I stumbled upon the A-to-Z Challenge blog in early 2014. I read about the challenge criteria and it looked like fun. I wanted to blog on a more consistent basis and felt this might be the catalyst for me.
Once before, a few years ago, I had joined a writing challenge that required daily posting of a blog. I made it about halfway through the month before giving it up due to competing time demands. I hoped as I registered my blog on the A-to-Z site that this time would be different.
Did you accomplish your goals?
My main goal was to publish a blog post every day of the challenge. I also wanted to visit and comment on at least five participating blogs per day. These were some goals of the challenge itself. I would say that I accomplished my goals. I published daily except for Sundays. Some days I commented on more than five blogs and other days a little less. I wish I had more time to visit and comment on more blogs. I plan to visit some of the missed blogs now that the challenge is over.
Did you post every day?
I posted every day, A through Z, except for Sundays. {insert happy dance here}
Did you make new friends?
I visited and re-visited several blogs and left comments. A few people commented on my posts regularly. I have some new followers and I have followed some new blogs. Yes, I have made some new friends.
Did you enjoy the challenge?
I very much enjoyed the challenge. Sometimes I suffer the "why should I write - there are more pressing things I need to do" mood. This challenge gave me the excuse I needed to write. I felt accountable.
I began right after signing up for the challenge to make a list of possible topics. There was more than a month until the challenge began, so I thought I was being pro-active. What I didn't do, that I will do next time, is to go back and visit the A-Z Challenge blog. I didn't realize the blog was publishing tips and strategies for surviving the challenge.
A week or so before P-day (first publishing day-April 1) I got an email and also a comment that gave me great advice- which I wish I had heeded earlier in the game. The gold-star advice was to pre-write and schedule blog posts.
At that point I went to the A-to-Z blog and discovered I should have been reading the pre-challenge posts! I downloaded all the letter badges, fixed my comments so no one would have to verify, and learned how to put a link to my blog in my comments to others. I also "liked" the A-to-Z Facebook page.
I set up a draft post with the appropriate letter badge for each day of the challenge. I tried to have three written posts scheduled at any given time. I originally hoped to have a week written and scheduled, but that quickly proved to be too much to ask. Having some posts written and scheduled before they are due was a great help and stress reliever. Who knows when something will happen in our offline life that will delay getting a post published on time?
I did not use a theme for my posts. I didn't conceive of this possibility until I read about the Theme Reveal. Using a theme for my posts would be too difficult was my thought. In hindsight, I think using themes might make it a little easier. I'll have to test that thought out next year.
I am glad the hosts asked us to comment on others' blog posts. When my posts are commented on it lets me know I have an audience and therefore I think it will help me become better at my writing craft. I don't usually comment often on blogs that I read thinking I have nothing of much value to offer. This challenge gave me the permission to step boldly into the comment box.
What are my plans from here?
- I plan to write regularly on my blog. Not sure yet what this will look like - posting at least two-to-three days a week on regular days. I may theme the days as I have seen some bloggers do.
- I plan to re-visit the blogs I read during the challenge and follow some of them.
- I plan to visit new blogs from the challenge that I did not get a chance to read in April.
- I plan to comment more frequently on blogs that I read.
- I plan to start thinking about the A-to-Z Challenge 2015.
I am energized and excited about the blogging adventures that lay ahead.
Won't you join me?
