Unexpected #AtoZChallenge 2024

Unexpected things emerge all the time during a challenge. Unexpected obstacles. Unexpected tasks to complete, unexpected reasons why you might be delayed, or might be kept from visiting as much as you'd like.

But let's focus on the times when the Unexpected brings something good into your challenge experience!

Unexpected themes that you fell in love with...

Unexpected compliments you got int he comments...

Unexpected new blogs you discovered and followed...

Unexpected connections on social media!

Share in the comments, and give shout-outs to your favorite unexpected discoveries this year!

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Hop to as many blogs in the challenge as possible. Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

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http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
@a.to.z.challenge     @atozchallenge
@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge

Now or Never, or maybe Next Time #AtoZChallenge 2024

We are past the halfway point! Pat yourself on the back, if you have made it this far! The Challenge is an intense undertaking, for sure. So this is your halfway reminder to be kind to yourself. Celebrate the posts you made! Even if you didn't have as much time, or haven't done as much research, or visited as many people... you are still doing it, and that is great!

Also halfway through the challenge, whether you are a newcomer or a veteran, things usually become more clear. Take a moment to take some NOTES. 

What are you doing well NOW? What are the things you are enjoying this time around in the challenge?

What are you NEVER doing again? Is there something you would change?

What are you going to do NEXT TIME? Keep, discard, change - were you inspired by someone's blog, or theme, or style? Do share in the comments!

Keep on blogging! :) 

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Hop to as many blogs in the challenge as possible. Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

bloglovin.com/blogs/blogging-from-a-to-z-april-challenge-3294742
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
@a.to.z.challenge     @atozchallenge
@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge

Keeping Heart #atozchallenge 2024

If you're not accustomed to blogging every day, you learn that coming up with a daily blog post is hard work. I've been blogging daily for almost ten years, and it's still hard work. But hard work isn't the only factor behind blogging: you have to keep your heart in it.

Easier said than done, isn't it?

You're going to have days when you sit at the computer and say, "you know, I don't want to blog today. I just want to sit here and watch cat videos on YouTube." And that's okay: we all get that way sometimes. The trick is to have your blog stuff done first. How can you do that?

1. Build up a backlog. On days when you feel like you could write all day, write a few extra blog posts. If you have a pretty set schedule every day (Monday's Music Moves Me, Top Ten Tuesday etc.), it's pretty easy to do that. If you don't have a set schedule, find blog topics that have no "expiration date" and accumulate a pile of those, sitting in "draft" status, ready to release when you need to.

2. Re-run previous posts. When you need a post and don't have one, find a post you've run previously and run it again as an "encore presentation." In fact, find a bunch of your best posts when you have some "down time" and keep them in reserve. When you re-run them, make it obvious that it's an encore.

3. Be honest. There have been one or two times when I just couldn't get the lead out and told my readers "Sorry, no blog today."

Are there some techniques you use when you have a post due and have trouble getting it out?

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Hop to as many blogs in the challenge as possible. Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

bloglovin.com/blogs/blogging-from-a-to-z-april-challenge-3294742
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
@a.to.z.challenge     @atozchallenge
@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge

Desire #atozchallenge 2024

Sign-up for the challenge! ***https://forms.gle/41PjgHFL4zwnM2Am7***

If this is your first A to Z Challenge, what made you decide to do it?

If this is not your first Challenge (especially if you've been away for a year or more), what brought you back again this year?

In short, what do you want out of the challenge? Some possible things you get from doing this annual exercise:

• You want more traffic for your blog.
• You have a great theme that you want to share with everyone.
• You're looking for new "blog buddies."
• You're interested in seeing what everyone else comes up with.
• Force of habit?

What you want is your desire. Kind of a strong word for it, I admit, but that's what it is. It's what makes you come back every year. For me, this is the highlight of my blogging year. I want to see what everyone else does. I have a theme that I think will be entertaining. More traffic would be nice, of course, even though this is pretty much just something to do.

Whatever your desire for this year's Challenge, I hope you find it.

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Hop to as many blogs in the challenge as possible. Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

bloglovin.com/blogs/blogging-from-a-to-z-april-challenge-3294742
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
@a.to.z.challenge     @atozchallenge
@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge