Ever wonder what goes into writing one of our posts? Even if you don’t, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at our process. We take post-writing pretty seriously (our mortgage depends on it), so this is how we do it — not the only way, but the way that works for us.
Most of our project posts move through several stages: planning and prep, doing the work and documenting it, then publishing and responding to comments. Sometimes it happens quickly; other times it stretches out. We often juggle multiple projects at different stages since we publish about eight posts over five days. The timeline below is hypothetical, but it shows how we can be writing one post while planning, executing, or answering comments on others.
To illustrate, here’s the full path of a post using our bathroom mirror project as an example. It turned into a bit of a misadventure, which makes a good case study.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 21
8:30 am-ish: Sherry decides we need a last-minute one-day project to share the following morning. I suggest framing the bathroom mirror — it’s been on our list since January and sounds simple. I scout the web for tutorials and examples to guide us.
10 am-ish: After breakfast we go to Lowe’s for mirror adhesive and trim. We like shopping together so both of us sign off on choices instead of one person making decisions alone.
11:30 am-ish: Back home, Clara naps and I take before photos and remove the door while Sherry writes another post in the office.
1:00 pm-ish: I work through the project, taking more photos than I’ll use. After applying adhesive and placing the mirror, I notice the adhesive directions require waiting 72 hours before sealing edges. That kills our plan to post Monday — Plan B is needed.
1:15 pm-ish: Plan B: build the pallet compost bin we already have supplies for. Sherry is uncertain but agrees since it’s feasible in a short time. She feeds Clara while I make, photograph, and write the compost bin post as the mirror sets in the sunroom.
MONDAY, AUGUST 22
10 am: The pallet compost bin post goes live. The mirror is still curing.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24
9:00 am: My mom arrives to babysit, giving me time to return to the mirror project even though it hasn’t hit the full 72-hour mark. Sherry starts working on her rocking chair project. We want the mirror ready by next Monday because we’ll have weekend guests.
10:30 am-ish: While re-photographing the process, we realize the 3/4″ trim we bought looks thin and cheap. We both agree it won’t work.
10:45 am: I duck out to Lowe’s for thicker trim.
11:30 am: Back with thicker trim, I measure, cut, and retake photos. Clara naps and my mom leaves. Sherry handles comments while I work.
12:45 pm-ish: I glue the trim in place before Clara wakes so I can watch her when she does and let Sherry keep moderating comments. The trim glue sets overnight.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25
11:30 am: With Clara napping and Sherry moderating comments, I clean up the sunroom and rehang the door, thinking the glue has set sufficiently. I celebrate the restored bathroom privacy with a quick shower.
11:55 am: Done showering, I hear a loud bang — the mirror has fallen. Frustrated, I scrape off half-hardened glue from the mirror, door, and trim, then re-glue the mirror more thoroughly. We accept we’ll need to wait a full week this time, which means our sunroom will hold the door during weekend guests.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
Hurricane Irene hits and our guests cancel. Disappointing, but it spares them our mid-project chaos — and we had no electricity anyway.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31
8 pm: With the one-week timer almost up, and knowing we’ll be out of town for Labor Day, I cautiously test the mirror by leaning the door nearly vertical with a pillow at the base as an overnight test. If it’s going to fall, better now than after finishing the trim again.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
8 am: The mirror survives the night, so I photograph the nail security system and later re-glue the trim while Clara naps and Sherry answers comments.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Out of town for Labor Day, I sort and size photos while watching a movie at my parents’ beach house, then draft the post with placeholders for final after photos.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
11 am: Back home late Monday, I rehang the door Tuesday morning but wait to photograph the after shots until I’m confident it will hold.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
8 am: Victory: the door looks great. I set up the tripod and take after photos while Sherry watches Clara. After uploading and sizing images, Sherry proofreads and we prepare to go live.
10 am: The mirror post goes live — about two and a half weeks later than planned. Sherry moderates comments while I entertain Clara before nap time. Then it’s back to prepping the next post (we always have several in progress at once).
That project was more drawn out than some posts. Others take only hours (like Sherry’s butterfly art) and some take much longer (our wall-to-wall desk, patio, or laundry room) — which is why we often share progress in stages.
Does anything about this process surprise you? What in your job or daily life takes more time and effort than people might assume?