A to Z Challenge 2020 Reflections #AtoZChallenge

I successfully completed the Blogging from A-Z Challenge once again. It was my 8th time taking part and I really enjoyed it. Being off work this year meant I had more time to get my posts written, so I didn’t feel under quite so much pressure. Below are my thoughts on what went well and what I could improve on next year.

My A to Z Challenge theme was “Family Fun at Home“. I shared a range of ideas and tips for keeping your family entertained at home, which included arts and crafts, games, learning ideas and imaginative activities for all ages. I thought it would be particularly useful while we’re all self-isolating or socially distancing, though it can be used for any time of year. You can find the entire list of posts here.

Well done to everyone who completed the challenge. Don’t forget to fill in the after survey and collect your winner’s badge. Jeremy Hawkins is also selling A to Z T-shirts and customised posters as momentous of the event.

What went well

• I managed to publish all 26 posts on time.
• At the start of the challenge, I was about 7 days ahead.
• I replied to all the comments I received and have almost finished visiting everyone back.
• I found it easy to find content for all of my posts.
• My posts weren’t as long as last time, so I think they were easier to read.
• Readers seemed to like my theme and I had over 200 lovely comments. I was really pleased that so many people engaged with my posts.
• My awesome sister retweeted all my posts, and as usual, I had lots of likes and shares from my fellow writers and bloggers.
• I made sure each post had a strong accompanying image this time so I could pin them all to my Pinterest boards.

Things I could improve on next time

• Writing and scheduling my posts even earlier would have helped me keep on top of things later in the month.
• I didn’t visit as many blogs on the master list as I’d planned to.
• I kept forgetting to add my posts to the daily lists on Facebook.
• I accidentally missed the A-Z theme reveal.

Recommended A to Z Challenge Blogs

The A-Z challenge is all about discovering new blogs and making new online friends. I am planning to join in with the A-Z Road Trip later in May so that I can visit some more blogs on the list.

I found some interesting new blogs to follow this year (themes in brackets):

• Quilting Patchwork Appliqué (quilting)
• Weekends in Maine (bliss)
• The Three Gerbers (Switzerland)
• Lynette Forest (her book characters)
• Best Bookish Blog (book reviews)
• Sue’s Trifles (the Easter story)
• Kohl Eyed Me (celebrating the bibliophile in me)
• Alice’s Grand Adventures (life in these strange times)
• Sara Writes (Harry Potter)
• My Ordinary Moments (stories and memories from childhood)

Here are some blogs that I was already following that I highly recommend:

• Ronel the Mythmaker (characters from folklore)
• Blog of Author J. Lenni Dorner (author brand)
• The Multicoloured Diary (folktales of endangered species)
• Temenos (garden of delights)
• Madly in Verse (India in 26 objects)
• To my Recollection (poems, drabbles and short stories)

Thank You

A huge thank you to the A to Z Challenge team: Arlee Bird, J Lenni Dorner, Zalka Csenge Virág, John Holton, Jayden R Vincente and Jeremy Hawkins. They work so hard to organise the challenge every year.

Also thank you to everyone that liked, shared and commented on my posts. I really appreciate it.

Did you take part in the A to Z Challenge this year? Are you thinking of joining next year?