Today I want to just write a Thank you note to all the fellow bloggers who are constantly visiting my blog and reading all my posts which are not quick or easy reads! Writing short and smart posts is a unique talent which I don't have. I have been always reprimanded by my teachers for my lengthy writing. Whenever I write a huge essay - my ma'am would be happy that I did so much research, nevertheless she used to advise to not strain myself during examinations👀. A2Z is no less than an exam 😆. Anyway without drifting away I want to convey thank you from the bottom of my heart for visiting regularly, reading, encouraging me with your genuine comments! I am not taking names of all the blogs/bloggers but thanks to one and all. It is not easy to write, read others, and to respond to comments! Some have done it all. I never replied to comments. I intend to do so soon after the challenge. Due to time crunch I read the comments and I make sure that I visit all your blogs and it has been an invigorating experience! I know there is still last leg of the challenge but I am taking the advantage of letter T to express my thanks!👍💗
Takeaways from A to Z
I have done a to z challenge in the past in 2013 and 2014. However it was easy then as I was not a mother and also was more energetic 😛but now being mother of 5 YO, it is really challenging to take out time - still I managed to come so far, hence I am patting my back😀. I write and read when she is in day care or when she sleeps. I want to list some of my take-aways from the challenge.
- I realised the existence of so many poetic forms through many talented bloggers who inspired me to write my naive poems. Writing or reading poetry makes my heart happy!
- Understood how diligently most of you are working to reach the finishing point of challenge by hook or by crook, which encouraged me on low energy days.
- Those who are writing fiction, hats off to them and those who are writing Flash fictions - it is a talent of another level. Your posts kept me engaged!
- Some of us blogger friends formed a WhatsApp group to keep running the blog marathon. More on it on the W day :)
- I managed to finish reading a long pending book just for a to z.
- I have not been blogging properly from nearly 5 years so A to Z ended my writers block!
- I am knowing people from all the corners of the world. It is always exciting. I treasure so many elaborate comments which make me feel my post is completely read! I would love to stay connected even after a to z.
Tips for A to Z participants
I am not an expert but still from my experiences I want to share some tips I followed for a fruitful blogging month.
- If you are really inclined to finish a to z, at least schedule 7 - 8 posts ahead of the challenge in the month of March, suggested by a dear friend Deepa. You won't be exhausted. You can schedule a mix of easy and tough letters!
- Have a to do list ready. If you jot down the topics you would be dealing, it will be lot easier. My WhatsApp group helped me with it.
- There is a popular opinion that if the post is short, it would be read. However I believe if your content connects the readers it would anyway be read.
- If you are very eager to be read (I sure am), make an effort and read others too! I know it's not easy everyday but whenever possible it's good to explore new blogs and always good to payback your visitors!
- Some are here to expand businesses, to promote their products, ideas, share cuisines, and some have no special purpose...but mostly we all want to be read! It helps to build a network, gain specific readers who would like your blog. It's a tricky process. Needs more than a week to identify people who may wanna read you but I think you can find a pattern and form a fruitful network!
- Concentrate on your content, then on its refinement, and then maybe spend time to read others. Don't Rush!
- Spend atleast 30 min - 1 hour for blog hopping. If you have very tight schedule, the minimum you can do is to read who are reading you!
- It is ok to leave a trail - a link of your blog, but first make sure you at least read the post - get a gist of it and leave some relevant and a good comment (not just a "nice post" comment). Blog hopping doesn't mean blog racing. You can be the tortoise 🐢and walk slow rather than being the hare🐇that gets tired and rests!😀
- I made it a habit to leave my blogger link as many blogs are in Wordpress and a wordpress login is always asked😾. I learnt how to leave links properly from Crackerberries!
- For some it doesn't matter if they are read …that is perfectly ok. We all are primarily here to write and complete the challenge!
- Try not to miss out any letters. It will be too much pressure when you have to handle 2 to 3 letters at once. If you burn out, write something or anything just to close the day. Many of the bloggers have shared their daily anecdotes or just a list of pictures explaining the story behind, which are very honest and fun to read!
- Fix issues on your blog, check settings and everything so that people can easily comment. I had to leave many blogs because of their very tough commenting options!
- No one wants to waste time, so avoid the clutter and focus on your content at least for the blogging month - for easy readability!
- Don't strain a lot! I strained my hand so much 😔(I have carpel tunnel syndrome and cervical spondylosis) that I reduced my reading list and I am using Google mic to voice type this post. It is a real boon!
I want to close by saying thanks again for reading my posts with patience. Thank you all. Wish you a wonderful April.
I am participating in Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022 and this is my Day 20 - 'T' post.
Blogs you may wanna check out:
https://robztobor.blogspot.com/ (new discovery. A gem of a blog)
https://ladyinreadwrites.com/ (bful poetry)
www.lillian888.wordpress.com (honest and engaging topics)
https://artismoments.blogspot.com/ (again brilliant poetry)
I always love to read your blog posts. Thanks for remembering me after a few years.
ReplyDeleteAlways a pleasure to interact with you. I was inactive for 5 yrs even if i wrote sporadically. Only now trying to get back to writing..hope to continue
DeleteNice gratitude post Afshan. Mine is also thanksgiving today :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I am glad that despite having a busy schedule and managing a little one at home, you've posted diligently every single day of the challenge. Kudos !! Keep writing. Its always a pleasure to read your multi topical posts :)
Thanks a lot..ya it's like am letting out everything that is bottled from 3-4 years as i was not blogging much..thanks for always reading me. Glad i knew u through challenge!
DeleteYes the whole exercise connects us to people from different walks of life in various corners of the globe and that is fascinating !
ReplyDeleteOverwhelming and once again impressive. The tips are really helpful and I shall remember to use them from now on. 😇
ReplyDeleteAfshan u r absolutely right about this (a to z) challenge flowering🌹 our creative buds.🌷🌷 Wonderful written 👏 👌 ❤ 🙌 .
thank you very much for your post and the tips :)
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend <3
@jayashree:ya so much learning from so many people from nook and corner of globe
Delete@Ranjana: thanks dear..ya it's a creative churn!
@ladyleemanila: thanks back to u for reading my posts always! Hope u r having a grt weekend
You've already written your blog wrap up post here with many good tips. I'm glad that you have opened your writers block. I don't have the need to write like many bloggers do, but I do like the friends I've made from blogging and like to share with them.
ReplyDeleteYa the bonds we make through blogging are special...i hav friends made from 15 yrs back and some of them became closest frnds....connecting through writing is different .haha ya this sounds like a wrap up post but there r 6 more posts!! Phew
DeleteNot sure if I just posted before I finished or not. Anyway, I said I agree with your thoughts about long versus short posts - it all comes down to what you are saying. Sometimes it takes a lot of words to say it.
ReplyDeleteHey Afshan. I would like to reciprocate the sentiment. Thank you for visiting my blog regularly even though I have not always managed to pay a return visit. It's been a busy month as I'm visiting family after 28 months:) I hope to catch up with my reading once the month of April is behind me:)
ReplyDelete@kristin: i got ur comment, ya writing a short post is not easy..but some people do a grt job in very less words...thanks for ur time here!!!
Delete@Arti: thanks for reading my posts and encouraging me..yes i understand the challenges...many people have time crunch..i also would like to respond, interact more after April. I love ur posts Arti. Would like to be in touch. Thanks
Lovely post Afshan, and I think you're a great example of what this challenge is all about. Challenging yourself and appreciating others and cheering them on. Friendships and connections get built, so much is explored and learned, and hopefully lots of fun is had, even if by the end of the month we're all leaning into exhaustion. I enjoyed reading your takeaways and your tips - all excellent. And in turn, I extend my thanks to you as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for your positive words.ya this year I got time to stay dedicated to challenge. In 2017 I started and left at letter H....i hope to continue being in touch with some cool bloggers/writers I discovered through challenge. Thank U Deborah for acknowledging this post
DeleteThis is excellent! Your blogging advice is spot on. Maybe you need to offer a guest post to the A to Z Blog.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Thanks a lot for visiting reading and commenting and thanks for featuring on FB page! I would love to do a guest post , however if this deems fit pls feel free to publish there later?
DeleteAlso out of context, i just wanna bring to your notice that am facing issues with a to z Fb page...till 3 days back i was able to post on threads there , like, reply..now everything is blocked to me. I can only see posts..i saw that u featured me there , when a friend replied. Some how my access is blocked there which is weird..i mailed about this to a to z team and also messaged on insta. I request to check my msgs and help me in resolving this if possible?
Thanks again for featuring on the FB page!
I did respond to the FB message I believe. Hopefully you've resolved your issue as I am not sure what the problem is or how to fix it.
DeleteLee
I troubleshooted the issue a lot along with my friends but invain - No resolution . I was able to post till "P" day afterwards I lost access and none can see my old posts too on thread :( :o Never happened to me earlier hence its mysterious!
Deletethanks though for getting back!
You did a lot of work on this "T" post. Great job!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you so much Afshan, for visiting my post so very regularly. I am going to spend this weekend doing blog hopping and catching up on commenting.. Second, my heartfelt thanks for including my blog here in the list of blogs to visit..<3..third, I am like you (unable to write short posts) so I totally understand what you said there :) and last, but not the least, your tips and tricks are perfect (I always plan to write ahead for each monthlong challenge but then it never happens and I am playing catchup; maybe next time).. and yes, love that one point you made, we all want to be read.. knowing others truly read through your post keeps us going forward..
ReplyDelete@Lady in Read : thanks for your views here. Ya planning ahead helps but most of times i also can't write well in advance . Only by end of March i was ready with 4-5 posts and hence it became lil easy. I don't get time to reply to comments but today felt like replying to all....being Sunday break :)... I love ur writing. It's a special talent to write so many kinda poems. Hope to stay connected ..all the best
DeleteGood tips. Valuable post. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete@Jamie, Trisha Faye : Thank u and thanks for reading my posts through the challenge...
DeleteVery good topic for the letter T. I agree with a lot of what you said about the challenge with your tips. I have tried to visit the majority of the blogs participating this year but some are hard to navigate through to find their post and like you said, some are hard to comment on. I agree with having posts written in advance. When I first decided to do the challenge this year, I made a copy of the calendar for the month of April and started jotting down topics to correspond with the letter of the day. That helped a lot. I still have 2 more posts to write for X (stalled on what to write) and Z (have to get a picture for it) and then I'll be done.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to find your blog during the challenge and I've enjoyed reading your posts and thank you for faithfully commenting on my posts.
I also agree with you about really reading what someone writes and leaving an appropriate comment about what is written. I often wonder when I get a comment that says "nice post" if they actually did read it or not.
It is a bit less hectic this time around from the last time I did the challenge in 2016 when there were about 2000 blogs participating. This time around I am juggling working outside the home (before I worked at home), my husband now retired and a dog so I have less free time than I had back then. My intent to do the challenge this year was to find more new blogs to follow and I've done that :)
betty
m quite glad that i found u Betty....u r the first to comment almost every day :) i cherish ur comments....was never able to reply...but i read every line. Leaving appropriate comment is important... to me it feels an insult if you are just seeing post and putting in comment for the heck of it ( many do that)...anyhoo i am super glad I found a great list of bloggers too ( my main purpose was to write Nd find some like minded bloggers) ..i think both purposes got well served!wish u a very happpy weekend..
DeleteThanks for always visiting my blog !
Thank you for your thank you, your tips, and your take aways, and for stopping by my blog too! Congratulations on being back to A to Z this year, even more so as a busy Mom!
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice, much of which I applied this year and have to say it's made the Challenge far easier and a whole lot more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Facing The Mountain
Nice blog and thanks for the tips!
ReplyDelete@Marcy: thanks Marcy..ya it's not easy doing this challenge...am going to take a long break after challenge ;)
ReplyDelete@Dino : am glad u did...I never would have known about boxing so much if not for ur blog :) feel happy to have come across u. Thanks for spending time everyday on my blog
@Linda: thanks Linda!
Came to know about your topic for T via FB page of A to Z challenge. The way you distilled the nuggets of blogging advice starting and ending with beautiful Thank you to the network is so sweet. Great tips!
ReplyDeleteThank you to you too! Its been wonderful reading all of your posts. You're quite right, I've too found so many poetic forms through various bloggers during this challenge!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could write long posts. I've always had a hard time in college to write those long essays and term papers.
ReplyDeletethank you for visiting my blog often.
https://janetwoodsthoughts.blogspot.com/
and you are amazing. :-D
ReplyDeleteYou are one of the bloggers this year that I am so glad that I have gotten to know. I am hoping to see some people on a more regular basis after A to Z.
ReplyDeleteAll your thoughtful Ts are so true. I think the thing that makes me the most sad is when I cannot leave a comment. You are a thoughtful blogger and I know everyone who knows you feels the same way and you are talented - I cant wait to see what you write after the A to Z challenge!!! ~smiles from Moonie
Turned Back
just commenting back about what you read about a boy in Ukraine. That writing came out of my heart from many years of frustration that no one would hear how these children on the streets were treated. It is a true story and tho it is the true story of one child it represents the story of many street children around our world.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, A to Z is hard slog. Everyone is so burned out by May. That's part of the reason I modified and don't officially do it anymore. How you do it with a 5 year old astonishes me.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant topic for T
ReplyDeleteVery nicely written. Your post actually connects the readers, as i read end to end!
Not much into reading -writing now a days hence not commenting every time but i really really love reading your blog...
Take care & stay blessed.
What a great piece. You summed up so many points that rang true with me. I was prepared at the start of the challenge now I'm back to doing a post each day and yes it is challenging. You're doing a good job though. Thanks for all your visits and comments.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful way to express your gratitude, Afshan! I have been lagging behind, mainly because it was I think on 30th March, I realized that I can participate in A to Z challenge to build-up my technical writing blog. Yes, I have also participated earlier with my lifestyle and food blog. Now, everything is streamlined and I am writing my U blog. Do give it a read.
ReplyDeleteWell, THANK YOU as well!
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling, it's hard to keep a post short and sweet when there's is so much to say!
Glad to hear you're back to blogging after a 5-year-break. Keep it up :-)
You have done excellently well, Afshan. I have got a blogpal via this Challenge in you. You have put up a number of very interesting post that I just loved reading. I am sorry, I haven't been able to comment on all of them.
ReplyDeleteAnd a BIG THANK YOU for visiting my blog as well, reading the posts and keying in elaborate comments.
Wish you the best :-)
T = Thunder
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThank you Afshan for this gratitude post that motivates each one of us to hop on to some more blogs today. I know about your pain and hats off to you for all that you are managing by posting as well as commenting on so many blogs! Take care of your hand and congratulations on so many wonderful, interesting and insightful posts.
ReplyDeleteDropping by via A-Z challenge from https://momandideas.com
Thank you Afshan for being a regular and sincere reader of my posts! :-) Good tips for all AtoZers!!
ReplyDeleteThose are all good tips. I know that for me, writing ahead is the only way I can manage the A-to-Z. This year I started writing/pre-scheduling posts as far back as January. That gave me time to complete half of them at a leisurely pace before the challenge started and kept me from being exhausted in April. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for being a supportive reader this month; I know it is difficult to visit and comment without tiring out. I appreciate your efforts!
I love your tips and tricks, no matter how hard I try, I can never get posts written ahead of time! I do plan out my theme and know each letter's topic for the day, but I can never write as much as I want to!
ReplyDeleteI love this post so much for so many reasons! Thank YOU for writing it and for the fantastic energy you have given this challenge! Having you read and comment on so many of my posts has been a gift to me and brought a smile for my efforts. It's been fun to share the challeng with you. Great tips too! Wishing you continued joy in your writing!
ReplyDelete- https://www.inspiredpossibility.com/blog
I love this. Great ideas and thoughts about the challenge. I find having the theme helps. I always struggle with what to write after the challenge is complete as I don't have a great plan. One day I will develop a better weekly plan.
ReplyDeleteFinally I managed to drop by your site. 🙄🙄
ReplyDeleteAnd what a brilliant post I caught. T for thank you is so well written. Loved the tips and suggestions. They are spot on! And incidentally my teachers in school used to call me a rambler because I never could end an essay. I would write and write and write! 😀😀
Thank you for reading my posts and leaving your feedback there, Afshan! May God Bless You and Yours.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips there, Afshan! Spot on! Hugely resonated with some specific ones - especially the tortoise-hare and the prep around blog settings, editing, refinement etc. Congratulations for a successful season! And yes, let's do the same next year too! And oh, I happened to read 2 books too for the A-Z!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my 2022 A-Z at FictionPies
Didn't we meet during an A to Z Challenge? It's been so many years now, I can't remember, but however we met, I'm sure pleased it happened!
ReplyDelete