It’s time for The Alphabet Remix - A Writing Prompt Idea Engine Treating A to Z Blogging Avoidance Disorders
Just because several other bloggers have written about the same topic, for the same letter during the Blogging from A to Z Challenge does not mean you cannot blog about this same subject too. There are many ways to avoid looking like you just jumped on the bandwagon of A to Z participants who chose a common or popular topic that is now being blogged into the ground because everyone is talking about the same thing in the same way. Instead of choosing a different subject, especially if the popular or common topic interests you, try putting a spin on it by writing posts that are related to the subject but has enough variety to stand out among the crowd.
If you are a comic book, film, Robert Downey Jr. or superhero fan and notice that many, if not most A to Z Challenge bloggers wrote a movie review for The Avengers as their Letter A post, then don’t just dismiss the idea of using The Avengers as your subject of choice. Instead, try writing a comparison of all of The Avengers, pitting them against each other in a hypothetical battle. Write about who you think would win in a fight between Iron Man and Captain America.
Still stumped for ideas? Here are some examples, based on Actresses named Jennifer, that you can use to get your blogging juices flowing for the 2013 A to Z Challenge -- and turn this common name into unexpected blog post ideas.
Jennifer Garner Jokes
Post a joke about the actress and then ask your readers if they think it’s funny or not. Don’t have time to go searching for celebrity humor? That’s fine. Here is one from Daily Comedy:
Jennifer Garner recently filed a restraining order against a man who’s been following her around.
The man...Ben Affleck!
Also, challenge readers to rewrite the joke and see who comes up with the most clever or funniest one.
You could also post a joke that was made by the actress and then share your thoughts on whether you think she was funny or not. When asked if she would post in a bikini, Garner jokingly responded to David Letterman, “Not enough double-sided tape in the world to keep everything in place.”
Judge and Jury: Controversial Remarks by Jennifers of Hollywood
Nope, this ain’t no James Patterson novel that I’m talking about today. The literary great can, however, be used as motivation for you to re-cast one of his Alex Cross movies or write a blog post that lists actors who you think would be the right fit for a film adaptation of Judge and Jury. Now getting back to this alphabet remix, consider blogging about a comment made by one of the famous Jennifers in Hollywood and share your thoughts on it. Also, open the discussion up to your readers.
When talking about juggling work, motherhood and marriage, Jennifer Lopez said “So you are going to be either a bad mom and be a really good career woman and wife; or a good mom and career woman and a bad wife; or a good mom and a good wife and your career is gonna suck. I want to get a T-shirt that says, 'Bullsh--!” -- Do YOU agree or disagree that these are the choices for women?
While discussing her squirrel-skinning scene in “Winter’s Bone,” actress and “Hunger Games” star Jennifer Lawrence told Rolling Stone Magazine “I should say it wasn’t real, for PETA. But screw PETA” -- which prompted a response from the animal rights organization. -- Should we concern ourselves with fictional depictions of animal abuse or is PETA out of line?
Jazzy Juice about Jennifer Hudson
While other A to Z Challengers are listing their favorite Jennifer Hudson songs or favorite movies featuring this actress (which is fine to do, by the way), you can take a different approach to the subject matter and teach readers something about her that they didn’t know by sharing trivia facts or related news while also adding your thoughts to make it unique.
Did you know that Jennifer Hudson has her own holiday? That’s right. In 2007, the mayor of Chicago declare March 6th as “Jennifer Hudson Day.” So, write about how you would celebrate this holiday or better yet, if you could give a local celebrity his or her own holiday, who would it be and why?
Did you also know that Jennifer Hudson turned down the leading role of an abused teenager in the drama film “Precious” because she didn’t want to put on anymore weight? -- then later said the character just wasn't meant for her. In her book about weight loss, Hudson said that although she liked the script, she didn’t want another role that had something to do with her weight, after working on “Dreamgirls.” As a result, Hollywood newcomer Gabourey Sidibe was case as the “Precious” lead. That isn’t the only time this Academy Award winning actress turned down a big offer. Hudson also turned down an invitation to perform at President Obama’s inauguration, which would have been her first time in the spotlight following the murder of her mother, brother and nephew.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Before we wrap today’s A to Z blog post up, join me for some Friday Fun Time housekeeping.
The WINNER of last week’s Alphabet Soup game is...
Tina Downey at Life is Good
Tina’s Alphabet Soup Prize Package Includes: bragging rights, the title of 'Alphabet Wizard,' the option of selecting my next Monday Movie Meme topic* AND most importantly, the authority to choose the letter for the next Alphabet Soup game.
*Must be a topic/theme that has not been previously covered.
Congratulations to Tina for unscrambling all 10 names of actors and actresses whose first name begins with the letter J! I also want to give a special shout out to Delores at The Tormented Scribe for also taking a chance and playing this game by unscrambling at least one of the names on the puzzle. Delores, you are a true sport! For those of you who played and for those of you who missed it, here are the answers to last week’s Alphabet Soup:
1. Jhcaknsooa Jus - Joshua Jackson
2. otkeacaJnsn J - Janet Jackson
3. ernnnH fidoeuJs - Jennifer Hudson
4. nferCylonJen ine - Jennifer Connely
5. tosifei nnAJrnne - Jennifer Aniston
6. errCJy mia - Jim Carrey
7. eeortJtl nuSelm - Jurnee Smollett
8. JrnOCo lelnry - Jerry O’Connell
9. NlckoncJiohas - Jack Nicholson
10. kck acaBJl - Jack Black
Need some extra blogging motivation? Sign up for the Monday Movie Meme, a weekly writing and memory activity that will have you thinking about movies in a whole new light. New topics are posted every Monday!
NICOLE
Read The Madlab Post.
Find/Follow/RT @MadlabPost on Twitter.
8 comments:
My favorite part of my prize package is of course the bragging rights! Will be heading over to check out MMM, which I've had on my list to join, but just keep missing.
Those were some great tips you had about how to write a unique post. One question: what's with all the J's? Are all Fridays featuring J? Just wondering. Hollywood certainly has enough Jennifers to keep you going for a while ;-)
Alrighty, to finish my prize package:
T for the next scramble (duh!)
Tina @ Life is Good, AKA: The Alphabet Wizard
very interesting ideas!
Well done Tina The Alphabet Wizard. Those are some interesting facts, and a great idea :)
Diversity of ideas is what makes many of the blogfest concepts so interesting. Every participant has their own unique outlook and will be writing in their own unique styles. One topic can go off in an infinite number of tangents when imaginations are let loose.
Excellent points offered here, Nicole.
Lee
A Faraway View
An A to Z Co-host blog
Excellent advice! I did notice a ton of Avengers posts on the A-Z, but most offered something a little different, so it was all good :)
I already have my theme for next year sorted.and will spend the winter writing it all out.
Yvonne.
Tina,
Yeah, sure enough....I thought those bragging rights
would go over well with your competitiveness :)
I look forward to hearing from you with regards to the MMM
and am super happy that you found this Alphabet Remix post useful.
The J's were just something that I happened to stumble upon while
planning my posts...no stratetgic moves there. I unintentionally just
stayed in the same lane with the letters -- one for all three series each, before moving to a new letter, so your mighty T will start off the next Alphabet Soup puzzle, in two weeks.
Lynn Proctor,
Thanks. I'm glad you think so and would be tickled if you implemented
the ideas on your blog during the next A to Z Challenge.
Anna Smith,
Leave it to Tina to knock 'em all out of the ball park! She rocks. It's nice to know that you found the information in this post of interest :)
Arlee,
I agree wholheartedly with the diverse viewpoints on one particular topic...that is why I hope that next year's A to Z Challenge participants won't shy away from popular topics out of fear or concern for looking like the same ol', same ol'....I hope that all participants know that there are many different ways to cover a topic that other bloggers are also writing about....and still stand out from the crowd. Thanks for your feedback on the points offered in this post.
Jamie Gibbs,
Thanks, man! Yeah, The Avengers was huge this year throughout the blogosphere and I chose them as an example because they are so popular both online and offline.
The variety that you found while reading A to Z blogs is exactly what I'm talking about when I say that everyone can write about the exact same thing and still make their blog posts interesting by "remixing" them.
Yvonne/welcome to my world of poetry,
A 2013 theme for the challenge? Really? You're way ahead of us! That is great! -- looks like Winter will be shaping up to be a very productive season in your neck of the woods ;)
~Nicole
Blog: The Madlab Post
@MadlabPost on Twitter
Formulating new ideas!! Sample Letters
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