Monday 8 May 2017

A-Z Reflections

So it was all a little bit different this year: 
  • No linky list therefore no need for letters to show the content (except AC), 
  • No minions therefore not as many visits from those connected to the A-Z
  • Having to post a link everyday to the main blog (how would I have done this if I wasn't at my computer?)

I won't lie - I was worried!

First off I was rather late to the party this year so I hadn't prepared anything - didn't even know what I was going to post about but luckily inspiration hit less than 24 hours before 1st April and I was up and running.  First snag hit - I couldn't seem to post a link for the first three days because I was using a time zone that was almost a day behind Australia and New Zealand and I hadn't worked out how to use the site properly - it was my fault but when you are panicking everything takes more getting used to!!

I visited sites at the top of the posting list and those just above me on most days.  That's what the Challenge is mainly about finding NEW bloggers out there and communicating with them and I thought this went well although I did use to love going down the Linky List and finding those with a craft or education connection that I could then ensure I got a chance to visit.  I think I missed quite a few this year.

Because there was no list - there was no wasted time visiting blogs that weren't actually taking part so that WAS beneficial.

I left comments and I think that helped get those bloggers over to my site to take a look and leave a comment with me too.  I don't think I had as many views but once again I think that was because I either didn't post a link (sometimes I just forgot to) or because I was posting my link late.

I found my Blogger handle (name) didn't work anymore if I wanted to follow someone and I didn't want my Google name with attached details out there (I'm a private person!!) so I didn't "follow" anyone during this year's challenge.  Although I did put them into my sidebar Blog List which is even more important and allows me to see their posts and have engagement long after the Challenge ends. I also didn't get too many people "following" me so maybe they felt the same if their Blogger handle wasn't working either?

I didn't get any comments from the A-Z crew either for the first time and I think this left me a little deflated and I wondered how anyone else who had joined this year for the first time would feel?  In previous years, I did think the minions did a good job flagging back to the main hosts/organisers blogs that needed a little support/ those that had really good content, any newcomers to the A-Z as well as leaving their own supportive messages :)

I did read some great blog posts and once again the quality of some just astounded me as it does each year.  There were lots of new tales to be told, new sights to see and some wonderful tunes to listen to :)  A special mention to Katie the CyborgMom who made me smile every time I visited her Hot Men tribute theme - there really is no one quite like her!!  Nilijana, Hilary and Sharon for their wonderful writing about such interesting topics.  Click for her open, honest letters, Courtney, Cheryl, Eva and Linda for their art inspiring photographs and Cynthia and Ellen for their slightly bizarre takes on the world :)  Finally to Yvonne, who not only gave me plenty of songs to sing to but was a wonderful cheerer on with lovely messages of support throughout the Challenge not only to me but to MANY others!! There were many more who made me really stop and think and see the world in a different way so thank you to all those I stopped by :)

I actually think I enjoyed this Challenge the most - mainly because there was no list to "work" through and all those taking part were on the whole doing that and popping over to visit and leave comments on others' blogs - not just write a post and try to "sell" something and never bother with anyone else.  I also felt I found some great new bloggers out there that I truly want to keep in touch with over the coming year. This to me is the best thing about the A-Z as over the past three years I have made some very good blogging buddies due to taking part.

All that is left is to say a BIG thank you to the organisers and hope to see you all here again in 2018!


22 comments:

  1. Well done Senco - glad once you'd settled in you had a good time ... I agree not having minions around was a little strange - I relate to the people who know me -but was surprised to be told what to do on occasions - not a happy person! My site should make it obvious I'm fairly well known around the A-Z ... I know I've followed you - but my picture doesn't appear and I need to sort that out ... well done and see you around - cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Hilary and a big well done to you and thank you for making this such an enjoyable Challenge for me:)

      Delete
  2. I love that last-minute inspiration brought you into the challenge and that it ended up being your most enjoyable one. I committed to making this a fun experience and so gave myself permission to operate at a less hectic pace this year. So in fact, I'm still working my way around a bit with the visiting. But that just means I'm prolonging the pleasure don't you think? :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally agree that there are many blogs worth visiting as well as re-visiting to catch up on all those wonderful blog posts - really looking forward to the A-Z Road Trip this year :)

      Delete
  3. I enjoyed your posts and they did not have a wing it feel. You were spot on

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Joanne for all your support throughout the Challenge not just to me but MANY others - you are a star!!

      Delete
  4. Hey, thanks for the shout out! I enjoyed your posts, you did a brilliant job - they don't feel as though they're written off the cuff or anything. Btw I am a follower here :) but the name is different.

    All in all not having the list has worked out better than expected, though not at all sure how or why :)

    Congrats and kudos for a great challenge and a well written Reflections post!

    Cheers,
    Nilanjana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much and your posts as always were an absolute joy to read :)

      Delete
  5. As you know I didn't do the challenge this year. And I didn't once go to the Facebook page to try to find blogs that might interest me. I just read those blogs who I already follow. Maybe next year!! I think I like the idea of no list. But I'm not sure!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your support over this Challenge, Paula :) No I really don't use Facebook or Twitter like others seem to but new bloggers found me and I got to find some new and funny/brilliant/thought provoking bloggers who I will continue to follow so that's all that truly matters I think!

      Delete
  6. I didn't do the challenge this year. I successfully did it once on my own and had a lot of fun, but then failed the next year. Last year I did it with a group and we decided against doing it this year because we didn't quite understand how much work the daily list updates would be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was more a question of remembering to do it rather than it being difficult once I'd worked out where I was going wrong!! Maybe I'll see you next year?

      Delete
  7. You did a great job with the challenge. I am glad to have met you through it and a few others too. I did miss the old way , but I still had fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Certainly pleased to have found your rather zany blog, Ellen - it kept me entertained during the Challenge and continues to do so - so a win win for me :)

      Delete
  8. Well done on an excellent A to Z, also this Reflection post. I too missed the Linky List but despite it not being there still completed the challenge.

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Yvonne - I can only say THANK YOU - I think you are the heart of the A-Z Challenge :)

      Delete
  9. Thanks for the mention on the post.This was my first challenge, so I canot compare with previous year. For me, it worked well: it was full of fun and discoveries.
    Thanks for your posts!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I loved your posts. Congrats on completing the challenge.
    Also, thanks for dropping in my blog regularly

    Click Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says

    ReplyDelete
  11. You are so sweet to mention me! HUGS! Great reflection post...I never would have guessed that you were a last minute blogger too :) I liked the idea of no long linky list, but I also didn't like having to post my link everyday. I'm kinda torn on it.
    ~Katie
    TheCyborgMom

    ReplyDelete
  12. I didn't take part this year, so only popped in to the people I already follow which made me kind of regret not taking part as I loved it the year I did manage it and still follow bloggers from back then. Well done on getting through it again :)
    And I do agree about it being a pain when the Blogger handle doesn't work.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm still working on getting to the A to Z blog posts of the people I follow regularly. I managed to catch several of your posts and I'm hoping once I'm up to date on my blog comments I'll be able to go back and read all the others too.

    Well done for reaching the end of the challenge, I enjoyed your little poems and the thoughts behind them. And thank you for your kind words about my letters too. :-)

    Cait @ Click's Clan

    ReplyDelete