NEW GRAPHICS TEAM MEMBER SEARCH

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE spread the word about this! Share everywhere you can.

Covid has taken Jeremy away from us. With heavy hearts, we must find another volunteer to do the A to Z graphics.  

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE FORM BEFORE YOU APPLY.

https://forms.gle/i3aXBLtWA6r1z1NM8

In the event the team likes more than one applicant, we will hold a contest on Feb 16-18 showcasing the offered badges and ask the A to Z audience to vote.

You will need to create one badge to apply. 

width="250" height="250"

Form set to close Feb 12.

Jeremy Hawkins Tribute

On January 3, we lost an amazing guy – Jeremy Hawkins. http://www.beingretro.com

Today, February 2, we pay tribute and give back to one who was so giving and involved in our community.

To honor his life and support the family he leaves behind, on that day:

·       Create a blog post a story or memory about Jeremy.

·       Create a blog post with photos of Jeremy.

·       Create a blog post to share some of the graphics he made for you.

·       Post a photo of you wearing one of the t-shirts he designed on social media.

·       And to support his family, please purchase his t-shirts https://www.neatoshop.com/artist/Jeremy-Hawkins, art https://society6.com/izombie , and his books https://amzn.to/3rNVlnH

Spread the word and let’s pay tribute to one of the most supportive and loyal guys ever to cross our paths, Jeremy Hawkins.

https://society6.com/izombie/collection/a-to-z-challenge-survivor-2016-collection

If you are posting a tribute on your blog, I invite you to leave a link in the comments. If you share your post on Twitter, please include the #atozchallenge hashtag. 

#atozchallenge After Survey 2021 RESULTS

Thank you to the 46% of bloggers who filled out the survey.

Almost everyone enjoyed the challenge this year.

"Visiting the blog in March, April, and May" is the most popular way to follow us. Our Facebook page is the second most popular. 

Most said they'll be back next April, or probably will. No one answered that they definitely won't.

Nearly everyone who took the survey said they completed the challenge.

90% got on the Master list this year. Only 2 bloggers said they didn't share links anywhere, including to their own followers.
Half posted links to their blog onTHEIR OWN Facebook page or profile, and half posted links to their blog on Twitter using the #AtoZchallenge hashtag.
Over 90% did not use a linky ran by another site to join this challenge.

Only 30% of you don't want Instagram added as an optional follow social media option on the Master List sign-up, so that will likely be included next year. (Instagram itself will not be allowed as a blog.)

However, over half were strongly opposed to the email option. 

Categories (that we don't already offer) requested include:
Author/ Writing mixed-bag (also requests for storytelling, flash fiction, and poetry to have their own sub-categories), Brand Management and Marketing, Finance and Frugality, Heritage and Culture, the Quilters requested their own sub-category under crafts, Inspirational, Music as a sub-category in Entertainment, Names, Current Affairs as a sub-category of Politics and News, and Random Blogging.

Most people responded that we have plenty of categories and they're happy.

Were you given enough time to sign up for the challenge? Almost 90% said yes!

30% use the HTML codes and find that helpful. (7% don't know what that means.)

Thanks to the 70% who read the daily posts written by the team!

Only 7 people said they weren't visited by a co-host. 39 said they didn't visit one of us.

Most people reported commenting on 1 to 50 blogs. 

"How many comments did your blog get in April?" The most popular answers fell between 11 to 150.

Nearly everyone prefers replies posted in the comment section, email being liked only if it's a private matter. Also popular was just visiting the blog of the commenter and saying hello on one of their posts. (Also known as comment-reciprocation.)

Most joined the road-trip. Over half checked out the shirts, and at least 10 said they bought one this year.

Time for the Post-A to Z Challenge Road Trip!

It's time for the Post A to Z Road Trip 2021! This is a great opportunity to catch up on the many blogs you would have liked to have spent more time visiting, but didn't during the Challenge, and a chance to visit the blogs of people who did the Challenge that you never got to. And, if you're one of those people who did the Challenge but didn't get a lot of visitors, this is a way to let people know that you'd appreciate a visit.

Here's what you do:

1. Sign up for the Road Trip. There's a place where you can put in the URL of a post that you would like visitors to read first. I used the address of my reflections post because there's a list of all the posts I did with links. Just a suggestion!
2. Get copies of both the Road Trip List and the Master List. Both will be useful.
3. Start with the Road Trip list and visit the blogs of the people who signed up there. Take some time to read their blog and their Challenge entries. Leave comments where you feel led to do so, and make sure you identify yourself as a Road Trip participant. Leave a link to your blog so they can return the favor.
4. Then, if you have the time and inclination to do so, visit some of the blogs on the Master List that you didn't get the chance to visit. Even if they didn't sign up for the Road Trip, I'm sure they'd appreciate a visit.

There's no set time limit to the Road Trip (i.e. no specific end date), so if you wanted to, you could visit everyone who was part of this year's Challenge between now and the start of next year's Challenge. If that's what you want to do, go for it! Most importantly, have fun!

Happy Motoring!

#atozchallenge Reflections 2021

    

Taking the after-survey can help gather your thoughts before writing your reflection post! https://forms.gle/qUZogGKvMDVHd5rN6 That's also where you'll find the WINNER badge.

What did you like most and least about the challenge this year?

How did you do? What did you learn? Did you get out more, less, or as much as you put in?

Any thoughts on the shirts? Care to thank any team members?

Did you "double down" this year?

SIGN UP with your REFLECTION link HERE: 
https://forms.gle/dkgBqbk2hDxWWEmj6

(Closes May 8!)

VISIT the REFLECTION posts of OTHERS: 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rSKvaUj7QxIRdODfzXn2Cy6H4nGlX2nXGWZZcy5Mu-I/

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Did you do the scavenger hunt from A? On your reflection post, you can share with everyone how well you did and on what participating A to Z blogs you found the items on the list! Here's a reminder: 

• A is for — Apple 🍏 
  
• B is for — Bear 🧸
• C is for — Cobweb 🕸
• D is for — Dragon 🐲
• E is for — Evil 👿
• F is for — Flowers 💐
• G is for — Game 🎲
• H is for — Hat 👒
• I is for — Island 🏝
• J is for — Jewelry 💍
• K is for — Key 🔑
• L is for — Leaves 🍂
• M is for — Men 👬
• N is for — Nuts 🥜
• O is for — Orange 🍊
• P is for — Pen 🖊
• Q is for — Questions ❓
• R is for — Rainbow 🌈
• S is for — Scissors ✂
• T is for — Tiger 🐯
• U is for — Uniform 💂
• V is for — Velvet 🧶
• W is for — Whale 🐳
• X is for — X-ray 🦴
• Y is for — Yellow  💛
• Z is for — Zipper 🤐

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How many of you used a dictionary of some kind to find words for the challenge?

Did you stop to think about what it took to create a dictionary?

Sean Penn and Mel Gibson's 2019 film The Professor and the Madman explores that, while delving into the lives of two real people who were largely responsible for the creation of what would become the Oxford English Dictionary. 

The critics mostly dislike the film. I thought it was good. If you're a blogger who loves words, or if you've ever been curious as to how a dictionary was compiled, or you just want to see a movie with a workaholic and someone getting treatment for mental health issues (in the 1870s), here you go. The movie is actually based on a book that is considered a biography. 

📕 🎥

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Be sure your blog displays a participant badge so everyone knows they're in the right place!
Please consider getting a t-shirt.

The AtoZChallenge 2021 AFTER SURVEY #atozchallenge

Fill it out here, or go to: https://forms.gle/FhjZGTynxQmH4gaS6

The AtoZChallenge AFTER SURVEY 📋

Your winner badge is inside, along with the answers to yesterday's Z post. 

SURVEY CLOSES MAY 8.

Check back on MONDAY, MAY 3 for the REFLECTIONS sign-up. 🔮


Plus, sign-up for the Roadtrip on MONDAY, MAY 10. 🚗

Please consider getting a t-shirt.

Z is for... #atozchallenge

Z is for...Let's find out!

Let’s have some fun! Unscramble these words that start with the letter z:

1. maoznib
2. pepriz
3. mnaiozoa
4. cihnuczi
5. tzengis
6. grneiz
7. ndoze
8. imboz
9. peplsnzei
10. gzagzideg
11. liloniearzi
12. fictionaombiz

We hope you’ve had a great time with the A to Z Challenge! Get ready to write your Reflections about the month. Reflections will be open May 3rd-8th, and then the Road Trip will open on May 10th where you link up to your one favorite post of your own!

Looking forward to seeing you then!

And if you fill out our survey that opens tomorrow, the answer key to today’s puzzle is at the end!

The Yes Game #atozchallenge

Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

The YES game was a challenge given to Shonda Rhimes. The rules are simple: say "yes" to opportunities for a year. Say yes to positive experiences and thoughts.


Can you keep your blog going all year? YES

Can you spend the rest of the year visiting every blog that signed up in April? YES

Can you use what you learned this month to make your blog more appealing? YES

Can you promote your blog by giving readers more of what they want? YES

Can you double-down on more self challenges for your blog this year? YES

WILL YOU BE BACK NEXT YEAR FOR ANOTHER APRIL BLOGGING FROM A TO Z CHALLENGE? 

(Say it, say it, say it... 🎉)

Be sure your blog displays a participant badge so everyone knows they're in the right place!
Please consider getting a t-shirt.

Get a copy of the Master List so you know who is officially participating! 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mvSm8FsuFVkOQulQ0EgzslGiNd8CZWWrqaRhCG8Sv4o
Please come back on SATURDAY for the AFTER SURVEY. 📋
And on MONDAY, MAY 3 for the REFLECTIONS sign-up. 🔮
Plus, sign-up for the Roadtrip on MONDAY, MAY 10. 🚗

X in Noughts and Crosses #atozchallenge

Noughts and Crosses, or Tic Tac Toe, is a very old game. There is some debate among historians as to when it first began (ancient Egypt or ancient Rome) and what was originally used to make the board and pieces. (It's suggested that it was four sticks, pebbles, and coins.) As it evolved, it became a game of unity between Christian and Jewish children.

The X represented Christianity, as it came from chi. (The Greek letters for Christos, chi (looks like an X) and rho (looks like a P), is an early symbol for Christianity and for Christ Himself. Emperor Constantine is likely responsible for crafting the letters together.) The o or 0 is a kikel, a circle in Yiddish. Many Jewish immigrants used an O rather than an X as their signature in the early days of Ellis Island. The 0 is also known as a nought. The name tic tac toe wasn't given until the 20th century.

The object of the game is to get three of your symbols in a row. Players take turns selecting one of the nine squares. Statistically, the player who goes first has the greatest chance of winning. Marking in a corner first is considered the best move. 

Be sure your blog displays a participant badge so everyone knows they're in the right place!
Please consider getting a t-shirt.

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The Master List - know what blogs are officially taking part in the 2021 challenge:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mvSm8FsuFVkOQulQ0EgzslGiNd8CZWWrqaRhCG8Sv4o

Well, What Now?

So, we have four days left in this year's A to Z Challenge, and I'm sure some of you are going to ask yourselves "Well, what now?" You've made some serious changes in your blogging lifestyle to get through this month (or not), you've probably made some new blog buddies, you've read some new blogs... and, if you're like me, you feel badly that you didn't do more...

Well, just because April is done and dusted doesn't mean you can't just keep going. To the best of my knowledge, no one's blog shuts down until the next challenge. No one says you can't read some of the blogs you didn't get to read during the month. That's what the Master List is for, so now would be the time, if you haven't done so already, to snag a copy of it.

You might want to go through your comments and make sure you've replied to everyone, and that you've visited everyone who visited you. You might even want to subscribe to their blogs. (By the way, did you know that you can subscribe to Blogger feeds using the Wordpress reader?)

Another thing you might want to do is start giving some thought to possible topics for next year's Challenge (you will be back, I just know it!).

We're going to do the A to Z Road Trip again this year, as always. Signups start May 10!

Hope you've had fun and found some great reading material. See you in the funny papers!

John Holton

Be sure your blog displays the participant badge so people know that you're doing the Challenge!

Please consider getting a t-shirt.

Be sure to get a copy of the Master List! Go here and select File > Save A Copy.

V is for Variety #atozchallenge

Today your challenge (should you choose to accept it) is to switch it up a little! Variety is good for creativity and good for the soul - especially in times like this when many forms of entertainment are not available, or have migrated online. 

So, change one thing today! Here are some options:

1. Find a Category on the Master List that you usually are not interested in, and visit some blogs!

2. Write a genre you don't usually write!

3. Read a genre you don't usually read!

4. Find a new challenge! (another blogging challenge, a reading challenge, a kindness challenge, etc.)

5. Try a new form of exercise!

6. Eat breakfast for dinner!

We are nearing the end of the A to Z Challenge, but it is not quite over yet. I hope you all are having fun posting and visiting! Don't forget to schedule a Reflections post (Reflections starting May 3rd) so you can tell us about the experience! :)

U is for Ultimatum #atozchallenge

 U is for Ultimatum

Give yourself an ultimatum (don’t accept them from anyone else!). Use that ultimatum to challenge yourself to do the best you can as we get close to finishing out A to Z! We have one more week. Set your ultimatum to help yourself achieve your goals!

As we end the week, I’m specifically talking to those of you (myself included) who haven’t quite made our goals yet. Give yourself an ultimatum to meet those goals.

Meet that goal OR ____ [fill in the blank]. What happens? Give yourself some consequences. Or better yet, give yourself a reward!

My Ultimatum: 

If I don’t finish my goal, I don’t get to go on a shopping spree at a book store!

Then work toward it. Figure out what’s motivating to you and set your mind to it! With just 5 posts left, we can do it! Don’t give up now.

T is for Takeaways #atozchallenge

T is for Takeaways

As we start to wind down (only six more posts to go!), what Takeaways do you have from this year’s A to Z? Have you challenged yourself in new and interesting ways? Have you done anything you’re particularly proud of? Share with us in the comments what your Takeaways are so far!

Then get ready to share your Reflections in a couple of weeks. Our Reflections officially open on May 3rd, and brainstorming your Takeaways is a good starting point for that. If nothing comes to mind, look back to our bonus challenges and see if you can squeeze one in this final week.

My personal takeaways so far:

- Blogging is so much easier and so much more fun when you share the load. Bringing on a co-blogger in January has been the best decision I ever made, writing-wise.

- A to Z is a lot more fun the years I had pre-scheduled all my posts. I feel like it’s been a struggle to go out looking for new blogs, but I did manage to do that some this month. I’m very much looking forward to May and the Road Trip (which officially opens on May 10th). If you aren’t familiar, the Road Trip is when you post the link to ONE of your A to Z posts that you want people to go back and read. It’s a lot of fun, even if we are going back and reading something from a month prior.

- I need a challenge to achieve my goals. Just having a vague goal isn’t enough of a motivator. During a sprint, I can write so much more than just setting a timer for myself.

- I am a social creature. I am desperate to be back into normal socializing patterns. It’s coming! Sooon!

Okay, so I knew some of these things about myself before, but I bet you didn’t!
Now it’s your turn. Share with us your Takeaways so far!

Solve Word Puzzles #atozchallenge

Solve Word Puzzles!
This is yet another game you could play on your blog.
Once again, ANSWERS will be posted at: https://twitter.com/AprilA2Z on Sunday!

Here are SIX words with SEVEN letters, each starting with S:

1. S _ _ _ _ _ _ Hint: 😞😢😭 unhappy
2. S _ _ _ _ _ _ Hint: An expensive red spice
3. S _ _ _ _ _ _ Hint: the rescue of a wrecked or disabled ship
4. S _ _ _ _ _ _ Hint: these have an absorbent, porous body
5. S _ _ _ _ _ _ Hint: multiply a number by itself
6. S _ _ _ _ _ _ Hint: 🤔 what you are when you can't figure this out

Or perhaps you prefer a word search? https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/2139471/a-to-z-wordsearch/

You'll seek another set of six words with seven-letters starting with S, plus four words relating to the #atozchallenge.


Be sure your blog displays a participant badge so everyone knows they're in the right place!
Please consider getting a t-shirt.

The Master List - know what blogs are officially taking part in the 2021 challenge:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mvSm8FsuFVkOQulQ0EgzslGiNd8CZWWrqaRhCG8Sv4o

#atozchallenge R is for Ring Around the Rosie - guest post by C. Lee McKenzie

The game called Ring Around the Rosie has a mixed and long history. There are reports of one version appearing as early as the 1300s, other versions came into popular use in the 17 and 1800s. Today, young children still link hands, walk in a circle, and sing the lyrics.

Some believe the “ring around the Rosie” refers to the sores that appeared on plague victims’ skin—the “pocket full of posies” to either the practice of putting flowers inside doctors’ masks to protect them while they treated patients with plague, or gravesite tributes. The repeated “Ashes. Ashes.” was supposed to mimic the sound of sneezing while “We all fall down…” Well, if the game did refer to the Black Death, it’s obvious what that sentence meant.


I’d rather just think of it as a fun game that happens to begin with today’s stellar letter R.


Be sure your blog displays a participant badge so everyone knows they're in the right place!
Please consider getting a t-shirt.


The Master List - know what blogs are officially taking part in the 2021 challenge:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mvSm8FsuFVkOQulQ0EgzslGiNd8CZWWrqaRhCG8Sv4o

Quiz Time!

If you find yourself scrambling for something to write a post about, I have a suggestion: A QUIZ!

"Quiz" probably isn't the word for what I'm thinking of. I've seen it called a meme, a blog hop, even a blog award. Whatever you call it, you ask some questions and invite your readers to answer them, either in the comments or on their own blog with a "ping back" to yours. (Or, if you work with Blogger, a comment on your blog with the address of their answers.)

One I participate in is Share Your World, hosted by Melanie. She gives us four or five discussion questions, which we answer on our own blogs and "ping back" to hers. It's fun to do, and even if the questions are serious, I usually find a way to make my answer humorous, which is not the same as humerus, the bone between your shoulder and your elbow.

Give it a try sometime. I think you'll enjoy it.

Be sure your blog displays the participant badge so people know that you're doing the Challenge!

Please consider getting a t-shirt.

Be sure to get a copy of the Master List! Go here and select File > Save A Copy.