Six years ago while trying to come up with something that might boost my blog following and readership, I came up with the first Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. Thinking that the concept was nothing more than my own personal stunt to get some attention for my own blog, the interest that others had in joining me in the event caught my attention. I realized that this blogging event was something that others could enjoy and also reap the benefits for their own blogging. This was how it all began and now here we are ready to head into our 6th annual April Blogging Challenge!
With five Challenges behind us and thousands of bloggers having participated in one or more Challenges, the A to Z Challenge community is now extensive with members coming from all over the globe. The Challenge of 2015 might just be the biggest ever. If you are planning to join us then today is the first day to get on the list. The sign-up list will be open until April for any of you who want to think some more about joining. You have plenty of time, but don't wait too long or you might forget. No point in waiting when you can sign up now.
The A to Z Challenge has become so big that there is no way that I could keep this going on my own at the large scale it now is. I am deeply indebted to the A to Z Team for all the work they have been doing so far and will be doing in the months to come. Later in this post you will find a list of these A to Z Co-hosts and the links to their blogs. Show your appreciation to them by following each of their blogs and getting to know them. This is a great Team! And of course this Challenge wouldn't be the success that it is without all of you wonderful bloggers. Thanks to all of you!
Read on for some important guidelines on participation and hints to make your Challenge experience the best it can possibly be.
Please read and follow the sign-up instructions outlined below so you sign onto the list correctly!
The premise of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge is posting every day in April except Sundays (we get those off for good behavior.) And since there are 26 days, that matches the 26 letters of the alphabet. On April 1, blog about something that begins with the letter “A.” April 2 is “B,” April 3 is “C,” and so on. You can use a theme for the month or go random – just as long as it matches the letter of the alphabet for the day.
The A to Z Challenge is a great way to get into the blogging habit and make new friends. For more details and its history, go HERE
We recommend short posts, turn off Word Verification, and visit five blogs (or more) a day beginning with the one after yours on the list.
Blogs must be on an open platform – no Tumblr, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. – and comments enabled.
To streamline legitimate blogs from advertisement blogs, the Co-Hosts will be visiting each blog on this list throughout the Challenge. Blogs on the list showing no activity once the Challenge starts or miss five days in a row will be removed.
Please note your blog name and number in all correspondences. Remember that as blogs are removed, your number will change.
There are categories for those looking for like-minded blogs. Select ONE category code and enter it after your blog’s title/name. The code applies to your blog, not your theme for the Challenge and is purely optional. See the first few blogs on the list for examples. However, if your blog has adult content, you MUST mark it (AC) or it will be removed from the list. Codes are as follows:
ANIMALS: (AN)
ART: (AR)
BOOKS/REVIEWS: (BO)
CRAFTS: (CR)
CULINARY: (CU)
EDUCATION: (ED)
FASHION: (FA)
FILM/MOVIES: (FM)
GAMING: (GA)
GARDENING: (GR)
HISTORY: (HI)
HUMOR: (HU)
LIFESTYLE: (LI )
MEMOIR: (ME)
MUSIC: (MU)
MYTHOLOGY: (MY)
PERSONAL: (PR)
PHOTOGRAPHY: (PH)
POLITICS: (PO)
SCIENCE: (SC)
SOCIAL MEDIA: (SO)
SPORTS: (SP)
TRAVEL: (TR)
WRITING/STORYTELLING: (WR)
ADULT CONTENT: (AC)
Be sure to grab the badge and display it in your sidebar so we know you are participating and link to the A to Z Challenge Blog.
For more information we recommend you follow the A to Z Challenge Blog and the hosts:
Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh
Jeremy @ Hollywood Nuts
Nicole Ayers @ The Madlab Post
Author Stephen Tremp
Heather M. Gardner
AJ @ Naturally Sweet
Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian
Matthew MacNish @ The QQQE
Zalka Csenge Virág @ The Multicolored Diary
S. L. Hennessy @ Pensuasion
C. Lee McKenzie @ The Write Game
Joy Campbell @ The Character Depot
Susan Gourley @ Susan Says
John Holton @The Sound of One Hand Typing
Lisa Buie-Collard, Author
We also have a Facebook Page
Email address is contactatozteam@gmail.com
Twitter hashtag is #AtoZChallenge and Twitter id is @AprilA2Z
Sign up below and join us for a month of alphabet fun!
Now let's get ready to Blog from A to Z!
If you're thinking about not participating this year, what's holding you back? What do you think is the best aspect of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge? Do you have any questions about this year's Challenge or is anything in this post not quite clear to you?
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