 🙂
YAY THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND I AM SO HAPPY AND EXCITED FOR YOU!!! Self-hosted is. the. best. Although I moved from blogger which is totally psycho, as you know.-_- I looove the plugins and I love the freedom and all the little tweaks I can do in the designs. IT’S SO MUCH EASIER THAN BLOGGER. *cheers for you*
You should definitely concentrate on having a good time in England though. 😉
Wow, that’s so cool and congrats for making the move!! I know I probably will too one day, but at the moment it just seems a little too scary… I look forward to seeing your new blog!!!!
(and I love the name!)
Moving blogs?! CONGRATS!! I love the name! Loony Literate, rolls on your tongue and sounds nice! 😀 This is so awesome! Wish you a happy journey with your new blog!
~Fari 0:)
OMG EMILY I AM SO EXCITED AND HAPPY FOR YOU AND THE NEW BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *FLAILS WILDLY* I HAVEN’T COMMENTED HERE IN LIKEFOREVER AND I’M SORRY AND I HAVE NO EXCUSE BUT LAZINESS BUT I HAVE AVIDLY READ EVERY POST EACH DAY BECAUSE I’M A GOOD LITTLE STALKER LIKE THAT, BUT AAAAAAAAAH LOONY LITERATE IS SO FULL OF PRETTEHHHH AND I’M SO EXCITED FOR THIS MOVE!!!!!!!!!!
SO EXCITING. We’re using the same blog theme right now, so YAY YOU CLEARLY HAVE GREAT TASTE. *ahem* although I am getting a new design very, very soon. Love the new name as well!
AHHH!!! It’s so cool that you are now self-hosted. Your blog is gorgeous, too! I’d like to become self-hosted one of these days, but I think it’ll be a while before that happens.
Wow, CONGRATULATIONS! Loony Literate sounds like such a cool name (and it looks absolutely gorgeous). Love it already!!!!
Congrats on getting self-hosted! And I love the design, too. 🙂
I really like Loony Literate! The name as well as the design. 🙂
I started my book blog with a self-hosted site, so I don’t have the transfer/spread the word problem, but I did find it a bit daunting the first couple of days. I think the most challenging part for me was (and still is) to find a design I like because I’m using the free ones, and they’re not exactly what I want, but it seems you’ve got that covered with Ashley’s eyecandy design! 🙂 I didn’t think writing the actual blog posts was much different than on a non self-hosted blog, so I got started pretty quickly and haven’t regretted the decision since.
YAY, CONGRATS ON GOING SELF HOSTED!!! It’s such a great feeling to have a site that is 100% just YOURS to do what you want with. And I must say that .com looks so professional.
Hmm, the most challenging part of going self hosted was getting it up and running in time for reviews I had scheduled XD And finding a design. I redesigned my blog, like, 100000000 times before finally asking Mitchii to create the perfection that she did.
I can’t wait to see you over at Loony Literature, Emily!
Ahhh, you new blog is so beautiful! I will have to check out those tutorials you mentioned, because, like you, I am kinda technological challenged. Also, it doesn’t help that I have zero patience for this sort of stuff. I just want things to work automatically! Hopefully I’ll become self-hosted around the middle of the year… Maybe. 🙂
How exciting! It’s super beautiful aaaaah. Can’t wait to see what new changes are in store for us, and the blog hop sounds so fun 😀
Yay! So exciting! You know what else is exciting? I finally got my hands on Heir of Fire! Enjoying it very much. Excited to see what Loony Literate has in store for all of us!
Yay yay new blog! Loony Literate is a great blog name! And also, I’m impressed with how you’re just going into everything, I would be so scared of moving haha!
I am so happy for you, Emily! I think I’m going to go self-hosted in February-ish for my 1-year blogoversary. If I don’t spend all my money for it on books before then…
Much luck and fun in England. 🙂
YOUR BLOG IS SO LOVELY. I can’t wait until you get back so I can awkwardly fangirl about it to you :DDDD
I’m so proud of you for going self-hosted. I will live my dream vicariously through your lovely new site. YOU’RE A DOT COM AHHHHHH<3<3
I haven't been commenting much lately (been rather absent from the blogosphere…), but I always make time to read your posts. In another life, I'm not so awkward and we're friends or something xD
YOU ENJOY ENGLAND. And I demand pictures. Especially of bookstores (hopefully you have some pics of that??) I'm lame and the only bookstore near me is a Barnes and Noble. Which is still lovely because BOOKS but chain stores aren't the same haha.
Wow that’s amazing news Emily, I’m happy for you! Your new blog already looks fantastic, and the name sounds great too. Hope it all works out 🙂
The new blog design looks really cool! CONGRATULATIONS! And I can’t offer any advice on self-hosting since…I’m not even sure what the term means and…I’m just really not good with technology. I can type and search up on stuff on the Internet but that’s as far as my technological capabilities go. I hope everything goes smoothly!!
I’LL ADMIT, IM PART OF THE FEW WHO PEEKED AND IT’S SO PRETTY. CONGRATSSSS EM! ❤
Congratulations!
I knew your exciting announcement was that you were going to go self-hosted! Oh, I knew it!
Oh congrats! The blog looks amazing! Love the new name! Cheeky wee alliteration! Hope the move goes smoothly!
Lucy @ My Little Life
CONGRATULATIONS ON GOING SELF HOSTED! WHAT A BIG STEP! And your new blog design is FABULOUS. I’m going to make sure to follow your new blog, and I really like your new blog name ‘Loony Literate’ It’s so clever and fits you really well. 😉 Enjoy the rest of your stay in England! Can’t wait to hear more about your blog and trip! 😀
Oh and some tips on going self hosted, (I’m not self hosted but I’m good with technology,and I can figure something new out in a few minutes) For new plug in ideas go here—> https://wordpress.org/plugins/ That will give you lots of choices and simple directions, for Commentluv go here—> https://wordpress.org/plugins/commentluv/
And for fun new emojis to add to your blog go here—> https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/emoji
These are fun and pretty simple. If your having a little trouble, youtube should usually help. But wordpress makes it really easy to add plugins and tips on self hosting. Have fun! 😀
WHOOHOO! WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE, HUN <33
Congratulations on taking the plunge and going self hosted. The new website looks so pretty 🙂
So cool! 😀 I’ve always thought it would be cool to get to take advantage of ALL the customization, but it’s probably a lot of work to code everything… plus I’d miss my current blog and theme. But I do love the new name! “Loony Literate” sounds perfect.
EMILYYYYYY! I’m so excited for you! First off, “Loony Literate” sounds super epic. Love the new name. ^_^ The design is lovely as well! ❤ Congrats!
OoooOooOoH! Congratulations! Being self-hosted is AWESOME! I don’t regret it, not one bit. Honestly, though, it took me a while to get everything the way I wanted it – post layout, blog layout, etc, and I had some trouble with my blog always being down. But after about, hm, 3 months I think it’s been since I moved to WordPress, everything is awesome and it’s so freeing now that I understand PHP a little better. 😀
EEEEP IT’S SO GORGEOUS!!! I love the new name, it fit so well with you and book blogger overall. I’ve been a bit MIA lately so I didn’t even realise until now that you’ve switched! YAYAY. Self-hosting so much better, it gives you so much more freedom to do whatever you want with your blog. It was the best decision I ever made when I decided to switch!
I DISAPPEAR OUT OF THE BLOGGING WORLD FOR 2 WEEKS AND SUDDENLY YOU’RE MOVING BLOGS!?!?!?
What is this?
In all seriousness, though, good for you!!! I’ve been blogging for less than a year, and I’m desperately wanting to go self-hosted (free wordpress sucks), but I can’t right now for various reasons so I’ll wait.
So excited to see Loony Literate become a proper thing when you get back!
yayayayayayayayy!!!!!!
This where an awesome flailing gif would go
SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! and the new design looks beautiful and pretty damn fantastic.
You go girl!
Yay omg this is so cool! Self-hosted is awesome and I love the new design so much. *drools* For me, it took about a month or two to transition into self-hosted WordPress although I can from Blogger so it might be a little different. Best of luck with everything!