IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The 2024 OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: coming soon
Showing posts with label #atozchallenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #atozchallenge. Show all posts

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Fall in Love with Blogs and Blog Hops Again!


February the Month Of Love: Image by Freepik

February is often thought of as the month of love. Here at the A to Z Blog Challenge, we're falling in love with Blogs and Blog Hops again! With my own blog, I have found my attention to it waxes and wanes throughout the year. I try so hard to keep updating it consistently, and I have definitely found that my best success has been through the community of bloggers (and the support of my husband and co-blogger!) and I am very much looking forward to my next round of A to Z Challenge posts to keep my momentum going!

So tell us, what are your favorite blog hops or blog challenges that you participate in throughout the year?


~Jayden R. Vincente
Erotic Fiction Blogger (adults only!)
jrvincente.com

Monday, January 1, 2024

New Year 2024 Bucket List of Blogging Goals #AtoZChallenge

 πŸŽ‡πŸŽ‰πŸΎπŸ‘ΆπŸ•›πŸ‘΄πŸŽˆπŸŽΆπŸ“…

Happy 2024!


Blogging proclamation for 2024: 

BE YOUR FAVORITE BLOGGER

That's the challenge put forth to you, a suggested New Year's Resolution, a goal, or a Bucket List item. 


What do you want? What would make a blog your favorite? Is it just the blog, or is it the blogger behind it? 

Do you love blogs with daily, weekly, or monthly posts?

How about blogs with lots of pictures?

Maybe your favorite spots are where someone replies to comments? Or reciprocate by visiting your blog in turn? Perhaps it's where a blogger has created a community? 


There is no right or wrong way to become a favorite blogger. Make a list of what you'd want in an ideal blog, and then do that. 


Maybe you'll find that your favorite blogs are ones that review products or recommend books. Or blogs where authors are interviewed. Perhaps your favorite blogs will be ones that normally get more than fifty comments a post. It could be blogs filled with poems. 

Refer back to the 2023 Master List. Look at the different categories. Check out what other people are doing. Take notes about what you love most. 

πŸ’—

It's a new year. That's the best time to remake your blog. Turn it into your own favorite. It's a great way to renew your passion and get the attention of your ideal audience.


@StevenBartlett @quote #life

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Z for Zealously #atozchallenge 2023

#AtoZChallenge 2023 letter Z


Blog zealously (with great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective).
Zealously definition #atozchallenge

Part of being resilient about blogging is staying enthusiastic, or at least faking it. Resilient bloggers have the same hard lives, stresses, and roadblocks as anyone else -- except they have a blogging community to provide a reason to keep making posts, a reliable audience to leave them comments, and a sustainable list of other blogs to visit regularly. If you've just finished the challenge, you should now have all of those!

In a training session, a doctor said just because your patients are resilient doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering. This concept of coexistence struck me. Resilience is often out of necessity, and doesn’t mean someone is okay.


We hope you enjoyed the challenge this year. Congratulations on making it to letter Z. πŸ™ŒπŸŽ‰
You've earned a nap. πŸ˜΄πŸ’€

Winner Badge


#AtoZChallenge 2023 Winner

2023 Site Stats-- Views and Most Popular Posts


#AtoZChallenge Views 2023
#AtoZChallenge most popular posts 2023


March 10, 2024, will be our next Theme Reveal.

Mark it on your calendar now. 

Tomorrow, May 1, Arlee will post the REFLECTIONS sign-up. 
It's important to let us know how the challenge went this year, if you feel the team has been RESILIENT at keeping this international bloghop going, what went right, what went wrong, anything you wish was different, how being part of this blogging community impacts your blog and online social standing, and whatever else you want to share. 

If any brave graphic artists/ talents out there wish to apply to do the 2024 graphics, leaving a potential sample badge in your reflection would be cool. (It is a LOT of work. There are close to 40 graphics to produce and get approved by the team. Plus the Instagram platform to run.) Our anonymous helper this year opted not to share their information because of the increase in graphics complaints since Jeremy died. It's not a gratitude-heavy volunteer position. HTML and Blogger platform knowledge is a huge bonus. 

Follow us on social media all year, because we have fun posts planned.

bloglovin
bloglovin.com/blogs/blogging-from-a-to-z-april-challenge-3294742

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com

Instagram @a.to.z.challenge @a.to.z.challenge Facebook logo @atozchallenge
Twitter @AprilA2Z @AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge
Please follow us on social media.

#AtoZChallenge 2023 badge

Friday, April 28, 2023

X for Xiexie and Xenium #AtoZChallenge 2023

#AtoZChallenge 2023 letter X


Xiexie

Definition: a remark showing gratefulness 

Xenium

Definition: something presented to guests as a farewell gift  

(Source: https://intothepixel.com/positive-words-that-start-with-x)


The A to Z team is grateful to every blogger who took part this year. The alphabet is nearly over! Here is the badge for anyone who feels they have earned it, as our farewell gift for this year. (Don't worry, Y and Z will still post. As well as Reflections and the Road Trip!)

Winner Badge


#AtoZChallenge 2023 Winner

March 10, 2024, will be our next Theme Reveal.

Mark it on your calendar now. 

On May 1, Arlee will post the REFLECTIONS sign-up. It's important to let us know how the challenge went this year, if you feel the team has been RESILIENT at keeping this international bloghop going, what went right, what went wrong, anything you wish was different, how being part of this blogging community impacts your blog and social standing, and whatever else you want to share. 

Also, if any brave graphic artists/ talents out there wish to apply to do the 2024 graphics, leaving a suggested sample in your reflection would be cool. (It is a LOT of work. There are close to 40 graphics to produce and get approved by the team. Plus the Instagram platform to run.) Our anonymous helper this year opted not to share their information because of the increase in graphics complaints since Jeremy died. It's not a gratitude-heavy volunteer position. HTML and Blogger platform knowledge is a huge bonus. 

Follow us on social media all year, because we have fun posts planned.

bloglovin
bloglovin.com/blogs/blogging-from-a-to-z-april-challenge-3294742

Instagram @a.to.z.challenge @a.to.z.challenge Facebook logo @atozchallenge
Twitter @AprilA2Z @AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge
Please follow us on social media.

#AtoZChallenge 2023 badge

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

V is for Victory Lap (#AtoZChallenge)


We are close to the end! Only a few more letters to go.

Pat yourselves on the back! (Or on the shoulder).

How are you going to celebrate your victory in completing the Challenge this year? Because you deserve to celebrate your accomplishments!

If you finished the Challenge, celebrate it!

If you made some posts, celebrate those!

If you visited new people and made new connections, celebrate them!

Even if it's just a small thing. Tiny everyday celebrations are important. Have fun! :)

Friday, April 21, 2023

S is for Surprises (#AtoZChallenge)



Even with the best laid plans and the best preparation, SURPRISES can happen. Our resilience is constantly tested when we face something we absolutely did not expect or prepare for. Case in point: I thought as I was all prepared for this month... and then my phone went down. And then the internet. And both proved to be a lot harder to fix than anticipated. And suddenly, keeping up with the Challenge became harder.

What do we do when SURPRISE pops out of nowhere? Well, if we are resilient, we deal with it. Here is a piece of advice that was very meaningful to me, and helpful in dealing with "WHAT IF?" anxieties. I'd like to share it, maybe it will help you too:

You CAN'T prepare for everything. You can't have a plan for every possible event. What you CAN do is build your resilience: take care of yourself, build up your reserves of energy, mental strength, physical wellbeing. So when the unexpected DOES happen (and it will), you have the reserves to deal with it.

Some surprises are not fun. But some of them are. Did you come across any FUN surprises during this year's Challenge? :)

I personally was delightfully surprised by a lot of great themes this year.

Keep up the good work, you are doing great! :)

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Q is for Querying #AtoZChallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2023 letter Q The proverb is Nana korobi, ya oki which means Fall down seven times, stand up eight.


Hi!
I’m Brandy, a writer of YA fantasy, thrillers and adult fantasy. And the Japanese proverb above encompasses my own personal definition of resilience: the ability to stand up after being knocked down, and a willingness to put yourself in a position to face the same circumstances, even when you know you might get knocked down again. 

Never have I found this more true than with the experience of querying.

question marks

For the writers out there you may associate querying with one of the steps on the path to traditional publishing. This is certainly what I think of. But I think that we all query way more than we realize.
love keyboard

A typical job search parallels querying very closely,
As does using dating apps,
Or, hoping for engagement with blog posts.


In all of these we are selling ourselves, our work, our experience and backgrounds, our interests, packaging them into tidy bundles that we hope will appeal.

And when rejection hits- it hurts.
Batman Robin Grey's Anatomy pick me quote passed

A lot. 

This is where resilience comes in. 

For me resiliency in querying is based on two factors:
Accepting rejection without internalizing it.  My work is being rejected. But others' opinions on my work is not a reflection of my personal worth.
Reminding myself if a door closes, it probably wasn’t the door for me. I don’t want to work with an agent or publisher who doesn’t love my work. 

I think these translate well to other avenues of querying whether it’s in your work or personal life.

When you’re resilient you have the ability to accept rejection, despite how personal it feels, and continue to put yourselves out there.

If you’re writing that means continuing to query your book, or the next book.
If you’re applying to jobs that means continuing to search for a role you want and not settling for the first opening that says yes.
If you’re searching for connection that means continuing to look.
And if you’re putting yourself out there with blog posts, it means taking on challenges like A to Z, to find the right audience and to make connections with other bloggers.


Sure, I fall down a lot, but I always get back up.


#AtoZChallenge 2023 badge

Thursday, April 13, 2023

L is for Letters and Memories



Some of you blogging about history and genealogy might be familiar with this genre: A few years ago I started binge-reading published letters and diaries written by women who lived in turbulent times (WWI, WWII, 19th century revolutions and civil wars, etc.). They are a fascinating read, because they rarely focus on the large events of history - they tell us about the day to day life and struggles of individual, average people. These collections are a stunning testimony to RESILIENCE. Holding on to hope, taking care of each other, surviving against all odds. I am lucky enough to have some of these letters and diaries saved from my own grandparents who lived through WWII. They are precious, important stories that should not be forgotten.

Living in turbulent times, it is good to remember the people who lived through all kinds of hardships, and left their testimony, not as history texts, but as stories told in their own voice. They give us hope, teach us empathy, and tell us a lot about what resilience looks like.

If you have book or blog recommendations on this topic, please share in the comments! And don't forget: what you write now, might become similarly precious for people in a few decades... 

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

J's Jamboree #AtoZchallenge 2023

#AtoZChallenge 2023 letter J


Howdy! J Lenni Dorner here, your April Blogging from A to Z Challenge team captian, with the letter j post. Time for

J's Jamboree!

(A celebration, possibly international in scope, with a party-like atmosphere.)

πŸ₯³πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‡πŸŽˆπŸ“£πŸŽ΅

Jubilation is a jackpot when working on resilience. Stay jolly while being as flexible as jelly and your resilience in blogging will be justified. A joyful attitude can be felt by your audience.

Be sure to jump to the blogs of others who joined us. Jabber in comments may cause bloggers to dance a jig. Our master list is jam-packed with more than just journalized blogs. Jellyfish don’t have brains 🧠, but bloggers do, so use them to juggle some jim-dandy remarks.


#AtoZChallenge 2023 badge

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

I is for, well, I. #AtoZChallenge

 I is for, well, I.


We're now in the second full week of A to Z, and I want to encourage you all to not lose sight of why you're doing this challenge. I won't speak for you, but I will share with you the reasons I am participating.

  1. I want to encourage others to challenge themselves.
  2. I want to challenge myself to get back to writing again.
  3. I want to share my blog with the world.
  4. I want to find more blogs I love reading.
What are some of the reasons you are participating?

Saturday, April 8, 2023

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

E is for Energy


People who are especially enthusiastic and dedicated to what they do (whether it is work, a hobby, a cause) tend to overlook the fact that your energy is a finite resource. Some of these things sound self-explanatory, but they are worth repeating:

1. Just because you technically have the TIME to take on another task, doesn't mean you have the ENERGY to do more.

2. The best way to be prepared for unexpected situations life throws at us is to have RESERVES we can use to problem-solve. That means, even if you can't prepare for everything (I know, my anxiety hates this too), you'll be prepared to have the ENERGY to deal with stuff.

3. This also means that REPLENISHING your ENERGY is not laziness. Rest, recharging, and self-care are vital.

4. Sadly, replenishing energy takes more time than you think. And since many of us work in situations where taking days off is not easy or even always possible, this makes ENERGY an even more precious resource. To have, and to spend.

What does all this have to do with resilience? The better you learn to spend your ENERGY, the more resilient you become in the face of unexpected challenges. And also, knowing what you are willing to spend it on makes you better at drawing boundaries, and valuing yourself. And that is very important.

Which is why it is especially awesome that you decided to spend so much energy this month on participating in the Challenge! Posting and visiting. Don't stress about numbers. You're doing great. Just have fun :)

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

C is for Candy #AtoZChallenge 2023

#AtoZChallenge 2023 letter C


Resilient candy. 

My area of the world is near the Just Born candy factory in Bethlehem, PA. Local stores are flooded with Peeps. What can these marshmallow candies endure?

"Peeperiments" (Peep experiments) include various acids, water, and microwaving. (πŸ’₯ I don't suggest trying the microwaving test. It's fun to watch, but not to clean.) Could Peeps "survive nuclear fallout"? Probably not. If they are kept in an airtight container they will last for up to two years.


Sources:
ajc.com/news
candyblog.net/blog/
peepresearch.org


πŸ“š
On a personal note, as evidence of my own resilience, the second book in my Existence series was released TODAY!
Proof of Existence is on Amazon- amzn.to/3ZZ1WM6. There's a giveaway for a blanket or character name on my blog.

C is for Candy #atozchallenge 2023


Will you celebrate #PeepsDay tomorrow, April 5?
What candy do you think is the most resilient? 

Monday, April 3, 2023

B is for Beauty

 B is for Beauty

B 2023 A-to-ZChallenge.com

There is beauty in resilience, don't you think?


A rainbow appears over a field

Whenever I see a rainbow after a storm, I'm reminded of the resilience of nature. The beauty that is encapsulated in this simple act of nature makes me think of other beautiful and resilient things in nature. I always think of all the animals who had to literally weather the storm. There is beauty in imagining the emerging of the animals from their shelters as the storm lets up and the sun begins to shine again.

As we embark on Day 2 of our A to Z Challenge, let's all remember the beauty in our resilience as writers, as bloggers, as people. 

Tell us about the beauty you find in resilience!

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Copy of the MASTER LIST 2023 #AtoZchallenge

Here's something new we're testing in 2023


#AtoZChallenge 2023 badge


Jayden has created a way for the spreadsheet FOR THE MASTER LIST 2023 to be visible here on the site.



#atozchallenge Theme reveal scroll reminder


This is not your personal copy. You won't be able to reorganize the entries. You can't change "no" to "yes" as you leave comments for others. 
You CAN see if anyone noted "other" with their theme category, and see which sites are "adult," by scrolling left and right. (see the image pointing out where the bottom scrollbar is located). 


Depending on feedback, if this method is popular with our blog-hopping participants, we will make a post like this for the other forms too. The form will update until April 9. (It can take Google up to five hours to refresh. If you sign up and don't see your info on the list on this post by then, please contact a team member. We're locked to the top of the list for your convenience.) 

Please, let us know if you enjoy having the completed list on a post on our site.


Get your own copy of The 2023 OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://tinyurl.com/3we8aa84 (File, make a copy -- be sure to keep it updated!)

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Theme Reveal is now Closed #AtoZChallenge

  


Thanks to all those who signed up for the Theme Reveal for the A to Z Challenge!

If you missed signing up, have no fear. The Master List opens on Sunday, March 26th! In the meantime, check out these blogs who are going to be participating in the A to Z Challenge! Feel free to make a copy of the list so you can check off the ones you've read. Remember to leave your link on others' blogs so we can all get to know each other a bit through this challenge.

We are all looking forward to being on this journey with you!

Saturday, March 11, 2023

A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal Event 2023! #AtoZChallenge

 


HTML Code for those who use it:

It's that time of the year again, bloggers! 

Welcome to the 2023 A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal!

***Note: This is a separate event, for those who want to announce their A to Z theme. You will still have to sign up for the Master List to participate! The Master List opens on March 26th! There will be a post!***

If you are planning to do a theme on your blog in April, this is your chance to share it with all of us!

Step 1: Write a Theme Reveal post and publish it on your blog. Tell us what theme you chose for yourself this year!

Step 2: Fill out this form (link) to sign up! Make sure you put in the direct link to your theme reveal post, not to your blog in general! And don't forget to take a look at our list of Categories!

Step 3: Head over to the list of participants (link), and visit others to see what themes they are doing! If you take a copy now (File> Make a Copy), be sure to come back after sign-ups close to grab the information of the rest of the participants.

Please join the Theme Reveal by March 18th. After that, this form will be closed. The Master List for the challenge will open on March 26th!

We are all looking forward to being on this journey with you!

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

2023 Calendar #AtoZchallenge

 



March 12- 18= Theme Reveal
March 26- April 8= 2023 Master List sign-up
May 1-6 = Reflections
May 15= Road Trip

Participant Badge


#AtoZChallenge 2023 badge
Change the * height="250" width= "250" * numbers in the code to suit your needs. As long as both numbers match, the image remains square.


The team's theme for the 2023 A to Z Challenge is RESILIENCE.


Our bloggers have adapted to new circumstances, many having persisted through tough times in and outside the blogosphere, and have transformed and revolutionized their blogging skills to be here with us this year. We praise the fortitude it takes to run a successful blog (whatever qualities you consider a success) in 2023 and are grateful for each participant in the
April Blogging from A to Z Challenge.
Our new (anonymous πŸ₯”) graphics person hopes you'll enjoy the image of the resilient tree on the 2023 graphics.