IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The 2024 OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: coming soon

Monday, February 11, 2013

List-Loving Rosalind Adam Pays a Visit

 
Please join me today in welcoming second time challenge participant Rosalind Adam to the A-Z Blog! She's got some nuggets of truth and hints for you to digest as you prepare for THE CHALLENGE. I meat to shout that, because in the words of my two teen boys, it's going to be EPIC. They'd of course roll their eyes knowing I was using that word, but I do like making them roll their eyes...
So without further ado, glean what you can to better be prepared for April. You've got your badge up, right? You're signed up, right? You've started your networking (the purpose of the challenge – building your blogging community, right?) I think I've used up my “right” quota for the day...



10 Reasons for Loving Lists by Rosalind Adam

1.  When I was a teenager I loved the weekly Top 10 Chart hits, the Top 100 Records of the Year, the Top 20 films and so on. I was obsessed. I kept all manner of lists in the back of my school note book. Now the Internet is full of them so it’s not just me!

2. Today I can spend hours sorting out new playlists on my iPod. It’s replaced the hefty task of shuffling my LPs into preference order. I love the way that Word produces a list of my writing files in alphabetical or chronological order at the click of a button, and don’t even get me started on the lists I create with Excel.

3.  Lists are an excellent way to dump all that rubbish clogging up your brain. I’m always making To-Do lists, and as for shopping lists, they’re a must otherwise I’ll come home with pudding and forget all about the main course! 

4.  Lists of names make compulsive reading, like those Past Presidents on Sports Club walls or the list of attendees at a conference. I always hunt for my name on those attendance lists, even though I know I’m there.

5.  Then there are dictionaries, thesauruses, encyclopaedias, I love them all, especially catalogues. I may not need any of the items on offer but I have to pause over the list of small kitchen items because you really can’t have too many grippers for opening jars.

6.  Lists attract our eye, rather like a poem. There can be nothing worse than looking at a page of densely typed words. A list has a visually satisfying shape to it.

7.  When we see an article or blog post in list format, we know we’re going to get brief nuggets of information. There’ll be no rambling or repetition so we feel more inclined to stop and read.

8.  It has been proven that having a number in your blog title attracts more visitors, a ploy regularly used by advertisers.

9.  I’m guessing that most bloggers love to check their stats. Me too. Yet another example of the thrill of lists, and who doesn’t like to watch their list of followers grow? Incidentally, this is a guaranteed outcome of taking part in the A to Z Challenge!

10.  For me the A to Z Challenge is the ultimate in list making. I’ve already started making lists of the A to Z content for my theme and I’m going to include a small list in each day’s post, a list within a list. I will be a truly happy blogger.

Are you making lists to prepare for your A to Z contributions? It’s the only way to survive the month. See you in April. You’ll find me at Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain


Thanks Rosalind for being here today. I really like how you took your passion for lists and showed us what an asset that can be as we prepare! 


~Tina, coordinator of guest posters. Drop me an email if you'd like to be one.  tndowney at gmail dot com or the infoaz2013@gmail.com.  I check my personal more often...and I'm info@ email girl, so either way, you're talking to me.  If you want to talk to another co-host, use the contact tab above.

40 comments:

Rob Z Tobor said...

I am no good with lists, if someone gives me a list of things to do I end up doing something else.

This year on the A to Z I plan to write modern bizarre fairy tales that no one will understand. Normally I just write stuff on the day but I am doing some of this in advance this time as it hurt my brain last year. So I guess I am being a little more organized than I usually am in life . . . . . now were did I leave the other shoe?

Unknown said...

I LOVE lists & wouldn't survive without them! From to-do, grocery, kid stuff, crazy schedule, to WiP & editing, I am a list goddess!!!

Glad to see I'm not the only nut job on this earth.

Thanks for sharing & best of luck this April. Looking forward to your posts.

Unknown said...

Oh. One last thing - your link to your blog isn't working.

Jemima Pett said...

I'm looking at my list of things to do which sits at my right hand (actually my arm curls the paper every time I use the mousepad). It covers things for the AtoZ Challenge and other challenges - mainly about reading books to review for specific dates - tweeting events and preparing one book for Smashwords and the newest book for publication.

It's such a busy time I know if I don't have that list I will spend a couple of hours writing a new story to go with the letter Y. Yesterday I spent the afternoon writing one for the letter U, so it obviously doesn't help me that much!

Jemima at Jemima's blog

Anonymous said...

A great list. enjoyed reading.

Yvonne.

Rosalind Adam said...

Thanks to Terri for pointing out that my link isn't working. You can visit me on http://rosalindadam.blogspot.co.uk/
I know that Tina will be fixing it soon :-)

I'll be back in a bit to respond to you all. Thanks for the comments so far.

Manzanita said...

Rosalind, A list within a list, huh? Looking forward to reading your posts.

Melissa Ann Goodwin said...

I am a list-maker, and I'll add something I've already done to my list just to have the pleasure of crossing it off. Love that organization of what's to be done, and the satisfaction of accomplishment. You either love lists or you hate them!!

Anonymous said...

Lists also help you remember what you're doing. Some great ideas have been known to completely evaporate without the help of lists. Others have been a starting point for new ideas, because those original lists were started. Been working on my A - Z lists for a while now. I'll have them ready a little early, so I can spend as much time hopping through April as possible :)

katie eggeman said...

I am not usually a list maker, but for this challenge I have started my list of posts early. List making might be the best way to organize this challenge.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

It's all about readability. Lists and bullet points are easy on the eyes.

Mark Means said...

For me, the 'to do' list is invaluable. I'm constantly looking for the best online method and then, invariably, just use Excel...lol

Rosalind Adam said...

Hi Rob, I'm with you on that one. I hate it if someone gives me a list of jobs to do. It only works for me if I make the list myself.

Hi Terri, being a list goddess sounds good to me. I'm looking forward to visiting you too.

Hi Jemima, hey don't knock it. At least you're starting to get some A to Z posts planned.

Hi Yvonne and thanks.

Hi Manzanita, great to see you over here and I'm looking forward to yours too. Remember, we'd never have met if it hadn't been for the A to Z!

Hi Melissa, so glad it's not just me. I have been known to add something to my To Do List after I've done it too.

Hi M.J., that's another form of list that I didn't think to include, the brainstorming list. Thanks for that.

Hi Banker Chick, I suspect it'll be the only way to complete the posts AND visit other bloggers.

Hi Diane, I couldn't agree more. I do hope that all those A to Z posts we'll be visiting are easy on the eye too. I'm quite a slow reader!

http://rosalindadam.blogspot.co.uk/

Rosalind Adam said...

YAY!! I've spent hours trying to work this link out. Think I've got it sorted thanks to kind people on Twitter. You can find me at Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I love lists too. Give me the facts and I'm happy.

Tina said...

I did fix your link, but I don' know what was wrong because it was working when I put your post up...oh well, the strangeness of what a computer will do baffles me sometimes...

I'm a list lover myself, have them all over the place. I get nothing done unless it's written down. AND, I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one who will add an item just to cross it off. See? I'm not totally weird...just sorta...

Tina @ Life is Good
Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge
@TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge

Arlee Bird said...

Who doesn't like lists! Great post and for anyone who's ever trying to come up with a blog topic, compile a list!

Lee
Have you ever compiled a life soundtrack?
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

A number in the blog title? Good to know.

betty said...

Definitely making a list for the A/Z Challenge. I've grown to make more lists the older I get; especially for the grocery store!

betty

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Tina and guesting Ros - I've got out of being that organised ... I suspect I'm going back in that direction - a good thing as I'll be organised!!

I've started my A-Z list .. and I'm usually pretty well set - thankfully the brain works wonders!! I didn't know that about the numbers thing and advertising ...

The stats for my blog I'm oblivious to .. I can see I might become more interested ...

Love your lists here .. and it's so much easier to read shorter sentences, and paragraphs ..


See you both .. cheers Hilary

Teacher-Mom said...

I just had to post a link to little funny I heard on the radio about the dangers of list making. And too, keeping to lists and keeping to them is...challenging!(g)

Teacher-Mom said...

Whoops! Here's the link. See challenging...I am now marking this task off my list!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YFRUSTiFUs

Anonymous said...

A woman after my own heart. Srsly.

Michelle Wallace said...

For visual appeal, a list is the way to go... it works like a charm!

Rosalind Adam said...

Hi Susan, you and me both :-)

Hi Tina, thanks for fixing the link and I too am relieved that it's not just me who loves lists.

Thanks Arlee and that sounds like good advice for blog ideas too.

Hi Alex, yes I thought I'd use that one too. I suppose it would lose its effectiveness if every post had a number in the title but trying the occasional one won't go a miss.

Hi That Corgi, yes I suspect that age has something to do with the shopping list obsession but I've been hooked on lists all my life.

Hi Hilary, great to see you over here and looking forward to sharing yet another A to Z with you :-)

Hi Teacher-Mom, now you tell me! I'd better go and see what dangers all these lists hold for me ;-)

Hi The Capillary, another list-maker. Excellent.

Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain

Rosalind Adam said...

Hi Mark, SORRY! I missed reading your comment before. I use Excel for all all my manuscript submission records. The lists can be reordered in publisher or manuscript order. Perfect!

Hi Michelle, you're right. Like I said, it reminds me of a poem.

Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain

Unknown said...

I love lists! But prioritizing is not my best quality (yet).

Since this is the first year I'm joining A to Z April challenge I've chosen my topic and I've started my list of posts to be written.

Discipline is important and lists help. I use daily lists and project lists and lists of projects and I'll soon need a list of my lists.

I do need to learn to be more methodical!

Nicole said...

Lists have always been one of my writing and organizing buddies ever since childhood. I did make one for the A to Z theme this year but having recently changed my mind about using that theme, that particular list is sorta useless and I'm back to square one trying to figure out what the heck I'm going to blog about in April.

-Nicole
AtoZ 2013 Co-Host
@MadlabPost on Twitter

Inger said...

I love lists too and as you get old they really help you remember what it was you wanted to do at any given moment.

Unknown said...

Rosalind. Some great thoughts from you and your commenters. List are helpful tools. They do help organize and make it easy on the eye. I didn't know that about numbers, a good tidbit to have. Appreciate your playful post, another thing offered by your list pleasantries. Thanks, Maria, http://delightdirectedliving.blogspot.com/

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm so NOT a list person, but I adored the top 10 music lists when I was a kid - and I read the encyclopedia set my folks had for fun too! :) My hubby on the other hand is a huge fan of lists!!!

Valerie said...

This is my first time taking part in this. Making a list is a great idea!! It makes it less overwhelming.

Hugs!

Valerie

D.M. SOLIS said...

Dear Shannon,

I have noticed a number of book titles use this technique also, ever since THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE--probably before. Now you have me wanting to pay more attention to how folks use it, and to try to be more conscious of how I use lists as well. Thank you.

Diane

Shannon Lawrence said...

I had never heard that a number in the title would bring in more readers! I wonder if it's because a number implies a list, which implies a shorter post? I think that is why I click when there is a number.

Shannon at The Warrior Muse

Rosalind Adam said...

Hi Elena, you do sound as if you're being good and methodical already. Maybe you need to number your To Do items? Just a thought ;-)

Hi Nicole, no list is ever wasted. That list will be of some use some day. Hope you have a great theme-idea soon.

Hi Inger, great to see you over here. I'm afraid I need lists more and more for the very same reason. *shrugs*

Thanks Maria, I suspect there are going to be quite a few blog posts with numbers in the title appearing very soon!

Hi Jemi, I loved/love reading encyclopaedias too. Funny, Mr A rarely makes a list unless he's about to start a new DIY job and is off to the plumbers merchants.

Hi Valerie, glad you decided to join in and I hope your lists help you during April. It can get a little hectic halfway through but it's great fun.

Hi Diane, I see that no one has yet mentioned 50 Shades of Grey or maybe that was just a hit in the UK. I'm not sure.

Hi Shannon, it's interesting that you say that it may imply a shorter post. I tend to avoid visiting those who post out extremely long pieces during the A to Z. It's just impossible to get round everyone otherwise.

Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain

Philip Verghese 'Ariel' said...

Hi Tina,
Yet another informative and educative piece related to this years a to z challenge and of course by the great blogger Rosalind, thanks both of you for this wonderful presentation. Indeed great lists here.

Its really good to follow some lists to go forward systematically, but quiet often it may not works either. Anyways this year i want to follow some lists systematically:-)


I posted a notification in my blog regarding this years blogging challenge. you can see that here. Philipscom

Happy Blogging to all.

Thanks again Rosalind for this great list.
Best Regards
Phil

Philip Verghese 'Ariel' said...

Tina,
I am sorry, something wrong with the link, looks like the link is broken here is the right link.
Philipscom

Empty Nest Insider said...

Hi Rosalind, I never thought about the analogy between lists and poems before, but it makes perfect sense. Looking forward to spending another A to Z with you! P.S. Tina this was EPIC!
Julie

Rosalind Adam said...

Thank you, Phil. You're very kind.

Hi Julie, good to see you over here. Yes, it'll be great to share our A to Z posts again :-)

Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain

Unknown said...

Rosalind,

I love your list of lists. They do make life more interesting and a bit easier, i agree!

I know I'll be keeping mine so as to keep my schedule as free as possible for April's A-Z fun.

See you then!