#AtoZChallenge Reflections 2019
Have I really survived six Blogging from A to Z Challenges? According to my website, yes. Go HERE if you want to read more of my A to Z posts. As for 2019 all the posts were up on time, plus a compilation/edit in three acts – Act One here. However, that is not the end of the Challenge – next comes this Reflections post.
The Reflection
post is a tradition at the A to Z Challenge. It gives all us participants
a chance to look back at what worked, what didn’t, what we’ve done, what was
learned, and where we hope to go from here. At the end of this post, I’ve added
a list of direct links to other people’s Reflections.
But wait. My theme reveal
was my downfall. What hurtyn chooses
to write a 26-part episodic short story that will read like a novella? Well me.
And that was my first mistake. Second was when my keyboard died on me
mid-March. Okay, I got all my posts scheduled in time – with a few days to
spare at the end of April. But I’m now struggling in a quagmire of emails for
fascinating A to Z posts.
Next year, I’m starting in February – or choosing a simpler
theme than I’ve ever done – maybe.
Anyway, this year, in honour of the Challenge’s
Tenth Anniversary, the brilliant A to Z Team produced a list of ten questions we could use for our
posts. Here are my answers:
1. What did you love about the challenge
this year?
First, the Challenge kept me writing – the commitment I
made, plus the comments. So, there’s more tales to spiel.
Second, I read some great informative pieces [The Great Raven], amazing
poems [Liz Brownlee] & [Life
In Poetry], great facts [The
Old Shelter], invaluable writing tips [Operation Awesome],
engrossing tales [Tasha’s Thinkings] and
folklore [The Multicoloured Diary],
plus, so much more – like the theme I downgraded from ‘Music’ [Wolf
of Words].
2. What would you
change about it?
If it ain’t broke don’t
fix it. And it isn’t. I’ve read one intriguing suggestion that we reduced
the pressure and make it March-April – might help or increase/spread the
stress. Even us that prepare badly.
3. What was the best
moment for you during this year’s challenge?
Making my ‘O’ post for A to Z and the April WEP/IWSG post around
the theme of ‘Jewel
Box’ work, even though my overall theme had nothing to do with jewels.
But it was Crime and the comments approved of the episode.
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4. What is the best
comment your blog got during the challenge, and who left the comment?
It’s hard to choose one, from those that persisted with my
short story/novella – like Ronel Janse van Vuuren who looks forward
to the Arson
posts [WEP/IWSG Challenge] and Liz Brownlee, to those from sites I
read consistently who were regular commentators – including the Ninja Captain,
leader of IWSG. Okay, two made me blush and amp up my fiction writing:
“Wow, I don’t know if it just comes naturally or you did it
on purpose, but I loved the numerous uses of D words, then C words, then B
words creating a kind of reverse A to Z musical crescendo as the clues to the
plot pile up !” Susan Rouchard
“Very interesting, Roland. I picked up on snippets of alliteration
sprinkled here and there. (I love alliterative writing).” Michelle
Wallace
5. Will you do the
challenge again?
Can I stay away? Am I addicted? Of course.
6. Was it well
organized and were the hosts helpful? (Did you fill out the after survey?)
Well organised as always. Hosts so good some dropped by to
check my glass was topped up and I was enjoying the canapes. I didn’t need to
hassle them once – even for some ink for my pen. And yes, I filled out the
survey.
7. How did you and
your blog grow, change, or improve as a result of this challenge? Did you find
new blogs out there to enjoy?
I chose the wrong theme to attract many new followers, but I
signed up for a few new sites. My writing has probably improved, but my site has
only been tweaked – I may make changes/updates over the year ahead. But those
new sites are expanding my horizons.
8. Were you on
the Master List? (If you did the challenge last year, was it
better this time without the daily lists?)
I was on the Master List but didn’t use it – so, I can’t
compare it to last year. In fact, I’ve got a backlog of A-Z blog emails/sites
to visit – apologies to those awaiting a visit and a comment.
9. Any suggestions
for our future?
Not anything practical at the Team A to Z’s end. At mine –
get organised earlier.
10. Any notes to the
co-host team? A word of thanks to Jeremy for all his hard work on the graphics?
A picture with your A to Z shirt, if you ordered one?
Congratulations and thanks to you all: J Lenni, Jeremy – I
loved the badges and used them – Jayden,
Zalka and John, plus last but vitally they key, Arlee for making all this
possible ten years ago and counting.
What have I missed/evaded? What
questions do you have?
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To find, and hop to,
all the blogs officially participating in REFLECTIONS, click the following LINK
TO REFLECTION LIST:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BakdXuadi9VJE1JM3mcnR9H8ooleTRoX9JGHlF-OYy4
