Monday, April 4, 2022

#AtoZChallenge C is for “Creativity vs. Conventionality”

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The team's theme of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year is:
ACCOMPLISHING YOUR DREAMS AND THE DUALITY OF 22

C = “Creativity vs. Conventionality”

When I learned I'd be assigned to write for the letter "C" for the A to Z team post, the first word that came to mind was creativity — mostly because so much of what I do for work as well as for fun requires that aptitude. Over the decades, it’s a "muscle" that I've worked out a lot. So, I know it to be well-developed when it comes to the way I approach most things in life. 

In deciding to view creativity through the lens of the A to Z theme of duality the concept that came to mind as being the opposite of creativity, to me, was conventionality. And so, it is the inverse nature of those two concepts that I've chosen to write about today . . . but, through a blogging perspective.

Balancing the Creative and Conventional

When you consider the life of a blogger, there are likely many habits and rituals that contribute to the convention of writing and posting to a blog on a recurring basis.

Every blogger has their own individual process that likely benefits from the use of something conventional. Perhaps it presents itself in the form of sitting down to write at the same time every day or routinely doing Task A before completing Task B and Task C. Perhaps your convention is eating the same breakfast every morning or wearing the same sweater when you write.

Some conventions are arbitrary to one's creative process and are just convenient or the result of "doing what you've always done."  But, some conventions are essential and necessary to a blog's longevity, such as those used to reinforce branding objectives . . . or those that allow followers to feel continuously connected to the content of a beloved blog.

What Conventions Inspire Your Creativity

Still, as non-creative as some conventions might be, there are benefits to having them . . . if they serve as the foundation on which one builds something creative and original. So, it's not a bad idea to periodically review your creative process and note the conventions that work for or against your creativity as it pertains to your blogging process. Are the habits and conventions you use every day working well for your process . . . or are they detrimental and dousing your creative spark?

As bloggers and creatives, we have to routinely walk the line between conventionality and creativity to come up with something relatable, yet original for the masses. What conventions will you rely on to spark original blog posts throughout the month of April as you write for the A to Z challenge? How do you use conventions to spark your creativity?

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Are there any conventions or habits within your creative process that spurs
innovative ideas for your blog or creative projects?

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Twitter @AprilA2Z@AprilA2Z
 

Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge
Please follow us on social media.

Sign up for the 2022 challenge?
Click this: https://forms.gle/pN8xCbvnxGLScj4V8

File, Make a Copy of the Master List for yourself!
Click this: https://tinyurl.com/AtoZ22


Be sure your copy is updated with everyone who signed up for the challenge. Hopping to other blogs to leave comments is half of the challenge!

Get your 2022 merchandise here: 
2022 merchandise #atozchallenge

 

https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/103818836

Saturday, April 2, 2022

#AtoZChallenge BINGO!

It's Sunday, a.k.a. Break Time, a.k.a. Visiting Day. And we have a game for you!

In 2017 J Lenni Dorner made an A to Z Bingo, just for fun, and we decided this would be a great time to revive the tradition. So, here is your A to Z Challenge Bingo card for 2022!

You can share your wins and results in your Reflections post in May, or with us in the comments.

Enjoy!



#AtoZChallenge Better Book Discovery

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The team's theme of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year is:
ACCOMPLISHING YOUR DREAMS, AND THE DUALITY OF 22


It's letter "B "day on the A to Z Challenge blog. It is said that the second day of any challenge is the hardest. Motivation is pelted with realizations of the commitment needed to succeed. Scheduling and prioritizing become tangible instead of theoretical (inked-in instead of penciled-in πŸ–‹πŸ–‰). 

Banish the voices that say you can't do this. Hundreds of bloggers JUST LIKE YOU have completed the challenge successfully for over a decade. Don't bow out!

What benefit can come from completing the challenge? Building a better blogging community, for one. 
And if you're using your blog to write a book, you might publish it one day!
The best books created because of the April Blogging from #AtoZChallenge

https://shepherd.com/best-books/created-from-the-april-blogging-a-to-z-challenge


That's a list of books that exist right now because of this blogging challenge. How many of them have you read?

Shepherd.com has many book lists with various topics and themes. Over 40,000 people visit the site every month. And now our A to Z Challenge is there with a list of books that were written by bloggers like you who completed the A to Z Challenge in the past. A big thanks to Ben Fox for making this possible. 

When you're looking for a website with better book discovery tools, check out Shepherd.com
Authors recommend books and market their own for free on this site. Reach out with a theme idea for a list of five books that go along with a book of your own. πŸ“š

Have you ever published a book you wrote during and because of the A to Z Challenge?



The first of three #AtoZChallenge 2022 #AZchat sessions on social media is today. #AtoZChallenge #AZchat 2022 #AtoZChallenge #AZchat 2022
πŸ“… April 2 ⏰ 11pm GMT
See the time in your area:
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html


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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.

Sign up for the 2022 challenge? Click this:
https://forms.gle/pN8xCbvnxGLScj4V8

File, Make a Copy of the Master List for yourself! Click this:
https://tinyurl.com/AtoZ22
Be sure your copy is updated with everyone who signed up for the challenge. Hopping to other blogs to leave comments is half of the challenge!
Get your 2022 merchandise here:  2022 merchandise #atozchallenge
https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/103818836

Friday, April 1, 2022

Attention!! Attention!! The Blogging from A to Z 2022 Challenge has begun!! ( #AtoZChallenge )

 

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The team's theme of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year is:
ACCOMPLISHING YOUR DREAMS, AND THE DUALITY OF 22


     Are you ready?   Are you ready?  !!!
 
     Yeah, I said it twice.  Duality you know.  And I just want to make sure you're there for the Challenge.  I've got my posts all finished other than a few inserts I'll make along the way to keep things topical.  This is my first year for finishing every letter post ahead of time.  Whew!  What a relief!  Now maybe you'll see more of me in your comment sections.

       How about you?  Did you prepare ahead?  Or are you just winging it.  Either way it's all okay.  This is your personal Challenge.  You're not competing against anyone else.  You're only up against yourself.  Can you do it?  Will you finish?

        We think you can.  In fact we know you can.  We've done it and so have many of you.  If it's your first time then I assure you that you'll be fine if you just don't stress out about it.  This is supposed to be fun.  Are we having fun yet?   Hey, it's only the first day.

        You can do it!    

      
        How much preparation did you do ahead of time?   What advice would you give to other bloggers who might be concerned about whether they can finish this Challenge?    What is the biggest obstacle that you are facing in regard to finishing the Challenge this year?
 
Sign up for the 2022 challenge? Click this:
https://forms.gle/pN8xCbvnxGLScj4V8
***
 
File, Make a Copy of the Master List for yourself! Click this:
https://tinyurl.com/AtoZ22

Be sure your copy is updated with everyone who signed up for the challenge. Hopping to other blogs to leave comments is half of the challenge!


Get your 2022 merchandise here:  2022 merchandise #atozchallenge
https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/103818836





Wednesday, March 30, 2022

#AtoZChallenge 2022 Master List SIGN UP for the April #Blogging Challenge

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Get your graphics: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2022-badge-graphics.html


The team's theme of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year is:
ACCOMPLISHING YOUR DREAMS, AND THE DUALITY OF 22
What will your theme be, if you'll have one at all?


Sign up for the 2022 challenge! Click this:


https://forms.gle/pN8xCbvnxGLScj4V8


Get on the Master List! You aren't officially part of the challenge without completing this sign-up form.

(The Theme Reveal is a *separate* A to Z Challenge activity. Signing up for the Theme Reveal did NOT automatically sign you up for the Challenge. Thank you.)

What information will you need to sign up this year?
  • Blog name - This is what you call your blog. It doesn't include the word "wordpress." It isn't a link. There's no "www" or ".com" -- It's just what you call your blog. This blog's name, for example, is "Blogging from A to Z April Challenge."
  • Author's Name -- How you would like people to refer to you. ("Great post, *name*!")
  • Blog Link - This is a link to your blog. It isn't the hidden place where you create posts. It's what people type or click to get to see your posts. (For example, you're currently viewing "http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com" which is our LINK -- but this post was written on "blogger.com")
    • It must go to a PUBLIC blog where anyone doing the challenge may COMMENT WITHOUT LOGGING IN, SIGNING UP, or SUBSCRIBING. 
  • Category -- There are 48 choices, including the option to "prefer not to say." Pick whatever best aligns with your theme. Don't have a theme? Pick whatever best matches the type of blog you have.

2022 #AtoZchallenge categories

  • There's then an option to name your own category if you couldn't find something suitable.
  • Adult content? -- As this is an all-ages event, there is an obligation to note if a site is unsuitable for young people. Adult content blogs generally have any of the following:
    • Excessive Violence — If your blog reads like a how-to guide for Hannibal Lecter, you have excessive violence. If you've written the A to Z guide of how to pummel someone, make πŸ’£, create πŸ”ͺ weapons from ordinary objects, or kill without detection, you have excessive violence.
    • Nudity for sexual purposes — If you write erotica, you have adult content. πŸ‘™ If body parts normally covered by swimwear or underwear are visible on your blog, you've got adult content. This gets tricky with art blogs, so if you fall into that gray area, ask the team for a ruling (before April 8, please). 
    • Strong and frequent harsh language — If the F word is being used as a verb, or it is used more than three times in 500 words, that is considered adult content. If most of your blog posts have three curse words, that is adult content. 🀬
  • Continuous story? -- If someone visits your blog for the first time in mid-April, will they be able to figure out what's going on? Or will it be like reading a book from the middle, watching a movie without the first half, or trying to enjoy a show without character introductions?
    • People may wish to visit daily to keep up. Or might want to read it all at the end of the month.
  • Voting? -- Some bloggers will let the audience decide what their next post will be.
    • Blogs that mark this as "yes" especially need to attract commenters daily!
  • Will you hop to other blogs? -- The April Blogging Challenge has two parts. One is posting to your blog every day in April (except Sundays), and the other is commenting on the blogs of others in the challenge. Here are your choices:
    • I will seek out new blogs from the list 😁
    • I will visit those who comment on my blog 😊
    • I will visit my friends' blogs 😏
    • I'm new, so I don't know yet πŸ€”
    • I won't be visiting other blogs 😐
    • Other:
  • Author's Pronouns -- he/him, she/her, they/them, abstain, other (Use "abstain" if you prefer not to select the pronouns by which others may correctly refer to you.)
  • Year -- The challenge has run for TWELVE years! What year did you first try it?
  • Twitter Link (optional) -- If you use it. Remember, this link starts with "https://twitter.com/" and then has your handle. There's no "@" symbol.
  • Facebook Link (optional) -- If you'd like people to friend or follow you there.
  • Instagram Link (optional) -- New this year! Check out the hard work Anjela Curtis has done to create ours, please.
  • Physical location of blogger (optional) Country first please -- This is an International blog hop. A great way to find others beyond your homeland, or to discover those living nearby, is to share a general location.
  • Theme (optional) -- Please keep it to 100 characters or less. A short summary of your planned posts for April. https://tinyurl.com/AZtheme22 The theme reveal hop had the option for longer descriptions.

That's it. Now you know what to expect when you sign-up. It looks like a lot, but it doesn't take long to fill out the Google form. 

Remember to make sure that your blog is open to public comments and that people do not need to "log in, sign up, or subscribe" to leave you a comment.
(If you use Wix -- https://support.wix.com/en/article/wix-blog-about-wix-comments#guest-commenting  -- please learn how to allow people who don't use Wix to leave you a comment.)
(You must create and sign into a Tumblr account before you can leave comments. This is why the A to Z Challenge does NOT recognize Tumblr blogs as official participants.)
(The A to Z Blogging Challenge is not a "blog by email sign-up" either. We do not support or recognize "private blogs" that request email addresses be sent first, and then blog links or posts are privately sent later.)

Any blogs found in violation will be removed. Please privately contact a team member if you feel you've found such a blog on the Master List. (Include the blog name, please.)


The #AtoZChallenge is planning three #AZchat sessions on social media.
April 2, April 15, and May 2.
#AtoZChallenge #AZchat 2022 #AtoZChallenge #AZchat 2022
The first one is πŸ“… April 2 ⏰ 11pm GMT
See the time in your area:
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html


Master List Sign-up Form
https://forms.gle/pN8xCbvnxGLScj4V8


Are you ready to make posts and hop to other blogs this April?



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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.

File Make a Copy phone image File Make a Copy image
File, Make a Copy of the Master List for yourself! Click this:
https://tinyurl.com/AtoZ22
The Master List will be complete on April 10 (after H), when sign-ups close.
Be sure your copy is updated with everyone who signed up for the challenge. Hopping to other blogs to leave comments is half of the challenge!

Get your 2022 merchandise here:  2022 merchandise #atozchallenge
https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/103818836

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

2022 Theme Reveal CLOSED #AtoZChallenge

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The Theme Reveal sign-ups for 2022 are closed. You should grab a copy of the list and go visit and comment on as many of the blogs as possible this week. 

The team that makes this challenge possible is locked at the top and highlighted. These are the people who are most qualified to assist you, should the need arise. (You may also leave comments for us here on this blog, or reach out to us in other ways, as you like.) 

Once you click on FILE > Make a copy, you can edit and alter the list as you like. Column "F" is filled with the "no" response, which you could change to "yes" after visiting the blogs. 144 bloggers revealed their themes this year! 

Theme Reveal Results
https://tinyurl.com/AZtheme22



If you took a copy before, make sure your copy is now updated with everyone who signed up for the challenge. (Copy/paste any you missed.) Hopping to other blogs to leave comments is half of the challenge!
Sign up for the 2022 challenge officially on MARCH 30!

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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.
Get your 2022 merchandise here:  2022 merchandise #atozchallenge
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Sunday, March 6, 2022

A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal 2022! #AtoZChallenge

 #AtoZChallenge 2022 Theme Reveal

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

Welcome to the 2022 A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal!

If you are planning to do a theme on your blog in April, this is your chance to share it with all of us! 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. And take a look at our list of Categories, because this year we have some new options for you!

Then, 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 21st. After that, this form will be closed. The Master List for the challenge will open on March 30th!

DRUMROLL PLEASE

The theme of the A to Z Challenge main blog this year is:

ACCOMPLISHING YOUR DREAMS, AND THE DUALITY OF 22

J Lenni Dorner writes about this theme:

Eyes close and dreams come to those fortunate enough to get the escape of entertainment. Perhaps they allow the imagination to stretch. Or give the mind an alternative way to work out problems from the wakeful hours. Some say these images from sleep carry messages and meanings that require interpretation to better steer our lives. There is much debate on how much control we have over those dreams. 

Yet there is no light without dark, each day needs the duality of night, and entertaining dreams of the sleeping mind shouldn't be confused with the loftiest goals of a planner. 

 It is smart to set goals and to have dreams among them. To strive for what we know we can achieve, but also to note what might be possible if we push ourselves, if we prioritize one dream over the inevitable obstacles that will come. Achievement of a dream always requires a change, a sacrifice, and a dedicated choice to put its achievement first. 

Duality is about more than two opposites. It's also about how one cannot or does not exist without the other. We recognize the protagonist by the battle against, and change because of, the antagonist. 

Perhaps, to some of you, blogging is an outlet, a place for creative expression to be shared with the world. Yet, in our trying times, blogging for a month and the pressure to visit others might feel like an antagonist. It may require you to change your schedule to post that much, there is an inevitable sacrifice of spending time visiting other blogs- time which you otherwise spent watching television, reading one more chapter, or running one more block. Taking on the A to Z Challenge in April is a choice to be part of the blogging community, to make a difference in the world by connecting with others, exchanging ideas, and connecting with people in the medium where they feel comfortable sharing and expressing themselves.

We may not agree with every blogger. Duality shows that there are always two sides. Perhaps there will be a chance to learn something new, to expand your mind and experience ideas beyond your own. There's also always an option to close a window and click to the next. (Perhaps there's a duality between a hyperlink and the site "X" close icon?)

The number 22 represents duality and the power of dreams. Thus, the team has selected these concepts as our THEME for April 2022. We will also be honoring Jeremy, the great graphic artist of the challenge who passed away this year. We encourage you to make this April your best blogging and best blog-hopping year yet! Make it your dream come true. There will be times that it feels impossible, forces that make it difficult... this isn't the A to Z spa treatment, it's the A to Z Challenge. It's not supposed to be a stroll in the park.

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

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Get your 2022 merchandise here:  2022 merchandise #atozchallenge
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Thursday, March 3, 2022

New Wordpress Simulcast Blog!

This is specifically for those of you who use the "simulcast" A to Z Challenge Blog on Wordpress:

 In order to separate the simulcast blog from the rest of my blogs (for security and other reasons), I've rebuilt that blog and pointed the process that creates the blog entries from Blogger to the new one. You will definitely want to change the blog you're following to this one:  

atozchallenge2.wordpress.com

Please make a note of it. If you have any questions, let me know.