I've been doing the A to Z Challenge since 2013. It's a fun little blogging game for April. How can I make my usual blog post fit the letter of the day?
As for completing the challenge, I normally write five blog posts a week. Blogging all month isn't the challenge. Doing the blog hop and keeping up with comments--that's the challenge.
I've said all this before (in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017). If you want to read that again, I'd suggest 2016's reflections post. It's definitely my favorite title. So, rather that rehash the same ol', I'm just going to hit a few highlights:
- Hardest post to get to fit the letter of the day: Room Swap. For the longest time I tried to get that into Q. That week was just hard for some reason.
- Post that made me laugh the hardest: You're Not a Train.
- Post with my favorite title: Otherwhere.
- Post with the most comments (tie): Doubled Name & Zilch.
- Post with the most views: Earvin Strikes Again.
- X cheat: X-tra.
- My favorite post for April: Listening Skills.
For the hop portion of the challenge, I was #510 on the master list. As in previous years, I started visiting at the blog just after mine (#511), and continued until I was able to comment on five other blogs. (I "hopped" about five days a week.)
By the end of the challenge, I had made it to #26 on the master list. Yep, I managed to get to the end of the list and start over. This has been a dream of mine since 2013...
A (very small) sampling of the blogs I visited:
- The View from the Top of the Ladder profiled jobs Jane Austen (via her action doll) could have done (example: Smokejumper).
- Iain Kelly wrote stories that took place in 26 cities in the EU (example: Talinn, Estonia).
- Part-Time Working Hockey Mom told us about different visited cities (example: Irvine).
- Time and Tide had an eclectic collection (example: Malapropism).
- Heather Erickson wrote about writing (example: Up the Stakes) and at Facing Cancer with Grace wrote about caregiving (example: Advance Care Directive).
- Doesn't Speak Klingon also had an eclectic collection (example: Jedi Wisdom).
- The BOMB's blog I stumbled across near the end of the challenge. Also eclectic (example: Xyst).
I like doing the blog hop to find new-to-me bloggers. That's the whole point, isn't it? So, that makes this year more of a success than last year. But I am glad that April only happens once a year.
Having a list definitely helps, doesn't it? Congratulations on completing another Challenge.
ReplyDeleteWow, you have done an excellent job connecting with other bloggers!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and thank you for the shout-out, you've been a loyal visitor!
Happy recovering in May :-)
Thanks.
DeleteSounded like April was a fun month for you with blogging, hectic of course, but A/Z always does that. Always good to find new blogs too; might have to check out some you highlighted!
ReplyDeletebetty
Wow! Congratulations on both completing the challenge and the hop. I always found the hop to be the hardest too. I need to start thinking of a topic I want to cover and try to do this next year. I missed it.
ReplyDeleteYou can, of course, start writing it now ;)
DeleteHi Liz - you certainly made the most of the A-Z and connected with others ... I'll be over to look in on them. Well done - and congratulations on finishing - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi Liz, thank you very much for mentioning me in this post, and for all those kind words.
ReplyDeleteIt was great reading your posts as well.
And I look forward to reading more.
I agree with you view that blogging is not as much a challenge as blog-hopping and leaving comments.
Yes, keeping up with posts is what we do all year, right? Visiting others... That's the whole point of a blog hop. Or, at least that's what I thought.
DeleteGood strategy for managing the A to Z. Go to those blogs after your link. Glad you did this and so glad you finished. It's not easy, but it's very rewarding.
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! A to Z is how I met you a few years (?) back :)
ReplyDeleteYup. I'd say 95% of my commenters I met via the A to Z.
DeleteWoot on making it through! That's a mega feat!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteCheers, Liz! And, thanks for mentioning my blog. I'm blushing over here. :-) I'm with you, the best part about the challenge is meeting new bloggers.
ReplyDeleteHi Liz. I have loved getting a peek into classroom life. You are amazing to be able to complete the A to Z-again while teaching, knitting, and doing all the other things in life. You are a fantastic writer!
ReplyDeleteHeather Erickson Author Writer Speaker A to Z Retrospective and
Thanks.
DeleteWell, you visited me years ago and we are still communicating! You have a great blog with lots of variety :)
ReplyDeleteI would guesstimate that 95% of my regular blogs I found via one A to Z or other.
DeleteI did the challenge last yr but past on it this yr due to the wedding and the trip to Fla. You have done a great job with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Yeah, when you're busy in April, the A to Z can't happen.
DeleteCongratulations on your success. And thank you for sharing these links. Be well!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteI'm pretty sure A to Z is how I met you. I had fun this year with my health blog, but didn't get to hop around as much as I wanted.
ReplyDeleteYup, I found most of the blogs I follow regularly via the A to Z. That's why I keep coming back to it.
Deletewow, good for you, that's some major hustle!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteThat's impressive that you made it through the list. I'm pretty sure I met you during A to Z a few years ago. I'd like to do it again, but it seems like April is just usually super busy.
ReplyDeleteMaking it through the list... It so helps to start at the end ;)
DeleteThat's quite an accomplishment, actually getting through much of the list. I won't even try this year. In fact, I'm seriously thinking of going into reruns for a while or maybe just posting a photo or two and that's it. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI think it worked out to be 200-ish blogs. And many of those weren't still participating by the time I got to them. I don't know if that counts.
DeleteI understand reruns. Tis the season for them :)
Wow that's an amazing accomplishment to get so far though the list
ReplyDeleteDebbie
I don't know if I got all that far through it.
DeleteWoo that's pretty impressive getting through the whole list. The hopping part is definitely the bigger challenge than the blog posts, here, too.
ReplyDelete