Reflections On The A-Z Challenge Road Trip: Part One

As I think a lot of you know by now, I recently completed the A to Z blogging challenge. However, I didn't sign up officially, because I didn't have a Twitter account when it started and that's how I heard about it.
It was already underway by then so it was too late to register officially, but rather than wait a full year for the next one, I decided to take part unofficially. So I did my challenge mid April to mid May.
Unbeknown to me at the time, part of the challenge was visiting at least 5 other blogs who were taking part per day. Obviously, I didn't do this because I didn't know about it!
To make up for not doing the social part, I signed up for the post challenge road trip, which is basically a linky for all the people who want to visit each other. I completed visiting the 150+ blogs on the list, and commented to say I had finished.
I then got a reply to the comment off Arlee Bird, the challenge founder, basically telling me (in a nice way) that this is just the warm up. The real road trip is visiting all 1509 blogs that completed the challenge! That's going to be some mission, but I'm going to attempt it. I have until next April to complete it.

In the meantime, this is my reflections on the mini road trip:

I'll start with the good!

- I found it very interesting seeing what others had chosen for their themes and what they had written about for each of the letters. I
- found some blogs that I will definitely be revisiting in the future.
- I found quite a few of the people I visited returned the favour, and from this I gained some new followers. Thank you to the people who are now following or reading my posts!

And now the not so good!

- A lot of the people adding their links to the road trip had left their general blog link rather than a link to their reflections post, or any of the A-Z posts. It was pretty time consuming looking around for the posts. Now I must hold my hands up and admit I did this! I had no idea how annoying it would be to others looking for the posts. I have now added all the links to one page and have added it as a tab at the top of my blog!

-There were about five blogs where I just couldn't find the A-Z posts! I ended up giving up and just leaving a comment on the most recent post. One lady did pop back and tell me where I could find the posts in her archives which was nice.

-The dreaded ritual of actually managing to leave a comment once I found the posts. I think there was 3 where I couldn't find the comment section at all! Also some of the blogs make you jump through a lot of hoops to leave a comment. I can't fathom out the logic of this - surely we all want to hear our readers input!

-I struggled to know what to write in the comments on some of the blogs, and I think some of my comments probably sounded a little generic, but it's not always easy, especially when you don't really understand the theme, or you don't connect with the material (that's not a dig at anyone. We all have our own tastes and even a really well written piece can be hard to read if you don't really get the topic).

 

 

I don't want to end this post on a negative so back to the good stuff :) I really enjoyed the road trip, and I would like to say a big thank you to Arlee Bird and the co-hosts. This must be a mammoth task to undertake! Thank you also to every A-Zer that's visited my blog, and thank you for all the retweets on the A-Z posts!

 

 

And finally, I would like to mention my 5 of my favourite themes I found so far! In no particular order:

 

 

1. Writing settings as characters. http://jlennidornerblog.what-are-they.com/

 

2. Harry Potter. http://fabulus1710.blogspot.co.uk

 

3. Bands and artists (music). http://www.jinglejanglejungle.net/

 

4. Legal definitions. http://denapawling.blogspot.co.uk

5. Paranormal/spooky theme. http://www.jhmoncrieff.com/

I will check back in with my reflections of the full road trip when I complete it (part 2). I must warn you though that that could take some time!

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :)

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflections Of The A to Z Challenge

That's it, my A to Z Challenge is complete! What a journey it's been! I would like to share that journey with you. To start, here is a recap of which topics I chose for the letters:

A is for Awesome
B is for Bar Etiquette
C is for Cringe
D is for Diary
E is for eBay
F is for Faking It
G is for Getting Motivated
H is for Harry Potter
I is for Inspirational Songs
J is for Jodi Picoult
K is for Killer Blogs
L is for Lessons Blogging Has Taught Me
M is for My A-Z Of Me
N is for Need Vs Want
O is for Obsessions Of Mine
P is for Phobias
Q is for Quotes To Live By
R is for Reasons I'm Happy
S is for Signs You Are Addicted To Blogging
T is for Twitter
U is for Uncle Sam
V is for Victim Blaming
W is for Writing For Yourself
X Is For X Factor Of Writing
Y is for You Decide
Z is for Zealot

Best post in terms of readership: A dead heat between Quotes To Live By and Killer Blogs

The post I most enjoyed writing: I've got to cheat here and have two! Victim Blaming, because it's such an important issue that I feel needs to be addressed, and Signs You Are Addicted To Blogging, because it was such a fun, light hearted post to write.

Worst post in terms of readership: Uncle Sam

The post I least enjoyed writing: X Factor Of Writing, because X is such a tricky letter, there really wasn't much to go on. Consequently, this post felt forced, which I really didn't like, but I guess that's the nature of the challenge!

I have thoroughly enjoyed doing this challenge - it has pushed me to think about topics I may never have covered, and getting out of your writing comfort zone is definitely an experience I would recommend!
I think I will feel a little lost now it's finished. Being totally honest, the challenge has been like my blogging safety net - I knew I had to come up with something everyday! It has pushed me to get into the routine of posting everyday which I have every intention of keeping up.
I can't wait to do it next year! Next year, I will be signing up officially. By the time I joined Twitter this year, which is where I learned about the challenge, it was already underway, but it appealed to me enough that I chose to do it unofficially, hence why it's half way through May and I have just finished it! I hope you have all enjoyed reading the posts as much as I have enjoyed writing them!
Now I'm off on the A-Z Road Trip, where anyone who has complete the challenge and wants to take part adds themselves to the challenge and visits other blogs who have also taken part. I think it will be really interesting to see what other bloggers chose for the letters each day.
Which posts were your favourite? Your least favourite?

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :)

Z Is For Zealot

Day 26 of my A to Z Challenge. Z is for Zealot.

If you don't know how this works, I've posted the link back to the rules of the challenge at the end of this, along with a link to yesterday's post. If you want to read my full alphabet, just keep following the links. Each day has a link back to yesterday's post.

The dictionary definition of a zealot is "a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals."
By the dictionary definition, I suppose you could say I'm a zealot. I have firm beliefs with regards to religion, politics and lots of other things, which I have touched on before. For example, my take on: Religion:http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/religion-fear-and-power-of-mind-27th.html
Politics: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/election-results-and-fallout.html
So as an example, am I a zealot because if someone came up to me and said I think you should convert to "insert any religion here" I would say no? By the dictionary definition, yes.
I think the more accepted use of the term is actually where the person trying to convert you is the zealot. By that definition, I am definitely not a zealot - I have opinions (on everything) but I don't want to convert everyone I meet to believe the same as me. Wouldn't the world be a boring place if everyone mindlessly believed the same thing?
I think it is one thing to have, and share, strong opinions but it is quite another when you try to constantly brow beat people to believe the same as you do. I can't even begin to imagine what a miserable life it must be if you spend all of it trying to make people blindly believe that your opinion is the truth of the matter. It must get so boring constantly defending your opinion to the point that no one else is allowed to have a differing opinion. And imagine if you succeeded. What would you do now there's no one left to convert?
When people try to convert me to their way of thinking, I react in one of two ways. If they are open to reasonable debate, I will happily engage in such and am happy to explain why I believe what I believe. If however, they are never going to accept that I can't be converted, I tend to switch off - eventually they'll get the message!
How do you cope with the zealots around you?

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :)


Link to rules:

http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-z-challenge-whos-with-me.html

Link to Y Is For You Decide: http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/y-is-for-you-decide.html

X Is For X Factor Of Writing

Day 24 of my A to Z Challenge. X is for X-Factor Of Writing.

If you don't know how this works, I've posted the link back to the rules of the challenge at the end of this, along with a link to yesterday's post. If you want to read my full alphabet, just keep following the links. Each day has a link back to yesterday's post.

X is a hard letter! For most of the other letters, I've had several subjects to choose from, but this one has been a challenge in itself!
Originally, I planned on doing something on the X-Factor TV show - which I do love - but I figured as we are so far past the last series and so far away from the new series it wouldn't be the most exciting post! Anyone who likes the show has seen all the headlines and doesn't need me to re-hash them, and anyone who doesn't like the show probably wouldn't want to read about it.
So it came down to X-rays, or something using the term x-factor in a broader sense.  As I'm currently writing a blog, I went with the x-factor of writing.

What do people mean by the term x-factor? It's that one thing that sets you apart from the crowd. That special something, that while you can never quite put your finger on exactly what it is, you still know when someone has it.
What is the x-factor of writing? What makes a good read? Why are some authors massively successful and others can't even get their work read by publishers or agents?

I would like to say its down to good luck and timing, but I think there has got to be more to it than that. I believe luck plays a small part - an agent just happens to have an opening as you finish your manuscript, for example. But there's got to be more to it than that.

A great writer knows how to use the language beyond basic speech. They make pictures out of words, and music out of syntax. They understand how to use symbolism, and how words can be used in so many different ways. They can write something that shines with personality. That alone is not enough though, or anyone who has studied English would be a best selling author.

A great writer captivates their readers from the first page and holds their attention until the last one. They write characters that are relatable and believable. They have just the right amount of plot twists. They build suspense and know when to reveal the twist - too early and the rest of the book is just words, too late and the reader has lost interest. Their descriptions make you feel like you are really there. You can picture the place as vividly as your own house. You feel the characters emotions with them. Whether you want them to win or lose, you care what happens to them.

And to me that right there is your x-factor moment. When you can combine all of the above elements, and then add a pinch of magic. What is the magic ingredient? If you find out, let me know!

What do you think is the x-factor of writing?

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :)

Link to rules: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-z-challenge-whos-with-me.html

Link to W Is For Writing For Yourself: http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/w-is-for-writing-for-yourself.html

U Is For Uncle Sam

Day 21 of my A to Z Challenge. U is for Uncle Sam.

If you don't know how this works, I've posted the link back to the rules of the challenge at the end of this, along with a link to yesterday's post. If you want to read my full alphabet, just keep following the links. Each day has a link back to yesterday's post.

Uncle Sam: Why I love America!

Can you say you love a place you've never been to? I hope so because that's exactly what I'm doing here. It may be based wholly on stereotypes and the media, and I may be way off base, but this is my perception of America and why I just know I would love it there.
I love American culture - the TV shows, the movies, the music. I love the way American people are so confident, and willing to put themselves out there.
I particularly love the way the customer service industry in America seems to work. The people there expect to be treated with a bit of respect. They expect the staff to go the extra mile for them. They don't accept sub-standard service or sub-standard products. In the UK, customers seem to expect that as well, but to a slightly lesser extent. However, in America, this is a two way street. In America, wait staff in particular are expected to go the extra mile, but the customer then pays a service charge (yes a service charge, not a "tip" - the wait staff are after all providing a service), which reflects the time and effort put in.
I've always said I would one day love to spend some time living in Manhattan, New York, even if only for a couple of months. New York seems to vibrant and alive all the time. And then of course there's Las Vegas, the ultimate holiday destination - I think if I went there though, I would probably leave bankrupt!
The thing I think I love most about American culture is the sense of patriotism amongst the people. Whether it's sport, politics, or anything in between, the Americans get on board whole heartedly. "USA, all the way!"
I love the fact this extends to schools. Every morning, all across the country, children pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States. Perhaps my love of this comes from living in a country (England) where we daren't even fly a St George Cross or Union Jack flag in case we offend someone, let alone pledge allegiance to it! In that, I wish we could be a bit more like America. They stand up and say proudly this is our flag and we will fly it! I think that truly does out the "united" in the United States.
Do you agree? Would you like to visit America? Live there? Do you currently live there and think I'm seeing it through rose coloured glasses?

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :)


Link to rules:

http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-z-challenge-whos-with-me.html

Link to T Is For Twitter: http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/t-is-for-twitter.html

S Is For Signs You Are Addicted To Blogging

Day 19 of my A to Z Challenge. S is for Signs You Are Addicted To Blogging.

If you don't know how this works, I've posted the link back to the rules of the challenge at the end of this, along with a link to yesterday's post. If you want to read my full alphabet, just keep following the links. Each day has a link back to yesterday's post.

Ever think you might be addicted to blogging? Read on and find out!

You know you are addicted to blogging when:

1.    You switch on your laptop/pc/iPad, and check your blog stats before you even open Facebook, email or your personal Twitter.

2.    You start going out more because you need material to write about in your blog but at the same time you feel you don’t have time for a life for blogging about your life!

3.    You realise mid conversation that what you are talking about would make a great blog post then lose track of the conversation writing the post in your head.

4.    You see other bloggers talking about writer’s block and for all you know it will happen to you at some point, you can’t imagine ever being stuck for something to say.

5.    People think you are writing a ridiculously long text message when you're using your phone in public – you are actually writing that great idea that just came to you that you are scared you might forget!

6.    You pre-write a post you for another day then get all excited and want to post it now.

7.    You suddenly start smiling/laughing a little mid argument with someone because that argument will make a fab blog post (the beauty of this is it usually stops the argument too!).

8.    You read other blogs more than you read anything else.

9.    You debate starting a diet/fitness plan/juice cleanse just because you want to write a “my journey” style series of posts.

10. You identify with all or most of these points and you love it!

How many of these do you agree with? What would you add?

 

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :)

 

Link to rules: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-z-challenge-whos-with-me.html

Link to R Is For Reasons I'm Happy:

http://myrandommusings.blogspot.com/2015/05/r-is-for-reasons-im-happy.html

R Is For Reasons I'm Happy

Day 18 of my A to Z Challenge. R is for Reasons I'm Happy.

If you don't know how this works, I've posted the link back to the rules of the challenge at the end of this, along with a link to yesterday's post. If you want to read my full alphabet, just keep following the links. Each day has a link back to yesterday's post.


Unless something truly terrible has happened to you, I believe being happy is a choice. You can look at your life and pick fault and be unhappy, or appreciate the little things and be happy. I would love to say I'm one of those positive people who are happy all the time, but in truth, I'm not. However, when I find myself being miserable for no reason, I make the choice to change my mind set and be happy. Happiness can be found in the little things, but so can misery. It all depends on how you view things!
Here are 5 reasons why I'm happy:

1. Because 2 of my good friends recently had healthy babies.

2. Because although I may not be rich financially, I feel I'm rich where it counts. I have a great family and great friends, and I'm healthy. So many people don't have those things!

3. Because it's almost summer, and the sunny days never fail to cheer me up. Even if I'm just stuck at work, I feel much better looking out of the window at sun than rain.

4. Because I've finally finished editing my new short story (which will be featured here on Tuesday June 2nd), and dare I say it, I am actually quite pleased with it.

5. Because being happy is better than the alternative. Being miserable/moany just seems like such a waste of energy!

What would you add to the list?

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :)


Link to rules:

http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-z-challenge-whos-with-me.html

Link to Q Is For Quotes To Live By: http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/q-is-for-quotes-to-live-by.html

Q Is For Quotes To Live By

Day 17 of my A to Z Challenge. Q is for Quotes To Live By.

If you don't know how this works, I've posted the link back to the rules of the challenge at the end of this, along with a link to yesterday's post. If you want to read my full alphabet, just keep following the links. Each day has a link back to yesterday's post.

These are my 10 quotes I love enough to try and live by!

1. Do. Or do not do. There is no try. Yoda
 

2. The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud. Coco Chanel
 

3. Be Yourself; everyone else is already taken. Oscar Wilde
 

4. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor Roosevelt
 

5. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. Mark Twain
 

6. It's never to late to be what you might have been. George Eliot
 

7. Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. Mother Teresa
 

8. The truth is everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for. Bob Marley
 

9. The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead, or smiling into your eyes, or just staring into space. Marilyn Monroe
 

10. Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Alfred Lord Tennyson*

 

And I've also added two bonus quotes, just because I really like them!

 

1. If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself. Albert Einstein
 

2. The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has it's limits. Alexander Dumas

 

Are there any you would include that I haven't? Any you wouldn't have included?

 

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :)

 

* I have used this quote in a post previously and incorrectly credited it to Shakespeare. Apologies Lord Tennyson!

 

Link to rules: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-z-challenge-whos-with-me.html

Link to P Is for Phobias: http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/p-is-for-phobias.html
 

 

 

 

P Is For Phobias

Day 16 of my A to Z Challenge. P is for Phobias.

If you don't know how this works, I've posted the link back to the rules of the challenge at the end of this, along with a link to yesterday's post. If you want to read my full alphabet, just keep following the links. Each day has a link back to yesterday's post.

 

I think it’s fair to say that everyone is scared of something. The important part is how you handle the fear. You need to find a way to deal with it. Whether that be by not putting yourself in the path of whatever you are afraid of, or by purposely putting yourself in its path to try to get over it. Whatever works for you! You may never fully eradicate it, but if it doesn’t affect your life in a negative way, than to me you’re winning!

I think some fears we grow out of (like monsters under the bed) and some we grow into (like health scares, facing our own mortality). These are something everyone has on some level, its human nature.

When I was young, I was terrified of spiders. I know it’s irrational, I don’t live anywhere where there are dangerous spiders, but that didn’t make it any less real. I couldn’t walk into a room with checking every inch of it for a spider. If I saw one, I would scream blue murder. I now class myself as over it. While I will never be a fan of spiders, they no longer send me into blind panic. I don’t scour everywhere I go looking for them. If I do happen to spot one, I just pop it outside (with a glass and paper, I’m not into holding them!), and move on with my life. I can’t remember when I stopped being scared of them, but I think a lot of it was as I grew older, I didn’t want to be that girl that was scared of spiders, so every boy in a one mile radius would try to capture one and throw it at me, so I pretended not to be afraid. It was hard at first but it worked. Fake it until you make it and all that.

I am still utterly terrified of water that is deeper than boob height (for want of a better description). I understand where this one comes from at least. I can’t swim, so water is kind of dangerous to me, so at least that makes it rational! I don’t think this fear will ever leave me, but I refuse to let it control my life! I make a point of being the first one into the sea on holiday. I make it a point to walk down pontoons and go on boats. This fear will not define me. When I force myself into these situations, I feel panicky, hot, clammy, and want to run in the opposite direction, but I don’t. Only by facing these fears can I beat them. And when I’m back on dry land, the feeling of achievement by far outweighs the feeling of panic.

Do you have any phobias? How do you try to overcome them?

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment J

Link to rules: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-z-challenge-whos-with-me.html

Link to O Is For Obsessions Of Mine: http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/o-is-for-obsessions-of-mine.html

O Is For Obsessions Of Mine

Day 15 of my A to Z Challenge. O is for Obsessions of mine.

If you don't know how this works, I've posted the link back to the rules of the challenge at the end of this, along with a link to yesterday's post. If you want to read my full alphabet, just keep following the links. Each day has a link back to yesterday's post.

For today's post, I thought I would share with you all 7 things I am obsessed with at the minute!

 

1.Pretty Little Liars

I love this show so much! I am about half way through season 5, and much as I love it, there are 3 questions I need answering:

Why are the girls (or anyone for that matter) friends with Ally? She is a truly dreadful person!

How is it that pretty much everyone in Rosewood are at least 3 steps in front of the police?

And most importantly: Are Toby and Caleb in some sort of competition to see who can have the worst haircut?

 

2.Blogging

I love everything about blogging. Writing posts, replying to comments and reading other blogs. This has definitely reached an obsessive level!

 

3.My new laptop!

My old laptop (and I mean old!) died on me on Tuesday. It had been on it's way out for about a year, but I was so attached to it, I didn't want to get a new one. Obviously I had to, so Wednesday, I did the deed and bought a new one, all set to hate it. I don't hate it, I love it! I feel like I'm cheating on my old one! I decided on the Lenovo G50, and would recommend it so far. I'm like a child with a new toy.

 

4.YA fiction

The first YA fiction I read was The Hunger Games trilogy, after that I moved onto the Divergent trilogy. I have just finished The Maze Runner series and I loved them all. I'm now a bit stumped on what to try next. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

 

5.Twitter

Until I started blogging, I had never bothered much with Twitter. I didn't even have an account until last March this year. Now I'm never off it! (Follow me if you want to see how much time I spend there! @randommusings29). If I'm on the laptop, I just ignore the little number that comes up on the tab header to tell me there's a new tweet. If I'm out and about I check in on my phone. It's like I'm trying to make up for the years of lost time!

 

6.Avon Glimmerstick eyeliner

Eyeliner is my "go to" make up essential. Loads of women seem to struggle with applying it though! Honestly this is so easy to use, it just glides on and is really easy to get a thin line and define the eye, or a thicker smudgy line for smoky eyes. I'd be lost without it.

 

7. My book

This one is more something I'm obsessing about rather than obsessed with. I write scenes in my head, then re-write them and play about with them, but only in my head. I need to put fingers to keys and actually write it!

 

What are you obsessed with?

 

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :)

 

Link to rules: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-z-challenge-whos-with-me.html

Link to N Is For Need Vs Want: http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/n-is-for-need-vs-want.html

 



N Is For Need Vs Want

Day 14 of my A to Z Challenge. N is for Need Vs Want.

If you don't know how this works, I've posted the link back to the rules of the challenge at the end of this, along with a link to yesterday's post. If you want to read my full alphabet, just keep following the links. Each day has a link back to yesterday's post.

I remember when I was a teenager. I was upset about splitting up from a boyfriend, and was talking to my mam about it. She said something that has stuck with me ever since.
She said "In life, you will meet lots of people who you could live with. Find the one you can't live without".
I'm still looking for him, but I really don't think I'll ever find that sort of intense relationship. It terrifies me to think I could be that reliant on someone else. That if for whatever reason he left, my life would be in tatters. I like to think I am independent, responsible for my own happiness and needing someone else would put paid to that notion.
I think though, that this fear sometimes holds me back. If I meet someone who I think I could come to feel that way about, I tend to run a mile.
Its something I'm working on, and hopefully one day I will be able to give in and truly need someone, rather than merely want them around. Wanting someone is great, but I think needing them is the real deal.
Its a risk I think we have to learn to take to fully appreciate love. Yes, you might get hurt, but on the other hand it could be the best thing that's ever happened to you. You have to be all in, and if you do get hurt, pick up the pieces, and move on.
As Shakespeare said (I think it was Shakespeare): Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all!

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :)


Link to rules:

http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-z-challenge-whos-with-me.html

Link to M Is For My A To Z Of Me: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/m-is-for-my-to-z-of-me.html