Writing doesn't always come easy. At times, anything else will do to deter me from what Rachael Harrie calls BICHOK (Butt in Chair, Hands on Keyboard.)
Click here for more of Rachel's extremely useful blogging tips:
http://rachaelharrie.blogspot.com/2011/03/blogging-tips-tips-for-increasing-your.html
When I came across a site recently that mentioned Arlee Bird's A to Z Blogging Challenge, I wondered if the challenge could help me become a more active blogger. The challenge, for the month of April, is to post one article each day, Monday through Saturday, starting with the letter A on April 1; B on April 2; and so forth. This is a total of 26 days for 26 letters. Funny, how that worked out! I added my name to the list and immediately started thinking of topics for each letter of the alphabet.
My blog mainly focuses on topics related to my novel and to Hawaii (my protagonist's home state.) As you probably already guessed, the letter A was a no-brainer. Aloha! I've also chosen topics for the letters G, H, J, K, L, U, and X. Every other letter is wide open for suggestions. (Ahem!)
To Join the Challenge or for more information, Click on the A-Z Challenge badge at the top of this post; or click the link below and sign up on the Linky list:
http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting-announcement.html
If you've thought of any topics for the remainder of the letters, I'd love to hear your ideas.
Hi Gail!
ReplyDeleteSince I blog publishing and promoting tips, I'll use that as my theme. At least Q won't be a challenge.
Hi Gail! I'm stopping in to welcome you to the A-Z Blogging Challenge! I'm one of the hosts so if you have any questions just let me know. Though it looks like you are already looking forward to it! Love the fire!
ReplyDeleteLook forward to future posts!
Hi! I'm excited for the blogfest too. I'm tasked with finishing all my posts in the next two weeks so I can focus on reading and commenting (and writing the novel).
ReplyDeleteI'm close, but have a few more letters to cover. Good luck, see you in April.
I've not actually started listing out topics yet. I'm going to try writing in the style of Fiona Robyn's 'a handful of stones'. I've been following her blog because the idea of writing a tiny, polished pebble of an idea each day appeals to me and it would fit in well with this sort of activity... I hope.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the challenge. I'm personally stuck on Q lol!
ReplyDeleteHi, Gail. SO nice to meet you. I saw your comment on my post (about my brother passing away) and came over. I look forward to your A-Z posts, too. BTW, I lived in Hawaii with my first husband (and our 4 children) for a year, 1975-1976, in Laie and LOVED the place. Where in Hawaii are you?
ReplyDeleteHi Gail! Thanks for following my blog! Nice to meet you! :) I'm looking forward to the A-Z Challenge even though I haven't decided on a topic and I'm not used to blogging (almost) every day. It will definitely be a challenge! Can't wait to see everyone's posts. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the welcome, Jan,and to everyone who stopped in to visit. I guess I'll have to mix up a huge batch of lemonade for April!
ReplyDeleteRosalind, the polished pebble idea sounds like a great idea. Happy writing, Diane, Kari, and Catherine. Good luck finding a suitable idea for Q, Lynda.
Ann, I live in Honolulu where my big yellow taxi runs fairly on schedule (TheBus).
Hi Gail,
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my space and am glad you came...I was or I kept a low profile in my blog of late due to so many concerns, both in my profession at home and in community services. I was kind of like a busy of late, unexpectedly. What brought me to blogging two years ago is my boring and dull life as hubby works miles away to keep a roof for his family.
Now, my blog is starting to drown in tears as she was neglected time and again. I come to blog on and off. This saddens me but I can't do otherwise.
You reminded me of the A-Z Challenge in April. Gosh I suddenly felt guilty. I might not be able to make it.
I am so busy for the next five weeks in preparation of our 1st grand alumni homecoming in our university where i graduated both in highschool, undergrad and post grad where i happen to be the alumni president. I don't want to make it an excuse but the high expectations placed on my shoulders make me work so hard.
Nevertheless I will try my best to be around in the A-Z Challenge.
Thanks Gail...:) I am amazed I have talked so much to a new acquaintance this time...:) :D
Goodnight and God bless!!!
Hi, Gail, Thanks for stopping by my blog.:)
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading yours and several others. This is my second year to participate, and I guess I will be doing my blog posts as they come instead of thinking out a lot ahead of time. Most of my writing is extemporaneous and just kind of flows from my head through my fingers to the 'puter. I have been blogging since June of 2008 and enjoy it tremendously. Ruby Young
I look forward to reading your posts. I think it's a great challenge. :O)
ReplyDeleteAloha. May we both have a great time workin' our way through this challenge. I look forward to checking out what you're doing each day :)
ReplyDeleteHi Gail,
ReplyDeleteYou had me at chili peppers ;-) The Engineer and I are fans of spicy food and usually grow about ten varieties of peppers each year in our huge garden. (I blogged about it last year, here.
Thanks for stopping by at Life is Good and following. This challenge is definitely going to be a challenge. Last summer when I really got going on my previously dormant blog, I was posting about 6 days a week. Since then, I've been homeschooling my kids (and no, I'm not one of those militant hs'ers who think that any other form of schooling is a sin) I lost my job and hence their tuition at the small private school they were attending. Fitting a post a day into our schedule will be hard, but I'm very competitive so I'm going to give it my all. I like the pebble analogy a lot, because that was basically what my blog was. Random stories of my life as an immigrant (I'm Swedish) mixed in with some very personal poetry.
Does your book have a Kindle edition? I got mine a few weeks ago and am already a total addict...
Hi, looking forward to reading your alphabet updates. I'm also participating. I'm following you because I liked your comment on Lynda R. Young's "What Brings You Back to a Blog?" post.
ReplyDeletehttp://lyndaryoung.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-brings-you-back-to-blog.html
Also because your blog looks interesting. Aloha!
Oh I also wanted to ask, how do you get it to do the "You might also like:" thing at the bottom of the posts? I've been looking :)
ReplyDeleteHi Callie,
ReplyDeleteUnder the "You Might Also Like" pictures
click on the tiny 'LinkIn' or go to
http://www.linkwithin.com/learn?ref=widget
The A-Z will definitely be a fun challenge! Good for you on pre-planning. I think I've only got "B" down so far...(an easy one as the 2nd is my Bday). :)
ReplyDeleteWell ... it will be interesting! AND fun! :)
ReplyDeleteAhhh! When I signed up for the challenge I didn't know I'd be on vacation for the first four days. Hmmm. What to do? What to do? I'll think of something...
ReplyDeleteI've joined the challeneged without any real idea of what to write about. At least you've got a theme, you're well ahead of the game.
ReplyDelete@samantha V. you can pre-schedule your posts to be published at set times. You have to write them in advance of course.
Yes, Samantha, preschedule the post for the days you're on vacation.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stepping by at my blog.
ReplyDeleteI've been to Hawaii once, but I was really young. It's wonderful there.
Looking forward to reading you in the future.
Nahno ∗ McLein ™
I went through and wrote topics for letters I knew I could write about, too, but there were still a LOT of lonely letters! Can't wait to see what you come up with.
ReplyDeleteHi Gail, thanks for the follow. I did A-Z last year and found it hard but fun. I hope you enjoy it and I look forward to reading your posts. :o) Take care.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you stopped by to say hi and provide some encouragement for the April challenge. I love your blog and its premise. Hawaii has always fascinated me, and I would love to visit your beautiful state some day. My husband is a geologist so I know he would be thrilled to tramp around on those volcanic islands.
ReplyDeleteI've been preparing some posts but am still stumped for some of the letters. I had an idea for your letter P. How about Pahoehoe? I read an interesting article about the different types of lava. The author suggested that if you wanted to get rid of someone in an unusual way, turn them loose naked on a cold flow of A'a lava. Apparently, the stuff is not at all friendly to the skin.
Love Hawaii. What a lovely place to live! The challenge should be fun and very challenging to keep up with so many!
ReplyDeleteMonti
MaryMontagueSikes
Hi Gail,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. I'm looking forward to the A-Z challenge. I can't believe it is starting this week! I'll be sure to check back to read what you're posting. I've never been to Hawaii, but would like to some day so I look forward to reading your posts.
Hi Gail
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping into my blog. I will also be checking your posts out as well over the A to Z challenge.
Good Luck.
Peter
@walk2write: I've walked on warm Pahoehoe lava flows, but I definitely didn't walk very far on A'a. Why is it called A'a??? Because all the while you're walking on it, you're saying ...
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