Q is for Question #AtoZChallenge

I asked my husband and co-blogger Richard to give me a word for each letter of the alphabet. It was a great way to generate random words so that I could write my stories for the month. For Q, he gave me question, and I thought that it would be a great word for over here on the A to Z blog as well.

From Dictionary.com:

noun

1. a sentence worded or expressed so as to elicit information.

   "we hope this leaflet has been helpful in answering your questions"

verb

1. ask questions of (someone), especially in an official context.

   "four men were being questioned about the killings"

Somewhere along my blogging journey, I was given the advice of asking a question as part of my blog post. It's a great way to engage readers. So I will ask you a question:

What question do you want your readers to answer today?

~Jayden R. Vincente

Erotic Fiction Author

jrvincente.com (adults only please!)

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Hop to as many blogs in the challenge as possible. Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

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@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge

Print Power! ( #AtoZChallenge )

     Considering the many bloggers who have aspirations of getting something published as well as those bloggers who already have, blogging seems like an ideal way to put our writing to the test as we reach the public in our online platform.  Whether you've been blogging for many years like I have or are relatively new to the game, you've likely recognized the usefulness of having a blog to test the waters in regard to our writing output or to promote whatever we might have in print or otherwise.

      The Blogging from A to Z Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to reach new readers as well as stay in contact with old friends. Content on a blog is paramount to drawing readers and holding their attention. Adding 26 new posts in one single month might seem like a tall order to some, but it is doable and worth the effort you put into it.  

       Having lots of content in a notebook or in a computer file is fine as writing exercise, but the real test is having people read and react.  If the content is on line on a blog then your reach as a writer is limitless.  Get the momentum going in April to keep you rolling through the rest of the year.  When blogging becomes a habit then you give your writing a boost and if you're writing a lot then why not put it in a blog.  Either way, the more you write the better your chances of reaching readers.

        There is power in print, but getting the print accomplished requires a power that comes from you the writer.  Power up!  Print on!  Keep the blogging going!

        What do you do to keep blog motivation?   Do you sometimes have to force yourself to compose a blog post or do you just skip it when you don't feel an urge to write?   Has your blog helped you achieve any goals and if so, how?  

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Hop to as many blogs in the challenge as possible. Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

bloglovin.com/blogs/blogging-from-a-to-z-april-challenge-3294742
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
@a.to.z.challenge     @atozchallenge
@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge

O is for Opportunity

The A to Z Challenge is an opportunity to test your creativity and see if you can come up with 26 words that start with each letter of the alphabet. Unfortunately, that includes letters like X, Q, and Z, and sometimes you have to be creative with those.

So this month is an action-packed and fun-filled monthlong exercise in creativity. If you're like me, you'll probably want to take on another challenge to further your reach into the blogging world. In other words, you'll look for further opportunities to hone your blogging chops, Where do you find them?

You're going to make some friends this month, some of whom are more advanced than others. The long-time bloggers will probably be announcing other blog hops that they're participating in. That was how I got involved with this challenge: I saw people talking about it and said "hey, that looks like something fun to do, I think I'll try that!" In fact, this challenge was what got me to start my blog.

So keep your eyes open for further blog hops. I run one called "Writer's Workshop." Fandango runs a bunch of blog hops from his blog, so look in his direction. If music is your thing, there's Monday's Music Moves Me, which I participate in (on Mondays, naturally). And that's just a tiny sample.

I hope you love blogging enough that you want to do more of it!

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Hop to as many blogs in the challenge as possible. Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

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@a.to.z.challenge     @atozchallenge
@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge

Now or Never, or maybe Next Time #AtoZChallenge 2024

We are past the halfway point! Pat yourself on the back, if you have made it this far! The Challenge is an intense undertaking, for sure. So this is your halfway reminder to be kind to yourself. Celebrate the posts you made! Even if you didn't have as much time, or haven't done as much research, or visited as many people... you are still doing it, and that is great!

Also halfway through the challenge, whether you are a newcomer or a veteran, things usually become more clear. Take a moment to take some NOTES. 

What are you doing well NOW? What are the things you are enjoying this time around in the challenge?

What are you NEVER doing again? Is there something you would change?

What are you going to do NEXT TIME? Keep, discard, change - were you inspired by someone's blog, or theme, or style? Do share in the comments!

Keep on blogging! :) 

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Hop to as many blogs in the challenge as possible. Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

bloglovin.com/blogs/blogging-from-a-to-z-april-challenge-3294742
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
@a.to.z.challenge     @atozchallenge
@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge

Magic Month ( #AtoZChallenge )

Magic Month

 

       For bloggers I think April is a magical month mainly because of the A to Z Challenge.  This is the time to network, to get your blog out in the spotlight, and to find out what other bloggers are doing on their sites.  If you walk away from April without having made at least one new blogging friend then you haven't been taking advantage of this great opportunity to grow your blog and your blogging circles.  

      In my own blog searches I've had some of those "Wow!" moments when I learn something new or discover a blogging talent that catches me off guard.  It's like going to a fair or some widespread event where we have the opportunity to show off our own pursuits as well as admire the work of others.  It's a truly festive time for those who enjoy blogging.

       Have fun!  This is a magic month that can be a big boost to your blog and allow you to interact with the other bloggers in the Challenge.  The magic is there, but if you don't believe in the magic then you'll likely miss it.   You don't want to do that!   Go visit some blogs right now!

       Have you gained some new readers?   Have you discovered any blogs that you will continue to visit after the Challenge has ended?   Do you have any especially magical memories from the 2024 Challenge so far?

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Hop to as many blogs in the challenge as possible. Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

bloglovin.com/blogs/blogging-from-a-to-z-april-challenge-3294742
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
@a.to.z.challenge     @atozchallenge
@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge

Letter L for Loneliness #AtoZChallenge guest post

The letter L in my mind is associated with the word Loneliness. A sad word, to be sure. Unfortunately, many writers are afflicted by it. I am. I’m an extreme introvert. I live in my head most of the time. I communicate with my fictional characters on a deeper level than I do with my neighbors or even family. With my characters, I’m open. I don’t feel constrained to hide my quirks or my oddities. Just the opposite: those quirks make my characters unique, my writing original. Often, the heroes of my stories become my best friends, at least until I’m done writing those stories, while my few real-life friends feel baffled by my insistent ‘daydreaming.’ Thank the stars for the internet and for my blogger friends.

It was on the internet that I finally found like-minded people, the community of other writers. They blog about hearing voices of their characters, and I think: yeah, me too. They blog about their research into the best poisons for their upcoming mystery, and I think: ditto. I did online research once for a homemade bomb. For the same reason, of course: my heroine needed to disarm a bomb by magical means. We are united in our half-humorous concern that the police might be interested in us because of our ‘dangerous’ research topics.  

The positive outcome is that my online writer-friends alleviate my Loneliness. They frequently understand me better than my kids or my sister do. We are sailing the same boat, weathering the same storms, heading towards the same shore. We want to be read. When the visitors of my blog comment on my posts, I feel happy. Understood. Appreciated. I’m not alone anymore.

For many introverts like me, our digital friends’ blogs are a lifeline. They make us all feel connected. Blog away, friends. I want to read your blogs. And comment, so you feel appreciated too. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a distantly related topic, I want to say that Loneliness is often a theme of science fiction stories. Case in point: The Martian by Andy Weir. Cosmonauts are often alone. As I’m not only a writer but also a book cover designer, I recently made a couple of pre-made book covers with the theme of Loneliness in mind. I didn’t know at the time I worked on those covers that I would be writing this guest post, but they fit perfectly, and I want to share them with you. I hope you enjoy them.

All the images I used in both my composite covers come from the free image site Pixabay.com.   

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Olga Godim is a speculative fiction writer and book cover designer. Her website and blog: https://olgagodim.wordpress.com/  

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Hop to as many blogs in the challenge as possible. Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

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http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
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@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge

Kaleidoscope of Knowledge ( #AtoZChallenge )

Kaleidoscope of Knowledge

         If you've been reading some of the A to Z blog posts you've likely been aware of the wide array of knowledge and interests that the A to Z bloggers present to us in their posts.  There is everything from history to futuristic ideas.  We have a plethora of interests ranging from crafts, art, family, and literary pursuits.  There are stand alone articles as well as ongoing series telling interesting stories. A to Z has it all!

        Hope you are leaving comments on the posts you visit and sharing those posts with others via social media.  Some bloggers have obviously put a lot of work into their posts and they deserve to be recognized for their efforts.  Please give your fellow bloggers a pat on the back and let others know about the wonderful things you have discovered in your A to Z journey.

         Are their any particular blogs that you think deserve a special mention?   What is the most fascinating thing you've discovered in reading A to Z blog posts this year?   Have you been getting enough visits this April?

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Hop to as many blogs in the challenge as possible. Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

bloglovin.com/blogs/blogging-from-a-to-z-april-challenge-3294742
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
@a.to.z.challenge     @atozchallenge
@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge