This year’s AtoZ Challenge is now in our rear view mirrors, and many of my fellow bloggers are reflecting on how it went. After a few days off from writing, I’ve decided to chime in as well.
I almost didn’t do the challenge, because I had scheduled a trip out of town for two weeks in April. However, by drafting posts ahead of time, I managed to keep up, and I’m glad I did!
Along the way, I met a number of talented bloggers…and in fact, met a nearby blogger in person, along with several of her writer friends! I did not see that coming! Thanks, Gwynn.
I haven’t looked at my stats like some bloggers have, but I had many supportive visitors who left thoughtful comments, for which I am deeply grateful. The engagement via the comments and visiting other blogs was the most fun! I ran across blogs that delighted, inspired, and informed me. There’s a lot of talent out there in the blogosphere!
I’ve wanted to turn my gardening adventures into some kind of book, so it was fun to test some ideas this month by using gardening as my theme.
With the challenge completed, I’ll return to a weekly blog for now. I hope to amp that up over time, but I can stick with a weekly schedule easily. I’m nearly ready to send my latest novel, What She Knew (or maybe, It’s not Personal, or maybe something else — I’m title challenged) to an editor. I have a fun idea for a one-act play, and that would need to be completed by September to make it into a local contest. I also know what the next novel will be about, and I’m planning to start research this fall.
I guess what I’m saying is, I’m feeling some real “spark” after this challenge. The creative juices are flowing! There are not enough ways for me to say thank you to all of you — the bloggers, the organizers, the co-hosts. You made April a special month! I send you virtual hugs and look forward to keeping up with several of you.
Hi Nadine, it was great to meet you in the virtual world, and hear of your garden and your trip. All the very best with your writing. The blogging challenge has spurred me on too. I’ve made two of my efforts into paperbacks, as well as ebooks, and I’m not sure I would have done so, without the confidence that the blogging challenge gave me. Kind regards.
That’s great! Good for you. I hope we continue to visit each other in cyberspace.
Nadine, I do SO enjoy your writing and your blog. Plus, the best part of this Challenge is that I met the REAL LIVE person on this blog! This is a SPECIAL treat! Slowly, I’m meeting more and more friends that I so enjoy, but sadly, they are out in the land of Cyber Blogging. It is a special treat to meet a friend in person. This definitely was a CHALLENGE for me. But today I am having to send my computer off with a Techie for a few days. I discovered what may spur my writing is NOT having… Read more »
Ah, pen and paper! How quaint! 🙂 I think writing the old fashioned way accesses a different part of the brain, and there’s a lot of value in writing by hand. I hope, though, that your computer works like new when you get it back!
Me too, I really enjoyed your theme this year, and have to catch up with some of your posts that I missed. I have loved having you come by my blog and comment. Every time I see your name I think of Port Townsend and dream…. Lisa, co-host #IWSG May, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
A to Z can really be invigorating. Habit building in that good way, for your words!
I found the social aspect to be the best part. I write regularly, but mostly alone at my computer, so being able to share words with others was a real gift!
Getting a creative surge is the best thing to come out of the AtoZ! Here’s to that garden book.
Creative surges are good! Unfortunately, now I don’t seem to want to sleep… I’m enjoying the work, though! It feels good.
I enjoyed your A to Z theme, Nadine.
It’s great that you met a blogger face to face – what a special moment! 🙂
Here’s to creativity! *toasts*
Thanks, Michelle! It’s always great to meet a fellow writer I’ve met online. Last year I got to meet a long-time online writer friend in Wales, and it was really special.