Monday, May 4, 2015

A to Z Recap and Assessment


This was such a good delve back into blogging for me. Not that I was wildly successful... I mean I DID get a blog up for every letter (two recycled from the past, but 24 fresh content). But I learned a ton about what was and was not realistic for me as a BLOGGER—meaning a person who not only posts content, but gets around to visit new people.

To be an authentic blogger—part of the community—a person both needs to blog regularly AND visit OTHER bloggers regularly. This second piece has always been more of a problem for me but it had been two years since I'd had a month of trying to blog nearly daily and I had forgotten how this fell.

Monday has some flexibility for me. My work week starts a bit slowly and I can steal a bit of time. I was able to get to a reasonable number of blogs on Mondays and expect I could maintain it. Then, from about noon Monday my job picks up and stays crazy. If I do well, I can MAYBE back visit those who visit me, but that is about the extent of it. Then Friday, I can get a bit of time again...

With that in mind, I think I will go forward blogging twice a week—Monday more seriously and Thursday or Friday lightly (as in silly or funny).

But this month of frantic writing was ALSO good for me on another front.

In January I had a couple writing setbacks that really sort of threw me into a funk. I've hardly written since. Nearly nothing. I had my confidence shaken and just have not been able to face it. This month of drabbling has given me back my sense of whimsy, which allows me to play a little, rather than being so worried about quality which has stopped me up for the last few months.

So overall, THANK YOU A to Z!!!

In other news, I have added a Game of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire blog because I find I am obsessed and needed an avenue, if anyone is interested.

18 comments:

Jan Morrison said...

Well sistah - we are as one. I cannot blog like I used to and I was never great at hustling new people. On the other hand I think like you - that if I make a commitment I keep it - and I'm pretty good at maintaining my pals. I enjoyed getting something out daily and even though it coincided with my first real job in a long time I did okay. Now back to work I go...

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Happy to hear A-Z went so well this year! Good for you for figuring out what works, what doesn't, and for getting your creative joy back. :)

T. Powell Coltrin said...

"I've hardly written since." Girlfriend, that statement scares me. I hope you were inspired by your drabs. They were so good. GO WRITE.

Sarah Ahiers said...

hmm, blogger at my comments. SIIIIIIIIGH.
anyway, i hope you're back on your writerly feet!

Anonymous said...

I just started an A-Z challenge on my blog! I really hope it leads me to the same outcome as yourself. I've been in such a writing slump and I really need to get back on it! I've always had a problem visiting other blogs.. mostly because I don't know where to start or what to say so. Yeah.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You do humor so well - glad it jazzed you up for writing again.

Chrys Fey said...

You're the best drabbler I know. I hope the Challenge gets you back into writing. :)

Liz A. said...

Oh, I'm sorry you had a writing setback. You're a wonderful writer. I hope you're feeling better now. Sometimes silly really helps.

V.L. Jennings said...

I've been there... that moment you uninspired to write is very sad. For me it's because I suddenly feel like my work is awful sounding. Joining the 52 week flash fiction challenge on facebook has really been helping to bolster my confidence- then this challenge came along and brought me a bit more :) <3 hugs here's to keeping up the awesome work!

Helena said...

I know just what you mean about having your confidence shaken. But I've read your cozy mysteries, Hart dear, so I'm hear to tell ya you are one talented, entertaining and just plain good writer. So keep writing!

Course that's easy for me to say with me taking a break from my blog. But seriously, I'll get my screenplay written in the meantime (what little good that'll do me, considering the odds of selling it), and simply enjoying the writing process again can be healing.

Tamara Narayan said...

Your drabbles were unique and fun. Great job. Finding time to comment on other blogs is the hardest part for me as well. I pretty much took off a month from writing just to focus on blogging.

Unknown said...

Though the #A2ZChallenge completed a few days ago, I'm still discovering new blogs as I work my way down the list. I'm glad I found yours! Very impressive blog! I'm going to have to read more of your articles now!!

I too find blogging very therapeutic (and a lot cheaper than going to a Therapist!! ;) )

--Mee (The Chinese Quest)

betty said...

Visiting from A/Z; didn't have time to get through all the blogs during the challenge, so I'm trying to get to a lot of people's reflection posts. Seems like the A/Z was good for you to get your "blogging groove" back! It is challenging to visit blogs when work gets in the way, LOL :) I found myself on mandatory overtime for the majority of April; something I didn't anticipate when I signed up for the challenge. Like you, I tried to visit a lot of blogs on my down time from work :)

Now on to next year!

betty

Nick Wilford said...

Your drabbles were fantastic. The Challenge is definitely a great opportunity to flex the writing muscles with little pressure, especially when writing flash fiction!

Mary B said...

Congrats on completing the A to Z Challenge! Looking forward to next year! See you on the Road Trip!

Mary www.JingleJangleJungle.net

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Hart - well done with all your Drabbles - they look to be just amazing and good luck with putting them into a book of Undoings -if I've got that right?!

I enjoy the A-Z .. but this I took on another project and that was a mistake - but one I needed to do: now I need to finish that ...

Good for you ... for taking time out, reading lots - I'll be doing that soon .. and generally settling into things again .. cheers Hilary

B~Natrelle said...

Hello there.
Congratulations on completing the challenge! I actually got to visit your blog during the crazy month of April and want to thank you for visiting me in return. I'm popping over again today from the Road Trip/Reflections linky.

Entrepreneurial Goddess

LissaJ said...

So glad this fun challenge helped you get your groove back. I also joined it to get back into some sort of routine for blogging. I think once a week will do for starters. Hoping to have something for #MondayBlogs tweets on the regular.

BTW I've put together a Listly of participants like yourself who have written a challenge recap here http://list.ly/list/17Wd-2016-a-to-z-challenge-wrap-ups