I’ve written 900 blog posts for this website.
Since I’ve been writing here since December 2010, that probably isn’t surprising.
That’s roughly 700,000 words.
I hope they were good ones!
Most Read of the 900 blog posts
The top ten, most-read of those 900 posts are these:
Bagpipes in the WWI Trenches (#1 on Google)
Whatever Happened to Kathleen Chambers? (#1 on Google)
Was it Really Well with the Spafford’s Souls? (#3 on Google)
Who was Biddy (Mrs. Oswald) Chambers Part I (#1 on Google)
Why Did God Let Oswald Chambers Die So Young? (#1 on Google)
Kathleen Chambers: Little Girl in a WWI Camp (#2 on Google)
What Belongs in a Modern Hope Chest? (#4 on Google)
An Angel and the Apostle Paul (#1 on Google)
Six Keys to Writing Christian Devotionals (#1 on Google)
What to do with Self-Pity (#1 on Google if you add “Elisabeth Elliot.”).
Roughly analyzing 900 blog posts
What do you make of these posts?
Obviously, I write often about Oswald, Biddy and Kathleen Chambers.
I’ve done so 100+ times. You can see the list here.
Since A Poppy in Remembrance included the Chambers family and World War I, I wrote a number of posts about the war.
I was writing a book, or three, and I used my research to tell the stories that may or may not have made it into the books.
The Spafford’s blog post is also a World War I story, based on a fascinating book, American Priestess.
Books I read and appreciate often prompt blog posts.
The hymn, of course, “It is Well with My Soul,” is what brings many people to the post. I think it’s a sad and surprising story, myself.
But I still love the hymn, as evidenced in this post about a visit to the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York.
A favorite post about a hymn, also shares history, a story, and music. I only wrote it a year ago, so it hasn’t had time to climb this chart! Who Wrote “Jesus Loves Me?”
Travel Influences on the posts
The Modern Hope Chest post was the result of visiting Venice, Italy where we saw a 500-year-old hope chest. It prompted a discussion with family members about what people would want to learn in their childhood for their adult life.
My children acquired most of those skills (Though one called home recently to complain I hadn’t taught him how to iron!).
On the same trip that we visited Oswald Chambers’ Bible Training College, as well as St. Paul’s Cathedral where he and Biddy became engaged, we also went to the trenches.
The trench visit inspired several posts, but I’d already fallen in love with bagpipes–when I wrote about them in my novella, The Yuletide Bride.
Everything I do becomes fodder for writing a blog!
Other Themes in the Top Ten
I write about spiritual issues often. As a long-time Bible study leader, I’ve thought about spiritual growth and the challenges I’ve faced in my Christian walk. I’m thankful when I can share things I’ve learned.
I’ve written a number of posts on Biblical themes–often taken from what I’m teaching or reading. A list of them can be found here.
As a professional writer for ten years, I’ve written frequently about the writing life. Many people want to write Christian devotionals, which is why that post and several others on the subject are so popular.
I wrote it, though, as part of my research in My Utmost for His Highest and Streams in the Desert. I love sharing information I know others are interested in.
Comments and emails from readers are treasures!
But, what does it mean to have written 900?
Nothing in particular, though some people believe you should write books on what your readers like.
Given that injunction, what should I write the next book about?
How about a story set during WWI when a group of bagpipe players in a trench discuss how to write a devotional, or argue about whether the Apostle Paul ever saw an angel, or if Oswald Chambers’ daughter was a Christian, before getting the call to go “over the top,” while playing “It is well with my soul?”
No, I don’t think that would work either. 🙂
Writing 900 blog posts is . . .
Like having another child.
My husband is now used to hearing me say whenever we’re hiking or traveling and I stop to take a photo, “It’s for the blog.”
He always smiles. “Of course.”
I get to care and feed the blog every week.
I love it.
Thank you for reading with me–some of you 900 times.
Tweetables
Thoughts on publishing 900 blog posts. Click to Tweet
Rachel Durham says
Congratulations! Here’s to the next hundred when you can boast 1,000.
KimH says
I have loved reading them, sharing them, and knowing some of the backstory to them. Congratulations 🎈🎉🎊
authorlaurafrantz says
I look forward to your newsletters and your blog, both so unique and full of wisdom and truth, not to mention bagpipe playing 🙂 Thank you for being faithful here. It blesses me and many others, I’m sure, more than you know.