Reflections on the A2Z Challenge

May 7
NabanitaDhar
It has only been a week since the A2Z Challenge is over but strangely I feel a considerable time has passed since then. And now all I want to do is let my hair down for sometime as a reward for completing the challenge successfully. Maybe catch up on my reading and spend some time with S before I move back to Bangalore at the end of the month. 

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

As taxing as it was, it will be an understatement to say that I loved being part of it. It was like a team exercise and it was undoubtedly satisfying to be able to complete it. Initially, I did get cold feet worrying if I would be able to complete it at all but I’m glad I embarked on this journey. The fact that I had scheduled my posts in advance did help a lot.

 For those who don’t blog, the challenge might seem strange. I don’t blame them for they don’t know how satisfying writing can be. But what surprised me was the skepticism by a small section of bloggers about the challenge. Deriding the intentions of those taking part seemed amusing to them. You see negativity in any form makes me uncomfortable and hence I chose to ignore thinking about it, at-least in April. But since this post is about my experience I just want to get this off my chest. I just want to say that there is more to the A2Z Challenge than getting comments on the blog. It is an experience of writing and connecting and in the process improving as well. Moreover, its exciting to be part of this ride and doing something for which we began blogging in the first place. Writing!

 I think everyone who was part of the challenge, those writing and even those supporting, deserve a pat on their backs. And I thank everyone who took time to read my posts in spite of everything else on their plate. The best part was being part of an amazing group of bloggers who stood by each other with the soul purpose of lending a hand when someone was down. It’s hard to find that in real life let alone among a group of people who have hardly ever met.

 There is no rule of thumb really for being part of any writing challenge. I think we bloggers just decide it on a whim and once we do we try to make the home run. It’s addictive, I must say. You can’t stop once you start. And it’s fun and exhilarating.

 So that was my experience stitched into Write Tribe’s Wednesday prompt which involves using 6 body part idioms to write a story or a poem or a bit of non-fiction.

 Before you go do tell me what you think about such challenges. And if you were part of it this time tell me what you feel in retrospect?

Write Tribe

69 thoughts on “Reflections on the A2Z Challenge”

  1. This is a brilliant blend, Naba ๐Ÿ™‚ AtoZ blended with body parts ๐Ÿ˜€
    Loved your 'emotional' series this April. Glad to be connected ๐Ÿ™‚ Let's stay so !

  2. Very cool, Naba! Blending the WT prompt and the reflection post. Mighty impressive, girl! Congratulations for a grand finish to the challenge. Loved your "emotional" stories.

  3. It's great you completed the challenge ๐Ÿ™‚ However, I'm one of those who was pissed off by the rule of compulsorily reading and commenting on certain number of posts. I'm definitely not against the challenge itself…my POV was about the requirements of being a part of such group. I hope my FB status didn't offend you ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. You know, I found bliss in writing everyday and seeing my stats go up. Comments were encouraging but not the sole purpose of this challenge. And who said there was a rule? There were days I was busy and I didn't read a single blog. Nobody kicked me out ๐Ÿ™‚
    Loved reading your stories.. hope to keep in touch!!

  5. Though am not part of the challenge …. but its a best way to come across a lot of creative posts ….All the best for challenge and keep blogging ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Thanks Beloo….And it was a pleasure and a learning experience reading your posts…Congrats to you too ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Thanks Pankti…and no I'm not offended or anything… I don't recall your status but have to go back and see.. It was some one else, actually four or five people but then it's their view…Just made me sad…But hey there was no compulsion for comments if that was what you are talking about..You should try the challenge next time..It's like an all girls slumber party with writing!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Same here Nisha…I felt the same way…See you around writing and commenting ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Totally relate with your post. Saying that I loved the challenge would be an understatement. I loved Hi-fivi-ng with fellow bloggers who wrote on the topic same as mine.

  14. Nabanita, Yes, it was an exhilarating experience of a different nature- in company with people like you…Thanks for standing by and support through all your visits. You combined the WT prompt very nicely. Good to know you better through the challenge.

  16. That was a very encouraging write up on being able to write …. i do not blog but after reading this i might start writing and who knows one day i might become a lord of the bloggers…anything is possible when one decide to put one's head above and over the parapet in this case parapet is metal boundary…,,

  17. Congrats Naba for completing the challenge successfully.
    No, I was not a part of it this time. In fact, never been a part of A2Z. But, plan to take part in a future one for sure ๐Ÿ™‚

  18. Ah! Naba! Let me hasten to assure you that I had no negativity about the challenge OR the people taking part in it. My problem was and is the fact that my eyes cannot take so much online reading AND my FB status message was meant only to let my participating friends know WHY i was not reading and commenting on their posts ๐Ÿ™‚

  19. Yay! we completed the challenge and yes, there were a lot of lessons learnt for me. Primarily to be organized and as you said it brought back to love to write in all of us. I am also taking a short break from blogging to catch up on the other love of my life- Reading! Lovely post Naba ๐Ÿ™‚

  20. Yeah…I wanted to join but then I was informed that I'd have to compulsorily read and comment. As I couldn't take out the time to write daily as well as comment, I refrained. Let's see if I can manage it next year ๐Ÿ™‚

  21. I am glad you completed the challenge successfully that too in the middle of your vacation. I caught a few of your posts and enjoyed them. My reading suffered as I was vacationing myself and I could not keep up with the deluge of posts. Though I could have never done it, I have complete admiration for those who can do it.

  23. I am yet to read your AtoZ posts. But I must definitely confess that I respect each and everyone who was a part of it. I would not have been able to complete or do justice with all that I have on my plate and so decided to stay away till I find ample time for myself. Loved how you weaved the WriteTribe prompt into this post. I'll be on your AtoZ posts shortly but surely. ๐Ÿ™‚

  24. Happy to read your post, and thanks for all the time you stopped by to comment, I do value and am glad that you are taking a break, me too, off for few days with family ! thanks for sharing !

  30. Ah Suresh !! I can do a lot of things but not associate negativity with you ๐Ÿ™‚ What I wrote in the post wasn't a realization from anyone's Fb status and certainly not from yours ๐Ÿ™‚

  31. Thanks Prasanna …. I loved the journey through April with you and your posts ๐Ÿ™‚

  34. Thanks Rekha…your kind words mean a lot ๐Ÿ™‚ And I agree it's not easy to do this especially with all the other things at hand…I was only able to do this as I'm on vacation so no office worries..But I really feel happy when bloggers such as you support fellow bloggers in such challenges ..

  36. Naba you bet me to the idea of combining WT idiom prompt with A-Z! ๐Ÿ˜‰ This was certainly a fun month and I enjoyed your blog. Few posts left to be read at leisure! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  37. Naba, your creative mind has beautifully woven this two in one post. Congrats for the completion of the challenge.

  41. I love it that I did the challenge and I'm so proud of myself for having completed it because it is the first challenge ever that I have been able to despite having started so many and quit in the middle ๐Ÿ™‚

    Congrats on completing it! Truly an amazing experience:)

  42. Congrats for completing the challenge Nabanita! Interesting to read your reflections – for a first timer like me. I so loved being a part of it:-)

  43. Congratulations for completing the challenge. I appreciate your kind comments and support throughout on my posts. It meant a lot and kept me going. I approached this years challenge with trepidation and ended it with a sigh of relief and a bit of jubilation. Like you, after such herculean effort through the month of May I am slow to get back on the blogging train…a lot because last month was exhausting and another I crave a slower pace. ๐Ÿ˜€

  45. Congratulations on finishing the challenge! ๐Ÿ™‚
    I didn't take part but I did enjoy reading the fantastic posts that this challenge churned out of you guys! ๐Ÿ™‚

  46. Exactly … we are linked with each other through our thoughts and ideas, and i think that is more than enough to get connected….isn't it? Loved the double flavor of it…….

  49. Loved the way you did this post, Nabanita!! Very creative ๐Ÿ™‚ โ™ฅ
    And yes, it was fun and challenging, reading, writing, connecting at break neck speed, this April ๐Ÿ™‚

  50. Nice way to round up the AtoZ Naba. Very cleverly done. Congrats on completing the challenge and thanks for visiting my posts.

  51. What a clever girl you are, Naba! ๐Ÿ™‚ You did a fabulous job of the A to Z challenge too and I so appreciate you dropping by with comments even when I didn't return the courtesy! โ™ฅ

  52. One big fat hug to you, Naba! What a great job you did of weaving in the Write Tribe prompt into your reflections post. I enjoyed reading it very much! โ™ฅ Love you!

  54. It's a challenge indeed and congratulations on completing the challenge! ๐Ÿ™‚
    Intelligent take on the prompt! ๐Ÿ™‚
    And we can just ignore those who don't understand the pleasure of writing…

  65. Oh thanks Corinne…Thanks for taking care of the whole group during the challenge ๐Ÿ™‚

  68. Great idea to combine two posts in one! โ˜บ Congratulations on completing the challenge and I will be back this way again.

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