Sunday, May 6, 2012

Three Things I Think I Think...Reflections on the A to Z Challenge~


This is the designated day to offer feedback and reflections on the A to Z Challenge so I thought I’d do it in the format of ‘Three Things I Think I Think…’
So here I go…

1.)   I think the A to Z Challenge sponsored by these amazing people is one of my favorite events; this is the second year in which I participated. It allowed me the freedom to consider and implement my own theme within parameters of the proceedings. With that being said, I enjoyed the flexibility as well as the challenge to be creative as I desired to be on any given day!

2.)  I think it is a wonderful thing that so many bloggers participated in this event; WOW! Almost 2,000! Can you imagine? The premise and goal was to visit as many bloggers as possible. Let’s see 1,900 divided by 30 days is approximately 63.3 blogs per day. At the beginning, I thought, I can do that; no problem. But as the days wore on and time constraints interfered, well, I lost steam. So, this brings me to my next point…

3.)  I think it’s impossible to try and visit each blog although as I said, I tried. One of the things I discovered is that I have my interests and genre of blogs I enjoy visiting and definite ones I have no interest in pursuing, therefore, I think one of the suggestions I have for next year is when individuals sign up, you do so by putting yourself into categories that describes your blog. These may be fantasy, cooking, paranormal, writing hints, book reviews, photography, or all about life. You could sign up under one or more groups. This will permit two things- it allows all bloggers to venture into the categories we have an interest and two, it saves times because there are certain directions/blogs I will not even waste my time with reading. 

 In closing, it was wonderful and I made new friends and found new ‘homes’ so I cast out a huge thank you to the promoters of this event! And if you didn’t participate this year, perhaps it’s a challenge you might be willing to embark upon and I’d encourage you to do so!
“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”
By Benjamin Franklin

28 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

wow. that's some great participation! i can certainly see where there'd be a need for categories. :)

Unknown said...

I agree about the categories. I visited a lot of blogs no where near all of them but I in all honesty it makes more sense only to visit blogs based on subjects we prefer if we want.

Lets face it we all follow blogs because we really click with the subject or blog authors personality.

Making it easier for us to choose would be nice!

From the Kitchen said...

I've enjoyed this adventure with you. What a great idea.

Best,
Bonnie

Old Kitty said...

Glad you had a great time with the A-Z challenge!! Yay for you!!!

Take care
x

betty said...

I think that is a great idea to categorize the blogs like you suggested. I, like you, tried to visit as many blogs as I could; I aimed for at least 10 new ones a day. I found there were a lot of writer blogs out there, LOL. I also found that I agreed with the organizers who said "keep posts short" because if some were really long, I didn't take the time to read them and moved on to another blog. That also helped me to remember to keep my posts short.

All in all, I think it was a great challenge to participate in. Not sure about next year if I'll do it again or not, but did enjoy it this year. I did pick up several new blogs to follow too, which is always fun to do :)

betty

Jaye Robin Brown said...

Enjoyed visitiing your blog this past month.

Chatty Crone said...

Gosh 2000 participants - that is a lot of A,B,C's! sandie

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

That's a great idea about categorizing the blogs. Almost 2,000 would be challenging to visit indeed!

I think you did a wonderful job, Tracy. I looked forward to each letter and what you would do with it.

I may do it next year. It sounds like a challenge, but a good one and a useful one. (Love the Franklin quote, BTW.)

Wanda's Wings said...

Very enjoyable to us readers.

Berts Blog said...

We got caught up in the whole thing reading and visiting a lot of other blogs. Don't know how you did it....2000 participants.

Wow
Congrats on a cool cool month.

Laura said...

The categorizing is a wonderful idea!

Sally Wessely said...

I admire you for taking up the challenge. I think your suggestions are good. I also find myself following certain genres of blogs. I don't have time to read many, so I am selective.

Ginny Hartzler said...

You did a fantastic job!! Not just photos like some people did, but real insight into a lot of things...thought provoking posts.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

It was a fantastic challenge and well exceeded last year's participants.
I find going if people went into catorgories it may put people off from visits. I find as I write poetry not many people are into that so don't get the visit's others get. Saying that On the first challenge I commented on someone's blog I enjoyed what I read but wasn't into that subject. He commented of mine, he didn't like poetry yet today we still follow each other,
Goes to show opposites do attract.
Yvonne.

Empty Nest Insider said...

I enjoyed meeting you at the challenge this year, and appreciate all of your support. The category idea is complex in that some people chose themes on subjects that they wouldn't normally blog about. I also didn't get a chance to go through so much of the list. Julie

T. Powell Coltrin said...

The A-Z was a great experience.

I don't agree with categories thing because I liked visiting all kinds of blogs AND liked the surprise element of just clicking on one no knowing. But, that's just me.

T

Out on the prairie said...

It was interesting to hear more from the blogs I read.

LTM said...

BIG congrats to you for finishing A-Z! That's a tough challenge, and with so many participants, I don't know how you guys do it all. Kudos! :o) <3

Sherry Ellis said...

I agree it was tough to visit everybody. I think I got to 970! The categories are a good idea. I wonder how Arlee would have to set that up. Congratulations on completing the challenge.

My Mind's Eye said...

Congrats this was quite a challenge and you met it head on!!
Hugs c

M said...

It was a fun challenge with lots of new friends :)

Unknown said...

I am very happy we connected during this challenge. I fell out in the middle because of the move and then hurried tom play catch up and still ending up losing my way for a bit. no moves during next year's challenge for me. Thank you so much for all you wonderful comments. They meant a lot to me.

Tara Tyler said...

happy to know you thru the challenge! great reflections and looking forward to normal posting =)

Tyrean Martinson said...

Wonderful reflection post! I have to admit I didn't try to get to 63.3 a day. I just focused on a few dozen, and tried to visit more than once.

Stacy S. Jensen said...

Glad you surived. I didn't try to visit all the blogs and still fell way short. I agree with your suggestion about blog categories.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

I thoroughly agree with your idea about separating the blogs into categories. Makes a lot of sense. Good thinking!

Unknown said...

At the rate I am going, catching up is going to be just as much of a challenge. Congrats on making it across the finish line :)Looking forward to reading more of your posts.

Arlee Bird said...

Thanks for you thoughts. The positive first two made me smile. Your third point was the one most commonly cited this year and last. I will be addressing this on one of my upcoming Monday posts on the A to Z Blog.


Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out