Reflecting back on this challenge is another challenge. I do not really know what to say and what I will be forgiven for saying.
First off, I am amazed at how many great bloggers and individuals I have met. Take in mind that I have only been blogging since March and didn't even know what a blog was before that. I went into this challenge with a very open mind and was surprised to find this world that I only imagined could exist. I thought before this challenge that all bloggers were mommys, coupon collectors and frustrated housewives. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with these great women, I just had nothing in common with them anymore.
Entering this challenge with an open mind, I was surprised to find that I had actually found a treasure map. This map led me to rich kingdoms of literary knowledge and like minded individuals. This being said, I was also amazed at how many bloggers signed up and dropped out or never even started the challenge. Future referance to anyone who arranges this again. It would be nice if those not participating could take out their links. I have spent alot of time traveling to empty spaces, I guess I am not alone there. I did my best to get to all the blogs but I know I have failed because of all the empty slots I fell into and wasted time. Eventually I gave up.
I had no plan going into this challenge so it kind of scared me when I heard from many bloggers of this elaborate plan they had to get through this challenge. I thought to myself, is this really going to be so hard? What is everyone talking about? Remember once again I am a baby blogger taking her first steps into a new world. I found many supportive bloggers but at the same time I have run into a fair share of "elitists." I guess I was not worth their time because I am not a published author, publisher, editor or what not.
Posting everyday has been easy for me, sometimes I have posted several times a day. Having the alphabet to guide my posts has only helped. I tilt my head in confussion when I hear others complain about how hard it has been. Am I the only one who has written out of the seat of my pants? I have been busy too, I have been sick, and yet I need to write and once I start something I finish it. So I guess I now consider myself finished with this challenge. I thank those new friends I have met, I thank those that have worked so hard making this challenge possible and I thank all the family out there that put up with us.
Oh and by the way, just because this challenge is over does not mean that I am going to go quiet. Like I said, I have to write. Expect to hear more from me, but never expect you will like everything I have to say.
27 comments:
I know how you feel about the 'Elitists". Hope we don't become one when we are published. I enjoyed your posts. Looking forward to more.
Siv Maria,
I also just started blogging and jumped on the A-Z challenge. Like you, I enjoyed the process. I'll come back and read some of your posts, meanwhile, sun is shining, beach is calling - not to mention the other work I have to do!!!
Alison
I really enjoyed the challenge and loved finding new blogs to follow and people to talk with. I agree that I did waste a lot of time going to broken links or to blogs not participating. It's a huge number of blogs to monitor though.
Glad I found your blog through the reflections. Now following :)
Great thoughts, and its good to hear you're here to stay ^_^ Looking forward to more of your posts in the future :-D
I loved this post, spoken from the heart...just as it should be! It's amazing to me hat you've only been blogging since march! I started in November 2010 and thought I was still a blooging baby as you put it. You're far ahead of me on everything level, Siv!
I agree with Desiree the beauty of your post is in its honesty.. I agree I was at first intimidated by how many "aspiring authors" there were but I found bloggers who were just here for fun. I had trouble with a couple of letters but that was just me being thick !
glad to have met you and become one of your followers, just cos I didn't always comment didn't mean I wasn't reading !
RJRdaydreamer
Tusen takk, Siv Maria. Din stemme for støtte gir meg mot.
(Thank you very much, Siv Maria. Your vote of support gives me cheer. I hope I translated to Norwegian properly?)
Roberto
OMG, you just started blogging and jumped into this? Wow. Kudos to you! I loved your posts and will continue to follow you. Ignore the elitists - there will always be some - but the majority of writing blogs are wonderful, supportive people. Some will resonate, some won't, but it's all good.
hi - have finaly got around to foloowing - sorry it's taken so long - those empty links were annoying - I have found some great blogs to follow - amusing, informative and just plain quirky - now the madness is over I must get them into some kind of order so I dont lose them
so dear friend you are starting a blog hop of your own? lol Kudo's. I'm cluless still to all this stuff. Well cluless to most stuff to be honest! I pasted it into my blog. It listed everyone on the list though. Take a look at it when you get a secon and see if that is what you were wanting to do.
Wow, the fact that you are new to blogging and made it through the challenge with a breeze is awesome!
As one of those who found it difficult to write on some days, it is because some of the letters were rather challenging as far as finding a topic to write about and when I did, I found several possibilities for one letter and there was no way I was going to write several posts, so I had to pick one of them, lol.
Also, my computer has been giving me problems for the last month or two, so it slowed down what all I could do during each day....which is VERY frustrating when there are freelance work and other things that need to be done online.
I found the A to Z Challenge to be a very enjoyable experience and am glad that I came across your blog :)
The Madlab Post
Congrats on completing the challenge. I managed it too, but didn't get around to as many blogs as I would have liked, so I'm catching up now.
You have made some good points and it was fun to read about what you got out of it. I look forward to coming back often and learning more about you. It has been really fun to get to know about the mythology. Have a great day!!
I didnt have a plan going into the challenge either. I just tried to stay as true to what I would usually post as I could. I also did the challenge on my food blog again with no rhyme or reason, just recipes I liked that started with the right letter. Congratz on giving it a go and sticking with it.
I am so glad I finally found you. And congrats for completing the challenge. It was work on some days but mostly a joyful way to start or end the day.
Hi, SIv....
Your post certainly hit on many of the pluses and minuses of the challenge. I forgot to mention HOW MANY sites I visited that weren't participating. I so enjoyed visiting here and will do so daily...
One thing I am happy about is the few wonderful new friends that I have met.... you included.
M
WoW! you did great for just starting, congratulations
I only started recently too. I think it was a good way to get thrown in the deep end. I feel a lot more confident about blogging now then a month ago.
mood
Moody Writing
I was a newbie blogger too ;) I think we can officially retire that title after the challenge!
Sorry I didn't find your blog during the challenge. I got overwhelmed writing a post everyday. It wasn't difficult, but time consuming. I look forward to having some time to visit other blogs now.
I thought before this challenge that all bloggers were mommys, coupon collectors and frustrated housewives.
That made me laugh! I'm a mommy and a housewife, but never got the knack for coupon collecting and I'd much rather be writing or running than changing diapers or cleaning house, but I've got to find time to do it all.
Oh goodness, I like your style. Good for you on all you've accomplished AND for speaking your mind, whether we like it or not. I like it...if that matters ;)
Cheers :)
Siv, I also came across a fair number of bloggers who weren't actually doing the challenge and that was quite annoying!
Well done for completing it!
Duncan In Kuantan
Hi Siv .. I'm amazed at what you've achieved in the two months .. as well as doing the Challenge, writing intelligent posts .. and creating a blog that looks attractive ..
Delighted I've found the Norwegian link and hope to see you around the blogosphere in the coming months ..
Your thoughts are exactly right - well said ..
Cheers Hilary
I started to wonder just how hard the challenge was really going to be when I heard about all the plans bloggers were making, too. I found parts of it to be relatively hard (getting around to blogs among them--I found a lot of wrong links and non-participating sites as well) but others were just fun. :)
I am impressed by your eloquence in expressing your reflections and by the amount of blogging expertise you have gained in the short time that you have been blogging. You are already a blog pro in a little over a month!
Congratulations on meeting the Challenge like a pro-- your attitude is one that I agree with.
Thank you for having joined us this April 2011. Look forward to hearing more from you.
Don't forget to pick up your Winner's Badge at my site.
Lee
Tossing It Out
I've missed you during the Challenge. Now I'm blog-hopping reading reflections to catch up.
One month and 300 over followers - that's a record achievement, people must really liked what you have to say. I'm just beginning to read your posts.
Grandpa
Life on The Farm
Hey Siv,
Glad you told it like it is. Honesty is what I look for most in a blogger! As I didn't have time to visit very many blogs during the challenge, I didn't run into the empty spaces like you did. My plan now is to try to get through the list by summer's end. I'm starting with the reflections posts. Thanks for your visits and comments to me. I am your new follower.
Tina @ Life is Good
P.S Jag ar Svensk. Bor du i Norge nu?
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