A-Z Reflection Post

I survived the 2022 A - Z Challenge. I wrote 16 posts out of 26

The A-Z Challenge invites us to reflect over the past months postings.

I have copy-pasted from their site -  purple coloured text is theirs, standard black is my answers.:

 Time to reflect on the 2022 A to Z Challenge and visit and comment on each other's reflection posts.
Here are some ideas to help you write it:

1.     Give consideration to how the A to Z Challenge impacted your blog.

I wrote a bit more than I normally do. On the other hand I sorely neglected some of the other challenges, I like to do: Words for Wednesday, Poetry Monday and Sunday Selections.


2.     View your stats to see how the last 30 days changed your blog view numbers.

I can see no change in my stats. I had a couple of new visitors passing by and dropping a comment or two. But visits per post stays at 20-30 as they have done for years. No complaints here, because visits or not is not the reason I write, nor is it the reason I participate in any Challenge. Of course I like my posts to be read, who does not? But I'd like readers to stay on my blog because they like what they read, rather than to pass by and comment as a part of a challenge.


3.     Make an observation about how many comments you got on your April posts.

Lots from my usual readers - THANKS! for your support!
And 5 from one time passers by.


4.     Contemplate what you learned from making posts during the Challenge.

I learned that I'm better at writing posts on obscure clues than I thought, and worse at finding obscure clues than I expected.


5.     What gave you the idea for your Challenge Theme, if you used one?

Duality - Dreams, the theme set by the A-Z crew.


6.     Did any blogs you visited in the Challenge make a lasting impression on you?

No, unfortunately not. I tried visiting a few from the master list, also re-visited those who left a comment on my blog. Decent people all of them. But most just did not strike any sparks. Lots of honest, hard-working artists and writers promoting their books and works.


7.     Perhaps meditate on how to express your thoughts about the Challenge this year.

Too much promotion of  books, ideas, and ideologies, too little "just blogging".


8.     Give an opinion on any of the three #AZchat events from this year.

I haven't any as I did not listen. I am strange that way, listening, my thoughts just start to wander, so I did not even try to join.


9.     What impact did the Challenge have on your social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)?

None. I don't mix blogging and Social Media. Social media is for me a working instrument. I use it for plant dye recipes, tips and tricks, soap making disaster help, and to keep in touch with my family.


10.     Rumination about the A to Z Challenge can help the team improve!

 I would like to go back to basics. A-Z Challenge is for me a blogging event running from April 1st to 30th. With of course a sign up-post in March and a round up one in May. Doing a Sign up AND a theme reveal is overkill; it feels like let's keep the pot boiling-posts to me, not really any contents. And all this "Go and visit others", "Leave comments to get comments", "How many new comments can you get?", "How many new blogs can you visit?" just turns me off. 


11.     This year included a deliberation to find another graphic person after the loss of Jeremy. Muse about the imagination and talent of Anjela.

I liked Lissa's badge better. Not saying that Anjela's is bad. But I think her badge is flickering? fuzzy? don't know the right word. It should be clear and crisp to be able to show off in thumbnail as well.


12.     What is your impression of the A to Z Team?

Hard-working and dedicated team. I admire your stamina. But you are fighting so hard to make this a Social Media event. Maybe too hard? Keep it as a blogging event.


13.     After much cogitation, let your pensiveness reflect in your post.

I write my blog. I like to follow the blogs of other people , but I ... well all this pushing and promoting is not my coup of tea.


14.     Did any dreams or goals you set come to fruition during this April Challenge?

Not really. I wrote more of happenings big and small.


15.     Please tell everyone if you picked up any sweet merchandise this year.

No, I did not. For me the A-Z Challenge is an online thing.

The A to Z team would LOVE to know your thoughts on NEXT YEAR!

• What needs to change?

Having both a sign up and a theme reveal list. Make it into one. And make the link to blogs in the master list clickable. Less importance on other Social media.


• What should stay the same?

The time scheme. Having a new badge.  Sign up and reflection posts.


• What theme do you think we'll use?

I have no ideas. One as versatile as the past years. You're quite good in the theme-finding department!


• Comment here, hit up our social media, or put it in your reflection post.

I find the looking for comments, counting your comment, making commenting on other blogs into some kind of a competition and this kind of endeavours a bit frenetic. Like the hunting for "likes" on Social media. Blogging is not like other Social media, it's a slow media, a friendship-forming one. Let blogging keep its distinctive character.
If this carries on, I think I'm not going to participate next year, or at least not sign up on any lists.

I just had to show you this - the exact thing I do not like about this challenge. People going from blog to blog commenting and either doing like the one below or just leaving a link in their comment without even trying to say something intelligent in their comments. This is NOT to hang out this one blogger, I have just deleted the rest of this kind of comments already.