Thinking ahead of the
A-to-Z Challenge, my mind has set wondering.
This will be my third year of participation. Looking at my first year and then at my
second, I was not pleased. Oh, there were
some posts that met expectations (mine), but there were a miserable lot that
had me shaking my head. What was I thinking…
This year my plans
are different. Writing something every day
for each letter forced me to come up with something,
even if that something was a stab at
the dark world of alphabet letters.
Also, the sheer numbers of participants had me gasping in frustration;
there were so very many fine writers out in the blogging world, and there was
so little time and physical endurance.
This year I will be
combining adjoining letters, two at a time, skipping a day, and writing from a tilted point of
view. A with B, C with D… There will be some oxymorons, some silly thoughts, a few
profound contemplations, and hopefully some interesting writing. Interesting and very very brief
writings. Can I work with 50 words
or less? I pray so.
The problem with this
Challenge is not only the incredible participants; it is also with the
overly-lengthy blogs. Seeing a blog that
fills the screen makes my eyes blur.
Having to do the de-coding in the "captcha" defeats me.
So that’s my
plan. Have you given it thought? I bet some of you are already done—you rascals.
You're right, I try to keep my posts short, unless I've copied something from another source. I'd love to do this challenge listing children's books again, but is there time!!
ReplyDeleteTime: the word that defines so much, limits us all. You are right.
DeleteNot doing it this year......I know...I said that last year, but this year...I mean it.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved your A2Z posts. You are so talented. The photos of your area and cemeteries always thrill me. And your poems!
DeleteI've definitely given the posts and the need for brevity a thought, but I'm definitely not done. I don't like how my last two years worth of posts turned out either. But it will be better this year for both of us, right?
ReplyDeleteBest of wishes for A to Z!
We can always give it our best shot!
Deleteit is hard to get around and the taking it two letters at a time might just work :)
ReplyDeleteNow I just have to start taking notes in my journals when something brilliant occurs to me.
DeleteYeah can be rough getting around but doing 200 a day is nothing for me haha and yep already done all the posts for it too!
ReplyDeleteOf course you do, Pat! How DO you manage such productivity?? Looking forward to your rhymes.
DeleteDo you think the number of participating people will increase a lot again? You are right about the length. If I saw a long post,I'd skip it. It is much to time consuming.
ReplyDeleteGood question. The explosion over the past two challenges had me reeling.
DeleteI have a general plan, but I haven't started writing my posts yet! I'd hate to wing it again the way I did the first year . . . but I may end up doing that.
ReplyDeleteI am keeping a journal or two that I scribble notes about possible ideas. Hopefully I'll be on top of it all.
DeleteSo you're going to try to limit each post to 50 words or fewer? That's a good idea. I sometimes write long posts because my blog is for me, but you're right about the A to Z Challenge: the posts need to brief if I want any hope of being read or having someone leave a comment. Imagine if that were part of the rules this year: 50 words or fewer and 1 photo. Hmm. We might be on to something!
ReplyDeleteI will give it whirl! 50 words forces those words to be primo.
DeleteI dropped out near the end of the alphabet last year. My theme was tributes, and while most came easily, some letters posed quite the challenge. The "return on investment" wasn't there after about 18 letters.
ReplyDeleteI understand. Some letters were not inspiring to me; nothing cried out to be written.
DeleteFigured it out (so proud!)Technology and me--always a battle, and I rarely win! But am poised now for updates from the Sock Drawer and Samuel.....NaBloPoMo was enough to do me in. Had not heard of this AtoZ, but will be an attentive reader!
ReplyDeleteI could never conceive of coming up with an idea, no less a theme, to write about EVERY DAY. You are a wonderful writer with great ideas. Not only that, your punctuation is always so correct. I always look forward to any posts you have and will enjoy all your A to Z entries.
ReplyDeleteAs to this A to Z blogathon, I think there should be some kind of competition where the readers pick the top three. I think that would make it more interesting. America loves contests and winners
Oh, contests and winners always garner interest. I would hate to try to choose among so many fine writers.
DeleteI am in awe of the A to Zeders. So many of them (yourself prime among them) are such talented writers. I don't participate, but how I enjoy reading. If you need to combine letters, go right ahead. If you are having fun, so will I reading your posts. Just so long as S is for Samuel...
ReplyDeleteSamuel, that scamp. even now, I am writing more 'adventures' for him. He has to get back into the game.
DeleteI'm always striving for shorter posts, especially during A to Z. But let's face it, I get a bit windy sometimes. Your approach can work. Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
I will try it and hopefully it will work.
DeleteThat's a good idea! It's true- A to Z was overwhelming because of how much there was to read and catch up with!
ReplyDeleteYes! It was as the Red Queen said in Alice in Wonderland: You have to run twice as fast if you want to stay in the same place.
DeleteWow, will this be on the test?
ReplyDeleteOh, I sure hope not! I am tired of tests.
Delete