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Join the #atozchallenge—here’s why!

The brainchild of Arlee Bird, at Tossing it Out, the A to Z Writing Challenge basically requires bloggers to put up 26 posts in 26 days based on 26 letters of the alphabet, one post beginning with each letter during the month of April, with Sundays off for good behavior. 
 
I’m helping co-host it this year, and here’s why I think you should join: (We’ve reached nearly 1250 signups so far, hoping to hit 2000 by April 1!)
 
1. Tons of networking fun– Chit-chatting between bloggers is always fun.
2. A big boost to your blog in terms of comments and visits- My blog went from 60 views a day to 500 views a day last year, and still gets about 250-300 views without much effort on my part.
3. Make blog friends that last– Some of the friends I made last year have become great twitter buddies, blog friends, who have hosted me on their blogs and encouraged me in my writing.
4. Make blogging less of a chore– Ever since I did the challenge last year, I’ve found blogging much easier, more fun, thanks to the 1-month practice I got last April!
Awesome hosts of the A-Z challenge:


Tossing It Out                          (Arlee Bird)
Alex J. Cavanaugh                 (Alex J. Cavanaugh)
Life is Good                              (Tina Downey)
Cruising Altitude 2.0           (DL Hammons)
Retro-Zombie                         (Jeremy Hawkins)
The Warrior Muse                (Shannon Lawrence)
The QQQE                                (Matthew MacNish)
Author Elizabeth Mueller  (Elizabeth Mueller)
Pearson Report                     (Jenny Pearson)
No Thought 2 Small             (Konstanz Silverbow)
Breakthrough Blogs            (Stephen Tremp) 
 Coming Down the Mountain   (Karen Gowen)

and of course, yours truly.

Here’s what the A to Z Challenge participants are talking about this year—Arlee Bird quotes some of them:


Colin D Smith will be changing things up a bit on his blog in April in order to accommodate the A to Z Challenge.  He’s a first timer and we hope he’ll find it a worthwhile blogging experience.

I guess Jackie at Jackie’s Bookbytes is entitled to change her mind and that’s what she did within one post.  Now we’ll have to wait and see what she has in store for April.

Zyogbv came to Earth in time to take part in the April Challenge.

Ellie seems to be wavering at Ellie’s Blank Book but at least she waved.  She’s trying to decide which of her blogs she should enter in the A to Z.  Ellie, you could of course enter them all.  And what do you know–the next day that’s exactly what she did.  Oh what fun you’re gonna have!

Making plans ahead of time for the A to Z Challenge is first time A to Z-er Stacey Mitchell.  We wish her luck with April.

A to Z veteran Duncan Horne from Our Home Called Kuantan puts the A to Z Challenge into perspective and shows how easy it can be.

Want a cupcake?   How about a Cadenza?  Denise has “C” covered at her blog Cupcakes and Cadenzas and now she’s busily at work on the rest of the alphabet.

The blog A Common Sea will be joining a sea of other bloggers for the big April splash.

This Challenge we’ll have an opportunity to learn about Jamaica from Joy at The Character Depot as she pursues this theme by the letters.

Yadin Bromberg announced his A to Z theme this week.  He’s already been learning from other bloggers and on his way to developing a very credible blog.

Miranda Hardy has got a theme and to answer her, uh, yeah, Miranda, we want to know how wacky you really are.   I like Miranda’s theme–check it out.

The Left Wright Brain put out an encouraging word for the Challenge.

Hmm–have you ever thought of the A to Z Challenge being like a county fair?  That’s the way Michelle Gregory imagines it on her blog Beautiful Chaos.  Good analogy, Michelle.

Lisa at Jezri’s Nightmares is going to run in the April Challenge and has no plans of trying to hide.  She’s put  her cards all on the table in her blog post where she reveals her theme of ‘Monsters A t o Z”.  Now that sounds like fun.

If you like television then you’ll have to visit Stephanie Scott: A Girl and Her Diary during the Challenge, but why wait?  Stop by and say hello now.

A Daft Scots Lass is one you might want to watch–as in anything can happen.

Notes in a Book is going to use the Challenge as a means of blog revival.  This is a good way to do it.

Pam from 2 Encourage is back with us again for another year and we find that encouraging.

If you’re signing up, please make announcements on your blog to encourage your readers to join us in the A to Z Challenge, add our badge on your blog, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
  
We’re counting on all of you to boost the numbers!
Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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11 Comments

  • GLBT Promo says:

    By far one of the best things I could do for my new blog. My traffic and followers have already increased after just day 1!

    Jolie du Pre
    Precious Monsters

  • Vero says:

    The A to Z blogging challenge sure sounds like an awesome way to meet new people and find great blogs. I'm new to this, and the huge number of blogs that have signed up is overwhelming, but I'll do my best to keep up with the reading!
    Thanks to everyone participating in this very interesting challenge!

  • P V Ariel says:

    Great experiences shared here from the a – z blogging challenge.
    I too joined the bandwagon. a new experience indeed, let me try to cop up the challenge
    Best to wishes to all the dear ones those who are going to participate in this great challenge
    Best
    Phil

  • Martha says:

    Just stopped over to say hello and follow before the A-Z challenge begins. This will be my 2nd year participating. Can't wait for the fun to begin!

  • I'm excited! It's almost April! 🙂

  • Damyanti says:

    Alex, me too! You and Lee being the first of them.

    K.T.— in this case, I'm thrilled to be blamed :). Now I can proudly tell the other co-hosts I got them a sign-up lol. Jokes apart, I think you'll enjoy it!

    E. J. oh yes, it is definitely worth the effort!

    Angela, we look forward to your posts!

    Denise, it'll be one hell of a ride, that's for sure. 🙂

  • Really looking forward to taking part in this challenge especially as I've never done anything like this before.

    Have fun everyone!

  • Angela Brown says:

    I started off on the "I dunno" column when this year's A to Z Blogging challenge was announced. It took some time and thinking and thinking and smiling to join up and come up with my own little theme. I look forward to this challenge 🙂

  • E.J. Wesley says:

    Can't endorse A-Z enough. It's where I met wonderful bloggers like you! : )

    It IS a challenge, but one that is worth the effort.

  • K.T. Hanna says:

    I've been watching you post in Triberr, and seeing my friends join up one by one.

    Finally I had a theme idea… so now… I've joined too. I completely blame you.

  • Some of my best blogging buddies are the ones I made the last two years of the Challenge!