Post A-to-Z Road Trip - Join us!

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Post A-to-Z Road Trip, previously known as the Post-Challenge-Challenge, or PCC

I think the dust has settled a bit, and that life (which is Good!) is slowly returning to normal.  I'm not labeling this as good or bad, just that it's a bit weird (see, so tired I can't come up with a unique adjective..) For the last four months, my on-line life has been dedicated to the wonderful challenge we just completed, and now all of a sudden, I'm free to...yeah.  Whatever!  My time is mine, to do with as I please.  I find myself at a loss, trying to decide what to do next.  

And do you know what I want to do now?  Go for a road trip.

This isn't a normal road trip.  There are no roads, no cars, no fast-food, no “next rest-area 54 miles are you SURE you don't have to pee?” signs.  This is a road-trip that is unending when you first look at it.  But as you peer closer, read the signs, and digest the purpose, I think it's a road trip you'll want to be a part of.

I'm talking about the continuing journey of blog-visiting, networking, exploration, spelunking even, if you're willing to stretch a metaphor.  Gone fishing.  For blogs.  For blogs that interest and infuriate and aggravate and make you cry and make you sob with joy.  A journey where around each bend is a new piece of the road to be discovered.  Blogland is a big place, and the 1700+ folks who joined the A-Z are still welcoming visitors.  I intend to be one of them.  Would you consider joining us?  

The Post A-to-Z Road Trip is a new challenge for you, but one with no real time limit, other than before the next A-to-Z Challenge begins in April 2013.  The goal?  To visit all of the blogs who signed up for the A-to-Z, in whatever time frame you find manageable.  We’ll have weekly check-ins and a linky sign-up here at the A-to-Z Challenge Blog.  You will not be required to check-in, but the option is there.  

You can approach this challenge any way you want.  If you’re like Tina, you’re going to want a plan of attack.  Tina has a wonderfully mathematical mind; last year she set herself an end date, figured out how many blogs that would require her to visit each day, and she went for it.

Or maybe you’re a little more like me, Miss ADHD.  One day I’ll hit up 100 blogs, not visit any for a week, then hit twenty a day for three days straight.  You never know when I’ll be hopping around the interwebs, but by golly, I get it done!  Oooo, shiny...

Most likely, you’re somewhere between the two of us.  The beautiful thing is, it doesn’t matter.  Hit that list however you want, whatever gets you through it to the end.  You don’t want to miss all those wonderful blogs out there.  There are so many, with so much to say.  Come along with us and meet some new friends, stress-free!  This is THE road trip for the summer, so put on your favorite station, open the windows and sit back.  It’s time for the Post A-to-Z Road Trip.  Who knows what souvenirs we might bring back.

Sign up on the linky any time the mood strikes you.  We’ll leave it open through the end of December.  That doesn’t mean the Road Trip ends then, but just that no one can put their name on the linky after that.  

There are no rules.  You can find Tina and I here, or on our individual blogs, Life is Good (Tina) and The Warrior Muse (Shannon).  Feel free to come to us with questions, ideas, feedback, etc.  Now, let’s get packed!

P.S. Feel free to take the badge above for your blog!

Guest Post at the #atozchallenge Site!

 This post is brought to you by AZ co-host Damyanti, from Amlokiblogs.
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Most bloggers who've been around for a while know what guest posts are all about. Simply put, one blogger writes a post for another's blog, on a topic which is of interest to both.

During the A to Z Challenge however, we hosted a lot of participants who are relatively new to blogging, so here's a little more about guest posting:

1. Guest posting on a blog increases your exposure: If you're able to interest the host's audience in what you've got to say, some of them will check out your blog and if they like what they see, they will follow you.

2. Guest posting allows you to showcase your expertise: A host blog is always looking for a fresh perspective on the topics it deals with--- and when you appear as a guest, you share your expertise in your field. Win-win. Guest posting at blogs on a topic gives you more authority.

3. Guest posting can be an exchange affair: Most hosts would be happy to write up a post for you should you need it--this brings all their audience to your blog!

4. Guest posting gives you Link-love: Hosts always link to the blog of the guest (as well as website and social networks). This is a good thing-- the more genuine links with other blogs, the better your blog's ranking on search engines.

With that out of the way, we'd like to invite all A to Z challenge participants to guest-post for this site.

The posts could be on any topic--from writing, blogging, editing to gaming, gardening or cooking. Go on, share your viewpoint with us, your expertise. Or talk about what you would do if you hosted the A to Z challenge-- we're good listeners!

Guest posts on the site will ensure you all hear from others besides us co-hosts, and would provide exposure for you, your book or product. Multiple guest posts from the same blogger can also be discussed. If interested, contact AZ co-host, the awesome Tina, who runs the schedule of this site: 2012AZinfo at gmail dot com

We are waiting to hear from You!

Leaving you with an A to Z video that totally embraces the spirit of A to Z!

A to Z Reflections Linky List: #atozchallenge

          As this is being posted I realize that it is not yet May 7th where I am, but it is in some other parts of the world.   So let the Reflections begin.

            For those still not familiar with the A to Z Reflections Post and the other things A to Z that are still to come, you might want to revisit the A to Z Blog posts of Sunday April 22nd or Tuesday May 1st.   We don't want any of you A to Z fans to miss out on any of the upcoming A to Z events.


            Here is the essence of what the current A to Z Reflections post is all about:


             The A to Z Reflections Postings will begin on Monday May 7th.  These posts will be your personal thoughts about the A to Z Challenge and, like the A to Z posts, you can do them anyway you want--in prose, verse, images, or whatever suits you best.  We want you to tell us about your A to Z experience.


            Share your pleasures, your pains, your setbacks, your gains.   Who did you meet along the way that you found to be especially helpful or inspiring?  Did you have a favorite blog post?   Or a favorite series?   Which blogs did you discover during April that you will be returning to in the future? 

          You can tell us what you thought were the highlights of your April Challenge, what you learned, what changes you might make next time, or what surprised you most.  There are no limits as to what your Challenge experience might have been so tell us in your best way how you felt about the April A to Z Challenge of 2012. 

         Express your gratitude or vent your frustrations.  If you'd do this again, let us know why.  If you hated it. tell us why.  We want you to tell your A to Z story to the rest of us.  Like the Challenge itself, this Reflection post is your creative outpouring.  Be it prose, verse, song, video, or images, you can express yourself in anyway that you like. 

       You don't have to have finished the Challenge or even entered the Challenge to be eligible to submit a Reflections post.  Didn't finish or never got started?   Let us know what happened and tell us how you feel about that.   If you were an observer who followed some of the A to Z blog posts and even commented on a regular basis, give us your thoughts about the Challenge.    

           We do ask that you keep your posts no more than a thousand words.  There will probably be a lot of blogs to read so we don't want to bog anyone down with exceedingly long posts.

            You can add your Reflections post to the Linky List anytime between now and Saturday May 12th at 10 PM Eastern Time.   Please add the link that goes directly to your Reflections post and not your general blog link.  We plan to keep this list up until the end of 2012 and since there could be a large number of links on the list it may take a while for readers to get  through it and we don't want visitors to have to be searching for your Reflections post.

           We hope you enjoy these Reflections posts and perhaps even learn something from them.  And we hope you will continue to discover new blogs that will be of interest to you and meet new blog friends.  Have fun!


          The Post Challenge Challenge begins here next Monday May 14th.   Be here then for the complete details.

          Important Note!!     Please Read before signing on to the list!!

          This list is intended only for those who are posting an A to Z Reflections post.   Please post only the link to your Reflections post and not the URL address of your blog.  If your intent is to add a link to your advertising site or just to get your blog noticed, be aware that those links will be removed from the list when discovered.   If you have any problems with your entry or accidentally enter the incorrect link, please contact us.  Refer to the "Contact Us" tab for contact information:

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