Now the A to Z Challenge has a home of its own. The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge began on my other blog Tossing It Out in 2010 with nearly 100 participants. In 2011 the Challenge grew to nearly 1300 participants. Who knows what 2012 will bring?
Why did I create a second blog devoted to the A to Z Challenge? In one word: Focus.
Tossing It Out is my personal blog devoted to writing, blogging, and eclecticism. There I write about anything from A to Z. That blog is my potpourri blog. I did not want Tossing It Out to become overly obsessed with the A to Z Challenge.
The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is a topic in and of itself that fills a particular niche. The real excitement will begin in January of 2012 and will build into a crescendo until the event explodes on the blogging scene of April 2012.
Between now and the January announcement that will open the A to Z sign-ups I will be posting news updates about the Challenge. I will also rerun some of the A to Z posts from Tossing It Out that might be of particular interest to those of you who are new to the Challenge. I also welcome guest posts from previous A to Z participants who would like to share their experiences in the Challenge.
This will be the official blog for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. Keep an eye on the posts here. I will try to keep them interesting and helpful. For now, there will be one post per week each Tuesday. I hope you will click on the Friend Connect button in the sidebar or subscribe to the blog so you will receive updates.
Please feel free to offer suggestions as to what you think would make this site better. I look forward to any feedback that you may have to give.
For now I've called the followers "Friends of the Alphabet". Do you like that designation? Is there another title you think might be better?
25 comments:
I think having a dedicated site for the A-Z challenge is a great idea. It frees up the supporters and organizers for their own sites.
I like the alphabet approach. It is simple, diverse, and individual. The postings that each letter produced were broad in nature and topic.
I will be signing up, Arlee!
I'm on board with this challenge. Looking forward to it. It seems a great way for me to spend a month's blogging.
This is a great idea...can't wait to get started.
Friends of the Alphabet sounds good. If you really want a suggestion how about Alpha Writers?
Comment emailed to me from Hilary Melton-Butcher before I fixed the commenting system:
Hi Lee .. I'm fairly certain this is going to bomb me out - the comment box is embedded & that's been happening recently. Tossing it out is still pop up?!
I've put word verification back on as I was getting lots of 'spam' comments and heaven knows where they go to.
I'm fairly certain some of your malware problems arose with the links from your 1200 list .. and certainly I removed one I mistrusted from my followers (if they follow - then they can access other followers).
The gaming site links I found to be a 'problem' challenge .. as a great many of them didn't work .. and I was very dubious about one or two ..
The A - Z concept is fantastic .. cheers for now (I'm copying this .. and will email it if necessary) ... Hilary
actually can't even comment - as there's no name or URL entry allowed .. so I'm off to email!
challenge accepted
Hi Lee .. looks like you fixed it once again .. many thanks - cheers Hilary
>>...For now I've called the followers "Friends of the Alphabet". Do you like that designation? Is there another title you think might be better?
Howdy, BOIDMAN ~
I just now saw mention of this new blog at 'Tossing It Out'.
I think it's a good idea that you've created a new blog just for the "A To Z" material.
And I do like the "Friends Of The Alphabet" name. But instantly, upon reading it, another possibility flashed in my mind - one I think I'd run with if the decision was mine to make . . .
What do you think of... "Alphabet Zealots"?
With that one, you go "A" To "Z" in two words and it still expresses the same basic idea regarding people who are passionate about or have Zeal for the Alphabet.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
This is a great idea! I also like Delores' suggestion for your followers! Looking forward to more updates! Julie
Alright, let's see what you got.
How do I click on the friends, I don't see a button and nothing is highlighted.
I just joined .... its a good idea for a second blog for the A to Z Challenge as there is so much going on with the event.
Separate blogs prolly a good thing. Less hits on your own blog, perhaps - but less problems with spammers and malware, too. I have no preference for the name - as the saying goes, call me anything, but late for dinner!
Thank you so much for doing this.
Following! Hard to believe this last challenge was now SIX months ago! Looking forward to doing it all again in another 6 months!
Hello Lee - I'm looking forward to getting back in the saddle and hammering out some wickedly wild posts.
I enjoyed my first go at this challenge last April; I found it quite invigorating and stimulating, not to mention adventurous - that would be because of all the amazing blogs I went on to explore.
So...when the time comes, you can count me in!
Cheers, Jenny
PEARSON REPORT
Thanks to all for the comments, suggestions, and follows. Will be working on this site to polish it up before next January. I appreciate everyone's support.
Lee
I think Friends of the Alphabet is perfect.
This sounds exciting! Hope I can keep up with it.
can't wait for April - so enjoyed the lastn giddy race through a month have joine the friends and subscribed to posts - roll on spring again
I like the designation and I can't wait for April!
I just became a friend of the alphabet :) I loved A to Z! It was a fantastic experience and I learned so much about myself :)
I can't wait to do it all again!
Awesome! I heard about this from Alex and think it's a great idea!
Friends of the alphabet is cute!
Maybe during the month of April, you could do something Sesame Street style like - Brought Together by the Letter A (then B, C, D, etc.)
I think it is wise to separate the two sites, though probably no less of a challenge for you to keep on top of things. Thanks for doing this Arlee - it's a really great idea.
No love for "Alphabet Zealots", eh?
[:o(
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I do like "Alphabet Zealots", but somehow "Friends of the Alphabet" sounds more...shall we say, friendly?
Zealots has a religious, almost militaristic ring to it. Fitting on your blog, but maybe not so much for the population in general.
Lee
BOIDMAN ~
>>...Zealots has a religious, almost militaristic ring to it. Fitting on your blog, but maybe not so much for the population in general.
Well, I don’t exactly see why anyone should attach a religious or militaristic meaning to the word “zealouts” when it is preceded by nothing but the word “alphabet”.
According to my dictionary, “zealout” means “1. a person who shows zeal.”
And “zeal” means: “fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor. –-Synonyms: intensity, passion. –-Antonym: apathy.”
But it’s your blog and your A To Z gig – you’re the king hereabouts, and it’s good to be the king. And maybe this is one example of why your blogs have hundreds of readers and mine have next to none.
>>...I do like "Alphabet Zealots", but somehow "Friends of the Alphabet" sounds more...shall we say, friendly?
Maybe so. If people are going to read into “Alphabet Zealouts” something that isn’t really there. Nevertheless, I am never going to choose “This” over “THIS”.
Oh well. Just one dude’s opinion.
Yak Later, McBro.
~ D-FensDogg
‘Loyal American Underground’
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