Reflections on the April A-Z Challenge

Reflections on the A-Z Blogging Challenge

Most of you know that I took part in the April A-Z blogging challenge. Arlee Bird over at tossing it out http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/ (sorry I have no idea how to make link) started it as a celebration of reaching his goal of 200 followers. Which brings me to his questions about the challenge:

•What attracted you to the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge?

I first saw there was a challenge for April when I read a post by my friend Hart Johnson over at Confessions of a Watery Tart. http://waterytart23.blogspot.com/ She indicated that she would be participating. I don't know what made me decide to join, but it could be because Hart is one of the cool kids. Naked kids are the coolest kids.

Maybe it's because I knew that getting in on the challenge would only help me become a better writer/blogger or whatever it is I am. I could have just been a whim, but I rarely decide things in advance. That's the true Aquarius' way.


•Did you feel intimidated by the Challenge? and •Did you ever feel like quitting? What kept you going?


In a word YES. When I first joined I wasn't sure that I should have committed myself to blogging for 26 days in a month. Before I had only blogged about once every three weeks. Now I was getting into blogging almost daily. I wanted to look in the mirror and smack myself so I could see the red mark appear, BUT I don't like to back out of commitments. I don't like to disappoint. It would have really bothered me.

Thankfully the feelings of regret about joining the challenge went away quickly. I threw myself into it with gusto and never turned back.

•What do you think was your biggest contribution to the Challenge?

Hmmm. I suppose I provided a fair amount of entertainment? I know I tried to comment on plenty of blogs and I also tried to be encouraging.

•In finishing this challenge, will you be more apt to try other blogging or writing challenges (e.g.--NaNoWriMo)?

That's a good question. Maybe. I'm not going to say absolutely yes or no. Like I said before I rarely decide things in advance. If I do decide to do another challenge it will be a snap decision I didn't think through. haha!

•Do you feel you did your best in the Challenge? What could you have done better?

I did do my best. I sometimes thought of better ideas a day late. That can't be helped. Perhaps I could have commented on several more blogs, or blogged earlier in the day instead of in the afternoon. All things considered I think I did pretty good. I don't think I get an A+, but I think I at least get a B+.

•What did you learn from the Challenge?

I learned that there is really a fountain of creativity in my head that I just don't let out most of the time. Maybe I think I'm too busy or I spend a lot of time thinking about a story or poem and just never write it down. Most of my ideas get lost in my head. Mostly I learned that creativity doesn't just go away. It waits. One only has to keeping pushing one's self.

•Will you be blogging any more now than you used to?

I will. I enjoyed this month more than I thought I would. Even when it was hard I was always proud to have finished another entry. I like that feeling. I like that there are other bloggers willing to read the jumbled contents of my brain.

Special thanks

First, I'd like to thank Arlee bird for this amazing challenge. Second, I'd like to thank everyone who became a reader and follower over this past month. I really hope that you all will continue to read. Last but not least, I would like to give thanks to my 6 original readers. Without you I wouldn't have blogged at all.