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Reflections – 10 Thoughts about the A – Z Blog Challenge

May 4, 2015 Claire Annette Noland 24 Comments

a-z reflections

10 Thoughts about the A-Z Blog Challenge

I woke up on May 1st feeling like I was forgetting something. Did I actually make it to Z? Yes, I did! I’d like to say thanks to Arlee Bird, Challenge founder and the great co-hosts.

Here are my reflective thoughts in no particular order:

 

  1. The second year doing the challenge was easier than the first year.
  2. Short posts are better than long posts. I get too wordy and I realized I liked reading shorter posts.
  3. When it was hard to find a place to comment I didn’t – no matter how great the post was.
  4. It was wonderful to see so many different blog layouts. I got some great ideas.
  5. Black background with aqua text is very hard to read.
  6. I had fun with my theme- “Read Your World with Kid’s Books.”
  7. O was my toughest letter. I finally found a book set in Oman. Thankfully it was a really interesting book – The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye
  8. Pam’s Unconventional Alliance was awesome! I was honored to be one of her minions.
  9. It is fun to promote other great blogs I discovered and even more fun when those bloggers made comments on my blog.
  10. I can’t wait for next year. I have my theme ready and will be making notes in the months to come.

Here are some blogs I really liked that you should check out as you cruise through the list in the next few months:

Pam at http://unconventionallibrarian.com/

Evelyne at  http://evelyneholingue.com/

Arlee Bird at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

Anna at http://www.wellhellohandbag.com/

Linda at http://publishingbones.com/

S.L. Hennessy at http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/

Stephen Tremp at http://authorstephentremp.blogspot.com/

Rosie at https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/

Betty at http://viewsfrombenches.blogspot.com/

Livia Quinn at http://liviaquinn.com/

John Miller at https://theartisticchristian.wordpress.com/

Ellen at http://thecynicalsailor.blogspot.com/

Anabel at https://anabelsblog.wordpress.com

Veronica at http://owlwonder.com/

Donna at http://www.donnamcdine.com/

Charlotte at https://mygreennook.wordpress.com

Kern at http://www.oddparticle.com/

Jennifer at http://j-scribbles.blogspot.com/

Sarah at http://travelswithchoppy.com/

Sandy at http://homelessbridge.blogspot.com/

Debbie D at  http://thedogladysden.com/

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: a to z blog challenge, Read Your World with Kid's Books

Previous Post: « Celebrating May Day
Next Post: The Accidental Field Trip – UC Davis Arboretum »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rosie Amber says

    May 5, 2015 at 11:30 am

    Thanks for the shout out I really enjoyed your theme.

    Reply
    • Claire says

      May 15, 2015 at 5:47 pm

      Hi Rosie
      I’ve really enjoyed your blog posts!

      Reply
  2. Tina Cho says

    May 5, 2015 at 11:31 am

    I really like the idea of blogging A to Z. Was it a contest as well?

    Reply
    • Claire says

      May 15, 2015 at 5:48 pm

      Hi Tina, it wasn’t part of a contest even though I feel like I won a prize just for finishing. Why don’t you join in the fun next April?

      Reply
  3. Sandy says

    May 5, 2015 at 6:53 pm

    Well how sweet you are to make the list. Many thanks for doing that. I too have given some thought to next year, but…just not sold on anything yet. Repeating wouldn’t be a good idea, I don’t think…..probably couldn’t come up with that much new material…even if the topics were the same? Just don’t ow.

    Reply
  4. evelyneholingue says

    May 5, 2015 at 6:56 pm

    Your response to the challenge was awesome, Claire. Thank you for adding my blog to the ones you’ve enjoyed reading in April. It’s really generous and I appreciate the gesture. See you soon.

    Reply
  5. Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor says

    May 5, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    Thank you so much for including our blog in your list! I feel quite honored. I really enjoyed your A to Z posts – fantastic theme! Can’t wait to see what you do next year 🙂

    Reply
  6. betty says

    May 6, 2015 at 2:54 am

    Oh that was so sweet of you to list my blog 🙂 I like your reflection post and I agree with you about the comments; if they were hard to leave, I didn’t leave one. Good for you that you have a theme already picked for next year! I’m going between several, not sure where I’ll land for the theme for 2016 🙂

    betty

    Reply
  7. Sandy says

    May 8, 2015 at 10:38 am

    Sandy at Bridge and Beyond, Annoucing a Contest

    Reply
  8. Debbie D. says

    May 9, 2015 at 6:03 pm

    Congratulations on finishing the challenge and thanks so much for including me on your list.! Sorry I didn’t get a chance to visit before, but I was having a rough time this year. Will definitely be better organized next time. You are doing well to be planning for the 2016 challenge, already.

    Reply
  9. Cynthia says

    May 11, 2015 at 8:09 pm

    Great observations, Claire. Some of what you mentioned here rings familiar, as I”d done A to Z for two years. I might have an idea for next year, but I can’t just put it together next March. I’m already working ahead right now!

    Reply
  10. S. L. Hennessy says

    May 11, 2015 at 9:51 pm

    I’m so honored to have made your list! Wow! That means so much! And I’m even more glad to hear you had a good time with the challenge and this year was easier – I agree, the more years I participate, the easier it gets.

    Reply
  11. Mary Burris says

    May 12, 2015 at 2:48 pm

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

    Mary @ http://www.JingleJangleJungle.net

    Reply
  12. Sandy says

    May 15, 2015 at 3:54 pm

    I’ve popped in a dozen or so times since the completion of a to z, but can’t tell if you’er still blogging? Sorry for the 2nd note here on the same blog post, just thought this time I’d leave you a note to see if you’re still at it. Let me know.

    Reply
  13. Stephanie says

    May 15, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    I wish I had found your blog sooner. But thankfully we have the Road Trip.

    Reply
  14. Sandy says

    May 15, 2015 at 7:20 pm

    Glad to knowyou’re ok. Be safe and good luck with the research!

    Reply
  15. Paula says

    May 16, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    Congratulations on finishing! This is a great reflections post. Looks like you found some really good blogs. I am on the A to Z Road trip finding those I didn’t get to see the first time. Good luck! I agree with you about trying to comment. Some blogs it was just too hard to find the comment spot so I moved on. It’s a shame they done make that easier

    Reply
  16. Random Musings says

    May 26, 2015 at 1:34 am

    Loving your theme 🙂 I think it’s really interesting seeing what everyone chose for their themes!
    Popping by on the A to Z Road Trip
    Debbie
    http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Claire Annette Noland says

      June 1, 2015 at 10:12 pm

      Hi Debbie,
      So nice of you to stop by. I just visited your blog and will join the fiction linky if I can figure out how to do it.

      Reply
    • Claire Annette Noland says

      June 1, 2015 at 10:24 pm

      I’ve been amazed by the creativity of so many bloggers. I’ve learned a lot, too. Hooray for the A to Z Road Trip.

      Reply
  17. Parul says

    March 11, 2016 at 6:08 pm

    Those are some good reflections. 2015 was my first year and this year, I am also writing shorter posts. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

    Reply
    • Claire Annette Noland says

      March 11, 2016 at 6:18 pm

      So glad to be in Pam’s Alliance with you!

      Reply
  18. Chicky says

    March 21, 2016 at 8:32 am

    Hello Claire!
    I am Chicky from India. Hopped over from the Theme Reveal linky for this year. I love what you have done with your blog design! Beautiful aesthetically as well as functionally!
    I was looking for your theme reveal post for this year, but instead, found this one. What are you blogging about this year?
    Looking forward to connecting with you.

    Reply
    • Claire Annette Noland says

      March 26, 2016 at 4:33 am

      Hi Chicky,
      I love your name! This year I’m looking for mermaids around the world from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply

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