Some folks might think I run things into the ground sometimes and maybe I do, but sometimes I just like to study some things in depth to know how they work and what can be done to make them better. So it goes with the April Challenge. This month long event involved a lot of bloggers who had a lot of opinions. And many of us are already thinking about next year.
If there is going to be another A to Z Challenge next April I think most of us would like to institute some improvements. There are some things that need to go, some that need to stay just as they are, and some that need to be tweaked to optimal performance levels.
What are these things that I'm talking about? That's what I want to examine during the month of May. This month, each Monday--which is my usual day for blogging and writing topics--I will be looking at some of the comments I read in the Reflections posts and other places and evaluating them to see how the A to Z Challenge can work in the most superb way.
Here is part of the Tossing It Out schedule for May:
May 9 -- The negatives of the A to Z Challenge.
May 16-- The positives of the A to Z Challenge.
May 23 -- Some more of your suggestions about the A to Z Challenge.
May 30 -- My evaluation. At this time I might also consider adding a poll to get your opinions of the ideas that I think would work best.
And for those of you who are thinking that you don't want to be hearing about the Challenge anymore, I hope that I can relate the content of these posts to more general application to all blogging and other activities. So even if you hate this A to Z Challenge you might want to give these posts a chance as there might still be some information that you might find useful.
As for my Wednesday and Friday posts, they may or may not be there. I do not have anything scheduled as of yet. As I have mentioned I will be in East Tennessee starting next week for 10 days and then immediately turn around to spend a few days in Houston.
Since I will be spending a lot of time with family, I may not have the same blogging opportunities that I have at home. That quality family time will be important to me. However, I will attempt to continue to make some rounds visiting blogs when I can during this period.
On one of the upcoming Fridays I will have more to say about what will be happening on Tossing It Out in the months to come. I have things planned that I hope you will enjoy and that I hope will enlighten you.
And finally, to all of the Mothers out there:
Happy Mother's Day!!!
Have a wonderful time!
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happy (family) TRAVELS!!!
ReplyDeletesounds good, Lee. Will keep an eye out for the Monday posts.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
Hi friend,great post you have here.It's really nice to be back once more to your lovely blog.Hope you good.It has been a while we since connected so I decided to pass by and say hello and also let you know that, I have just posted the "5" steps to mind liberation so come check it up and comment. Will be following you and expecting to share and learn from you respectively.Have a wonderful and fruitful day hoping to hear from your lovely self again. A million thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteEBENEZER ADOKWEI
(EBENDY)
Have a wonderful holiday and enjoy your family. I look forward to your Monday posts.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to anything to do with the A to Z. Have a wonderful time with your family. I would like to wish all mothers who read your blog Happy Mother's Day.
ReplyDeleteWe in the UK celebrate that day in March/April.
Enjoy your week-end.
Yvonne.
Looking forward to your summary of it all - good luck!
ReplyDeleteLook forward to your summary of 2011 and your ideas for 2012.
ReplyDeletePaula
Paula Martin’s Potpourri
Enjoy your family time, Lee--it is a precious, all-too-fleeting blessing. You have earned a much needed blog vacation. Looking forward to your future posts on the A to Z Challenge improvements and other topics.
ReplyDeleteI am also looking forward to your monday posts, and glad you weren't asking us to write them.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a plan. I'll be reading.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the Mother's Day wish. I can't believe I missed the Winner's Badge!! I am so taking it now.
ReplyDeleteI loved the A-Z challenge far more than I thought I would. At first, I was nervous and it felt daunting. But in reality, participating made me write more concisely. It was a wonderful exercise for me. :)
Thanks for dropping by this morning. And Rhonda, maybe I'll ask you all to write something later, but for now many of you have given us so much valuable input that I want to merely condense it all and examine it a bit more thoroughly.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you who continue to provide support and ideas.
Lee
I will truly be interest in what the negatives and postitives are. I know we all have thoughts on that.
ReplyDeleteAs well what improvments will come from it. I had some much fun.
Enjoy your family time. I know I have lots planned myself in the days and weeks ahead.
Blessings
Like to know what others thought and if they were just as overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteAnd does the mother of two black cats count?
I loved the challenge. It was actually much easier than I expected! Now I have a reason to look forward to April's!
ReplyDeleteHi Arlee!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you taking the time to do this analysis and look forward to the synopsis and suggestions.
I'd also like to thank you for stopping by my place during the challenge even though my topic was not your thing---glad you could at least connect w/ Quantum Leap. ;)
Have an amazing trip visiting family. One of my prized possessions in my memory box is a pair of East Tennessee State boxer shorts that bring back fun (and scandalous) memories of spring break '86.
The challenge was a great success in my opinion. I look forward to reading more about it over the next month. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's good that you're spending time with your family. I'm looking forward to reading your Wednesday & Friday posts. Have a great time in Tenn. & if you stop by Graceland be sure to let us know! :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your family time. We'll all be here when you get back. I am looking forward to the posts. I loved the challenge, but I definitely will do things differently next year. Not because I didn't like it, but mostly because I wasn't able to get the most out of the challenge that I would have liked to.
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the challenge, I started finding the posts, towards the end. I really have made a lot of friends and found all the post very interesting.
I love how you write your post very much.
Have a wonderful wonderful vacation.
Happy Mother's Day to all.
Wow, I walk away from the computer and look what happens! A bunch more comments. Thanks to all of you. I'm sure my analysis won't be comprehensive--that's when I can usually count on my readers to let me know what I missed. So let me know if I don't mention something that was on your mind.
ReplyDeleteAnd Lisa from Nadir I won't be anywhere near Graceland--nearly 500 miles away in fact! I'll be in East Tennessee on the other end of the state from Memphis.
Nicki, I guess you'll have to tell us the boxer shorts story on your blog one day--or maybe not.
Lee
Well I can't wait to read your research ;) East Tennessee, that is awfully close to me which gas was cheaper :)
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
I think this is great. The A to Z Challenge had such a huge, terrific turnout that it makes sense to see how it can be even better in the future. I'm looking forward to your posts!
ReplyDeleteSafe travels and have fun with your family!
I look forward to seeing where things go from here:-)
ReplyDeletei love how organized you are about this have a wonderful weekend
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely interested in seeing what you've learned from this experience, Arlee!
ReplyDeletei think for a challenge this size it went great. I'm almost certain the next will be even bigger.
ReplyDeletehave a great time with your family. Nothing warms the heart like family.
I'll be watching for your Monday posts! Have fun with your family!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by Elizabeth's blog and leaving a comment! I really, really appreciated it.
ReplyDeleteSil
http://www.sbniccum.com
My thanks to all again. I hope I have enough quality blogging time to decently evaluate things.
ReplyDeleteSIL-- I enjoyed hearing about your book and your experiences. I was especially impressed in the fact that English is your second language.
Lee
I also look forward to seeing your Monday posts! Thanks for your kind words! Have a wonderful vacation! Julie
ReplyDeleteI agree, sounds good Lee! Enjoy your family; family comes first! I think some bloggers thought I didn't mean that. I just was saying it was a different blogging adventure, when everyone was home. I couldn't commit to the challenge, the same way. I look forward to your posts! Have a great weekend n' trip; be safe~
ReplyDeleteGreat plan - look forwarding to reading the Monday posts. Enjoy the family time x
ReplyDeleteDefinitely look forward to the anylytical posts - good and useful idea.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mommy's Day to you and yours, Lee!
Enjoy the time with your family, that's the most important thing..I'm looking forward to hearing all the points and opinions about this challenge..it was a lot of fun and I hope there'll be something else between now and next April! Take care Lee.
ReplyDeleteHey Lee. Just popped in to let you know that I'm gratefull for your challenge even things went completely south for me. It seems as though someone really didn't want me to take part. Anyway, I'm still alive and trying to get things back on track as quickly as possible. God bless you my friend, you have given me much to be gratefull for over the years. Geoff.
ReplyDeleteHappy Travels. I enjoyed every minute of the challenge and look forward to your posts rounding up the pluses and negatives. I've just come back to blogland after a week of catching up with chores and hobbies that have been sorely neglected for many many months. Hope you collected your award from mine after the challenge :O)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments.
ReplyDeleteGeoffrey -- Thanks for the blessing. I was sorry to hear of your ordeals but glad to hear that things are getting better.
Madeleine -- I know I have some awards and I've been saving the Emails. It may not be until after May but I do hope to get to them before too long.
Lee
Happy traveling and the schedule sounds great so far!
ReplyDeleteLessee - it was a challenge, not a command. And people entered it voluntarily. No one policed them, issuing fines and punishments for not doing it right. It was an opportunity and a point of focus. Seems like most of the complaints stem from a chronic case of Pokerupthebutt.
ReplyDeleteHow many psychotherapists does it take to change a lightbulb? Only one. But the lightbulb has to really WANT to change. Pokerupthebutt is usually incurable.
Roxie -- Thanks. You make a good point.
ReplyDeleteLee