Reflections of the 2017 A to Z Challenge
There's not that much to be said for the 2017 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge that I haven't said in the Reflections posts of previous years. Most of what was said in those posts still holds true. The guiding principles of social blogging still hold true: Leave comments to receive comments and make every attempt to keep things interesting in your posts.
My theme of It's About Time was one of my favorites to ponder and write the posts about. The subject matter was interesting to me and seemed of interest to most readers who left comments for me. I enjoyed the philosophical aspect of each letter topic and I didn't have to spend too much time researching my posts.
Though as is usually the case I didn't get to visit as many blogs as I would have liked, I made new blog discoveries as well as appreciated the blogs of old and newer friends. The array of subjects covered during April with the added bonus of so much fine writing and creativity made blog reading a joy during the entire month.
Personally I had no problem finding blogs to read through reciprocating my comments and practicing the other methods that have been oft repeated on the A to Z Blog and elsewhere. In other words, I stayed busy visiting blogs and never got around to as many as I could have. Not having the Linky List was okay with me and its absence meant that 2017 was the most relaxing unstressful Challenge ever.
I didn't miss the list albeit I did create my own link list (found here) mostly for my own curiosity to see how many participants I could compile. I know I fell way short so I don't have any clear idea of how many A to Z participants there actually were this year. For that matter, I'm not even sure if all of the links I listed continued participating from beginning to end because I wasn't using my own list. However, my list was there for anyone to use. Sorry if I didn't list your blog--it wasn't for any reason other than once April started I stopped trying to add to that list.
So, the bottom line for me is that 2017 was a successful year of Challenge from all that I could see. I enjoyed myself and had fun with it. And it seemed many of you did as well. There's not much more that I could ask for--other than having the kind of A to Z Challenges that I've described in previous Reflections posts and I leave it to you to research if you want to know more about that.
Did you use the link list that I compiled on my site? Did you miss having the A to Z Twitter Chats? Would you be interested in being a part of the 2018 A to Z Team?
Battle of the Bands Results
My previous Battle of the Bands matched two versions of the Crowded House song "Don't Dream It's Over" as performed by Diana Krall and the duo of Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande. The outcome in this one did surprise me a bit after some of the flak I got when I posted other battles with Justin Bieber. I kind of figured that there would be enough Miley Cyrus "hate" to steer voters toward the Diana Krall version. But as I was already aware there are plenty out there who aren't big Diana Krall fans either.
In my opinion both Cyrus and Grande are immensely talented young singers. I thought their version was very well performed even with the goofing off in the instrumental break and the goofy attire. I enjoyed their performance and thought their voices worked very well together. I liked their version and that's why I used it.
I happen to like Diana Krall and the addition of the string ensemble capped this performance off for me to the point that this is where my vote went. I agree with those who pointed out the rough quality of her vocals and that caught my attention as well. The vocal flaws of the live performance are especially apparent when you compare her studio version of the song, but I thought the imperfection added a depth of feeling to this performance and I was okay with it.
The duo looked like it would take the win with a much larger lead for a while, but some later Krall votes came in to make for a better showing. Not a bad contest in the final tally.
Final Vote Tally
Miley/Ariana 13 votes
Diana Krall 11 votes
Next Battle on Monday May 15th
I'll be trying to catch all the Reflections posts in the upcoming week so I won't be posting anything until my next Battle of the Bands on Monday May 15th. Hope to see you then. Not sure what song I'll be using so no clues since I don't have a clue.
I enjoyed your philosophical theme and the posts, and also the previous Manhattan ones. Didn't discover your list in time to make use of it :( but thank you all the same. Not having the linky list did not affect my overall enjoyment of the Challenge. I am not on twitter so never been part of the twitter chats, they'd probably not be compatible with my time zone anyways, no question of missing them for that reason. Not a heavy user of social media, prefer connecting on the blogs. Thank you and all co-hosts for an enriching and enjoyable A-Z/April.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes always,
Nilanjana
A-Z Reflections
Nilanjana, thank you for your regular visits. I think any active blogger who has discovered the "secret" to getting blog visits can get by easily with no list during the Challenge as long as there are plenty of other bloggers they know who are also participating.
DeleteLee
Heck YES I'm in for 2018! Bet you already knew that. Leaving comments gains comments-- yup, that's the truth!
ReplyDeleteJ, I'm counting on you for next year. You were great!
DeleteLee
Hi Lee - thanks for creating the A-Z challenge in the first place ... I didn't realise you had a list - but sufficient people seemed to find me and then I was able to link back to them. Like Nila I'm not keen on a blogging challenge being a social media add on ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary, if a blogger has a regular following of visitors who regularly comment on posts I don't think the absence of a list is a huge factor. The social media aspect is an enhancement that is helpful to many, but it would be wrong to make that the only way to find participant blogs.
DeleteLee
Several others said it was more relaxing although the time differences affected where someone's comment landed on the page. Think next year, the letter of the day needs to go up later.
ReplyDeleteAlex, this year was so enjoyable not having to look at the list.
DeleteLee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that this A2Z round was less stressful for you, as it should be. I also found this year's event more relaxing as well but I don't know if that's because I had all my posts done or not. I'm sure that played a lot into it. Anywho, you amaze me with your ability to keep up with so much that it absolutely blows my mind! I somehow missed your personal linky. That was an excellent idea. In fact, I began to thinking toward the end of this round that next year I would in corporate a link up of my own on my site more or less for my convenience as well as others. Hopefully, I will remember this next year should you decide to stay with the no linky party approach and by the way that's purrfectly okay with me because it's all about the fun!
Your A2Z topic was very philosophical and entertaining more so than I could imagine but then I shouldn't had any doubts considering the author source, right? :D You're a good writer who can take just about any topic and spin it into a worthy read.
It looks like my BoTB pick lost which surprises me a little. I thought for sure Krall would've won. Oh well...anywho thanks for hosting another fine year of A2Zing and for your daily visits not only in April but the other 11 months of the year. You're amazing, my friend!
~Curious as a Cathy
Art Sketching Through the Alphabet Reflections
Cathy, thanks for the complimentary nod. Getting posts done ahead of time enhances the A to Z experience greatly. I didn't do this as well as I have in past years, but keeping my posts short helped a lot.
DeleteLee
There seemed to be far fewer participants this year. Of course, I didn't hear much about it until the month before it started. Fewer people probably made it cozier though.
ReplyDeleteL.Diane, it's kind of difficult to really say how many participants there were, but there probably were fewer. I stayed plenty busy trying to keep up with the blogs I knew about and I kept discovering new participants as the month went on. In fact I've already discovered some blogs that I wasn't aware were participating until I came upon their Reflections posts.
DeleteLee
Very close Battle, LEE. Nice! Not my favorite performers, but not a bad song. The best part was, in my opinion, that you had a real "Battle" on your hands all the way to the wire. My BOTB installment was clearly one-sided almost from the get-go.
ReplyDeleteI think I know who will win my next Battle on the 15th, but I believe it's going to be a fun one regardless. And plus, my prognosticating has been wrong before, so I don't pretend to be confident in my next outcome. "TIME" will tell.
~ D-FensDogG
[Link:) Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
STMcC, I'm still trying to decide which song I want to use next time. I'm down to about 8 songs that might be appropriate for their thematic connections to my blog direction right now.
DeleteLee
I enjoyed your theme, Lee! Excellent writing and interesting philosophies. Pleading exhaustion for missing your last BOTB - sorry. I was also unaware of the linky list you had compiled for the A to Z. Thanks for including me and for your support throughout the month.
ReplyDeleteDebbie D, I didn't broadcast my personal list too much as I was mostly doing it to get an idea of how many bloggers participated in A to Z this year. It became too much for me to keep up with once April started.
DeleteLee
Debs, I've always liked posts that stimulated my mind whether they be in writing my own or reading those of others.
ReplyDeleteLee
Visting your A to Z posts was a joy. I'm sorry I didn't leave as many comments as I should have. Trying to make it through my list of favorites and still do life was, indeed, a challenge.
ReplyDeletep.s. Late vote but Diana Krall has it in my book! Could listen to her for hours.
Toni, your vote would have made Diana's tally look better, but still not enough to capture her a win.
DeleteThanks for reading.
Lee
I enjoyed your blog theme. It was some very deep stuff. Like you, we don't need to kill ourselves to get new comments and meet new people, so we took the lazy way out and just didn't post much during April. So we can appreciate the effort you put into this, both in your time (pun intended) and in your mental effort.
ReplyDeleteNow then, where's the 2 votes for Ron Paul? Boo! This election was rigged!
ABFTS, comparing my early experience of daily posting with my more recent habits of only posting once or a couple times a weeks, I get more comments when there is more time between posts. Either that or I put in more time leaving comments that get reciprocated. Either way a blogger needs to build a base of readers because rarely will those readers just suddenly appear on their own.
DeletePoor Ron Paul. I didn't want to make his big loss so obvious by pretending he was actually in the running with any real change of winning. I mean Ron Paul vs Miley Cyrus? Ron didn't stand a chance.
Lee
Thank you for your regular visits to my blog, Lee and your kind comments on my reflections post.
ReplyDeleteA to Z Challenge reflections post 2017
Sue from Sue's Trifles
Sue, thank you for being a part of the Challenge once again!
DeleteLee
I'm curious if less people signed up this year? Cause yours and maybe one or two others were the only ones doing A-Z. Last year it seemed everyone but me was doing it.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, a lot of people were doing it, but a lot weren't. I'm not sure how many in total, but I'd say a lot were bloggers you normally would not visit.
DeleteLee
I didn't realize you'd compiled a list of this year's active participants! Now that it's been pointed out, I see it on the right-hand side under the banner. I do have very fuzzy vision in my right eye, with my left eye doing almost all of the work.
ReplyDeleteFor next year's theme on my main blog, I might do the theme I'd originally intended for this year, if I can find topics for some of the letters that stumped me. I also have several other lists of potential future themes, if that theme doesn't have every letter finalized in time.
Carrie-Anne, since we were making such a big deal about not having a list I didn't want to do any heavy promotion that I had my own list on my blog. My list was mostly a matter of reference as to number of participants.
DeleteYou're a good example of the creative type of blogger who keeps coming up with new ideas. I'm always puzzled when people say they don't know of anything to blog about.
Lee
For me, it was better for me to not participate and instead enjoy reading those who were (tho not often). Concussion after effects makes some days harder than others.
ReplyDeleteI loved your theme. It was reflective.
Susan K, just reading can be more relaxing especially if one is in recovery and doesn't need to deal with excess stress.
DeleteThanks for reading. Sometimes I think too much about weird things and it inspires me to write about them.
Lee
I didn't know about your list, but I had my own on feedly made up of bloggers I already knew who were doing the challenge and commentors on their blogs and mine who I began to follow. I'll be back in 2018.
ReplyDeletehttp://findingeliza.com/archives/23677
Kristin, someday I need to set up a reader list like Feedly. It would probably save me some time.
DeleteGlad you plan to return in 2018.
Lee
Philosophy is a great theme. It good to make people think every now and again. 😀
ReplyDeleteHR, I like philosophy so long as it is logical or at least comprehensible to read.
DeleteLee
I thoroughly enjoyed myself this year in every way! Awesome Challenge! I did miss the chats. I would be open to helping once again depending what work I am doing come next year.
ReplyDeleteMy Reflections post is up @ Life & Faith in Caneyhead.
Barbara, glad for the good report. I guess we kind of dropped the ball on the chats. Might need to get back to doing those next year.
DeleteLee
I'm not on Twitter so I didn't miss that and I didn't miss the big linky either since the sheer magnitude of it overwhelmed me. I had a great time and will definitely participate again next year. I am still finding interesting things to read! Loved your time tales. Thanks again for starting such a wonderful thing!
ReplyDeleteJanet
Man It’s May
Janet, I promoted links on Twitter, but found very few posts on that platform. But the various choices open up possibilities for many types of internet users who blog. I was okay without the list too. Glad to hear of your positive experience this year.
DeleteLee
I didn't mind the way the new way to post for the A to Z went. I have to admit that I forgot more than once to post but I didn't sweat it. If I did the. It would not have been fun. I did fall behind as per usual but, again, I am not sweating it. I'm so glad the young gals won over Diana crawls.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, I don't think I posted my link on the A to Z Blog at all, but I got plenty of visitors to keep me busy visiting back.
DeletePoor Diana...but the girls were very good.
Lee
Whenever I did take part in the A-Z, it was always enjoyable. It makes you feel like a part of something bigger and it's always great meeting new bloggers. Unfortunately this year I couldn't take part. Time, or lack there of, was the culprit.
ReplyDeleteLynda, A to Z does require a lot of time to do it the right way.
DeleteLee
The time theme was a good one indeed. It was far more relaxed this year. Basically no difference to me than any other month in the end this year haha
ReplyDeletePat, everyone can relate to the topic of time. For you the A to Z days are like any other. Those who blog everyday anyway are naturals for doing the Challenge.
DeleteLee
I can't think of a single one of your posts that hasn't been compelling. Your theme for this year's challenge was even more so and though I missed the daily postings I still plan to catch up - better late than never, right?
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely trying again next year!
Diedre, thank you for that kind compliment. I try to be as compelling or at least as entertaining as I can be on my blog. Hey, in past years I've seen bloggers take nearly the entire year to complete the A to Z Challenge. Go for it!
DeleteLee
I didn't even realize that you had a list going! This years challenge was harder for me, as I proscrastinated and didn't plan ahead like I have in the past. So, I ended up feeling overwhelmed. If I participate again next year, I must go back to pre-planning and having my posts scheduled at least a week in advance.
ReplyDelete~Katie
TheCyborgMom
Katie, the pre-planning does make things easier. My first couple of weeks were planned ahead and those weeks went more smoothly for me than the last two.
DeleteLee
Quite a few people created their own linky list this year. I might try it next year because I found it harder to find new blogs without a master list.
ReplyDeletePatricia, I saw one list that reflected a community of bloggers who were participating in A to Z and I thought that was a great idea. Maybe next year we can come up with a functional list that actually works effectively.
DeleteLee
I think I managed just fine without a list, though a twitter chat would have been totally awesome!
ReplyDeleteShopgirl, we'll need to reinstate the Chat next year. This year we talked about doing it but never got it off the ground.
DeleteLee
Enjoying yourself and having fun with it is the most important thing. I did the same so also feel it was a successful challenge for me. As for the twitter chats,
ReplyDeleteI did participate last year and found them helpful and informative but I didn't specifically miss it this year. I'm sure I'd participate if you do them again next year.WeekendsInMaine
Karen, The Chats aren't essential by any means but they made for a nice bit of socializing. Fun is the primary impetus behind the A to Z.
DeleteLee
We tried to have "Fun" with the A to Z (childhood "Horror" influences) ... things a bit "chaotic" for now... Heart and lung doctor early tomorrow..
ReplyDeleteStacey, please be well!
DeleteLee
I too made my own list of my favourite blogs (yours included!) and have done for the last couple of years. Although I religously put a link on A-Z page list each day I didn't actually refer to it after the first couple of days. I thoroughly enjoyed myself this month and my hit rate was far higher than last year, due I believe to the brevity of my pieces. 200 words are more readable than 500! Thanks for a wonderful challenge - roll on 2018!
ReplyDeleteAmble Bay: Reflections and other things
Keith, I think short posts are the best way to go not only during the Challenge, but also throughout the year. Mine are not always that short because sometimes I have so much that I want to say, but the shorter posts sure make it easier on the readers who are trying to visit several blogs each day.
DeleteThanks for being a part of the 2017 Challenge.
Lee
I'm glad there was less stress for you this year, even if you didn't get to visit as many blogs as you wanted.
ReplyDeleteLoni, I never get to visit as many blogs as I'd like to, but then there are other things I need to do each day. Blogging could take up a whole day if you let it.
DeleteLee
I'm the same, I don't miss the list at all. I just think reading comments is more interesting than links. & there is no problem finding blogs I'm interested in even though I know I had probably missed a whole lot of blogs.
ReplyDeleteI'm not on social media so I have no idea what I missed there, probably about the same thing as on the a-z blog.
thanks for stopping by my blog, have a lovely day.
Lissa, I get my best response from leaving comments on other blogs and getting reciprocated comments like you have done. I'm not even sure how effective social media is most of the time although I think it is somewhat effective in a situation such as we used for A to Z.
DeleteLee
I'm glad that this year wasn't as stressful as other years have been. I enjoyed the Challenge when I did it. Who knows? Maybe I'll be able to do it next year?
ReplyDeleteElsie Amata
Elsie, love to have you join us again.
DeleteLee
I think having a list would have helped me to visit more blogs than I did. Aside from that, the challenge was mostly the same for me. From the reflection posts I've read, it sounds like most people agree with you in that this challenge was less stressful than previous ones because of the lack of list.
ReplyDeleteMaybe – and I'm just throwing this out there - but maybe next year there could be a linky list of potential participants that A-Zers put together during the A-Z reveal and then continue with the regular comments on the following posts? I'm not even sure why I didn't think to use the "reveal" post as my list this year; that would have helped me to visit more blogs, I think.
Anyway, thank you so much for your hard work in putting together and organizing the A-Z challenge this year and every year. Having participated for four years now, I've learned a lot about myself and how I blog, just through the experience. I also have come to find myself looking forward to April every year!
With Love,
Mandy
Mandy, the Team considered a number of possibilities to have a list available to those who wanted one, but in the end we decided that no official Linky list anywhere would give us a more accurate view of how a social media challenge only would work.
DeleteA maintenance free list would still be the ideal way to go in my opinion, but we'll need to figure out how that can be done. I like having a list, but without the problematic links and participants who drop out or never start. Hopefully the future of the Challenge will have something that works with minimal maintenance while providing a functional list for the entire month of April.
Thanks for your support and participation as well as adding your thoughts.
Lee
I enjoyed your musings this year - quite thought-provoking, although I'm sorry I didn't get to more posts. I agree that "relaxed" could be a word that sums up my experience this year, whereas previous years have been frantic (but still fun). I didn't find as many new blogs as in previous years but I'm OK with that. Like you say, the quality of those who took part was very high.
ReplyDeleteNick, I agree that in general there seemed to be a higher level of quality in the blogs that participated in A to Z this year. I don't mind frantic pacing as long as the fun is part of the equation. This year I felt like I was having fun with no pressure to keep checking the list to find blog links to delete.
DeleteLee
I got waylaid with A to Z and did not visit as much as I wanted. So I plan to play catch up with a few of my regular blogs. I've always enjoyed your take on things.
ReplyDeleteAnn, in the past several years I've never visited as many blogs as I had wanted and am always playing catch-up. I just try to go with the flow and like it when others do the same.
DeleteLee
Glad to read your post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for cohosting A-Z challenge, and a belated congrats for getting through it this year.
ReplyDeleteAnd a mom who can blow smoke rings is as impressive as it is unexpected.
Finn, without the work of the participants A to Z wouldn't amount to much so thanks to all of you too.
DeleteThe smoke ring trick must have been something she mastered during her days of cigarette smoking. When I was a smoker I never figured out how to blow smoke rings.
Lee