A to Z Reflections 2025
Now that the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge has ended, it's time for the optional Reflections post.
"...the Reflections post is all about your experiences and what you gained from them."
Before getting to the A to Z Team's questions, I have some thoughts on this year's challenge.
* I enjoyed seeing some blog names from previous years, and visiting them again. While they may not be the sort I'd read on a daily basis, their themes often are interesting.
*It seemed many more bloggers than in the past quit quite early in the challenge, which was a disappointment, but understandable.
*I believe I clicked on every link in the Master List! Some were bad links, or blog "under construction" messages.
*There were more than a few where I just couldn't find their A to Z post at all! The site main pages would be so busy, so full of posts and images, etc. that I'd give up after scrolling down a bit.
*There were some that were on private settings and I couldn't read them.
*Then, there were those I did read, but didn't comment due to having to register and sign in to do so. I'm not going to do that.
*The engagement on my blog dropped off significantly by the beginning of the third week, and then another drop the last week. That would make sense as the bloggers who stopped participating would probably stop reading other participant's posts, but still disappointing.
"Some other questions to spark your creativity:" (My answers in blue.)
- Did you finish the challenge? Yes!
- What was your favourite post to write? My posts had minimal writing. My favorite post was either X ( I don't think anyone expected me to find a postage stamp with a breed of dog starting with X!), or a tie between U and Z, as I worked the hardest finding dog breeds beginning with those letters and their images on stamps.
- What was your favourite comment posted by another A-Z participant on your blog this April? It was actually a comment on the Theme Reveal by one of the team! She hoped my O was Old English Sheepdog. It was, and I hope she saw the post!
- Did you follow the A-Z team on social media? (Who and where?) No, I don't "do" social media, other than Instagram and my account is on a different topic than my blog.
- Did you follow the A-Z Challenge on social media? (Which platforms?) Yes, Instagram.
- Did you feel supported by the A-Z team? (The Team: Arlee Bird, J Lenni Dorner, Zalka Csenge Virág, John Holton, Jayden R Vincente, and Ronel Janse van Vuuren.) Yes.
- Did you like the graphics for this year? Yes, however I like the former round ones better than trophies. 😁
- Did you like the A-Z blog’s theme? I didn't really notice it! Sorry!
- Did you encourage other bloggers to take part in the challenge this year? I think so. I posted about it prior to the theme reveal.
- Did you have a theme on your blog? If so, how did you come up with it? I did have a theme, A to Z: Dog Breeds on Stamps. I collect stamps, and I love dogs, and while my blog started out as primarily for gardening topics, I've added in some other regular features. I have so many dog stamps I thought it would be fun to find breeds A to Z.
- Did you learn anything new because of the A-Z Challenge? I did! I learned that there are breeds of dog starting with U and Z!
- Will you consider doing the challenge again next year? Most likely.
It seems you've learned why I stopped doing the blog hop portion of the challenge. For several years I tried to get through five new blogs a day. Bad links. Couldn't find their A to Z posts. And then most wouldn't bother with a return visit. It's why I only do "visit back" now. Too much work (during a fairly busy time of the year for me) with not enough reward. I do love finding new bloggers to follow, and I will continue to follow some if they keep posting.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making it all the way through. Now we rest ;)
Congrats on completing and WOW I wonder if our words will be heard about bad links and the tediousness of visiting and not being able to comment or find the way around. I loved scrolling through all the dog stamps and I'm amazed that so many stamps were made with dogs on them. That's quite a collection there and what a job you had researching all of them. Great job and thank you for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Barbie
I was delighted by your theme, and surprised by your success at finding some of the "hard" letters.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed you posts! And thank you for the visits as well!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I originally tried to follow some but they either never started or quit early. That was okay, I still was following over 50. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed following your posts and will be sticking around for a while.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing theme to find for all 26 letters - way to go...
ReplyDeleteI found it amazing that you could post a stamp with a dog on it for each letter. Kudos!
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for Reflections for A to Z Blogging Challenge 2025