Melissa Ann Goodwin

Melissa Ann Goodwin

Friday, January 6, 2012

It's Baaaaa-aaack!

During this morning's blog visits, I discovered that folks are already spreading the word out about the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. I'm sure many of you participated last year, but in case you aren't familiar with it, here's what happens: Each day in April you put up a post that relates to a letter of the alphabet, as in "A is for Anything You Want to Write About Today." And so on for B, C all the way to Z.

I participated last year under the absolute worst circumstances: my mom had just passed away and I was put on a very intense jury trial! HOWEVER! Doing the challenge both distracted and focused me each day. I even wrote about the trial after it was over (T is for Trial, V is for Verdict). To this day, my "O" post, O is for Opposum and Ogden Nash remains my most viewed post ever.

It was tiring, but I learned that if I could write daily through that tough time period, I could write anywhere, anytime and through any set of circumstances. Most of all, I met a lot of wonderful bloggers through the challenge.

So I'm passing the word. If you'd like to participate, go to the A - Z April Challenge website and follow it. You'll see the list of wonderful blog hosts and the instructions there - sign up doesn't take place until the end of this month. Here's the link: Blogging from A-Z April Challenge

And this is how I looked by the end of the challenge last year, but don't let that scare you :-)


24 comments:

  1. I participated last year and am planning to do so again (thank goodness the Mayans are giving us until December). Even though I've dropped my posting to twice a week, I'll make an exception for this. Looking forward to it!

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  2. I am too Al! It would be kind of fun to post a Mayan-related post every day of the challenge, if one was able to find the words. I'm going to fret less about it this year and go with short and sweet. Look forward to your posts!

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  3. Anonymous1/06/2012

    Kudos to you and all who join in the challenge! I didn't last year, as I had just joined the blogosphere in mid-April. I did read several posts, though.

    I may not join, as I am earnestly committed to getting my novel polished and accepted by summer. (I am taking the time, though, to thank you for your visit and very kind comment at the Society.) Smiles.

    Gotta ask. I saw the map of your RV adventure. Are you by chance a Buddy Holly fan? That stop in Iowa looks very familiar!

    A belated Happy New Year to you and yours, Melissa! Blessings and the best in 2012.....

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  4. Well, I'm a Buddy Holly fan, but the answer to your question is no, because I don't even know what the connection is between our Iowa stop and Buddy Holly! Guess I'll have to look that up. We are stopping in Council Bluffs IA because my husband has an artist friend who lives there - someone he met online but never in person. They've been friends for at least 3 years but never met.

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  5. I did the A-Z last year on both my blogs. One I linked up, the other I did just to see if I could. Not sure about this year. I probably will. I have a very persuasive blogger thinking I need to do it.
    I'm from Iowa. Monroe to be exact. Buddy Holly died in a plane crash by Clear Lake.

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  6. You're such an inspiration to me Melissa! I hope you have a great year with doing this challenge and I also hope that you and your husband enjoy your travelling adventure. Sounds amazing!

    Megan @ Storybook Love Affair

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  7. Ruth- thank you for solving the Buddy Holly mystery for me. I thought maybe I wouldn't do A-Z this year, but I've decided to keep it simple and short. If you do it, I promise to come by and comment :-)

    Megan, I can't wait to begin! I'm so glad we met, and I look forward to following what you are up to this year too. Oh - and I've started writing a sequel to The Christmas Village...

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  8. Hey there fellow Melissa! I can't wait the big A to Z, either. What fun, yet daunting time. I've got my theme for this year and I'm looking forward to meeting so many new people.

    Thank you for the follow and it is great to meet you. :)

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  9. You'll have a fun time with the challenge this year.

    Happy Weekend!

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  10. I'm sorry that you lost your mom, and admire you for sticking it out while you were on jury duty. I"ll remember that if I find myself stressing out in April. Looking forward to getting to know you! Julie

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  11. Melissa B - I think a theme is a great idea. We'll be starting our road trip then, so that should give me good material. Look forward to reading your posts.

    Carol - it would HAVE to be more fun than last year, one reason I decided to do it.

    Megan - thank you. I miss Mom so much. I probably could have gotten out of the jury duty, but I figured they would just come after me again. It was an amazing, though intense, experience.

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  12. Loved your cartoon graphic. That's the way I look at the end of most normal writing days. LOL
    I may take up the challenge. Keeping in mind that the posts can be short and sweet. I hope Al takes your idea of working his around the Mayan prediction. That would be fun.

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  13. I plan to play this year. I'm nervous because my thoughts are pretty random, but I'll attempt to put that randomness into alphabetical order =)

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  14. Maryann, I took it WAY too seriously last year. This year I will just play with it. Short is good, because people are trying to get around to everyone, so they are grateful when they get to you and it's short!

    Lost - I think there is brilliance in Randomness

    Shepherd - Hi! Your posts would be very entertaining, I'm sure!

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  15. This year will be my first time doing the challenge. I can't wait! Your book The Christmas Village sounds interesting. I went on search to see if I could find it in Canada and found it on Amazon.ca and added it to my list!

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  16. Rena, thank you so much! I look forward to blogging with you and enjoying your perspective.

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  17. Hello!!! Happy New Year!! It looks like your 2012 will be full of wonderful things - the sequel to your book (congratulations!!), the A-Z challenge (all the best!!) and your road trip - fantastic!!

    Onwards and upwards! Take care
    x

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  18. Hi Old Kitty! Thanks so much for coming by - hope your year is wonderful too.

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  19. I did the A-Z challenge last year, too. :D Crazy, but fun!

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  20. Hi Laura - will come by this year to read your posts!
    Thanks for visiting and following.

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  21. I had a really good A-Z experience too. It's wonderful that it (and writing) helped you through a tough time. Hopefully this year will be more fun for you.

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  22. Hi Tonja - it will definitely have a lighter feeling for me this year - looking forward to that!

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  23. That's fantastic news abut the sequel! Can't wait to read it.

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