Q is for Quotes : What People Have Said About the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge

           Since April 1st nearly 100 bloggers from 8 countries have been participating in the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge.  During this month these hardy bloggers have been posting on topics themed on the letters of the alphabet from A to Z six days a week.  The participating bloggers have posted on a whole range of different topics in their individually unique styles.  We have amazed others and sometimes even ourselves with our creativity, persistence, and resilience. 

        We are now on the downside of this challenge as we near the end on April 30.  When all is finished we will have posted nearly 2000 blog posts to all our sites.  Some of these participants are veteran bloggers while some are new to the world of blogging.  On April 30th most of them will be able to walk away with a sense of satisfaction in completing a significant blogging feat.  On the following Monday May 3 we hope that all of our fellow bloggers will join us as we celebrate this feat.  I will tell you more about May 3rd, but first here are some quotes of what some of the participants have said about the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge so far:



Wow... this has been an interesting and wonderful week! I can't believe we have already accomplished one weeks worth of blogging to the A to Z challenge.I want to thank Arlee @Tossing it Out for hosting the A to Z challenge... it has been such an excellent experience meeting new people and reading so many incredible blogs!   Lee- I'm so glad you started this challenge, I am meeting so many wonderful new people... It's discouraging to write and not know who your audience are... you have a gift of networking! Amazing!
This Journey Called Life  Tori Cooper

I don't know if the participants are doing a good job or not (though I do think they are), but you did a Grandastically, Great job by starting this challenge. Never before have I come across so many such diverse blogs with their own unique take on things.  THANK YOU!!!~ Rayna     coffee rings everywhere

Arlee - like I've said on numerous occasions, this challenge has been so much fun, albeit challenging at times. :) The challenge for me is to put more thought into my posts as I'm very much a quick poster and don't usually do a lot of research about or put a lot into what I'm going to blog about for that day. I'm working on changing that and trying to be more deliberate about what I write. So thank you. I'm a lifelong learner and have been taught so much through this endeavor. Thank you everyone! Lisa at Bombastic Bandicoot


I am so glad you started this challenge. I needed something to get me back into writing again and I'm loving the opportunity to get to know some amazing writers and bloggers.   Melody Green at Melody's Musings

Thanks Arlee. I have been having fun doing the blog challenge -- I am increasing my writing which is the point. Thanks for hosting it. Kathleen at Kath Ink


Okay- okay....Truth be known- yes! I want someone to read my blog! But the good news is- after almost two years and five or six followers, I finally reached the double digits because of this challenge.    Rae at Porch Ponderings by Rae



I am so pleased that I decided to join in also, it can be quite the mental challenge when we can't always just talk about whatever we want to talk about!
I love your little bios on the different participants too, please keep doing this periodically. It really is tough to catch them all, but I'm doing my best!
I am clueless as to how it is exactly that we are now halfway through this A to Z challenge! Does anyone else have a clue how this has happened? I swear we just got started. I don't want it to end...I think we should just start right over again after we get to the letter Z!
Trudy at Third Times a Charm

.....you should definitely try the challenge it's fun but also gets you mind going.  All In The Mind of a Belbin by Belbin 9.

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What a challenge it's a great ride. Met many new friends and amazing blogs! I am honored and humbled to have met such fine and talented people. I've almost doubled my "followers" during this challenge.        Debra Harris-Johnson  Dream Weaver

Thanks Arlee for hosting this blogfest. Not only am I learning to be more disciplined in my blogging, but I've discovered some great blogs to follow. Wonderful idea. ---Raquel Byrnes

I am really enjoying this challenge. It is really getting me to stretch my imagination. Thanks for this. It's really the kick in the pants I needed to get my blogging back on track. 
Marjorie from Everything Emerald

This is me, trying to catch up on some of the commenting I've been lacking. Thanks so much for sponsoring this. I can't believe I've yet to miss a day and I've been learning so much about myself, other bloggers and developing a voice.So thanks again!           Rebecca T. at Sonshine Thoughts

Taking this challenge was like joining an elite club of fun friends! Awesome!  Rae Frazier at Porch Ponderings by Rae

Through this challenge I feel like my family has slowly begun to expand. And I love it! There's a warming up period, as in real life when you meet people, but I can feel the friendships beginning to blossom, just like the beautiful flowers. Spring has sprung in our hearts!! :) 
  Lisa at Bombastic Bandicoot

Love it. The A-Z challenge is challenging me to think about my beliefs, my journey in this world (today's post), and has brought great joy to each day.   Linda at Whit's End

Thanks so much for all you're doing to make this challenge the awesome experience that is! Having a lot of fun and meeting some great new bloggers! :)   Beth at  Beth: A Work in Progress


Thanks for encouraging all of us to continue! I am enjoying reading blogs I might not have found, if it weren't for your challenge!    Ellie at Ella's Edge


.....after this A to Z is over with i'm going to begin writing again. you've only seen the tip of the iceburg
Bud Ezekial H at B-E-ing Transformed



My take-away from A-Z challenge is the wonderful new friends that I can count on for wisdom, humor, and the variety of topics we talk over. This has been such a fun month.   Linda at Whit's End

God bless you Ruby, I am so glad I have found you through this challenge...you are just an absolute peach my dear!   Trudy at Third Time's A Charm

The number of people following my blog has doubled since we began this challenge - in fact, there was a huge spike the week before. I've learned so much from blogging, too.  It's taught me consistency, especially participating in the A-Z Challenge. I've had to think through each post and tried to maintain some semblance of order - and quality.       Alex J. Cavanaugh  

I have thoroughly enjoyed this challenge and made many new friends in the process! Learning something new every day!  Beth at A Work In Progress

I, like you can't believe we;re half way through A to Z, It has been an excellent challenge and have loved every moment.   Yvonne at Welcome to My World of Poetry

I appreciate the challenge it has been loads of fun. I have "met" some folks I would probably would have never met. 
Gregg at Gospel Driven Disciples


I wanted to thank you for starting the A-Z Challenge. .....It has been a lot of fun and I'm really enjoying it so much. I've met a lot of wonderful people too!    God bless, Jane at Kierah Jane Reilly

I'm a person who loved the idea of learning something new every day, and running and reading these blogs have given me so much information and new learning experiences. Doing the A-Z challenge too has been a learning experience, since I now need to keep an idea concise and interesting despite the limitations of it. The number of followers basically equals the number of people who consider your thoughts and opinions worthy of reading and publicly support you. It's a great feeling when you get that one extra follower to a blog (thank you to everyone doing this challenge who has followed me blog as a result!). It's a great sense of achievement            Jamie Gibbs at  Mithril Wisdom

Although I'm a late "Challenger" I've enjoyed the mental challenge. Can't wait for the mega on Monday May 3.   Carol  from  Grandma's on the Go

This challenge has definitely changed a lot of things about the way I blog. Marjorie at Everything Emerald

         Throughout this challenge we received support and encouragement from many in the blogging community who did not actively participate in posting A to Z, but were there for us nevertheless.

Quotes from supporters:

To Box O' Whine
You are indeed doing quite well.  Your grit and determination to hang on is wonderful. I congratulate you.
Joseph Pulikotil  of  Man on the Move

Great challenge. Wasn't brave enough to join in but I have enjoyed it. 
  Ann at Inkpots and Quills

You really started something big, Lee!  
  L. Diane Wolfe Spunk On A Stick

hehe i love that you're keeping up with this challenge! what a great idea -- and i learn something new every time!!     Tahereh  commenting on Writings, Musings, and Other Such Nonsense


What an interesting challenge "arlee" - you have certainly spurred on a fair number of folks! AWESOME! :)
In My Humble Opinion      Paula Slade



A to Z Challenge Reflections Mega Post

          After the last A to Z post has been entered on Friday April 30th, we will take an opportunity to reflect upon this challenge.  On Monday May 3rd, on their own respective blog sites, participants will be talking about their own personal experiences with the challenge.  They will tell us how it helped their writing, how it increased their followers, and how it affected their comments.  We will hear about some of the special new friendships that came about as the result of the challenge.  Participants will be relating how much of a challenge it was and how they dealt with it--everything and anything that they encountered from the start of the challenge all the way to April 30th.

          I invite all participants to tell us your story so we can learn from your experiences and possibly gain some new insights about blogging, writing, and networking.    This is an opportunity for us to educate each other and to be educated.  Also, if you were not a participant in the challenge, but were following the action, even if you joined in late, I'd like to hear your observations and opinions about what was done in this challenge.  Whether what you have to say is negative or positive it is all valid and we'd like to hear your voice.  I invite all bloggers to join us on May 3rd for the A to Z Challenge Reflections Mega Post.  I will be posting some final details about this Post on Tuesday April 27th so join me there and please keep checking out all of our posts until the end of April.   There are still some great posts left.


Thanks for getting us in touch with each other. It's been wonderful. And yes, I'll definitely be participating on May 3rd. 
  The Alliterative Allomorph