Monday 28 March 2016

Before the beginning of April, there came to the making of this woman...In praise of the A-Z






For the past week, I have been too taken up transitioning from a pantser to a planner in the terminal stages of control freakery, and also been up and down and sideways on the theme reveal list, so there's no fresh, smoking, write-it-as-it-comes poetry here today.  For all I know the verses might have come and banged the door down and biffed me a solid one on the back of my head.  But I was too busy to notice, too busy being astounded at the sheer variety of subjects that people choose to blog about – from ancestors to living on a yacht to a wishlist of cities to maths and mythology and metals and alloys that changed the world, I mean wow! It’s a *&^%£@# education, the A-Z is! Incidentally, if you're looking for my theme reveal it's right here.


And in the middle of reading 541 blogs, of which I managed to cover right upto 520, a bolt from the blue! (Some were dud links; some forgot to post the reveal altogether; some warned me off with those skull and crossbones virus alert symbols; and I avoided the AC, because censorship is major where I am, and the definition of what is permissible and what is not is mind boggling!) Seriously chuffed with what I managed to read of the theme reveal,  as I did set myself the goal of covering more than I have done in the previous years.


But for the actual challenge, where all anyone has is one day per letter, and about three times as many blogs, I can tell you right NOW what I am NOT going to do. If I land on your site and can't see your A-Z post right away, I am NOT going to scroll around forever.  If I land on your blog, and am faced with five little cutesy boxes before I can get to the posts, I am NOT going to wait for them to gently implode and let me in. Out in a jiffy, that's me. Same goes for comment boxes and buttons that are AWOL, or have the verification on.  (And what's with these teeny-tiny thumbnails of grass and water anyways?! Not easy on my terrible eyesight!) I am by nature a pathological non-commenter/avid lurker, so you give me an excuse to scoot right out without commenting, you know what's going to happen, right? Yup, out in a jiffy.  


On the other hand, the length of your posts is NOT going to faze me one bit, you can write upto a picture's worth of words, and if you grab my interest I will read to the end, and if your comment button is visible, I will comment if I can, because I am conflicted like that. For the duration of the A-Z, I am absolutely willing to give up my silent lurker persona. I have every intention of returning every comment made here. Please do unto me as you would have me do unto you - leave me your link when you comment. This post tells you how to create a signature for your blog.


Credit




Okay, back to the topic at hand - the bolt from the blue. In the middle of all that reading frenzy, the Bangla-mania struck again, uff uff uff. Not that I gave in or anything, no way.  I have last minute tweaks on my A-Z posts still.  But it did lead to a new Bengali book idea, a brainwave inspired by a combo of the A-Z theme reading and a casual suggestion a blogger friend once made here yonks ago.  


I have, right from the first time I participated, held that the A-Z benefits me in ways most unpredictable and hard to imagine, and to pinpoint. And the Challenge hasn’t even begun yet!! How far beyond cracking cool is that?? 





Not posted for the A-Z, but still besotted with it! 






50 comments:

  1. I don't play A-Z, but am really looking forward to reading quite a number of them.
    Sadly the word verification caper is imposed (randomly) by blogger. Some days it is there and somedays it is not.
    Good luck, I am really looking forward to revelling in your limericks.

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    1. I wonder if it's being imposed on visitors to this blog, yikes? I have landed up on days where the max nos were being wheeled out clearly...It's a serious pain!

      This year at A-Z, I have found so many blogs with completely captivating themes that I am thoroughly stumped. There are only 24 hours to a day, even in April...sigh...

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  2. You read all the reveal posts? Wow, I am in awe...

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    1. Um, not quite all. I have some 20-odd to go...which I will read up hopefully before the A-Day :)

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  3. New book idea - awesome!
    You did better than I did - I visited less than half the reveal posts. I'm a slow reader and long posts will scare me away.

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    1. I must write down an outline before the brainwave vanishes forever...don't know when I'm going to fit that in.

      I get into long reads during the A-Z and it does eat up my time, especially when at the end I can't find a comment button and waste further time...I am not a particularly fast reader either.

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  4. I am in awe of your organization, which is definitely a plus in the a-z. I've been more organized in past challenges, but I'm prepared to do my best. Like you, I'm always surprised at the benefits. We learn so much. (and also share some of your blog pet peeves) Good luck with the challenge and dazzling us with your limericks. I'm impressed already :)

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    1. This is actually the first year I will be starting the A-Z with all my entries done and scheduled and so organsed. I have in previous years kept back the actual posting for the day before. But this time, I want to focus on the reading, so...freeing up as much time as I can. The surprise benefits are the ones that make the A-z addictive for me! See you in April, it's going to be beyond awesome :)

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  5. Hi Nila - I didn't have the robot captcha thing up - it appeared .. and it's a pain ... I did look before to see if I could delete it out - but couldn't.

    Those sandwiches and mountains are a right pain - it'll scare me off blogger (in due course) ...

    My posts are not short .. but not long either .. I admire your tenacity at look at the blogs ... I started and found there was nothing there ... and of course the list doesn't match the theme reveal list ...

    Anyway I shall look forward to your limericks .. better get writing some of my posts! Cheers Hilary

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    1. Your posts are always just the right length, Hilary! Looking forward to your A-Z ones - I loved what you did last year and this year promises to be equally informative and entertaining.

      The verification thing is really bothersome, some just have a box to check and that's fine, but others have pic thumbnails and some even have numbers/letters captchas which take up unconscionable amounts of time, especially if one has dodgy eyesight to begin with. I am really aiming to read as much as I can this year, and this verification job is going to seriously mess things up for me...anyways will have to cope as best as poss, I guess.

      Good luck with the writing!

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  6. Hahaha, I loveeeeee and adore your straight forwardness

    I am not doing the challenge either, because I know I won't be able to take it up and finish it. But, I am super excited what all the other bloggers doing

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    1. The A-Z themes are rich and varied this year, diverse doesn't begin to sum them up! Some day when I have worked the addiction out of my system, I will also not participate but just read :) Not happening anytime soon though.

      Thanks for visiting. See you around.

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  7. Well said - totally agree too!

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    1. Time is a precious commodity! and don't want to take it for granted. Thanks for stopping by.

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  8. I love this. You're so right; blogs that make it harder, not easier, to comment or visit or find the right posts are sort of hanging out a sign that says, "We don't care if you visit." Thanks for saying it out loud for all of us :) And thanks for the visit over at Life In Dogs earlier... Glad you liked the FAQ post!
    Guilie

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    1. You, and of course Damyanti, and I came across a few more bloggers too, who have chosen to blog about social causes/issues - one is about Alzheimer's, another about sexual abuse, tough subjects to tackle in themselves, and not likely to win a large following. Well, you folks have my admiration. Hats off!

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  9. BOOK BOOK BOOK!!! I am so excited about your A to Z-inspired idea to write a "Bengali book," whatever that means!! (set in Bengal? Written in Bengali?) And I totally agree with all your advice to fellow A to Zers. Keep your posts front and center on your blogs, people! Make it easy!

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    1. :D A-Z regularly inspires book ideas I believe. Mine is a book written in Bengali, anyways most of my writing whether in English or Bengali, is set in Bengal/India. This will change that hopefully, written in Bengali but set outside India. Thanks much for the support, Susan!

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  10. Great post, Nila, and so important too! I ran into a few places where the comment section was missing, I found one of them but the other, nothing. And I wasn't having a problem with captcha until I'd visited about 70 blogs. I'm thinking it's trying to figure me out, not the blogger, because it appeared like that before on a busy comment day and on blogs it doesn't normally show up on. Yes, a real pain!

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    1. Now that you say it, the penny drops finally! Talk about tube lights, smack on forehead! I too had the captcha pop up on blogs that it doesn't show up!

      If it doesn't have me figured out soon, it's going to be a progressively increasing pain in the neck as the challenge intensifies.

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  11. Wow! I think you read my mind! This is my first year participating in the A to Z challenge, and I have high ambitions of visiting every blog on the list, but not necessarily commenting! Hence why I am starting early. I also agree that if I can't see your A to Z post or easily comment, I will just leave without commenting. I don't have all day because I have a full time job, a 2 year old, and my own blog to manage! I do plan to return the favor though of all those who visit me, time permitting. At the very least I will reply to their comment. Thanks for sharing and good luck! Cassie from Mommy, RN

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    1. Visiting every blog on the theme reveal is possible, but on the main A-Z list is a tall order indeed. Blogfests are time intensive, that's why it's easier all round if everyone plays by the rules.

      My own experience is that no-one has the time to check for replies to comments they make during the A-Z, the focus moves on to the next days posts, so it is better to respond by commenting on the blogger's own blog.

      Best of luck to you for the challenge. Enjoy your first A-Z!

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  12. Good write thank you for sharing.
    Good luck

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  13. I completely agree with you. This Challenge is so hectic...who has time to jump through a million hoops in order to leave a comment?

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    1. Ya, it just makes things easier and less time consuming when everyone has the posts and comment boxes clearly visible. Thanks for visiting.

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  14. Thank you for your post here Nilanjana! I smiled a few times! Yup, the time is almost upon us - FRIDAY!!! Omgoodness ...
    I wanted to thank you for being a Ninja Minion, thank you - and I don't know tooo much about ninjas but I do know they are fab people. One of the ninjas very wise pieces of advice is to stay cool - at all times. Do not be fazed - if you can't access then don't ... and keep hydrated. Water is good.
    www.gardenofedenblog.com

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    1. I dunno about being fab but I hear it's got lots to do with keeping hydrated...I have unfriended fazed and blocked too :D

      Thanks much for your comment, it made me smile too! All the very best for April.

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  15. Wow!!! what a bold way to put...I hope I don't make you skip my blog in a jiffy :)
    @thefuschialady sugarandspicecookies

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    1. Nope, you won't if you have your posts upfront, and make it easy to find your comment box and have verification off (which you do) :)

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  16. Nice blog, and lots to see and be nourished by. Looking forward to your month of A to Z verses.

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    1. Thank you, glad you liked the blog. See at round the A-Z track.

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  17. Hello fellow Ninja Minion. I too don't plan on scrolling and scrunching trying to find someone's #atozchallenge post. If it's not there for my onset, I'm cruising on to the next blog. Good luck with the challenge... I look forward to continued engagement!

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    1. Hi fellow Ninja Minion! and yup, right behind you cruising off to find blogs that make it easy to interact :)

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  18. I love the way you write, your conversational tone you just used will make sure, that I will stop by often during the challenge. But you are right, especially when it comes to participating in A to Z, people should make it as easy as possible for others to comment. Who has the time for all of the signing up, and verification and all of that? Do you want my first born too? Looking forward to an interesting month - and thank you for stopping by my blog a few days ago, blessings!

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    1. Time is always in short supply and never more so than during the A-Z. I want to maximise the reading this year, and making every minute count. So...off if I cant find the posts or the comment buttons..Have a great A-Z, see you in April!

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  19. Holy moly, you've been busy with all blog checking out for AprilA2Z challenge. I certainly hear when it comes to not having to dig around for the post that should be obvious. I like your style, upfront and clear with real direction on how to pursue the hurdle of blogs during April. The best of luck to you. Now, to check out your theme reveal. It's nice meeting you and thank you for stopping to read my theme reveal!

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    1. Great meeting you too, and see you again in April. Which is just one day away :)

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  20. Wow! So many blogs visited already. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. Wonderful to meet you and so many thanks for taking the trouble to visit me. Heartfelt thanks for the signature link too--I knew it was somewhere but you have made my last-minute preparations in a panic so much easier. Looking forward to the limericks.
    Now let's see if I have the sig right...

    @AnneKnol1 from

    Author Support -

    Write a Cozy Mystery from A to Z

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    1. Your signature is working fine, thanks for leaving one here. See you later!

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  21. UGH, yeah. I can say that reading blogs for the signup was a solid reminder of what reading blogs during A to Z is like. I agree, if you can't find the A to Z post right away, move to the next. I've spent far too many seconds of my life playing detective on someone's Google Plus page. If you can't update your latest post on Google Plus or put it under your About section, then for heaven's sake, use a signature with your blog link!

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    1. Google Plus is of limited help I find, especially if the blogger has more than one blog under their links and/or promote other posts apart from theirs (which many do). I have spent/wasted time in previous years trying to track down blogs, and this year I won't be able to spare that kind of time because both online and offline life is going to be busy in April. Therefore the request for blog signatures.

      I came across blogs in the theme reveal which had no comment buttons visible! I really have no words for that.

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  22. A great post. If that's the spirit of the A to Z challenge I am even more happy about my decision to take part with my blog www.claowuepotpourri.wordpress.com
    Have fun!

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    1. Thanks, and wish you much fun too!

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    2. Your blog prompted me to create a signature. Well I didn't do it, but my web guru friend did. It works on some sites, but not this one. It says "http" is not allowed. Hope web address works. Thank you for stopping by.
      www.lorihenriksen.com

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    3. That's always a challenge within a challenge - commenting across different platforms is a problem, I think it's esp true of non-Blogger blogs/sites when they attempt to comment on Blogger site. But leaving the web address also works okay for me.

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  23. I know what you mean about the cutesy blocks jumping up and all sorts of things like that. There just isn't the time to struggle to leave a comment. It's not like being allowed to comment does the commenters any favors. :-/

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    1. I think it's a win-win when the commenting is made as easy and fast as possible, it just promotes greater interaction between bloggers. That's the idea behind participating in any blogfest really. Thanks for being here. See you soon!

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