A to Z Reflections


All in all, I think it was another successful A to Z Challenge - I certainly enjoyed myself! I loved my theme, and I'm glad I chose it since a lot of bloggers seemed to enjoy it. I got all of my posts written and scheduled before the challenge began, which always makes it easier.

However, I still didn't visit as many bloggers as I would have liked. I barely met any new bloggers during the challenge, which is a pity. I did find a few new blogs to follow, though, and I'm glad I did.

I was an A-Z Tech for M. J. Joachim this year, which made the challenge a little tougher, but it's more satisfying knowing I managed to successfully finish the challenge while helping out.

My only disappointment about the challenge this year was that there were a few bloggers who didn't return comments, even if I commented on their blogs every day. I admit, I wasn't brilliant at commenting back but I tried as hard as I could, and I think I managed to visit most of the bloggers who visited me.

That was my only issue, and it wasn't really a problem with the challenge - the challenge was great, as usual. Once again I loved taking part in the challenge, and I'm already thinking about a theme for next year. I need to plan my time a little better next year, not only by scheduling my posts but by planning visits to other blogs on the list.

Comments

  1. Anonymous5 May 2014 at 11:21

    I consider the comments the very best part of the challenge, I'd never dream about not visiting someone who comments so regularly! But I'm glad this has not made it a bad experience for you, we're all in it for the fun, aren't we? :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alex J. Cavanaugh5 May 2014 at 13:20

    Your theme was fascinating - well done!
    I encountered many who didn't return comments or follows as well. Just one of those things I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  3. J Lenni Dorner5 May 2014 at 13:42

    Maybe some people couldn't figure out how to comment back? Maybe they, umm, were abducted by space aliens and...

    Yeah well. Maybe it'll be better next year. This challenge really is fun.

    Stopping by after the #atozchallenge to check out your reflection post!
    @JLenniDorner

    ReplyDelete
  4. Michael Di Gesu5 May 2014 at 16:27

    Hi, Laura,

    I know how you feel. I intro'd one book and the author didn't even visit that day, even after I sent her a reminder email... It's just how it is sometimes. But overall we are a wonderful group!

    I really enjoyed learning more about Egypt since I have a minuscule amount of Egyptian blood in my heritage.

    Congrats on finishing the challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Chrys Fey5 May 2014 at 16:41

    I really loved your theme and enjoyed every post!

    I made it a personal mission to return all of the comments I received, because to me that's just what you do if someone comments on your post. I agree with J. Lenni . . . they must have been abducted by aliens! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. A Beer for the Shower5 May 2014 at 17:45

    Regardless of the challenge, some people are just like that. You stop by their blog, you try to interact with them, and they just don't ever seem to reciprocate. Oh well, their loss. Congrats on a challenge well done!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Rob Z Tobor5 May 2014 at 18:03

    You did a good job of the A to Z Miss Laura. Commenting can be tricky, sometimes its just a time issue thing. Always assume the best of everyone. I just started at A again once it finished, so I'm doing it again until I get distracted by a rain drop or a flower or something. . . . . . .


    Oooo look a seagull.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous5 May 2014 at 18:56

    I'm probably guilty of not visiting your blog as often as I should have done. I am sorry about that.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Heather Musk5 May 2014 at 19:10

    I enjoyed your topic for the Challenge very much, and should have commented a bit more than I did.
    I'm afraid to say I'm one of the guilty ones who didn't reply to as many comments as I should have either. I noticed your name coming up quite frequently on my A-Z posts, for which I am very appreciative and always value those that take the time to stop by and say something.
    If there's one thing I've learned from the Challenge this year, it's that this is the area I need to work on.
    Thank you for being honest in your reflections xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. TheCyborgMom5 May 2014 at 20:03

    Congrats on finishing the challenge! I scheduled most of my posts, and tried to visit as many blogs as I could, but still don't think I put a dent in that 2000 list! I plan on trying to visit as many as I can over the next few months. And I plan on commenting more...I'm a new blogger, and this was my first challenge...so I think it took me a few weeks to catch on to the whole blogging etiquette thing. But I'm trying!
    ~Katie
    TheCyborgMom
    Visual Proof

    ReplyDelete
  11. Misha Gerrick5 May 2014 at 21:15

    Yeah there are always quite a few participants who don't respond. Hopefully they'll catch up now that the challenge is over. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. MS5 May 2014 at 21:40

    As a first-year A-to-Z'er, I tried to visit and comment on everyone who commented on my posts. I found some difficulty with some blogs that either didn't have an easily accessible comment box or those that seem to require that your comment be left on their Google+ page. I wasn't so keen on that idea for some reason, so I slipped away without commenting. As a newbie to this challenge, I wasn't as bold as I could've been. Next year......
    Mary from The View from my World

    ReplyDelete
  13. Colin Smith6 May 2014 at 14:39

    I enjoyed your tour of Ancient Egypt, Laura. You did a great job of being brief but interesting and informative. One thing that I think would help make visiting other blogs easier would be if those who decide not to participate, or quit after a few weeks, could remove themselves from the list. That way, you're only spending time visiting and encouraging active participants.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hilary Melton-Butcher6 May 2014 at 16:18

    Hi Laura .. I loved meeting another Brit and one who was writing about Ancient Egypt .. I know I got overwhelmed with numbers and I was writing some of my posts as I went along .. so if I missed you - and very possible - many thanks .. I struggled to just do it all .. still I'm always around ..

    I'll find your posts in my reader! Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  15. SK Anthony6 May 2014 at 17:45

    People not responding makes me sad, but what can you do? I visited 99.9% of commenters on my blog . . . that 0.1% was one commenter whose link was broken and there was nothing I could do about it.

    Thank you for all the research you put into your theme! I enjoyed and learned a lot from your posts. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous6 May 2014 at 19:39

    Hi Laura!

    So sorry you encountered people who didn't comment back. I did too. I try not to let it get me down. It happens from time to time. I just figure I can only do my best and that's what's truly important. And, hey, we made it through to the end W00t W00t!!!

    Elsie

    ReplyDelete
  17. Click6 May 2014 at 19:47

    Well done for finishing the challenge.

    I know what you mean about the commenting. I often felt guilty during the challenge for not commenting enough because I only got online once or twice a week on some weeks and so it was tricky to squeeze everyone in.

    I've tried to become more regular about reading and commenting on the blogs that I follow though, and I'm also determined to work my way through the Reflections and Road Trip lists and leave as many comments as I can there. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tyrean Martinson7 May 2014 at 14:35

    Congratulations on finishing the challenge! I didn't write a reflections post, but if I did, I think it would be much like yours, except I did have some guilty days of not getting back to people on the same day that they commented on my blog. I tried to get back within a day or two.
    I enjoyed your posts on Egypt!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Crystal Collier7 May 2014 at 15:45

    Yeah... Some people just don't realize blogging courtesy. I'd comment twice on someone's blog, and if they didn't return a comment, I moved on. I was in it for making or building friendships this year--which was a hugely successful effort. I loved your Egypt series.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Tina7 May 2014 at 16:45

    Thanks for being an AZTech. We couldn't have done this Challenge without your help. Don't beat yourself up with the visiting thing - join the Road Trip instead! Just follow the link in my signature. Again, thanks for all your hard work.
    Tina @ Life is Good
    On the Open Road! @ Join us for the 4th Annual Post-Challenge Road Trip!

    ReplyDelete
  21. cleemckenzie7 May 2014 at 20:59

    People don't always connect and there's no one reason. I always give several tries, and if it seems the blogger doesn't find my style or my information to their liking, I let it go. There are so many out there who I do relate to.

    ReplyDelete
  22. B~Natrelle7 February 2015 at 02:02

    Hello there.
    Congratulations on completing the challenge! We appreciate too your "Tech help". Thanks for sharing. I'm just stopping by briefly as I try to navigate the twists and turns of the AtoZ Road Trip…don't forget to wave when you see me drive by. (lol)
    Entrepreneurial Goddess

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WEP August - Change of Heart

Image
So I actually wrote this piece for April's WEP, but I was ill so didn't get to post it in the end. I'm quite glad, as it suits this month's theme so much more. Change of Heart ‘Are you ready for this?’ Paul asked. Brian nodded, trying to steady his shaking hands. ‘You’re the only one who can defeat him,’ Molly said. ‘We believe in you.’ She stepped back to join Paul. Brian balled his fists as he looked at the huge stone doors before him. He took a deep breath and pushed them open. Before the doors closed, Brian glimpsed Paul and Molly turn and begin to walk away. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness inside. With a whispered word he created light in the palm of his hand, raising it so it would light up the room. It was empty apart from another doorway, much smaller than the first, hidden away in the corner. Brian marched through it and found himself in a large chamber, lit by many flickering candles mounted along the walls. Someone stoo...
Read more

IWSG

Image
The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh as a place where writers can talk about their insecurities once a month, and receive encouragement and support from other writers. It's such an amazing group, it even has its own website now, which you can visit here . This week I'm a co-host! Be sure to go to Alex's page and visit the other people who are co-hosting.  I had such great plans for my writing this month, but not one of them came through. There were three short stories I wanted to get written, and I also wanted to get back to my NaNo edits, but none of that happened. I still have a little time for one of the short stories, though; it's for Kyra Lennon's cat anthology , and it's due Friday! Not much time to do it, but I made a commitment and I will follow through with it!  Even though I haven't got much writing done in the last month (or the couple before that!) I'm not going to let it get me down. I...
Read more

A is for Arachne and Arlee!

Before I get to my Greek Mythology part of this post, at the request of Alex J. Cavanaugh  (great idea by the way, Alex!), I'd first like to thank Arlee Bird for coming up with the challenge in the first place. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be taking part in this amazing experience every year. Thanks, Arlee! This is one of my favourite tales from Greek mythology, so naturally I chose it for my first letter. Arachne was the daughter of a shepherd, and was famous for the beautiful tapestries she weaved. Nymphs would travel from all over to see her work, and to watch her weave. One day, a nymph asked her if her talent was a gift from the goddess Athena. Arachne protested, saying her skill was all her own, and that her weaving was better than Athena's. Athena heard of this, and challenged the girl to a weaving contest. Both sat at their looms and began to weave, nymphs gathering round to watch. Athena weaved a tapestry based on the glories of the gods, showing the...
Read more