April was a hectic month. I completed 30 straight days blogging through A to Z with Sunday Round-ups thrown in. It was hard work but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The positives for me.
I found routine. I had to sit down and write. Every day. Be that writing a new post if I wasn’t in front with them, or commenting on blogs in the challenge. Whatever it was, I had committed to the challenge 100% and I stuck to it. 30 days of doing this has given me an insight into how much I can actually get done if I set my mind to it and get on with it.
I managed to create some decent posts! Posts I really put some thought and effort into. Green Writer (Here) for instance took me three hours to research and write. A post about being an ecologically friendly writer and one that proved to be one of the most popular of the challenge. The post with the most hits I’m pleased to say, is a theme that will continue on the blog and that is the setting of the novel. The post contained photographs of Nottingham where Shallow Waters is set. That post is Here.
I found some great new blogs to visit and I had a couple of brilliant new blog readers join me *Waves if you’re still here!*
My stats for the site went up considerably. I had nearly 3,ooo hits in April. My usual hit rate to the blog is about 1,000 a month. I think this was a combination of increased posting timetabling, a few decent posts scattered in there which were retweeted on Twitter quite well, and some new visitors from the challenge. I put most of it down to the first two though and here’s why.
The Negatives.
The rules of the challenge are that you start visiting the blogs that sign on after you do. So, for instance, my sign on number was 600. I started by visiting blog number 601 and moved forward that way. There were some blogs I came across that weren’t doing the challenge and a couple that were so outside anything I could say anything about I just had to pass, but in the main, I did comment as I was supposed to. The problem I saw is that these blogs didn’t have any other commenters and not just that day, but the day before. People weren’t listening to the rules.
I didn’t see 5 new bloggers leaving comments on my blog every day and even making allowances for the fact that some may have thought, oh, there is absolutely nothing I could say to the person on this blog, I should have at least been getting two or three new bloggers leaving comments a day or every couple of days, if people weren’t keeping up with visiting 5 blogs a day.
My feeling is, people go to the beginning of the list and start at 1. So everyone who signs on really quickly, are really active.
Maybe they visited but because they didn’t have any interest they didn’t comment, but I didn’t think that was how it worked. I left comments on things I wouldn’t normally read, just because I’d stopped by and read the post and it’s what we signed up for.
I don’t know if there is a way the organisers can split the linky sign ups into several different linky’s? I know there were set group captains. Maybe have smaller linky lists and this may make this less likely to happen. The challenge is growing every year, but people naturally gravitate to number 1 and start at the beginning. It needs to be able to be split down into something more manageable so everyone gets out of the challenge, what it was actually set up for.
Saying that though. I did actually love it. I’m just worried now that I won’t be able to keep up the blog content to the standard I seemed to achieve when I was under pressure!
yasminselena says
It’s weird, I did Nanowrimo but I don’t think I could have done this! But that’s because whenever I’ve blogged they’ve always been slightly epic in scale, I do need to learn to blog smaller and shorter. My MySpace blogs were huge and quickly attracted a following but back then blogs were v.new, nowadays peeps are spoilt for choice maybe? I’m so impressed you did this especially with everything else you have going on. I guess there is some truth in that saying, ‘want something done give it to a busy person to do’!
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Yasmin. I’m not sure how I could have done this to be honest! I think once you make your mind up though, you just kind of – do. I enjoyed it while it was happening and now I’m glad to go back to a more sedate blog schedule of three times a week!
whiteravensoars says
I think that it really boils down to that little like button… Facebook and social media has taught us to not even read a whole post, just click that little like button and move on. Like, I was here… nope don’t really know or care what you said, but I want you to come see what I have said. But then, maybe that is just me being a little cynical **grins**
I have found in the course of blogging a sense of community though! Of course I have not tried a challenge like that, thought about it, buut, it is too constricting to me. I like to be free to have fun with my blog. And just write whatever I feel inspired to that day. I even occasionally have trouble with my few themed days! Too much of a free spirit or something, **grins**
Rebecca Bradley says
I love the sense of community I feel from blogging! People with shared interests, talking. Blogs give you that space to talk and it’s great. I do agree about the “Like” button. A lot of the time, I like to think it’s used because the post was liked, but I can see how it is just a visible note that the person has been here.
I didn’t use any kind of theme for the challenge. I still blogged about whatever I felt like blogging about, I was just made to blog every day! I’m glad to slow down now though 🙂
D.A.Cairns says
Too true on the ‘not following the rules’ thing. I didn’t say anything negative in my reflection post but I got very few comments. Averaging just 2 per post. Bloggers who missed days and then did catch up posts? Bloggers who were on the list but not doing the challenge? Yeah, there were some problems but I got out of it exactly what you did. I returned to my WIP with gusto after the challenge.
Rebecca Bradley says
I think with something this size there are always going to be problems, but in the main, I loved it. It’s why I keep returning to it! 🙂
Yvonne Lewis says
Congratulations on the completion of the challenge and noted both positive and negatives, as they say there is always room for improvement. Hope to see you next year,
Yvonne
A TO Z AMBASSADOR.
Rebecca Bradley says
You’ll definitely see me next year Yvonne. I had a ball! 🙂
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – Thanks for your thoughts on the challenge. I like your ideas and I’m so glad you got so much out of it. I know I really enjoyed reading your posts.
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you Margot. I did worry that upping my posting schedule so much, from not very often and erratic, to every day, may scare of my regular readers, but I seem to have not done that 🙂
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
That’s why we did codes rather than split the list. Besides, people would just start signing up on every list and it would be difficult to police.
So people don’t pay attention to the rules and there’s not much you can do about it. We still like for people to start with the blog after them because those who are further down the list would never see any comments if everyone started at the top. (Which for the second Challenge is exactly what was happening, which is why we said start with the blog after your own.)
Hopefully you did meet some cool new people who will keep coming back!
Rebecca Bradley says
I know it’s a ridiculously massive thing to attempt to organise and keep track of Alex, especially when you have to factor in humans! I love the April challenge and shall be here again next year 🙂
Jacqui Murray says
I have done these in the past, too–as a method of increasing readership to my blog. I just don’t need help with ideas. I found it worked better to visited 5 blogs similar to mine (usually people who ‘liked’ my blog) daily. It’s slow, but all I have time for.
Thanks for visiting me!
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks for stopping by Jacqui. I only managed to visit an extra 5 a day as well as my regular bloggers. It was hard work, but I did love it.
rtd14 says
I admire those who did the A to Z challenge. I enjoy reading the blogs each time it is done. I’m working on keeping up with the blog schedule I’ve set for myself, two times a week, and that has been difficult as well as getting to read. I think the challenge, for those who participate, fuels a lot of interesting conversation and thoughts. Congrats to your time dedication! ~ Rebecca
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Rebecca. It was hard work, especially as usually my blogging schedule is rather erratic. I am hoping to become a regular scheduled blogger now. 🙂
rtd14 says
That is wonderful!
printedportal says
congrats on a successful challenge 🙂
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you!
Claire says
Congrats first of all. This was my second year and this year I was much farther down in the list. I saw a lot less traffic this year than last year when I was like in the first 10 (totally by happy accident), but I had several people who tended to return again and again and that actually made me happier than seeing a lot of new names day after day. Given that I wrote a story in installments over the course of the challenge, of course my hopes were different. I too was sad to do the first 5 blogs after mine only to find a dead link or two. Oh well, bound to happen with so many participating.
Rebecca Bradley says
You’re right Claire, having blogger return is much more meaningful than just having a run of bloggers visit because they have to. I hope to have picked up a couple of new blog readers and I have also picked up a couple of new blogs I shall be reading from now on.
Patricia (@patricialynne07) says
At the beginning, I had a lot of new people commenting on my blog, but that faded and it turned into some regulars with few new visitors. I did see a lot of reciprocal commenting and 99% of the people that commented on my blog, I commented back. There were a couple posts where I had no idea what to say and it didn’t dawn on me just to say “Hi. Visiting from the challenge.” I can see your point on people starting with link 1 too. Also, with the list being so big, it can be overwhelming to look at and figure out who to visit.
Rebecca Bradley says
I didn’t think of just saying Hi, either Patricia! I do love the challenge though and it’s a great time of the year to find new blogs to visit.
Paula Kaye says
I found the same thing that you did. Lots of visitors according to my stats but few comments. Not quite sure why but I, too, will do it again next year. Just for me!
Paula’s Place
Rebecca Bradley says
I’ll definitely be doing it next year as well Paula. I love the challenge. It’s be a great one for me this year.
jesstopper says
Congrats on completing the challenge! This year did feel a bit more scatter-brained, not sure why. The amount of people who signed up was on par with last year. I was in the 300s and just popped around trying to visit as many as I could, both before and after me. Not sure how it could be more streamlined, but I’m thinking if anyone can do it, it will be the crafty A to Z hosts!
Rebecca Bradley says
It’s a great challenge isn’t it? The hosts have to be crazy to try to control us all. You have to love them for it though. I’ll definitely be signing up for it again next year 🙂
Teresa Coltrin says
Yes, I think that’s what happens. I start with the one after me and went forward, but I don’t think others did. In fact, I never reached #1, but others want to start there.
Rebecca Bradley says
I definitely didn’t reach the beginning of the list. It was far too big this year! Another great year though.
Vikki Thompson says
I was about 300 and something and I started visiting blogs after mine….I managed just over 500, and tried to make sure I commented on the ones who had no comments, even if it wasn’t my thing I just said good luck 🙂
Well done honey! Xx
Rebecca Bradley says
You did a fair amount of visits Vikki. I think I managed the five a day that was requested, maybe more some days. It was a great year as usual. Here’s to the next one!
Vikki Thompson says
Definitely! 🙂
xx
Peanut Butter and Whine says
Great wrap up post! I’m still commenting. I made it a personal challenge to comment on all before next years challenge! LOL!
Peanut Butter and Whine
Shannon Lawrence says
Unfortunately, we can ask for people to do specific things until we’re blue in the face, but it just doesn’t happen. We try to change each year and take comments/reflections into consideration to figure out what we might be able to do to make it better, though.
Shannon at The Warrior Muse
Courtney - Maui Jungalow says
Rebecca, my first A- Z Challenge was 2013 and it was a PANIC. I tried to keep up and often failed. Today, I discovered about 20 comments from A to Z 2013 in my spam Disqus folder. Oh horrors. I thought I would have no issues because I allowed links. So I have no idea if I ever reciprocated your kind comment on following my blog. Today, I followed you on bloglovin.Hopefully it all comes around, in a good way. Aloha from Maui.
Rebecca Bradley says
Hello! Junk folders are a nightmare aren’t they?! Aloha. Thank you for following. The challenge is hard work. I haven’t don’t it for a couple of years. I enjoyed it the few years I participated but it was a lot of work.