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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Things I Learned From The A-Z Blogging Challenge


The A-Z Blogging Challenge is behind us but the memory lingers on. What a great learning experience that was! Here's a few things I learned about writing blogs.

Short is always better. A new word I learned is "drabble," meaning 100 words. A perfect length when you have many blogs to read. For example JJ at the "Disconnected Writer" writes a short and to the point post. Always good but easy reading.

Do you really need "word verification"? I look at it as a big time waster. I have never been bothered with SPAM since I turned mine off. I know, I know, you want it and need it. OK, it was just a suggestion.

I love videos and music, probably better than the next person, but it's so nice when you supply a button for the reader to use if they are in the mood to watch a video or listen to music. I guess I have a one track mind and I prefer quiet when I read.

Multiple blogs are definitely confusing. I inevitably first pick the one where the last post is over a year ago.

Now that my following is growing, I love all your blogs and I want to read as many as possible. You are a joy and you make my day. Love and peace.


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47 comments:

  1. Misha GerrickMay 10, 2011 at 2:59 AM

    Some great lessons that you learned. :-) See you around. ^_^

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  2. DafeenahMay 10, 2011 at 3:28 AM

    It was definitely a fun time. I met so many amazing people and learned so many new things. I can't wait til next year.

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  3. MorningAJMay 10, 2011 at 3:32 AM

    Short is good.

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  4. Wendy McDonagh-ValentineMay 10, 2011 at 4:39 AM

    I wish I would've known about this!! Thanks for sharing some of what you learned. Love the pic of the daisies!! : )

    ~ Wendy
    http://Crickleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  5. AnonymousMay 10, 2011 at 4:47 AM

    ThankyouThankyouThankyou...the video and/or music that goes off automaticlly drives me nuts

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  6. Arkansas PattiMay 10, 2011 at 5:26 AM

    It was truly our pleasure. Thank you.
    As for word vert, when I cancelled that, I had to also cancel "anonymous capabilities to stop the spam. I hated doing that for I had some fun anon folks.

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  7. TexWisGirlMay 10, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    oh, i TOTALLY second all of these thoughts. i don't appreciate music while I read (unless it is instrumental). i HATE word ver. i don't understand why folks have multiple blogs sometimes - just post more onto one (but then folks might not appreciate my multiple posts in one day...)

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  8. Old KittyMay 10, 2011 at 5:59 AM

    I enjoyed your a-z themed blog and learned so much about the culture and art that is flamenco! Take care
    x

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  9. Carol KilgoreMay 10, 2011 at 6:34 AM

    Have you encountered a blog with both word verification AND moderation? They're out there - I've found them.

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  10. Ellen BrickleyMay 10, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    Agree on the word verification - I've set up my blog to email comments to me (not practical for very busy blogs, but it works for me) and it just takes a quick skim for me to see if it's spam and delete it.

    This has happened twice, I think.

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  11. AnonymousMay 10, 2011 at 7:24 AM

    I enjoy short pieces, too. And I prefer the way Wordpress allows people to submit comments -- just press submit and it posts -- unlike Blogger, which requires one to type one's name and then press submit. I use Wordpress for my blog.

    I love your blog, Manzanita!

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  12. Talli RolandMay 10, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    I'm with you on the multiple blogs. SO confusing!

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  13. Susan Flett SwiderskiMay 10, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    I agree with all of your comments. As much as I enjoy reading, blogposts that are waaaaay too long take up entirely too much time. (So many blogs, so little time!)

    Although I didn't participate in the A-Z challenge, I discovered a lot of wonderful blogs because of it, and learned that there are a TON of talented writers in the blogosphere

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  14. Alida SharpMay 10, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    Great lessons and I totally agree with you!! Short is better, boo to music and word verification.

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  15. SouthhamsdarlingMay 10, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Good post. I agree with you totally about the word verification!

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  16. fishduckyMay 10, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Short or long, I love your posts! Your A-Z Challenge posts were wonderful, but now that it's over, where am I going to get my daily flamenco wakeup? Could we please have some more?

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  17. Rosalind AdamMay 10, 2011 at 1:45 PM

    Life is strangely quiet post A to Z, isn't it. We do have similar irritations. I can tolerate the word verification if I have to but I can't stand it when music chimes up without me requesting it and I too always click on someone's blog title from over a year ago. Why don't people rename them showing that they're defunct?

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  18. ManzanitaMay 10, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    Misha : Thanks Misha. Happy to see you here.

    Defeenah : I was nervous about it at first but it turned out to be so much fun a a great learning experience.

    Morning AJ : It sure is. We get to visit more blogs that way.

    Wendy : I learned so much in the year I've been blogging and found so many great people, like you.

    Jeff : Thanks for stopping. Haven't seen you in awhile. I know, it's my fault. I'll be by very soon.

    Patti : So far I haven't had any trouble with spam but I sure do on wordpress. That's where I have my other blog on natural healing. I never try to promote that one as I can get a little carried away about health, you know that. I'm safer sticking to this one. Ha.

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  19. ManzanitaMay 10, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    Texwisgirl : Thank you for the true comment, lovely camera lady.

    Kitty : I think you for being a faithful follower. Love to youl

    Carol : No I haven't but you're the sleuth. Tee Hee

    Ellen : Yes, I've seen a lot like that. I forgot about it. That would work too. Thanks.

    Gigi : Thanks. I have another blog on wordpress too but don't keep it up much as it's on natural healing and it's a subject only a few are interested in. I always have trouble with wordpress as I'm not much of a techie. :)

    Talli : Thanks. Wish I were more proficient as a techie. There is so much I want to know.

    Karen : I used to think I was a multi-tasker but I guess that relates only to my hands, not my mind (and reading).

    Susan : I thought I found you on the A-Z. Shows you how much I don't know :) But I'm happy I found you.

    Alida : You can visit more blogs when they are shorter... Yeahh!!!

    This is Me : Thanks. It does take extra time.

    Fishducky : I'm happy to see you again. I did go to a live Flamenco performance on Mother's day. A great nationally recognized troupe. My students were so excited. Most of them have never seen it live.... outside of our own troupe and we don't have guitars or a singer. I felt thrilled to think I had given them the background to appreciate this.

    Rosalind : I know. I think the multiple blogs annoy me the most too. You can open 3 blogs and never find the right one.

    Thank you dear bloggy friends. It's a good thing to discuss things that can save us time so we can read more blogs. Manzanita

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  20. Galen PearlMay 10, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Ditto on all points. I have my computer on mute so I am not bothered by the music, although it still slows down the computer. Shorter is better and I agree that JJ always packs a lot in a short post. I enjoyed your A-Z posts very much.

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  21. SueMay 10, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    Good points Manzanita, Glad you mentioned the music, I skipped those entirely, and some seemed very clunky to load too. I like the idea of people showing that a particular blog is defunct. I think that's where the hyperlink signature is handy, so you don't have to trawl through the profile sheet to find the participating blog. Sue

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  22. JJMay 10, 2011 at 5:14 PM

    Thank you, Manzi. I appreciate that.

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  23. AnonymousMay 10, 2011 at 5:56 PM

    I learned about Flamengo! The dance, the music, the dress! So interesting! Thank you!

    (I hate word verification-tedious)

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  24. anthony stemkeMay 10, 2011 at 6:39 PM

    I love your blog and agree about the music and word veric.

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  25. Su-sieee! MacMay 11, 2011 at 3:27 AM

    Thank you, Manzi! I learned a lot about flamenco and have taken to doing my own version of made up flamenco in the kitchen as I dry dishes while the husband is rinsing them. Lots of fun! :-)

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  26. Clare DunnMay 11, 2011 at 5:53 AM

    I really enjoyed your A-Z series! I learn something new from you all the time, and now I can say I know a bit about Flamenco!

    As you know, I am one of those "multiple bloggers'. I apologize for that, but I have good reasons (which I won't bore y'all about here) for doing so.

    As for the word verification thing...I hate it. Even when I'm commenting on my own blog it's there! I have learned another thing from your posts, now --- How to stop it!!!

    Thanks!!
    xoxoxo, clare

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  27. KayMay 11, 2011 at 11:40 AM

    Keeping my blog post length down is a real challenge for me, but I do make a concerted effort. I mean... I really do. Sigh.

    As for the Spamming. I've been spammed several times. Everytime it starts I put on the word verification. I leave it on for a few days and then I take it off again. Thank goodness I haven't had to put it on again for several weeks now.

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  28. fishduckyMay 11, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    Happy to be back! When will we get more flamenco?

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  29. K.C. WoolfMay 11, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    I really don't like background music on blogs (or other websites) because I tend to have many windows open at the same time, so I need to go look where it comes from.

    I agree with you that short blog posts are generally a good idea, even though I seem to be unable to write short posts myself. :-)

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  30. Rosalind AdamMay 11, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    Just popped back to say there's an award waiting for you on my blog :-)

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  31. Eat To LiveMay 11, 2011 at 6:03 PM

    Hi Manzanita,
    I loved your A to Z Challenge. I learned so much about Flamenco.... do you know that before you posted about it, I thought it was called the Flamingo. So you can see that I learned a lot and loved every minute of it.

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  32. Empty Nest InsiderMay 11, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    I agree that less is more, although it's a tough rule to always stick to. I really enjoyed the challenge too, and I'm kind of going through withdrawal now! Julie

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  33. Plain JaneMay 11, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    Ditto, ditto, ditto.

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  34. cherieMay 12, 2011 at 5:52 AM

    I thought I knew what Flamenco, but alas I had no clue. Thank you for being such a wonderful teacher and a great net friend.

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  35. Kittie HowardMay 12, 2011 at 6:40 AM

    Ohhh, but I could agree more about the music. It's so distracting! Short is best for A-Z. I finally fell out, even with short and try as I might. But during normal times, I enjoy a blog with depth and often google more around it. It's so nice to learn more about our world.

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  36. Laura EnoMay 12, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    I loved meeting new friends like you during the A to Z. You had a wonderful subject too. :)

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  37. BethMay 12, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    Great observations. I tried to visit one the other day that had about nine blogs, and I really didn't know where to start.

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  38. MiriamMay 12, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    Lovely post Manzanita, have a beautiful day :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

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  39. IngerMay 13, 2011 at 5:38 PM

    You have such a great blog and I am passing on an award I got to you. You can pick it up on my blog of today. Word verification is awful when you live in the country and speed is slow and you have to sit there and wait and hope you got it right. I am trying to encourage bloggers to get rid of it. I did, and I have not had any problems.

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  40. Empty Nest InsiderMay 13, 2011 at 11:55 PM

    I agree that less is more, although it's tough to keep it short sometimes. I also feel that music can be overly used. This seems like deja vu as I remember writing this before. I'm not sure if it didn't go through before or if blogger lost it. In any event, I enjoyed this twice as much! Julie

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  41. JoanneMay 14, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    I totally agree with that word vertification thingy. I disabled it and I think people appreciate that. Blessings, Joanne

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  42. ManzanitaMay 14, 2011 at 7:37 PM

    Galen : Keeping your sound on mute is a good idea.

    Sue : The hyperlink is a grand idea and thanks to you I can use mine all the time.

    JJ : You are welcome.

    Irene : WV is annoying but some people say it helps them with spam.

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  43. ManzanitaMay 14, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    Anthony : Thank you and It's nice of you to visit.

    Su-sieee : I'd like to be a fly in the corner watching you and husband in the kitchen. :)

    Clare : I know which is your blog.... the postcards and that makes a difference. See you.

    Kay : I guess there are spammers out there so WV is handy some of the time.

    Inger : Thanks and I'll be over to see you.

    Julie : I feel I saw your comment too. Are we going cuckoo?

    Joanne : I hope we don't get spam but I know some people put it on for a while and then remove it.

    Thank you for all your lovely comments, dear blggy friends. Manzanita

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  44. Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotteMay 14, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    When you're not in a hurry long blogs that tell a story are great to read. Why should all be condensed? More important is the message being shared. Blogs have many different reasons for being.
    A-Z reminds me of lesson plans as a teacher.
    I totally agree about the music button.

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  45. Stacey DonaldsonMay 15, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    I've heard great things about the blogging challenge - maybe I'll get on the next one!

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I'm your newest follwer :-)

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  46. LORIMay 17, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    Oh KleinsteMotte i love you! Short is sweet, but long is lovely - when well written. I'd rather read one beautifully inspiring long blog than 10 short and boring ones. My tip is that if the first paragraph doesn't grab attention, don't read any further.

    Manzanita, you have a knack for getting a good discussion going!

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  47. ManzanitaMay 22, 2011 at 11:03 PM

    Klienstemotte : Oh yes, if it's a good story and interesting you need some length.

    Stacy : Yes, by all means. It was fun. It's nice to meet you.

    Lori : You gave some good advice about the length of posts. Thanks for stopping

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