Monday, May 4, 2015

Reflecting Back on the A to Z Challenge


           

Today, I'm celebrating that I was able to finish the April A to Z Challenge on Thursday. I enjoyed writing posts daily, as well as visiting other blogs that I didn't know existed before the challenge. I am an aspiring writer (won't consider myself to be an actual writer until I get something published) and in recent years, have been struggling to write, even getting the motivation to write. It started out a bit as writer's block I guess, but it ended up being more than that. So I did this challenge to get back into the daily habit of writing. I started this blog back in December and didn't always write posts consistently and I also wanted to improve on that area. Writing almost every day in April tells me that I can actually stick to a schedule and write on a consistent basis. This was my first year doing the A to Z Challenge and I learned a lot along the way. I am already excited to do it again next year, but better prepared though.




Reflecting back on April, I really did learn a lot, about myself, as well as others when visiting their blogs. So my top three takeaways are the following:
 
          1. Learned how to link back to another site on a blog post. This may sound a little weird, but I never figured out how to do that before the challenge. Sometimes it's the little things that you learn along the way.
 
          2. Having a theme is easier. I decided to be random instead of picking a theme to blog about. The only problem with that is that I had trouble coming up with what to write about some days and I wouldn't get the post done until the last minute and late once. I do have a couple ideas for a possible theme next year.
 
          3. Pre-scheduling. I didn't really know that you could pre-schedule a blog post until the beginning of April. I ended up pre-scheduling some posts and I found that to be easier. I had more time to visit other blogs. Lesson learned: Pre-schedule all posts next year and I'll be able to visit more blogs than getting behind like I did this year.
 
 
Thanks to everyone who visited and commented on blog during April.
Feel free to follow me on twitter.
 
Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!
 
♥Meg♥
          

10 comments:

  1. The A to Z can be a grand thing, well done on finishing and good luck with writing.

    Rob Z Tobor

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  2. I haven't figured out pre-scheduling yet. I've tried in he past but it flopped. I just figured out the signature thing -- best take away for me this year! -- Kelley

    Kelley’s Dog Blog

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    1. Thanks Kelley for visiting. I'm trying to figure out the signature thing now because I didn't really know about it until I read some of the reflection blogs. ~Meg

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

    Mary @ www.JingleJangleJungle.net

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    1. Thanks Mary! I just started the road trip yesterday and will start visiting blogs this weekend. ~Meg

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  4. This was my first year too, and I didn't have a theme either - I like to just write about what I fancy in the moment it worked quite well but I'm thinking of doing a theme next year, try it that way!
    Popping by on the A to Z Road Trip
    Debbie
    www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com

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    1. I've been thinking of doing a theme next year as well - already got a few ideas. ~Meg

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  5. Hello there.
    Congratulations on completing your first challenge! This was my second year taking part. I learned last year that if I was going to survive to the end of April, I had to pre-write and pre-schedule my posts. I took my own photos (except one) for my theme of "Things around my home" and that in itself took forever to fix, crop and upload. Most of my posts were already finished in Feb. I did re-edit some during the actual challenge because I changed the image for the letter of the day. I even got to visit your blog along the way too. ;-) Just popping over again today from the Road Trip.

    Entrepreneurial Goddess

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    1. Thanks! Yea, this was a learning year for me and I got a lot out of it. I'll be sure to visit you as well this weekend from the Road Trip. ~Meg

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