I signed up for the April A to Z Challenge. Yeah, I know, clearly I was not in my right mind. It’s done now so here we go.
In 2014 I participated and survived posting my way through the alphabet and felt a mild exhilaration when putting the final touches to that year’s A-Z Reflection post. It was a blast and the afterglow lasted a while. Having a theme on which to hang the month’s posts was helpful and singularly the most important element to finding my way to the finishing line.
On the back of that experience I am looking to follow a theme again but when I started to fill the editorial calendar I realised a lot of what I wanted to say has already been said, here – by me.
It made me understand the important role values have in the everyday choices I make. On the basis of that I decided to use this challenge to explore those values. There it is, an entire month to discuss a range of values that drive the decisions I, and others, make to live the lives we ascribe to. Posts will vary in length from short to shorter, other posts will be dedicated to activities that add value to the journey and thirdly there will be some short photo-journal posts that illustrate what I’m trying to convey – a picture tells a thousand words, huh.
The challenge requires that we post Mondays through Saturdays. Sundays we read and comment on other bloggers’ contributions. I cannot find the elaborate plan that was to have kept me on track during April but not to worry because I’m giving this my best shot. And because I plan to reach the finishing line here’s the plan… “so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel“.
- Use an editorial calendar and blog planner (and stick to the plan)
- Shorter posts: the shorter the posts the easier it will be to get around and visit other bloggers’ work; also less time to put a post together (a challenge on its own)
- Set aside writing days and schedule posts ahead (another challenge)
Yep, April is going to be hectic around here but then that’s how most of us live our lives nowadays. If you would like to participate head over to April A to Z Challenge and check it out.
I look forward to seeing what you come with.
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That’s one interesting theme. I hope to get more inspiration from your articles.
See more of my #AtoZChallenge: Chinese Adventure at coolkidandy.wordpress.com.
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Like it that you have a plan. I kind of do..We will see.
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A plan is always the goal yet often the outcome is quite different 🙂 Linda Thank you for stopping by.
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This definitely sounds like a theme that would interest me, values are important, and sometimes that is forgotten in today’s me-focused world. I’ll be following you for the A to Z! 🙂
Josie Two Shoes
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Lovely to ‘see’ you here Josie and of course you’re right to notice that without values to guide us we can become navel-gazing :)Linda
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I think many of the greatest writers repeat the same themes and even the same stories, but just rewrite new variations to make them seem different.
Best wishes as you take on another April challenge.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out Theme Reveal: It’s About Time
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Thanx for stopping by and stopping to comment. I find my values have changed over the years so whatever comes up in April will be a different take on the values’ theme. :)Linda
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I am trying to get at least the first dozen latters filled out prior to April 1. You know there is always something pressing that will pop up to try to derail your effort. Good luck on your attempt.
I am laying out a new concept for a fiction novel I will try to write during NaNoWriMo in November.
Joe @ the Fiction Playground visiting from the A to Z Challenge
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Scheduling posts ahead is always a challenge for me, too, but I seem to wind up with better numbers when my timing isn’t bouncing all over the place.
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Hi Karen, thanx for stopping by and commenting. Do you find a particular time of day attracts more traffic? Linda
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I try to post at 8:00 in the morning, and I wind up seeing my surge about an hour or so later. I don’t actually know if that’s because of the time, or just because that’s when my readers (who I found by posting at 8) are available and expecting my post around then. It’s possible that whatever time would attract readers who are available at that time.
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That would make sense. I’m trialling a time for April and see how that goes.
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Sounds great, Linda & I look forward to following you as you traverse the alphabet via values.
I intended to participate this year and have a theme plus 9 posts written. However, I have gone into them more deeply than I thought I would, and I don’t have the time or energy to carry them all through. I will do my best to get them all done for next year’s A to Z.
Good luck with your. 🙂
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Hi Linda yes it can be like that sometimes but good on you for realising that it’s more than you could take on it this time but thanks for your feedback hope you’re doing well
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I am, in spite of some. I would love to get together for coffee again one day. family crises
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