Monday, February 23, 2015

A to Z Theme Reveal and Calling All Minions

The Blogging from A to Z Challenge is around the corning and coming up fast. For those of you who haven't signed up already, there's still plenty of time. Just click here and you can be on your way to some alphabetic awesomeness! 

For those of you who have signed up already, themes are a great way to dig into the challenge and help you come up with interesting and cohesive posts from A to Z. Themes are by no means mandatory, but I've found over the past three years that they add an element of fun to my daily blogging. If you plan on using a theme this year, consider participating in the Theme Reveal Blogfest on March 23rd. It's a great way to spread the word about your particular niche and gives you a preview of what other bloggers plan to write about. If you're interested, sign-ups are below. 

Last but not least, I'm still looking for a few Minions to help out during the challenge. It's a great way to get involved in the A to Z Challenge and connect with other bloggers. If you're interested, please let me know! 


The Great and Powerful A to Z Theme Reveal Blogfest!

Sign-ups for the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge are already under way. If you have done it before, you know how much fun it is (good for you!) and if you have not, this is your chance to give it a try! You can sign up to participate here.

One of the most burning questions participants ask themselves every year is: "Should I have a theme?"
Themes are not mandatory, but definitely fun. They let your visitors know what to expect, and help you create posts that line neatly up from A to Z. They also have an added bonus: They let you participate in a whole separate blogfest!

Two years ago A to Z participant Mina Lobo started the Theme Reveal, and we thought it was such a great idea that we made it tradition. It is now our very own, grand and festive way of rolling out our themes together!

Here is how the Theme Reveal Blogfest works:

Sing up on the Linky list below, and on March 23rd (Monday) publish a post on your blog in which you reveal your theme, tell us why it is exciting, and give us a hint of what to expect from it! Then, once your post is up, use the Linky to visit all the other blogs announcing their themes. Enjoy!


This is a great opportunity for all of you to get a jump start on your A to Z experience. You can link up with fellow bloggers, scout out and bookmark themes that you look forward to, and set out delicious themed bait on your blog to lure in wandering participants! This way, by the time the frenzied posting begins on April 1st, you will already have an audience eagerly awaiting your posts.



Sign up below, ready your theme, and post March 23rd on your calendar!


Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Insecure Writer's Support Group

It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post. A big thank you to our fearless leader, Alex J. Cavanaugh, for starting this group and giving writers a place to voice our fears. If you're an insecure writer or a writer looking to give support to others, check us out here

This month I have one very specific writing concern, and it's related to blogging -- the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge in fact. I'm one of the co-hosts this year, and I'm super excited for the chance to work with the incredible A to Z Team. But as it's my first year as part of the team, I'm a little anxious about doing the job well and making sure that I make ever participant feel welcome and encouraged. It's a lot of work, but I can't wait!

[Shameless A to Z plugging -- if you haven't signed up yet, there's still time! Click here to join us!]

If anyone is interested in helping me overcome this month's insecurity, I could use a few awesome Minions on my team. If you're interested in becoming involved in the A to Z Challenge, please let me know. 

Good luck this month to all my fellow insecure writers. And as always, happy blogging!