“Are you going to join the A to Z Challenge this year?” my best friend Rosie asked me on the phone a few weeks ago, “I’d love to take it on, but I don’t’ think I will have time in April with all the sailing we plan to do.” The what challenge? And, why would this take so much time? I had never heard about the A to Z Blogging Challenge, so I looked it up online. The idea peaked my interest and a few days later, I signed up.
What is the A to Z Blogging Challenge?
Every year in the month of April, “bloggers” and any other people who like to regularly write and post blogs (like me) are challenged to up the pace and attract more readers to their website, with a project that is called the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The idea is to post one blog a day in April, following the alphabet. So, the first day, the blog topic has to start with a, the second day with b and so on for the rest of the month. Sundays are excluded – even the most frantic blogger needs a day of rest – so that leaves 26 days in April, a day for every letter.
How about a theme?
To make this project even more interesting, people who join have the possibility to blog around a theme during the A to Z Blogging Challenge, a concept that was introduced three years ago. Many participants already have a few years of A to Z’ing under their belt and opt to incorporate all the letters into a theme for their text and photography contributions. Today is “Theme Reveal Day”. This will be the first year for me to join, and since I am not averse to an extra dose of challenge, I have decided on a subject as well. During the month of April I am going to share my insights, experiences, memories and traits of “Being a Nomad”.
Some statistics
The A to Z Challenge was born in 2010 by Arlee Bird and gained a lot of momentum over the years. While in the initial year 100 people signed up, in 2011 nearly 1300 bloggers took to their keyboards. From 2012 on, 1700 or more participants decided to blog daily in April. This year, 1300 people have accepted the challenge so far and there are still 10 days left to sign up. What are you waiting for? 🙂 Almost 500 of them have decided to blog around a theme.
I hope you stick around Roaming About and check back often this April. My goal is to write a quick blog every day and entertain you with a bit of “nomad knowledge”. Comments and suggestions are always encouraged! And, feel free to check out other participants’ blogs as well…
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March 21, 2016 at 17:29
I will check it out and see what you come up with for the A-Zs of nomad life.
March 22, 2016 at 09:56
Thanks, Ann. And, as a former teacher, I am looking forward to reading all your travel journal prompts for kids!
March 21, 2016 at 19:51
I’ve done this for the last two years but bowed out this year. It’s great fun, but I didn’t get my act together in time. Good luck with yours.
March 22, 2016 at 10:02
Hi Anabel! Too bad that you are not joining this year, but I am glad to see that you will still offer up your theme on your blog! When I read you didn’t get your act together, you scared me… My first thought was “What? Which act? I have not prepared anything for this challenge. Yet” Then, I saw what your theme was. Wow. That is a lot of research and work. So I applaud you for coming up with this interesting series about Glasgow and for going ahead with it, regardless! Happy gallivanting on the internet!
March 21, 2016 at 22:57
it sounds really interesting – I’m a stay in the same place person so being a nomad fascinates me! I’ll be popping back in April to read more!
[email protected]
March 22, 2016 at 10:08
Thanks for stopping by, Leanne! Staying in the same place for a long time, would make me very anxious. Although, I have to say that constantly being on the move can be very tiresome and challenging. So, while I am a roamer at heart – and always will be – I am currently enjoying month long periods in different comfortable houses to take a breather. And, so I can write about the traveling life. 🙂
March 22, 2016 at 00:55
Great that you jumped onto the bandwagon so to speak and joined the challenge basically almost last minute. Keeping short the posts is a good thing too! Sounds like a great theme too! Have fun with it!
betty
http://viewsfrombenches.blogspot.com/
March 22, 2016 at 10:11
Thanks, Betty! Looking forward to seeing all your photos of Arizona! Since I am a pretty impulsive person, even with this challenge it seems, I will only find out in April what I got myself into. Looks like most participants plan this event better than I did… Huh. I better out some more thought in it the coming weekend. 🙂
March 24, 2016 at 08:30
I am just joining for the first time this year too. I will be sure to check out your thoughts on being a nomad.
March 24, 2016 at 09:41
Thanks, Karen. I’m looking forward to your tips about Singapore, a city I visited a long time ago, while backpacking throughout SE Asia. Do you and Jeremy walk hand in hand in town? I love that you moved out of love. I am in the US right now for my husband as well! 🙂
March 24, 2016 at 14:52
Welcome to the challenge! I’m a new nomad and am looking forward to your posts. Best of luck to you!
@ScarlettBraden from
Chica In Cuenca
March 24, 2016 at 15:48
Thanks, Scarlett. Good luck to you, too. You will be creating a whole new world for me!
March 27, 2016 at 07:48
A-Z is fun and addictive, this is my third year and I can’t imagine my April w/o it now. Have the most awesome A-Z, wish you all the best,
Nilanjana.
Ninja Minion, A-Z 2016
Madly-in-Verse
March 27, 2016 at 12:12
Thanks, Nila! I’m sure it will be a fun month, I just hope I will be able to find all the time required to write, read and comment in style! 🙂 Have fun with your poems. I’m looking forward to reading them and enjoy all the spins you have in mind!
March 27, 2016 at 08:52
Sounds interesting. I am one of those (crazy?) people who ALWAYS chooses a theme. I don’t regard it as an ‘extra dose of challenge’ – it’s the only thing that gets me through April. 😉
March 27, 2016 at 12:17
Hi Ros. I guess a theme adds more order to the A to Z Blogging Challenge. It is probably easier for the reader that an organized matter will be posted, but it does take more time to come up with a list and topics ahead of time, instead of starting the day of with: “Hmmm, what shall I write about, today? OK, here we go…” Which is what I initially had in mind. Being spontaneous and impulsive and all that. I don’t think it is crazy to need a theme, I think it is just the way organized and people with strategies work. 🙂
I tried to access your blog, but it said it is private. I sent in a request, but it might put people off that want to see or comment to your posts…
March 27, 2016 at 12:55
Thanks for pointing it out! All my blogs are now on Blogger, but I must have commented on yours using my old (previous) WordPress account. Here’s a link or three:
Ros, visiting from GenWestUK
Ros, visiting from The Writing Desk
Ros, visiting from Murch.org Blog
I shall have to be more careful in future. Thanks again!
March 28, 2016 at 10:08
You are very welcome, Ros. And, you will be so very busy in April! Wow!!
April 2, 2016 at 22:10
This is a huge undertaking, but a challenge that I am sure that you are up to. Have fun
April 3, 2016 at 11:05
Thanks, Lisa. I got in over my head, before I realized what it would involve. As always… 🙂 But, it will be fun, as long as I have enough time to devote to it.
April 20, 2016 at 00:37
Just had to mention I have a friend who not only goes with the flow but flows with the go. It has become a saying among all our friends. She said it out of tiredness one skiing trip and it has stuck – because it rings so true I guess.
April 20, 2016 at 08:42
Haha! That’s funny and it sure rings true. As of today, I’ll flow with the go as well… or, I will try to. 🙂