LET'S GET READY TO BLLOOOGGGG!!!! #atozchallenge

Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/
Author Stephen Tremp http://authorstephentremp.blogspot.com/
Tina @ Life is Good http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/
Damyanti@Amlokiblogs http://amloki.blogspot.com/
Jeremy @ Being Retro http://www.beingretro.com/
Nicole Ayers - The Madlab Post www.madlabpost.com
M. J. Joachim's Writing Tips http://mjjoachim.blogspot.com
Heather M. Gardner http://hmgardner.blogspot.com/
AJ @ Naturally Sweet http://frodofrog.blogspot.com
Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian http://unconventionallibrarian.com

We also have a Facebook page, (https://www.facebook.com/atozchallenge)
email address is infoatoz2014@gmail.com,
and the Twitter hashtag is #AtoZChallenge. - See more at: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html#sthash.BmSm1aZM.dpuf

Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/
Author Stephen Tremp http://authorstephentremp.blogspot.com/
Tina @ Life is Good http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/
Damyanti@Amlokiblogs http://amloki.blogspot.com/
Jeremy @ Being Retro http://www.beingretro.com/
Nicole Ayers - The Madlab Post www.madlabpost.com
M. J. Joachim's Writing Tips http://mjjoachim.blogspot.com
Heather M. Gardner http://hmgardner.blogspot.com/
AJ @ Naturally Sweet http://frodofrog.blogspot.com
Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian http://unconventionallibrarian.com

We also have a Facebook page, (https://www.facebook.com/atozchallenge)
email address is infoatoz2014@gmail.com,
and the Twitter hashtag is #AtoZChallenge. - See more at: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html#sthash.BmSm1aZM.dpuf

"Good morning. This is Stormy the Weather Gnome."

"And, Sparks!"

"Zip it, Sparks, I've got a speech to deliver to the troops.

In less than a day, Bloggers from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest Blog Challenge in the history of Blogkind. 

Blogkind.

That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our Blogging differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests."

"Common Blog interests!"

"Yeah, Sparks, they know.

Perhaps it's fate that tomorrow is April 1st, and you will once again be Blogging for 26 days... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from boredom.

We are Blogging for our right to be AWESOME.

And should we win the Challenge, Blogging from A to Z will no longer be known as a tiny Blog Challenge but as the day the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to BLOG on! We're going to survive!

Tomorrow we celebrate the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge!"


Things are just getting started my Gnome friends!

Hang out with us here on the Blog, on Facebook, and stay tuned for the continuation of the Twitter Chats!

GO BLOG!

TELL A FRIEND!

YOU ROCK!


Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/
Author Stephen Tremp http://authorstephentremp.blogspot.com/
Tina @ Life is Good http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/
Damyanti@Amlokiblogs http://amloki.blogspot.com/
Jeremy @ Being Retro http://www.beingretro.com/
Nicole Ayers - The Madlab Post www.madlabpost.com
M. J. Joachim's Writing Tips http://mjjoachim.blogspot.com
Heather M. Gardner http://hmgardner.blogspot.com/
AJ @ Naturally Sweet http://frodofrog.blogspot.com
Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian http://unconventionallibrarian.com   

Facebook
Email: infoatoz2014@gmail.com
Twitter: @AprilA2Z #AtoZChallenge #AZchat
WEBPAGE

Do You Blog? Have you joined the #atozchallenge yet? #blogging

Today, in the last week before  the A to Z challenge, Csenge Zalka from #TeamDamyanti is here to tell you the basics.

If you haven't heard it yet: As a blogger, one of the best ways to boost your audience is to sign up for the A to Z Challenge!

Every blogger gets a kick out of writing, but a large part of the fun during the month of April is discovery: Hopping from blog to blog, reading about things you never knew before, making connections that will last well beyond the 26 days of the challenge.

Whether you're joining today, or you've signed up long ago, here's a quick and dirty list of things that might help:

1. Start visiting early.

The list is already up! You can get an early jump on visiting your friendly A to Z neighbors, and follow the ones you find particularly interesting.

2. Don't overdo it.

Set a comfortable number of blogs per day that you want to visit. Keep in mind that you will spend more time on some than others, especially later in the month when there is a lot more to read! Make it a number aroun 5, but make sure that these are 5 new blogs, not some that you have visited before!

3. Visit later in the day.

Some people post later than others, because of time zones or personal schedules. If you set out very early in the day, you might run into blogs that have not updated yet. If you give them some time, you can get the fresh letters from everyone!

4. Visit those that visit you.

This is really important, people! If someone visits you and leaves a comment, go check out where they came from! It's common courtesy, and also can take you to blogs that you might have missed otherwise. It can be the start of a beautiful blogging friendship!

5. Make your visiting routine diverse.

You might be drawn to a particular kind of blog – books, crafts, travel, etc. - but make sure to give a chance to some that are outside your comfort zone. Go crazy on the categories, that's why we have them!

6. Mark the blogs you like.

Click Follow, or bookmark the blogs you especially like, anything you need to do to make sure you will find your way back to them later.

7. Give some extra love to the smaller blogs!

We have a special list for blogs that have less than 100 followers. Make sure to check it out and help them grow!

8. Don't start from the top.

If everyone stars with Blog No. 1, people at the bottom of the list will have a disadvantage, and you might miss some great blogs that have higher numbers. Start at your own name and work your way down. Or, alternately, jump around like a crazy caffeinated frog. Believe me, it is fun.

If you haven't done so yet, sign up for the A to Z Challenge, trust me, you'll love it.

Look up a detailed checklist for the A to Z challenge, join the Facebook page, become part of the Facebook group, follow the challenge via @AprilA2Z on twitter, and check out some quick social media tips to help your blog.

An A-Z Story in A-Z Style: Inspiration for #atozchallenge

Today please welcome Michelle Wallace, one of Alex J. Cavanagh's minions, as our guest.  I ran across this post in my travels and thought it might inspire you, too.  Take it away, Michelle!

Some of you may remember it - I used it as a promo post for the 2012 challenge.
I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to resurrect it and share it again...

                               A to Z Story in A to Z Style  

 

Arlee the  
                        
Brains behind this

Creative cool challenge;

Demanding, dazzling yet different;

Entertaining and energizing every blogger,

For a period of 26 days,

Get ready for the ultimate blogging challenge.

Hype yourself – get into the swing of things.

Infectious atmosphere, incredible feeling, impossible to put into words.

Jubilation, an upbeat spirit prevails and spreads throughout the blogosphere.

Keep in contact – re-connect with bloggy buddies from last years challenge.

Love affair of an entirely different nature (lovestruck and confused? click here)

Midway – made it… the halfway point – not that bad after all, is it?

Natural situation that novices need help along the way – experienced bloggers nurture nervous newbies

Oodles of oomph required – old bloggers maintain an optimistic outlook or others may opt out

Phew! Pressure's on… big time. Plod along at your own pace. Perseverance needed. Push yourself forward.

Quirky, quaint and for some the "quintessential letter of dread"  – may cause bloggers to quiver and quake.

Revitalisation, rejuvenation, re-energising and recharging of dying batteries may be required at this point – remember you're not alone…

System overload… out of sync… saturation point almost reached… senses spinning as you struggle to sustain the systematic flow.

Thank goodness… can see the end in sight. The turbulent, tumultuous, torturous journey almost over! Almost time to say - toodles.

Unbelievable – the undeniable atmosphere of unity! Lots of bloggers upbeat – also a sense of urgency as the last five letters loom.

Va-va-voom!  Versatility and variation is the name of the game as the bloggers prepare for the end – full of verve and vigour.

What do I say now? Words fail me… sending  well-wishes to all bloggers participating – if you made it this far, three more posts…

X stands for x-ceptional, x-otic, x-factor, x-files, xtreme, x-hale, x-rated, xerox – the letter that most bloggers have a hard time getting to grips with.

You know that I've run out of things to say. Yes, enough yada-yada and blah-blah-blah… you'll understand when you get to the Y-post in April.

Zis is zee end. No more left. Zip… zilch… zero… and there is no way that I'm gonna make 26 words for the Z-post… I tried.

Michelle blogs at Writer in Transit.  Be sure to pay her a visit!  It's always a good time over there.

~Tina