Pages

Friday 7 March 2014

Celebrating the A-Z Blogging Challenge! Have you signed up yet?

That time of year has come around again when bloggers all over the world are preparing for the A-Z Blogging Challenge throughout the month of April. The sheer mention of the Challenge is a celebration in itself!


For those who may be new to this, it's now in it's fourth year and was set up by Arlee Bird to challenge himself and fellow bloggers to post something every day through the month of April. As an added hurdle, you need to choose topics thematically from A-Z.

So, on day one you post about something beginning with A, day two is a topic beginning with B, and so on. You get to skip Sundays for good behaviour, which leaves 26 days of posting for the 26 letters of the alphabet.

To get the full lowdown on how it all works you can visit the Blogging from A-Z Challenge webpage which will give a much more thorough breakdown of whats involved.

This will be my third year doing the Challenge and I've learnt many things from the first two:
  • Try and pick a theme for your posts. It can make it a bit less daunting to concentrate on one overall theme covering each letter rather than scrabbling about for something to write about each day.
  • Planning can be crucial! It can be tiring and stressful keeping up if you are writing each post the day before or even (gulp!) on the day itself. I wouldn't recommend it! Try and make a schedule for your posts that you can tick off when you write and schedule each one. It'll feel good to see those posts disappearing.
  • Keep your posts short. As I write this there are over 1000 participants taking part in the challenge. If you're visiting others on the list it makes it easier if you don't have to scroll through reams of words every day. It also increases the likelihood that people will return to read further posts.
  • Have fun! It's all abut discovering new blogs, meeting new people and expanding your blogosphere. You'll be surprised at how much you'll learn.

Before April itself kicks off though, there are a few people having a little A-Z Theme Reveal party on 21st March.  

A to Challenge Theme reveal blogfest

There's a sign up list for this too, where everybody will have a grand unveiling of their intended theme for the Challenge. Make sure you head on over to check this out too, and bring the A-Z fun to your blog early!




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This post is brought to you as part of the Celebrate the Small Things blogfest, a weekly adventure courtesy of VikLit. Why don't you head on over to her blog to check out what everyone else is celebrating?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~







28 comments:

  1. I love the A to Z! Looking forward to another fun April. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too, just need to get my scheduling skates on!

      Delete
  2. Yay for A to Z! I love it, but I don't have time this year. Yet I'm involved in a group effort for the Challenge on Untethered Realms. Have a wonderful weekend. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's just as fun to have a look around at what everyone else is up to, even if you can't join in yourself. I'll look out for the Untethered Realms posts :-)

      Delete
  3. I have signed up for the A to Z challenge, and I really want to participate because it's so fun. I'm working on a theme, hoping my schedule will work out and let me use it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good luck with the Challenge, and with your theme. I look forward to reading what you come up with.

      Delete
  4. This is getting depressing. I signed up for A-Z, but I'm desperate to finish my WIP this month and I don't know how I'll get the posts pre-written. Gah! This is why I've never done the A-Z before. It demands such a high level of commitment and time. I hope I can manage to get to it....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't push yourself too much if you want to concentrate on your WIP. There's still fun to be had visiting everyone else doing the Challenge!

      Delete
  5. The A to Z is definitely something to celebrate, I can't wait! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the A-Z challenge. It's so much fun. I can't wait.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's going to be good this year, good luck!

      Delete
  7. I love the A to Z challenge but frequently miss it due to ditziness lol. I'm determined to get involved this year. Although I've no idea for a theme lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good luck with the Challenge this year, you'll love it!

      Delete
  8. Welcome to A to Z! We are glad you joined us! :) Can't wait to see what your theme will be!
    Cheers!
    Tarkabarka
    #TeamDamyanti minion

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, I'm looking forward to the Challenge!

      Delete
  9. I've done A-Z challenge last couple of years, I'm not sure I can do it this year though...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't worry if you can't take part, there's still all the other blogs to visit :-)

      Delete
  10. I just signed up tonight - I'm very nervous about my ability to keep up this year, buuuut I think it may be just what I need to get back into a serious blogging habit. I've been in a bad slump for a while now, and not just in the blogging aspect of my life!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I first started out blogging this Challenge really helped me get in the swing of things. It's great for getting you back on track. Good luck!

      Delete
  11. I've been pretty busy but I'm going to try to do the A-Z. Can't commit to the reveal party (nearly done with a draft and must focus!). :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good luck with finishing your draft. I hope you have time to join in the Challenge too!

      Delete
  12. I did this once. Too hectic for me. Cannot write with a deadline.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nevermind, you can still join in by visiting everyone else and meeting new people.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  13. I have signed up too... and this is my first time! I am very nervous about it.. because its very serious blogging! I dont know if I can keep up...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just take your time with it and have fun! That's the most important part. Try to plan well and you'll sail through :-)

      Delete
  14. 'tis the challenge when you writers go crazy :)

    ReplyDelete