That’s it. The A to Z blogging challenge is officially over today. If you listen carefully you can probably hear me breath a deep sigh of relief.
I found it hard this year. You will have noticed that with the lack of posts for the last few letters of the alphabet. It’s not just that finding a topic for each letter was a task within itself, but I felt that I needed an internet break slap bang in the middle of the challenge. That’s not a good indicator that the challenge is going to go well!
I probably missed 5 or 6 posts for the entire month. I don’t think it’s that bad. But it’s not a win either.
I don’t think I will be taking part next year. The challenge itself is too unwieldy now. Bloggers get lost in the huge sign up list and with the variety of blogging interests out there, I found I was reading and commenting on blogs that on a usual day I just wouldn’t. We all have our own interests and that’s fine. My blog for instance wouldn’t appeal to someone who likes to read about knitting patterns and swimming contests.
My blogging schedule will go back to a less hectic routine now, though again, I have been prompted to give more consideration to my content, by accommodating letters of the alphabet. Friday sees the return of the First Draft series with Mark Edwards up first, so if you fancy taking part, just let me know.
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – I know what you mean about different blogs appealing to different interests. I can’t imagine how much time I would spend reading blogs if I didn’t confine myself to just a few interests. And sometimes we all need to take a blog break…
Rebecca Bradley says
The blogging community is huge isn’t it? And the A to Z challenge is an open blogging challenge, which had grown year upon year. I think I need to just settle into my own groove now π
MarinaSofia says
You were very brave to attempt it – and I agree that the range of interests displayed in this challenge is perhaps too wide for a mere mortal to be able to keep up with them. I love the dVerse Poets community, but I simply cannot commit to being there for every poetry prompt or even once a week at times, to visit all the other blogs and comment. I’d rather do it once in a while properly, rather than every day but superficially.
Rebecca Bradley says
That’s the problem isn’t it, being able to commit in our already over extended lives. Much as we’d love to. And as you say, we want to do it properly. Do it justice. The A to Z has just expanded beyond belief year after year and it’s too big for me now.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
But I like knitting…
Kidding!!!
You got through most of it. You deserve the survivor badge.
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you Alex!
And I know you’re a secret knitter π
Cath Bore says
Rebecca, Just so you know – I always enjoy your blog and i have a penchant for knitting patterns too….
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you Cath π And that’s why I put two topics as I knew there would be some knitters out there who read. It was to just to try and make a point. But on that point – I wouldn’t mind a hand knitted woollen hat for next winter…
Sonia Lal says
I looked for book blogs, with only a few non-book blogs! Some were interesting.
Rebecca Bradley says
I think that was my problem. I went down the list from my name down. Very time consuming! Yes there were some interesting ones that I’ll go back to, but I just found it hard work. Maybe it was me this year.
datmama4 says
I found it hard to sift through the sheer number, but I’d gone randomly through part of the list prior to the challenge, just to see if there were any blogs I wanted to bookmark. I did find a few that way, but most of the ones I enjoyed were people who commented either on my own blog, or on the blogs of others I found interesting. I’m sure I didn’t even tap into a small percentage, but I’m happy with the ones I found.
I don’t think I could have survived if I hadn’t written and scheduled all twenty-six of my posts before April even started. The month was just too crazy!
You did just fine. π
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you π
You were organised writing all 26 posts beforehand! I wrote some of them, but only about a third. I have found some great new blogs to follow, but it’s been a hard month. It is a massive part of the blogging calendar for many now. Arlee has a huge hit on his hands.
datmama4 says
Oh, don’t get me wrong: it still beat my butt from April 1 to April 30, lol. π
D.A.Cairns says
I agree with the challenge being a little unwieldy now due to numbers. It has other problems, and I have been disappointed by the response to my blog, generally. However my goal is to spread by online tentacles, and sell my books. If I have to do that in tiny little steps…so be it. Ill do it again.
Rebecca Bradley says
That’s it isn’t it. Small steps and you’re right, things like this blog hop are those small steps. But because it’s not topic specific and it’s such a huge blogging community, it’s hard, people do skip by a blog if the blog just isn’t too their liking. Keep at it. They say blogging takes time and one day you’ll just notice the numbers.
FictionFan says
I hardly ever find people via memes or challenges. It tends to be much more random – I think mainly I find people through searching for reviews of books I’ve just read or am thinking about reading, or them popping into my blog for the same reason. I have quite a lot of free time but even so, blogging eats it up – both writing posts and reading other peoples’. I try to keep the number of people I follow down to manageable levels – quality rather than quantity. π I enjoyed your posts, though, and am impressed that you managed to do as many as you did.
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you π
I agree, it does seem to be more random nowadays. I think I probably find more by seeing links recommended by friend on Twitter – for instance when books are being reviewed as you say.
Jacqui Murray says
My nod toward blog tours is IWSG. That one, I plow through various blogs, consider it my camel’s-nose-under-the-tent and feel good about my flexibility. I don’t know that I could do two of those.
Rebecca Bradley says
I think I’m just going to stick with IWSG from now on π
tara tyler says
i know what you mean, but i did meet some great new bloggers, tho a small percentage compared to the huge list – and i enjoyed your crime-related topics, wish i could go to one of those awesome crime writing events!! let’s hear it for back to normal may!
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you π And yes, definitely, let’s hear it for normal May!
It was definitely a huge list. It grows year on year, Something Arlee can be proud of.
diannegray says
I couldn’t do one of these challenges, Rebecca. Kudos to you for getting through it (even with a break in the middle) π
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you Dianne. I think it may just be my last year! never mind a break in the middle, I think it broke me π
diannegray says
Oh dear… xxxxx
Vikki Thompson says
Congratulations honey! π Sorry I’ve not popped by before now…i’ll be spending May playing catch up lol xx
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Vikki. And it’s lovely to see you again! π