Friday, May 01, 2015

A-Z Reflections



This was my first year doing the A-Z Challenge. I stumbled upon it completely by accident a few days before it started and I thought ‘that sounds fun’!

My writings have been typical of those I normally post several times a week. I try to produce a mix of humour, darkness and poignancy mostly in vignette form but occasionally through poetry. For the challenge  I deliberately didn't go for a theme as I wanted to avoid my posts becoming dull or repetitive.

On the plus side, I've been thoroughly entertained by bloggers I had never before come across. I've laughed, I've  cried, I've sometimes groaned! I've learned and sometimes shouted at my screen! But most of all I’ve thoroughly enjoyed interacting with other partakers, and I’m certain that at least some of us will continue to read each other’s blogs. I visited the same 30 to 40 blogs each day and I received between 10 and 15 comments in return.

My only disappointment was however the small number of flash fiction writers. I felt that too many of the contributors to the WR section were lecturing me on how to write whilst not actually demonstrating their self proclaimed prowess.

So will I return next year? Probably, but the jury’s out on that right now!

In the meantime I will be returning to my favourite prompt sites which I've had to pass by during April. They include:-



So I guess that's it! I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all those who have taken this journey with me. Hopefully this is ‘au revoir’ rather than goodbye.


19 comments:

  1. I am one of the people who wrote about writing but didn't post any samples/flash fiction. The reason I didn't was my first book isn't out yet. I guess, in my head, I was thinking: "Who is going to want to read something that isn't out yet from someone they've never heard of?" Maybe once "Lane Changes" book 1 is out and book 2 is coming then I can put out some flash fiction as a teaser to book 2 and 3. However, I can see the flip side as putting out some samples as a teaser just to read the book in general. Hmmm...I really needed this post BEFORE I began the A to Z Challenge. See? I learned something. :-)
    Thank you for taking the time to consistently visit my blog. I truly appreciate it. I'm still trying ot figure out how to "follow" you via Blogger but can't find the button to do so.

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    1. We are being helpful to each other aren't we? I've added a 'follow me' tab to the top of my sidebar. Thanks for the suggestion! I've really enjoyed my visits to your blog and will be returning! Thanks so much for your support during April

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  2. I've not been brave enough to do the challenge two years in a row. My first was 2012, and then this year. I needed that time in between, because once May starts, you realise how much time blogging has taken up!

    Conversely, some people have done it every year since it began.

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    1. It certainly takes some time! I'm fairly prolific anyway so I didn't find it too much of a burden. I really appreciate you having visited me so often. Thanks.

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  3. I saw a lot of flash fiction with the blogs when they announced their themes, it almost seemed like every other blog was doing flash fiction :)

    I do apologize for not commenting more than I did on your blog; I don't always get the email notices about a comment left, like I didn't for your comments, and I would forget to check daily on my blog with who left comments, otherwise I would have returned visits more often because that's just what I tend to do :)

    Not sure how many blogs I followed during the challenge, but yesterday I didn't have a chance to read blogs until the evening; usually I scatter my blog reading over the day, some before work, on much lunch break, etc, then the evening. Yesterday just doing it in the evening, it took me over 2-1/2 hours to get through them all :)

    It is a fun challenge. Every year (this was my 3rd I finished) I say "never again" and I always sign up when it comes around :)

    enjoy your holiday!

    betty

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    1. Betty I really appreciated your visits. reading other blogs was the most time consuming part of the challenge, but it was great fun.

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  4. I'm glad to have happened on your blog during the Challenge. I was thoroughly entertained by your pieces which raised a good few chuckles. And woah, that's a lot of prompt challenges! I'll have to check them out. Congrats and enjoy your well earned break!

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    1. I don't do all of them every week, but they are my favourites. I'd put Friday Fictioneers way above the rest! Thanks for your good wishes

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  5. first i must thank you for reading my posts, i had always been eagerly looking forward to your comments. as for your posts i was surprised by the variety of your writings. your story telling is great, let's remain in touch and please do have a look at my poems for kids on wwwps4kids.blogspot.in

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  6. I'm a writer, but I decided to go rogue and post on mathematics this year. I wonder if using the (WR) confused my visitors? Oh well. I did try to connect the topics on occasion.

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  7. I hope the jury rules in your returning to the Challenge next year. Thanks for joining us for 2015 and we appreciate your Reflections post.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host

    Tossing It Out


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  8. You remind me that I need to keep up my writing habit even while on vacation in my own little corner of the world. Perhaps it's time I write a flash fiction again. Be safe on your travels!

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  9. Hey there! It was my first year too...congrats on finishing! I found you blog after the challenge, obviously, but definitely going to stick around =)

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  10. It was a fun journey as I read through the entries of those who joined. What a fun ride. Congrats on completing the challenge.

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  11. It was great to connect with you through this Challenge, Keith. I thoroughly enjoyed your short and crisp, interesting, fun, amusing stories with diverse styles and subjects! You'll see me lurking around your blog :D

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  12. Discovering your blog through your reflection. Sorry I missed you during the challenge. I'm a writer too, and I tried to get at the list by starting with the (WR) category. Still didn't get done with it. This was my 3rd year to participate and it has helped me a lot with my own blog and writing. In my own reflections I have some opinions about what works and doesn't. I hope you will give it another go next year, it takes a while to build your readers etc. Congrats on finishing.

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  13. Congrats on completing the A to Z Challenge! Looking forward to next year! See you on the Road Trip!

    Mary @ Jingle Jangle Jungle

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  14. You managed to visit far more blogs than me - impressive. You've also encouraged me to try more flash fiction, something I've not attempted before now. So thanks.

    Rae

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  15. Hello there.
    Congratulations on completing your first challenge! Just meandering through from the Road Trip.

    Entrepreneurial Goddess

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