So I should have done this post a couple of weeks ago. I started my blog on May 2, 2012, in order to participate in The Writer’s Voice contest. I’d debated for about a year whether to start a blog, mainly because I wasn’t sure what value I could add to the conversations already out there. The Writers Voice forced me to do it because I couldn’t participate without a blog. I’m so glad I did! Here are a few of the things I love about blogging.

The relationships. I’ve met a number of new people, especially through contests and Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. I might have met some of them on Twitter or in forums, but through this blog we can have conversations we couldn’t in 140 characters or might not in a forum somewhere.

A forum for my thoughts. There are so many times before this blog I had something I wanted to share and didn’t have a way to do it. And I mean this in reference to my publishing journey, because in general I don’t use the blog or Twitter for personal opinions. They might slip in every once in a while, but mainly I want to talk about my path to publication–a path I’m still on. It helps to talk about what I’m going through and hear from others who are in the same boat.

The record. I like being able to look back and see what I’ve read and where I was earlier in this journey. Like when I was about to blast out DUET queries and then received the R&R that changed my focus for months. Or what I thought about querying a year ago versus now. It shows how I’ve grown, and the blog has become its own body of work.

The reference. I love that when people ask me about where I am in this publishing journey I can say, “Go read my blog!” Or when friends ask me about books for their kids to read, I can send them here. It gives me a way to update people without having to repeat the same thing a million times.

So, I was curious about what posts received the most views over the past year, and here are the top 10 with some comments from me about why I think they were so popular.

10. MMGM: SAMMY KEYES AND THE HOTEL THIEF – This book is popular in my searches, too, so I think kids must be reading it for school.

9. MMGM: KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES with a giveaway! – Obviously, it was a giveaway, and it was for Shannon Messenger, who started MMGM, so that makes perfect sense.

8. MMGM: THE UNWANTEDS: ISLAND OF SILENCE – I also see a lot of searches for this one. Either they’re reading this one in school, too, or readers are trying to find out what happens in the sequel. No spoilers here! Well, unless you haven’t read the first one…

7. Why It’s So Hard to Get Your First Novel Published – I think this must be a very popular search term. Someone’s starting out and wants to know why it’s so hard. I’m always hopeful someone will learn from my mistakes, although I’m not sure you really can.

6. What I’ve Learned in a Year of Querying – I’m only two months away from doing a What I’ve Learned in Two Years of Querying post. Come on, agents! I’d love it if one of you prevented me from writing that post :).

5. My Thoughts on SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (Spoilers!) – A rare rant about a movie, but it gets so many hits. At least once a week I see “what happened to the huntsman’s wife” in the list of searches that led to my blog. Clearly that movie left too many things hanging.

4. MMGM: THE WESTING GAME – My highest rated MG review, and since it’s a classic, I’m sure in this case that kids are researching it for reports.

3. 10 Tips for Titling a Manuscript – This is the most recent post on the list of top 10. Another blogger linked to it, and she gets a lot of hits, so now I do, too. Thanks!

2. The Writer’s Voice – When you enter a contest that requires people to go visit all the blogs involved, you’re bound to get a lot of hits. I’ve had a bump recently with the current contest going on. By the way, best contest ever! Half the people from #TeamKrista are now my CPs or betas.

1. YA Review and Giveaway: PERFECT SCOUNDRELS by Ally Carter – This one is a no-brainer. Ally Carter retweeted my giveaway, and her fans flooded my blog.

Even though it’s interesting, knowing what gets the most hits won’t affect my blogging efforts too much. I don’t host this blog for the purpose of getting followers, although I love all of you who do follow! I do it to connect with other people and to have an outlet for my opinions about the books I read and what I’m going through. That being said, if there’s a topic you want me to cover, let me know! I’m always open to suggestions.

If you’re a blogger, why do you do it?