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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Alphabet all the way

Has anyone here done the A-Z challenge?  That seems a silly question since last April it felt as if everyone was doing it. I'm thinking of signing up for this year and was wondering what you thought about it.  Was it fun, or just stressful?  Would you do it again?

It's a huge time commitment.  But if I start early enough I can get it all pre-scheduled and save all my time for visits.  I could use a shake up on my blog, but I'm just not sure I have that much to say.  At least, not that anyone would want to listen to. 

I think I'll do it, but I want to go in educated so I'd love to hear about your thoughts and experiences, participating or visiting blogs. What pages did you go back to over and over, which pages did you find yourself skimming over?    Thanks!

40 comments:

  1. I'm seriously thinking of joining this year but trying to figure out how it will fit within my blogging schedule.

    I agree, pre- writing your blogs is the way to go. Going in with something to say is just as important.

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  2. I'm not doing it. Between writing a post, blogging, and commenting back, I can easily spend 3-4 per post. I just cut back to blogging twice a week to give me more writing time. If I did the challenge,I would have no writing time.

    I'm counting April as a slow blogging month because of the challenge. I might even get more writing done during it because many of my regulars will be participating. :)

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    1. I remember that from last year. If you weren't doing A-Z it was very lonely in blogland.

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  3. Oh, but I will be checking things out. I love seeing what themes people go with. Can't wait to see what you come up with SP. :)

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    1. I can't wait to see what I come up with either. It may not be worth the anticipation though.

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  4. I did the Challenge last year for the first time, and I usually post 1-2 times a week on a very haphazard schedule. Commiting to six days a week for a month was a HUGE thing. But I LOVED it because my creativity really got a shot in the arm that month!

    Everybody should at least do it once! :)

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    1. I'm hoping that creativity shot is worth the time commitment.

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  5. Not in a million years! That would be all I was doing and I'm soooo close to the completion of the Rough Draft of FF that I'm not going to chance being sidetracked.

    Though I will check out all of you while you do it. ; )

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  6. I did it last year but probably won't this year. I'll be interested to see what you decide.

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    1. If I do it I can't see myself doing it more than once. Like NaNo. I want to experience it once, win it, then be done with it.

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  7. April is a bad month for me, as is November. Spring brings us all outside to get ready for more spring. Plus I'm hoping we sell the house by then and I can start doing the garage sales every weekend until everything's sold. Phew, big dreams, I know. But I want out of here!!!

    Okay, calm now. No, I haven't done the April A-Z, or the NaNo. Not sure if I ever will. I'm so behind in my WIPs.

    More power to you, Sara, if you get down and do them.

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    1. Sounds like April will be busy for you. I sure hope the house sells and everything goes well.

      You have to do what works for you. No use agreeing to something that will just make you stressed and miserable.

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  8. I'm going to be honest, I skim over almost everyone's A-Z challenge. When half your blog roll is based off the same letter... it gets annoying, and sometimes the posts feel sort of forced in order to fit the letter...

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    1. See, I kinda did that last year because it did get repetitive. Which is one reason I'm hesitant. I don't want to throw more garbage out that no one wants to read.

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  9. I've completed 2 A to Z Challenges and this will be my third.
    It's a great opportunity to meet new bloggers/writers, and a great way to blog everyday.
    You have to try at least ONE challenge to know what it's all about! To avoid undue stress, you can plan and write your posts in advance.
    Give it a bash, Sara. You can do it!

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    1. I probably ought to just so I can say I did. Last year I was in the middle of finalizing an adoption so couldn't do it. This year looks clear so far though.

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  10. Like DL, I did it last year for the first time too. I had nothing prepared and signed up at the very last minute. The only thing I had was a theme and I think that is what saved me. But I was up every night until way past midnight getting my post ready for the next day and visiting other blogs...It. Was. Crazy. But I'm SOOOOO glad I did it. I met some many amazing people, everyone was so supportive and I wrote some crazy stuff that really opened up the creativity valves. This year I'm going to do it again, BUT I want to be a little more prepared, so if you can pre write your posts, do it. And I know you have TONS to share with us. But if your nervous, think of a theme and have some kind of game plan and the rest will be crazy awesome. (:

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  11. I want to do it too, but I think I'll be swamped with more than I can manage.

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    1. You can only do so much, do what's most important and you'll be happy.

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  12. I've never done it, but I think I'm going to try. I'll HAVE to pre-write everything though. Otherwise it just won't happen.

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  13. I haven't done it, but I think this is my year. It's worth a shot, anyway [g]

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  14. I'm still undecided. I enjoyed doing it last year, but it is a HUGE time suck. The only way I'll do it is if I complete all my posts by the end of March. That's how I did it last year, and I can't imagine having the time to do it any other way.

    BUT, you don't HAVE to visit all of the blogs. There are just too many of them. If you decide to visit X number of new blogs a day, it'd be a lot less stressful. Or, heck, forget about setting a quota at all; just do what you can do, and have fun with it.

    Crud. Sounds like I'm talking myself into it, doesn't it?

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  15. I've never tried it - I think I'd burn out with a daily post as well as getting around to visit other blogs.
    But what I am doing this year A-Z in 26 weeks with my little girl just starting school :)

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    1. That sounds fun! I should try something like that with my son.

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  16. I've never participated, but I admire your ambition, Sara. Good luck with it!!

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    1. Thanks, we'll see if I can come up with anything.

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  17. I simply know I can't commit that amount of time an energy, but I certainly admire those who participate!

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    1. I'm worried about the time and energy, but if I'm going to do it, this is the year. Things look good and it might be the only time it works.

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  18. I made loads of great friends last year. So it's definitely great for getting to know people. Some bloggers I may have visited only once, but if it was a theme I really liked I made sure to go back almost every day. It's fun AND stressful, but it's a good stress, I think! My theme this year will involve audience help to create a story throughout the month. So I can't preplan, but I think my posts will be fairly quick to write, and won't involve any research. Good luck, I think it's worth giving it a go and seeing what happens!

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    1. I think you're right. I won't ever know if I'm capable if I don't try.

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  19. Hi, S.P.,
    I've done the Challenge a few times now, but haven't been able to pre-schedule the last two times, which makes for a hectic month. I find it's a lot easier if I stay with a theme, which I'm going to try and do this year.

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    1. I've started writing my posts but I'm not sticking to a theme. I find that hard for some reason. Hubby says I'm flighty and unfocused, I think he's crazy...

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  20. Me me me! I did it last year. I think I tried it before then, but wasn't dedicated or organised. Last year I had a theme, which helped enormously, and I scheduled as many as I could in advance. And I kept 'em short. I really hope I can do it again this year.

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  21. I'm doing it, but I'm a little nervous I'm going to pre-write all these posts and visit all these people and not get any response. I find you don't get many visitors from those really big challenges or hops. I'm doing it more for my own entertainment and to find new communities to participate in.

    I want to spend my time visiting and commenting, so I need to pre-write as much as possible. Of course to complicate things, I went and signed up for a February daily writing challenge too. I'm going back to work March 4 (I'm on mat leave right now) and there's no way I can handle writing daily posts and visit everyone at the same time.

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