Overview

         My topic for the letter O is "overview" which is appropriate for Saturday because that's what I do each Saturday on TOSSING IT OUT.   On this blog on Saturdays I look at where I've been in the previous week and where I am expecting to go in the week to come.  It's kind of a nice approach because it gives readers a chance to go back to look at something they've missed and lets them know if there is something they might like to remember to look at in the upcoming week.  This approach also allows for a somewhat easy post that requires a little less thought--after all it is the weekend.

        In nearly all of my posts for April I have tried to tie in some relationship to the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge.  I am trying to make sure that every blog gets a mention in these posts just in case any readers have not yet made it to one of the participant's blog.  I hope that every one of you have paid at least one visit to a fellow participant, left a comment, and perhaps even became a follower.  In theory, every blogger in the challenge should have gained 30 to 70 new followers if this procedure were done in the way I have described.  I encourage all of you to try this in the coming week--see what happens.

         In the previous week my topics were Judicious Juggling, an examination of balance in one's life; Knoxville, Tennessee--a sort of a travel promo memoir of a lovely city;  and the Undergraduate Library at the University of Tennessee, which was a companion piece and continuation of the Knoxville story.  There was also my weekly debate topic which this week appropriately looked at the mathematics of blogging.  I think the prevailing opinion was that accruing followers is important but not the primary purpose in blogging.  Then yesterday I offered a well-received bit of flash fiction called Nothing.  I really appreciate all of the encouraging comments I received on that one and if you didn't read it yet I would like your opinion as well.

          This week we'll be covering the letters P through U as we wend our way toward the final week of the challenge.   I plan to be covering the topics of Poetry, Reputation, Savings and Investment, and Time.   And don't think I forgot Q.  I have a very special post scheduled for Q-Day Tuesday.  It will be a coming attractions promo piece of our May 3rd Blog Event.  I am hoping that we will have Challenge-wide participation for May 3rd and I hope to have many readers for what we all have to say.

           To fill in any who may not yet be aware of what I am talking about, on Monday May 3rd I am asking all participants of the Blogging From A to Z Challenge to join me in posting your reflections about this Challenge.  Tell us how it affected you and your blog.   How did you come up with ideas?  How did you find motivation?  How will it change the way you blog?    Also, you might want to explore what the challenge did for your writing or the way you interact with other bloggers.  What we would want to capture is the spirit, the experience, and the impact of Blogging From A to Z upon each of us individually as bloggers and collectively as a blog community.  Your posts can be informative, educational, inspirational, or entertaining--you decide, it's your experience.

           Already I've received commitments from many in the challenge, so I hope the rest of you will join us to make May 3rd a memorable day in blogging.   To join in you don't even have to be a Challenge participant.  If you were following or supporting us we'd like to hear what you have to say on this day as well.

          Please spread the word about checking the Tossing It Out post on Tuesday April 20 for the preview of the May 3rd A to Z Challenge Reflections Mega Post.  I encourage you to mention it in comments to blogs you regularly visit (without being obnoxious about it of course) and by all means mention it on your sites.   I would like to see every blogger that we can possibly reach to be at our blogs on May 3rd to recognize the achievement we have made in meeting the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge.

         You are all winners in this challenge and May 3rd will be your day to shine!