video Challenge

         Once again we have a video contribution from Ron Easton who used to be Inside Out but now he's Dads UnLimited.   But what's this?   An advertisement promotion for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  How cool!

       After the first video, Ron and I started corresponding about this and started thinking about how we should put together some kind of video contest to see what you all could come up with video-wise.  Starting next Wednesday you can enter your 2 minute or less video We'll feature each one as they come in.  Come back next Wednesday for more details.

        Give us a visual surprise.  The video can be funny, dramatic, or instructive.  It can be a music video or something arty.   You could go for animation or special effects.  Your imagination's the limit.

        Contest will end in the middle of March.  More next Wednesday.

       So what do you think?  I've seen some pretty cool videos on some of your sites.  Any bloggers out there enjoy film making or visual arts?

 I asked our A to Z artist Ada Z to put together another sample promotional video.   Come back on Friday to see what Ada came up with.



 

Related articles

• A Unique Reflections Post from Ron Easton (a-to-zchallenge.com)
• Meet the A to Z Team for 2012 (a-to-zchallenge.com)

A Word from the Bird

          Whew!  Thought we'd take a breather today.   Have we been having great guests on the Challenge Blog or what?   We're going to try to keep daily posts on this site through the end of April.  If you'd like to submit something about the Challenge or writing or whatever else you think might be interesting, let me know.  There are still a lot of vacant days ahead and I don't want to write everything.

            I've got some great guest posts coming in the next couple of months.   Things are always being tossed about here so be sure to check this site for any new Challenge updates.

            Like another big debut on Friday if things go as planned.  But first we've got a big debut tomorrow.  If you saw the post this past Saturday on Inside Out which has just changed its blog name to Dads UnLimited, you might start to guess what's coming up.   We've got another A to Z video.  And we've got another announcement.   It's coming and you don't want to miss this.

             See you tomorrow.

Challenge update!!!  (see here's one already)

Our A to Z Team has been joined by Karen Jones Gowan of Coming Down the Mountain.  Karen was one of our co-hosts last year and has decided to join us for the 2012 event.  Be sure to stop by to visit Karen and join her blog if you are not already a follower.   We welcome Karen!

alexandra heep

        Alexandra Heep may be new to the A to Z Challenge in 2012, but she's got the right idea.  Here are some of her thoughts on Blogging from A to Z.




My experience has shown me that many people were bloggers first before becoming writers. With me, it was the opposite. Even then, I was only a sporadic blogger, until I participated in my first blogging challenge last October.

At first, I was hesitant because many people seemed like blogging pros with hundreds of followers, and they were authors, whereas I am a copywriter with a blog that is somewhere lost in space. I was not sure if I would fit in, but I was soon hooked. It was through that experience that I found out about the A - Z Blogging Challenge coming up in April 2012.

What appeals to me about a blogging challenge with a theme, like A - Z, is that it provides a framework for a mind that spills over with ideas. Since I have to write content for a living with sometimes ridiculous guidelines, I like that it provides just enough structure for self discipline, but otherwise encourages creativity.

Yes, I have my theme already picked out. It took me only a few minutes because the idea had already been in my head, but I had no idea how to make it work. The A - Z concept however makes perfect sense. What will the theme be? Oh, I won't kiss and tell - just yet.

Something else I have learned about blogging in general: I used to be afraid of becoming too personal and turning off readers. But, I achieved a lot of good feedback and some new followers. Also, the fun part about writing is that you get to read a lot of stuff too. I am amazed at the inner lives people lead and I feel less like an abnormality when I find my thought processes and daily struggles reflected in other people's words.

Alexandra Heep
from
www.aheepofeverything.blogspot.com

      Thanks Alexandra for this guest post.  You should have no problem with the Challenge and if people take your advice they should do fine as well.

Related articles

• Meet the A to Z Team for 2012 (a-to-zchallenge.com)
• Blogging from A to Z April Challenge-- 2012 Edition (tossingitout.blogspot.com)
• Awesome Stuff and the Big Announcement! (alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com)
• The Fantastic A to Z Ride: Observations by Shannon the Warrior Muse (a-to-zchallenge.com)
• We Interrupt This Program For A Very Special Announcement! (breakthroughblogs.blogspot.com)

Some More Big News!! Coming this Wednesday!!

Arty


                                Bold


Creative


                    Daring


Entertaining


                               Fun


         We've got some exciting news about an A to Z innovation that we hope you'll enjoy.   Be here on Wednesday for a special video from Ron Easton and a big announcement from the Blogging from A to Z Team.   


          In the meantime, if you missed yesterday's post go back and take a look at it here.   And be sure to visit Ron Easton at Inside Out, introduce yourself, and follow his blog.


         Some good fun is on it's way.

         Also, take note that the official A to Z Badge in the sidebar has a copy and paste code that you can use to add the badge to your blog.   We encourage you to take the time to add the badge to show your support for the A to Z Challenge.   Likewise, there is a flashy matching banner at the top of the page and a flashing animated button half-way down the sidebar.   These were created by Jeremy at Retro-Zombie.  You can find the code for these on Jeremy's site.  Feel free to take all of these codes and add them to your page so you can show the world that you will be Blogging from A to Z in April.
       

Related articles

• A Unique Reflections Post from Ron Easton (a-to-zchallenge.com)

A Unique Reflections Post from Ron Easton

          Ron Easton from Inside Out has come up with a unique approach to the Blogging from A to Z Reflections post.  His video looks back on the topics that he covered in April of 2011.  It's very short so take a moment to watch and enjoy.  Then meet up with me at the bottom of this post.





          It doesn't end here, but you'll have to come back on Wednesday to see what Ron's video has inspired.   We've come up with an idea that I think you will all enjoy and could be the start of an exciting wave of creativity.   And Ron has created another video that will appear on that day.

         In the meantime, please visit Ron's blog at Inside Out and show him your support.  Give him a big hello. Don't forget to click the Friend Connect button before you leave.  Ron's got some changes coming on his blog and I think he'll be a surprising force in the 2012 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.



       

Related articles

• Meet the A to Z Team for 2012 (a-to-zchallenge.com)