Yesterday, I published my 200th post to this blog.

It's good to occasionally stop and reflect. I started this blog two years ago as a backup plan, while I was blogging steadily elsewhere. I never envisioned it being what it is today.

In the past five months, I've switched my writing focus almost solely to this effort, and it's been fun to see a community form around the topics broached in this space.

So to celebrate 200 posts, I thought it'd be fun to look back at the highlights. In case you haven't been around since the beginning, here's a recap.

20 Writing Lessons Worth Remembering

I've broken down the top 20 lessons into four lists and linked to relevant posts, in case you want to read more deeply into each of these topics.

The Basics of Writing

1. It takes time to build an audience. (Be patient.)
2. Blogging is a serious business. (Take it seriously.)
3. Good writers read. (A lot.)
4. Write less, not more. (Learn the importance of paring down your content.)
5. Write every day. (But give yourself grace when you don't).

Persevering in Your Writing

1. Start today. (Don't procrastinate beginning a writing project.)
2. Learn your craft. There's a lot to be said for daily disciplines and practice.
3. Be yourself (my best advice on blogging ever).
4. You must ship.
5. Don't try to be a celebrity; this corrupts the art.

Going to the Next Level

1. Your writing needs a point; learn how to write a thesis.
2. If you want more followers, you need to break a rule (or several). Go against the grain, and people will follow.
3. Everyone has a story to tell. It's our job to help them tell it.
4. It's important for writers/bloggers to network, and the best way to do that is to serve people.
5. If you're publishing on the Internet, write content that your readers can scan.

When You Face Resistance

1. You can often overcome writer's block by just writing. That is, as long as it's a true block and you're not empty.
2. It's not just what you know; it's who you know. Relationship matters.
3. Fear prohibits good ideas from happening
4. Writers don't write to get published. They write to write.
5. Creative blocks aren't always bad.

What have you learned from this blog so far? What are you still hoping we talk about at some point? Join the discussion in the comments.

*Photo credit: Raul Gonzalez (Creative Commons)