For the 10th year in a row, I’ll be participating in the April “Blogging from A to Z Challenge.” And I would love for you to join me! If you’re a blogger, or even a wannabe blogger, the challenge is a great way to stay with your goals or perhaps test the waters. Details usually come out in March, but you can start planning now.
Typically I begin my plotting and planning in early January, although themes and topics float around in my head all year. You don’t have to have a theme to participate, but I find it helps – and my readers seem to enjoy it. So I think about possible themes. Generally my themes follow what I enjoy – travel, food, music, literature. You blog each day in April (except Sunday), and use each letter of the alphabet as you blog.
When I first decided to take part, in 2012, it was purely by chance. I was following a blog (I can’t even remember whose blog it was), and I learned about the challenge, which actually began in 2009, before I was blogging. I hurriedly came up with a theme (authors, poets, lyricists) and put together a list (A is for W.H. Auden, B is for Bertoldt Brecht…). I used Wikipedia and my own books for research. I felt rushed, but I managed to post every day in April (except Sundays, that’s the rule). By the time I got to Warren Zevon, I was exhausted! Whew! One thing I knew for sure – I’d be better prepared for 2013.
And I was. In 2013, I blogged the alphabet on places I’d been, 2014 was about cheese (yes, it was), 2015 featured musical instruments, 2016 had a beautiful theme about Paris between the wars (1919-1939), when the city experienced a cultural boom of artists, writers, composers, and designers. In 2017, I showcased Broadway (and off-Broadway) musicals, the following year, 2018, featured a look back at the year 1968, accompanied by hit songs from the era. In 2019, my theme was Dylan, and I featured covers of Dylan songs A to Z.
Last year, my theme was “Yes, But Would You Eat It?” – a look at foods of the world.
I’ll be revealing my theme for 2021 soon, in a separate post. But I hope you’ll think about joining me in this challenge – it’s fun! And I’ve met some wonderful people through the A to Z. So stay tuned!
Don’t even know what this challenge is
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Meg, it’s just posting every day in April except Sundays. So, on April 1, it’s your “A” post. A lot of participants choose a theme – maybe books or fictional characters you like. Or genres. Or plays! I did musicals one year (A was for Ain’t Misbehavin’).
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Kudos to you, Martha! I will participate but in my own odd way. I can’t keep up with that daily thing!
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I still love your posts, Jacqui!
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I hope I live up to the expectations! xxx
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I have followed your recent A to Zs and have been writing mine for the past five years. It took a long time to come up with a topic this year but now I’ve got it and am enthused. Looking forward to seeing yours and writing mine.
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I’m looking forward to your posts, Linda! The A to Z Challenge is a great way to discover new blogs, and thank you for following mine. I’m following yours as well.
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Can’t wait to see what you came up with for this year!
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