I confess to failing to do justice to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, this year. While I managed to successfully finish all the posts in time for From 7Eight, I couldn’t do that on this blog. In fact, if you look very carefully, you’ll find posts for the letters ‘J’ and ‘L’ missing. The drafts are ready – but not completed!
Even worse, I was unable to keep up with visiting and commenting on blogs and responding to the comments on mine.
I’ve heard it said that an essential part of creativity is not being afraid to fail. I took courage from this as I started out. I was biting off more than I could chew with some personal plans that meant having to travel during the challenge. But I just couldn’t resist taking up the challenge. What I didn’t bargain for were some health issues that made me feel rather low. The health issues were compounded by me spending long hours at the computer.
No regrets.
I learnt that the important thing is to stay creative.
I did that with the creation of our A to Z sharing group on Facebook and finding a unique way of managing it. A lot of fresh ideas came out of that which I can now employ towards making Write Tribe a more creative and supportive space for writers and bloggers. Thanks to Vidya Sury, Shilpa Garg, Shailaja Vishwanath, Richa Singh, Meena Menon and Bhavya Nandakumar for their support in setting up the group and keeping folks motivated.
I am also grateful to the lovely guests I had here during the challenge:
Julie DeNeen – Fabulous Blogging With Julie DeNeen
Kim Sisto Robinson – 11 Things I’ve Learned Since Your Murder
Roshan Radhakrishnan – The Three Rs and Two More
Dr Michelle Schoffro Cook – Weekend Wonder Detox
There are several bloggers who consistently commented on my posts despite the fact that I didn’t return the favour – to them I say thank you. Know that you have earned good Karma. ♥
Vidya Sury, thanks for constantly nudging me on – and for offering to do posts for me from time to time and for all the mad chats! 🙂
I also connected with a whole new circle of bloggers and I’m looking forward to to growing those connections.
Arlee Bird thank you for creating the Blogging From A to Z challenge. It helped me push the limits of my creativity – even if I didn’t finish successfully. Read the reflections of other bloggers on this challenge here to see what they learnt from it.
Here are some more ideas on how to stay creative.
If you took part in the A to Z challenge, did it help you with improving your creativity? What do you plan to do to stay creative?
Hi Corinne,
That quote about creativity is not being afraid to fail strikes a chord.
This is the cosmic approach to creativity.In fact our Creator, in the heavens above,also has a similar approach to creation.That’s why there is rain and shine,black and white,shadow and light.So many contrasts yet so much perfection.This is the raison-de-tre behind the Wabi-Sabi philosophy I guess.
Wabi-Sabi is a concept of allowing the perfect and imperfect to dwell together.
Thanks for the lovely insight.
Mona
Corinne ,the tips are really helpful. I am very much amazed at the way you manage so many things so efficiently. I marvel at your creativity. Thank God, I was able to complete the A to Z challenge in time. I missed out on reading some posts, including yours. I am doing it now. Congrats to you for managing such a marathon task.
That was a good video. I found myself nodding along with many of the points. And as far as A to Z is concerned, I wanted to say that you inspired me and helped me make many more connections I wouldn’t have otherwise made. Thank you.
Hi Corinne – I’m so glad I’ve stumbled across your wonderful blog! I’m intrigued by much of what I see here, and look forward to exploring a bit more — if for no other reason than to see what Blogging from A to Z is all about. It also feels like we share some of the same energy in our interest in paying attention to simple truths. Thank you for the work you do to make this a more aware, curious and wondrous world.
Thanks for the 5th tip.. every post of yours perks me up in some way or the other…
Yes…Be not afraid to fail! Great reflection post Corinne! And the drafts sitting on your lappy, do publish them…I’m waiting! 🙂
I successfully completed the challenge this year and tapped my creativity throughout more than I ever have before. The result was that I was exhausted and burned out when it was over. My husband came home and I took time off. Then my oldest got sick, and guess what…so did I. Slowly making my way back to blogging regularly! Some days I just feel so OLD. A person has to do what a person has to do. 😀
Great Video. Looked the points : Break rules , Sing in the shower ,allow yourself to make mistakes and most imp. clean your workspace. thanks Corinne .
You completed the challenge despite some hiccups. Brave.
Despite your reasons, you still made your presence felt at both A to Z and UBC very distinctly, Corinne.Loved reading some of your posts.So glad to have found your blog!
I joined in the challenge only after the 11th day coz I did not know about it till then. I wasn’t a regular blogger till now.Even in the short span of time that I was a part of the challenge, there was huge exposure.And thankfully I managed all 26 posts 🙂
Thanks, Vinodini. Yes, the challenges were a learning experience alright. So nice to have connected with you through them.
Hi Corinne.
The A to Z was really hectic.
Besides posting and trying to get around to visit blogs, I also had administrative duties over at the IWSG, and also my A to Z minion duties.
As a result, I didn’t get around to as many blogs as intended… lots of blogs slipped through the net… and yours was one of them.
Now that the “madness” has passed, I’ll try to get to those I missed.
So if you notice a lurker at your place, it will probably be me… <3
Hi Michelle – Suffice to say it was tough. The only person I was disappointed with was myself – but like I said, we live and learn.
Yeah…staying creative is the key expression or the best advice for the bloggers…loved your whole account…
your endless efforts to turn this group into a strong community are commendable …thanks for all this…
Thanks, Sheela. You are very kind!
Great list, Corinne! I liked that video and I liked your post. I appreciate your honesty and heartfelt thoughts about the challenge. The A-Z blogging challenge was great fun but I know what you mean about trying to keep up with it all making it stressful at times. We have to forgive ourselves for not being perfect and doing it all. You had a lot on your plate so need to be forgiving to yourself. You did your best and that’s what counts. We appreciated all the work you did helping make the challenge run smoother, too. Thanks and I look forward to being involved with Write Tribe in future. The challenge made me enjoy regular writing again as I can get out of the habit pretty fast.
Thank you so much, Cat. You always make me feel good! ♥
29 Very nice tips for being creative. Enjoyed the AtoZ though couldn’t keep up with the reading, commenting and replying towards the end.
Yes, the tips are good, Suzy. This year the challenge was really a challenge for me!
Great video! Except 3 and 23, I follow, or try to follow all the other points.
The only way to avoid failure completely is by not attempting anything! As Theodore Roosevelt said, “The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything.”
Glad you liked the video, Pro. And yes, I like that quote of Roosevelt’s. Thanks for sharing.
A-Z *phew* despite my planning and plotting for it all through feb and March and nearly failed completing the 26 posts. Reading and commenting of course took a back seat by my own expectations. But I quite agree with you, it is a classic case of quality over quantity. And I have promised myself that the number will never be an inspiration to me now..
And thanks a lot for including me as a part of the A-Z group, I surely had an inspiring time interacting 🙂
You sure did a great job despite all that was happening offline, Richa! 🙂
Corinne, I am with you about the A to Z challenge! I couldn’t complete some letters either, being tied up with this, that or the other. You are right….being creative is daring to fail. Failure keeps us in balance ! The thing is to just keep at it. Have a great weekend, now!
Yes, failure does keep us grounded, doesn’t it? Thanks, Michelle!
Lovely post, Corinne. And a great video. Simple steps to follow!
I want to extend a big thanks to yo and all the admins for the A to Z challenge. I’m very new to blogging and participating in this challenge had given me the urge to move on. And my blog is my first baby now 🙂
🙂
Glad you liked it, Shalini. Seems like your first baby is doing rather well, no? 🙂
The more I do, the more I see I need to do. I think I can do it all, but maybe not. Thanks for the vote of confidence to those of us who feel that way. The more I do, the more mistakes I see that I have made. Guess I am not alone? Thanks, as always, for the tips and encouragement.
The good thing is that we keep learning, don’t we?
That was a fantastic video. Simple pointers but make a big difference! It was a fun filled and exciting journey this April. Had a great time reading, writing and connecting with so many people. I have to respond to comments on my April posts, I must act on that real soon. Thanks for the mention, Corinne! ♥
As you can see I’m just responding to some comments in May, Shilpa!
O that’s a good video! Many good tips there…
I like your attitude about the challenge experience and what you gained from it. Well done!
It is a great one, Beloo. You did a fab job of the challenge.
🙂 Thank you for the mention and what a lovely post!
I do everything in the video and promise to take care of no.27 tomorrow morning.
(it never said anything about putting things off! :-D)
Thank you for being you!
Glad you liked the video, Vidya. You don’t need it! 😉