Going into the challenge I had no plan, no map, no clue. I blogged by the seat of my newbie pants the entire month. Some nights, as I was trying to sleep, I would start churning through possibilities for the next day's post. I would write the post in my mind and think I could remember it until morning. Then I might think of other options for that letter and mind-write another post. This could go on for hours. Mentally writing instead of sleeping.
Yes, I know that writers often sleep with a pen and pad on their bedside table for this very reason. I do too. But I don't like to turn on the light once it's off. The light makes me 'more awake' and then I'm liable to fire up the computer and settle in for a night-long date with the written word. Actually writing instead of sleeping.
Sure, I'll still mentally write and actually write when I should be sleeping, sometimes. I always have. But maybe I'll do the mental-writing thing less. Perhaps the alphabetic prompts over-stimulated me creatively. I couldn't turn it off. So now I need some good, old-fashioned ZZZZZZZZs.
See you after I catch some sleep.
Great photo to go along with your post! Does your little kitty realize he (or she) is sleeping on the dog's bed (note the bone)? My final A-Z Challenge blog post: http://myheartblogstoyou.blogspot.com/2011/04/zu-zus-petals.html
ReplyDeleteHurray, Langley! You did it!
ReplyDeleteI once wrote an entire article in my head, in the middle of the night. I had it worded exactly the way I wanted it. Then I finally went to sleep. The next morning, I couldn't remember much of it at all.
My Z posts:
Zzzzzzzz
Zenna, Zaphod, and Zags
:) It was tough but we made it through!
ReplyDeleteYeah we did it. I'm ready for a nappy too.
ReplyDeleteHurray! Congratulations on making it to the end, and enjoy your Zzzzzs! Love the kitty picture, that's adorable. :)
ReplyDeleteWe got there in the end, Langley. You deserve a good snooze.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, you made it! I feel like I need a nap too. lol
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on completing the A to Z Challenge. It was quite a ride and you deserve to catch some zzzzzzzzzzzz's now.
ReplyDeleteMy Z is for ... Zetsudai no doryoku osuru
I hate laying in bed trying to sleep and mentally writing articles when I should be sleeping. Great post and congrats on finishing the challenge!
ReplyDeleteAhhhhhh - Zzzzzzzzz is what I did all night and off and on all morning! It was nice knowing I didn't HAVE to post something today. And, I wasn't planning on joining the Z-A challenge, but I caved because, I have to admit, it kept me regular (and I'm not talking fiber here). I'm also one who will not turn on lights if I get up during the night. I hate waking up more than I need to be so that I can go back to sleep when I hit the bed again. I get two or more potty calls a night. I want as much sleep as I can get from that. But, I will lay there if I have something to write and will mull it over in my head and will even work out the initial phrasing. As long as I do that, I'm good to go. Like you, I am a newbie to the blogging arena. I did feel way overwhelmed this last week, but I'm going to give it another go in May. If I get fried, I'll leave it alone for June.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya! Cute pic!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, do other bloggers have a plan when they do a challenge like this. I am a newbie like you and winged it. And yay! we did it, congratulations on completing the challenge!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on completing the challenge, and thanks for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteAnd I must put that notebook by my bed. The other night I had three different ideas for my WIP, I made myself remember 3 key words, but by the next morning I'd forgotten w 2 of them - duh!
I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and wrote an entire article one time. Inspiration often strikes me at weird times. Congratulations on finishing the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI just found you through the challenge - better late than never! Extra credit to you for being new to blogging and accepting the challenge. My A-Z posts can be found at http://earthdragonhealing.blogspot.com please drop by for a visit and if you do leave a comment so I know you were by. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Langley, this is Sue. I'm so relieved the code worked, thankyou for trying it out there because that meant I got here! Garbled, but I hope you know what I mean. Now I'm going to try something new here. cheers. oh and I must remember to read your posts before I leave. <a href=" http://jumpingaground.blogspot.com/2011/05/z-of-alliterative-drabbles-z-blogging.html/”>Sue</a>
ReplyDeletedrat
ReplyDeleteTry a red coloured globe in a torch for night writing. It doesn't have the same 'wake up' effect. I've done the same thing night after night, and I NeVER remember the brilliant posts when I wake up Sue@traverselife(Workplace bullying)
ReplyDeleteLangley, we did it! Congratulations! I have an award for you!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who blogs while sleeping or wakes up to blog or whatever. It can become rather fixating at times.
ReplyDeleteBut you made it! Congratulations on reaching the last letter zzzzzz!
Lee
Tossing It Out
OK Langly...I have been remiss in following your A-Z blog, but a painful, sleepless night was made bearable by reading it from start to finish. I'm glad that I read it that way, it has a certain rhythm that I think I would have missed had I followed it day to day. Lots of good ideas in there, and maybe some muse as well!
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