Infectiously Interactive Blogging

“Imagine the possibilities, Isaac. I mean, I can write about anything I want, as long as it’s related to a letter of the alphabet. I only have to write during 26 days in April, giving me Sunday’s off for good behavior. It’s such an innovative way to blog, I just know I can do it!” Isabelle sat idly at her computer, remembering this conversation with her husband last January. Here she was, barely finishing up the second week, and she was feeling the pressure.

She stared down at her cell phone, noticing the text her husband just sent. “Ignore the insecurities, dear. Just do it! You know you can, and when you’re all through, you’ll be so proud and incredibly successful! Now get out there and start blog hopping to get some inspiration. I want to hear all about at least 15 new blog friends you’ve made when I get home.”

“Intuitive as usual,” she replied with a smiley face. Then she infectiously interacted with an increasingly large number of bloggers, and ingeniously scheduled three of her remaining posts.

If Isabelle can do it, so can you!

Thanks for taking part in the A – Z 2014 Blogging Challenge this year!

M. J.

©2014 All Rights Reserved

Photo credit: Nick Michael, Sampler by Elizabeth Laidman (1760), Public Domain

H is for HOPE

Hey there, hi there, ho there!  How are you doing? Yesterday you may have been GO GO GO with AJ, but a lot can change in a day.  I learned this the hard way.

We can be cruising along, all is fine, email is under control, we're getting our posts done, though at the last minute and under the wire and not without stress, but it's working.  We're even finding time to return comments!  Visit friends!

Then BAM.  Up against a wall.  Something in life derails us, and we feel hopeless, and like giving up.  It may be a sudden problem at work , it may be a crisis with a child, or it may be a health situation.

Now all looks bleak.  You can't do this anymore.  You're too far behind to catch up. You missed a post or two.  You didn't visit. Email is backed up.

Don't give up!  There's always HOPE.  There's always tomorrow.  Write the next letter.  Get it up there!  Look forward, not back.  Missing one or two isn't the end of the world nor will it cause you to "lose" The Challenge.

This whole crazy undertaking is about the journey, and as in life, we find pot-holes, construction, detours, we might even get lost.  We need to go around them, wait for it, follow the signs, and ask for directions.  Your co-hosts are here to help.

We HOPE you know that!  Now get out there and post!

~Tina, who is not going to be counting how many posts you wrote in April, but did you make it to the end?  I have HOPE in you.

Go, go, go!

Good job, team, we've finished an octave-worth of the Challenge! (Yeah, yeah I'm a music Geek - forGive me!) How is it Going?

Here are some G things we hope are happening for you at this point in the Challenge:

• Growing as a writer. How have you challenged yourself? Can you feel yourself Growing?
• Gathering resources and followers. Who have you found that is really Great? Are you Gaining readers? (and if not, have you been visiting lots of people to help foster those connections?)
• Gumption! Sometimes it can be a little intimidating to go out and meet people, even online. But we hope that you are Growing in Gumption and becoming more comfortable making bloGGing friends!
• Goofiness - Have you seen some of the silly bloGGers on our list? We've certainly got some Goofy folks in this Challenge! Hint: Many of them are using the (HU) tag :)

Alright everyone, Go Gallavanting, find some GREAT Guy and Gal pals, and Give it your all!