I’m over the moon I managed to complete the alphabet – while I had the movie titles worked out I wasn’t quite as organised as usual and was still writing them during the month.
I was really surprised that people thought my topic was so specific, because I hadn’t thought that at all when I had planned it. I came up with the idea during last year’s A to Z, so it had been a year in the planning (shame I hadn’t started to write the posts back then!).
I really had fun with my theme. I got to listen to music I love but also pushed my comfort zone with some pieces as I had to listen to them so I could write about them.
I had so much fun planning my A to Z, however I feel this will be my last for a while. There are a number of reasons…
- Statistics. My goal was to visit 3 new blogs a day (always commenting) but in the end managed more than that, finishing with a total of 123 blogs visited. However, only 21(!) commented on my blog.
- Time zones. Sunday is the rest day from posting – and a day (in theory) where you can catch up. Except for those of us in the southern hemisphere. For me, the no-posting day is actually Monday and a work day, which makes it really hard to catch up and find extra time to visit new blogs.
- School terms. In Australia, half of April falls over school holidays, meaning routine goes out the window and time is hard to find.
- Illness. With an already tough schedule (see points 2 and 3) anything else throwing a spanner in the works starts to make A to Z stressful. This year my Barbarians fell ill, one after the other, and I was a little panicked about keeping up.
- I had to neglect blogs I regularly visit outside of A to Z because I didn’t have time to visit them and visit the new-to-me blogs as well. I missed reading my regular blogs.
Having said that, there is one other thing to consider, and that’s the fact I am going to not have much time to prep next year because…but that will be another post *wink*
May 10, 2019 at 9:55 pm
I think your theme was specific because it just focused on one man. I had no idea he had done SO MUCH so that was great to learn!
I found out about this challenge When I was in South Korea, so I too was “ahead” of the game in terms of posting. But I still stuck to the schedule. I kept Sunday’s to myself. Which was nice. I would read blogs on Sunday but not do any posting for the challenge.
You did a fabulous job this year! Way to go!!!
May 11, 2019 at 10:39 am
Thanks, GF. I’ve done this challenge four times now and it is loads of fun, but this year was a struggle with those few things landing on top of one another. And I know I will be time poor next year so I have no choice but to not participate.
May 10, 2019 at 10:24 pm
Hi AJ. That was a very honest reflection of yours. I truly felt your selection of theme was very specific and on the first day, I was really wondering how you will find enough stuff to fill in all the alphabets’ pockets. But you did great job and although i couldn’t manage to read each one of your posts, the ones I read gave me good info on the films and few i could associate with a similar movie or a book I had read.
Wish you good luck and will look forward to your wink* post as i am a one hell of a curious human being!! 🙂 🙂
May 11, 2019 at 10:47 am
Aw, thanks, Anjana. Heehee, my *wink* post will be later this month…
May 11, 2019 at 2:20 am
Congrats on making it through. It’s way hard when the kiddos are on vacation to get anything done. I hope they’re over their illnesses now.
May 11, 2019 at 11:04 am
Thanks, Liz. They are over their illnesses thank goodness (but not until they’d shared with me of course).
May 11, 2019 at 11:20 am
It happens! Our lives are busy and this challenge is a huge time suck haha! You have to do what is best for you!
May 12, 2019 at 8:46 pm
So glad I discovered you this year! My fourth as well. I’ve seen many who struggled this year to keep up with commenting etc. Perhaps we all have overloaded inboxes and too much inspiration coming from all angles. It will be interesting to see what transpires next year. April has it’s own rhythm when you do the challenge. I’m amazed you pull it off with the school breaks in April. I had fewer visits & comments this year than in the past.
May 12, 2019 at 9:04 pm
Thanks, Linda. I managed to comment once on all the blogs I visited, and I tried to comment regularly on the blogs I found and enjoyed, but it was all too much. I have added a few to my RSS though. I have enjoyed your projects and hope to get back more often now A-Z is over. I’m crafty as well as a writer – I just don’t get the time I’d like to spend on my craft.
May 13, 2019 at 8:45 pm
Congratulations on getting through the A-Z, AJ! Well done.
Deb
May 13, 2019 at 10:06 pm
Thanks, Deb =)