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Friday, February 3, 2012

Light My Fire: Reflections on the A to Z Challenge

Today we have the privilege of helping Jaime D. of Awakenings and Reflections celebrate her blog's 2nd anniversary! She's guest posting to offer some motivations that will light the fire in YOU  to join us for the challenge!  Let's give her a warm, alphabet-fan welcome!

Light My Fire: Reflections on the A to Z Challenge
       I have been blogging for two years and really enjoy it. There are so many interesting people in the world and blogging connects us on multiple levels. As much as I love blogging, I just don’t feel like I have fully embraced it. I am intentional about creating my posts and I truly appreciate all of the amazing writers and photographers who share their work. I’ve been feeling stuck, though. I have felt like I need to move forward and I didn’t know how to. That is until I came across an A to Z Blogging Challenge badge at Teresa's blog, Journaling Woman.
     After reading about the Challenge, I feel motivated to join. More importantly, I feel motivated to write. Since this will be my first time, I’ve been reviewing the great tips and resources out there. It seems like most people are faced with the ultimate question: to write posts ahead or not? I have decided to choose my words prior to April. They will be words that mean something to me so that when I write I am being authentic. I have created a table with the different posting days in April and am jotting down one or two words (post themes) when they pop into my head. But who am I kidding? I am a procrastinator and I work best under pressure. I’ve always been like this and it is too late in life to pretend that I’m not. I’ll probably end up with a combination of pre-written and in-the-moment posts.
       I’m sure that this challenge holds different meanings for everyone involved and that bloggers are motivated to join for an array of unique reasons. For me, the A to Z Blogging Challenge is the spark that has been missing in my blog world. I already feel a rush of adrenaline from the anticipation, an increased sense of community and the energized feeling I get when I know I am about to embark on an adventure. My creative fire has been lit and I am thankful for the spark provided by the A to Z Challenge.
Wishing that everyone finds their spark,
   



12 comments:

Gossip_Grl said...

Thanks for the post. :) I too want another direction which is why I am doing the challenge. Like you I procrastinate badly, with a touch A.D.D. I have a little notebook to jot down ideas and sadly it only has a few. TG there are still days left. : )

Marta Szemik said...

I am too excited about the challenge, mostly to see if I can do it. I will have some posts ready before the challenge, just to get that breathing room when needed, but not all of them. Some will have to be done on the day of, or the night before.

Arlee Bird said...

Good luck with the Challenge, Jaime. A to Z does mean different things to different bloggers. It's a great way to develop discipline in writing and blogging. Plus, so much can be learned in the community of helpful bloggers who participate.

Lee

Jax said...

2 Years is a long time! I'm impressed :)

Good luck with the Challenge.

Following!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

A sense of community - that is the perfect description!

Ron Easton for Dads UnLimited said...

I too feel that the A-Z Challenge last year really helped me to focus on where I am today with both my blog and direction for life...that sounds pretty big when I add that part, and I guess it is!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Good luck with the challenge, I know you will find it fun.

Yvonne.

Jaime said...

Thanks so much! I am really stoked about the challenge in April. I hope that everyone has a great weekend.

MISH said...

Hey Jaime
Congrats on your 2nd blogoversary! Sounds like you're all FIRED UP for the April challenge...
I'm in "simmer-mode" as I prepare for the challenge... the "firing" will come sometime next month as we get closer to the challenge.
Good luck to you!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Jaimie and Lee .. great newcomer - and I'm sure you'll have fun .. enjoy the process - there's so much going on this blogging world ..

Cheers Hilary

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I really enjoyed this post! Now I'm going over to Jaimie's blog to meet here and say hi.

Sharon Cunningham Cooper said...

Hey Jaime! Nice post. Good luck w/ the challenge and congratulations on 2 yrs. of blogging!!