Saturday 10 May 2014

A to Z Reflection: Well, how did I get here?

I'm writing this with less than five hours to go to the deadline for these pieces reflecting on the A to Z Blogging Challenge for 2014, which is similar in a way to how I got involved with the project to begin with.

I've been intending to write this piece for a few days and have only just got around to it and I always intended to take part in this year's challenge, but only formally threw my hat in the ring the day before it all started.

But in whatever haphazard way I've approached this, I've really enjoyed it. It was fun, it was definitely a challenge and it also taught me a few things about blogging and/or writing. First off, if you have a specific target it's amazing how you can make yourself achieve that - especially if you're doing it in the public gaze. Secondly, there are as many different ways of approaching blogging as there are people who choose to blog. Thirdly, you have nothing to lose by attempting something and keeping on attempting it. I'm sure there are other lessons I have learned, but these will have to do for now.

Were there any downsides to the challenge? What I would say is that I found it quite daunting trying to visit blogs, comment when I felt I had something to say, and respond in a meaningful way to the people who left comments on my blog.

It's also quite a task trying to sort out which blogs to visit and I still have feelings of regret that there are many more participating blogs that I didn't visit than which I did. But such is life. One can only have the greatest respect for the Challenge "officials" who did visit every blog. At this point it would also be appropriate to thank those who organise this challenge. Such things do not happen without a lot of hard work.

So would I do it again? It's easy to say now that I would because April 2015 is such a long way off and anything can happen between now and then. But next time, I'll be much better organised, I'll write everything way in advance, I'll schedule posts so I've got more time to visit other blogs AND I'll set aside time every day to get back to people who comment on my blog. Oh yes, next time it's going to be perfect. What's that you say? Pigs might fly...well, yes, but better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

Because my A to Z entries had music and memories as a theme I'd like to sign off with a piece of music which I have chosen simply because I like it.


3 comments:

  1. Hi Mark,

    Sometimes that last minute thing actually works the best. Spontaneity has a real fresh feel. The blogging world is a crazy place, and the variety of voices is what makes it so dynamic. I enjoyed that last bit of music. In that spirit, try this one:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLF46JKkCNg

    Best to you!

    Liz from Bead Contagion

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Liz,
      Maybe I should work on being spontaneous until I perfect it. I enjoyed that version of Take Five you suggested, it really is a "cool" tune. I'm back in the UK for a few weeks, which is absolutely wonderful for obvious reasons, but my blogging seems to have ground to a halt. I must try to do a few short posts.
      Cheers for now,

      Mark

      Delete
  2. Congratulations on completing the challenge.

    I visited your blog early on in the challenge and really liked your theme (because it was very similar to my own). Like you have found the task of visiting and commenting on blogs a wee bit overwhelming at times, the list was so huge that towards the end I switched to looking through the list of blogs with 100 Followers or Less.

    Now I'm working through the Reflections and Road Trip lists to make up for not giving the proper list my full attention. :-)

    ReplyDelete

I'd like to hear from you so please feel free to comment. Sorry, no anonymous comments.