E. G. Bella

Happy Friday!

Recently, fellow blogger Kristianne Hassman celebrated her first year of blogging! For the occasion, she created this reflection tag, and even though it’s not my blogoversary, I couldn’t resist the chance to look back at 2021’s blogging. I do a lot of reflecting and planning for the year ahead in January, so this tag fits right in.

Thank you, Kristianne, for creating this tag – and congratulations on one year of blogging! (You should definitely go check out her site. Just click her name, above.)

First of all, the rules:

• Mention the original creator or link back to this post.
• Use the graphic above.
• Answer these nine questions (or as many as you want to!).
  ~ How many years have you been blogging for?
  ~ How many posts have you written this year?
  ~ What’s your favorite post from this year and why?
  ~ What’s your most popular post from this year?
  ~ What made you start blogging?
  ~ What’s your favorite part about blogging?
  ~ What’s the hardest part about blogging?
  ~ What have you learned from blogging this year?
  ~ What’s one thing you’ll change next year about blogging?
• Tag your friends if you want to!

And now for the questions!

1. How many years have you been blogging for?

One year and four months. My first blog post released on September 18th, 2020.

2. How many posts have you written this year?

I wrote 93 posts in 2021! Which came to a total of 138,769 words, proving once again that I can be quite wordy…

3. What’s your favorite post from this year and why?

Oh wow, I don’t know how I can choose! I tend to write in three different categories: personal reflections, writing-related, and random fun stuff. So I’m going to cheat and pick one of my favorites from each category.

Those would probably be Beauty in Variety (on a topic very near to me, and I think more appropriate for our world every day), Why You’re Already a “Real” Writer (another topic I’ve wrestled with for years), and My Favorite Jokes (because who doesn’t need more laughter in their lives?).

4. What’s your most popular post from this year?

That would be, Why the World Needs Risky Christian Fiction, with 93 views, 28 comments, and 15 likes. I’ve continued to get more interaction on this one post than on any others on my site so far. But it is a topic under a lot of scrutiny lately.

Why You’re Already a “Real” Writer (see above) technically has more likes – 24 – but fewer views. And Why I’d Rather Be an Author than Writer is tied with likes – 15 – but again, has fewer views and comments.

5. What made you start blogging?

Writing is very healing for me, so I’d considered starting a blog for years, just as a small space for me to share my thoughts, experiences, and passions with those who happened to stumble across it. But I didn’t know if it would be worth it or not, and it wasn’t until I decided I wanted to work toward publishing fiction, and knew I’d need a website of some sort, that I started this blog.

Though I wouldn’t have to blog on my author website, I treasure the opportunity to share the things that God’s been teaching me – about life, writing, relationships, and anything else. I haven’t regretted it at all. Getting to blog about the things I’m passionate about, and hopefully encourage others in Christ is such a blessing.

6. What’s your favorite part about blogging?

The community! As much as I love just blogging my thoughts, its the interaction I get to have with readers that really makes it worth it to me. I’ve been so blessed and blown away by the sweet, encouraging, and thoughtful people who’ve reached out. Thank you so much to each and every one of you that’s read and commented on my posts. I appreciate you more than I can say!

7. What’s the hardest part about blogging?

Actually sitting down and doing it, haha! Early in 2021, I started using content calendars to come up with ideas for posts, and that’s helped a lot. But it’s still work to make myself focus and write the actual blog post – no matter how good I may think the idea is. Blogging has been a good exercise in discipline, and although it’s hard, I think I’m slowly improving.

8. What have you learned from blogging this year?

Wow, too many things to count. I summarized many of the things I’ve learned from blogging so far in my post, here. But mostly, blogging has helped me realize that my writing cannot and doesn’t need to be perfect. Though I shouldn’t be sloppy, imperfect posts can still help and encourage others. As someone who’s struggled with perfectionism, that’s a huge deal for me. But after all, I can’t consistently post if I’m too busy procrastinating and obsessing over impossible perfection. So that’s been a great help!

9. What’s one thing you’ll change next year about blogging?

I think the main thing I’ll try to change in 2022 is the pressure I put on myself. Yes, I was just talking about how blogging has helped my perfectionism. But there were also a few months – particularly in the summer – of 2021 that became very stressful for me, because life grew far busier, and I still thought I needed to hold myself to the vigorous posting schedule I’d kept up in the winter. So I’d like to work out a more flexible posting schedule and be better about knowing when to take a break if needed.

Well, thank you for joining me for this fun and thought-provoking tag! I enjoyed the chance to look back at my blogging in 2021, and I hope you found it interesting as well.

I’m not going to tag anyone specific this time, but if you’re a blogger and want to do this tag, consider yourself nominated! I’d love to find out what you’ve learned in your blogging journey so far. And again, I definitely recommend checking out Kristianne’s post. She shares a lot of good insights here.

I hope to hear from you in the comments!

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