A-Z Blogging Challenge: Top 10 List

The A-Z Blogging Challenge. Over 1,200 bloggers. One post per day per letter of the alphabet. Whew. I had no idea what I was getting into. And now, it's over. I did it! Every.Single.Day. (except Sundays).

As a new blogger, I really didn't know what I was getting into, but this was baptism by fire. The challenge was probably the best way to learn how to blog and get into a routine. Special thanks to Lee and the other hosts at Tossing it Out There. The challenge helped me in so many ways.

Today is the first day of the end of the challenge. I feel a bit out of sync, like I have to blog today. So I'll write my recap..

Here are the Top 10 things the A-Z Blogging Challenge taught me:

1. Bloggers are good people
2. I write better with prompts
3. Goals are necessary for me to be productive
4. Peer support is more important than I anticipated
5. I have tons to learn about the technical aspects of blogging
6. Challenges are motivational
7. Blogging is more intimate than article writing/sharing
8. The blogging community is sincerely supportive
9. Colorful, shiny badges look cool on a blog
10. Camaraderie fuels my enthusiasm

Thanks to all of you who supported this journey and cheered me on. I look forward to more interaction with you. It was a pleasure and a delight.

Now to Catch Some ZZZZZZZs

It's with mixed emotions that I make this announcement. It's over. This is my final post for the A-Z Blogging Challenge. Since it's Z-day and since I'm creatively spent, I'm going to write about catching some ZZZZZZZZs after this challenge is over. Okay, I totally lifted the idea from the comment section (thanks Word Nerd) but still, it will be nice to sleep more.

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.

Yay! We're Almost Through

Yes. For Y-day I'm skimming by. Cutting corners. Taking the cheap route. Slowing down this train. My Y-word is yay as in Yay! We're almost through.  

The A-Z Blogging Challenge has been a learning experience. Dipping my toes in the blogosphere only days before the challenge kicked off, I had no idea what I was getting into. I started this blog and one on WordPress at the same time - as an experiment, to learn about both platforms. I fully expected to spend more time learning how to work within the templates than on the actual blogging. I planned to quietly blog under the radar until I found my footing. Then, and only then, did I plan to get serious about what I would write. I didn't think up cool names for my blogs, whether I should niche or go general, or any of the other smart stuff I would normally do. Nope, these blogs were only for me.

Then a friend learned about the A-Z Challenge and started (virtually) talking it up. With naive enthusiasm, I signed up BOTH BLOGS. Whatever was I thinking?! I didn't even know how to blog and I signed up to post on 2 blogs every day of the week (except Sunday) for a month? Oh, the folly of inexperience.

It's been good. Through this challenge I've learned:

• how to schedule a post on Blogger and WordPress
• how friendly and supporting this blogging community is
• how to remove a captcha code requirement 
• how creative and smart you people are
• how to add buttons, gadgets and other cool stuff to blogs
• that you can't monitize basic WordPress
• how to use google analytics
• that you can't use google analytics on WordPress
• that it's hard to write 2 posts per day and keep up with other writing requirements and a family and other regular stuff...
• that I've got a lot more to learn but I've gotten a good start
• that I've met super people and discovered excellent blogs to follow
• oh yeah, and that I love blogging

... and that I'm glad the A-Z Challenge is almost over. Today is Y-day and I say Yay! We're almost through. Tomorrow is Z-day and we will be through.

It's been a real pleasure blogging with you and I hope we stay in touch.

On a less sappy note, I'm happily accepting Z ideas in the comments section! :)

Top Ten Words That Start with X

While considering what to write about for the X-day on the A - Z Blogging Challenge, I came across loads of X-words I'd never heard of. For fun, I tried to use them in (very simple) sentences to see how it felt. While they don't exactly roll off the tongue, it was an interesting exercise, though I doubt I'd ever use these words in real life. See if you can weave a few X-words into your daily vocabulary.

1) Xenodochial - hospitable; kindly to strangers

We liked going to Betty's house, she was always xenodochial.

2) Xanthic - yellow; yellowish

Bill shouldn't have eaten those peanuts, now he looks xanthic.

3) Xenodocheionology - love of hotels

England is the best place to indulge my xenodocheionology.

4) Xebec - small three-masted pirate ship

That almost looks like a xebec in the harbor.

5) Xylopolist - one who sells wood

My dad made a good living as a xylopolist.

6) Xerothermic - dry and hot

Arizona is nice but I find it a bit xerothermic.

7) Xenophobia - fear of foreigners

Jane can't visit France due to her extreme xenophobia.

8) Xanthippe - ill-tempered woman

We avoided Modine at all costs, she was truly a xanthippe.

9) Xenium - gift made to a guest or ambassador; any compulsory gift

After our visit, a xenium was offered.

10) Xerasia - abnormal dryness of the hair

This was my third deep conditioning treatment and I still suffer from xerasia.

Source: The Phrontistery

W is for Wordless Wednesday

Friendship supersedes the need for words. 

V Words for Scrabble and Words With Friends Players

Nothing passes time better than a good game of Scrabble. Growing up, we often played board games at the kitchen table. Scrabble was one of our favorites and it instilled a love of words in me, my brother and my sis. Now that good Scrabble games are available online, you can waste more time entertain yourself for hours.

For the A-Z Blogging Challenge I'm providing a list of high scoring V words for you Scrabble players (from scrabblelookup.com). Good luck!

     Word                                          Letters                 Points

ventriloquizing	15	37
ventriloquized	14	36
ventriloquizes	14	35
ventriloquize	13	34
vasectomizing	13	30
ventriloquially	15	30
victimizations	14	30
vanquishable	12	29
vascularization	15	29
vasectomized	12	29
ventriloquistic	15	29
victimization	13	29
vasectomizes	12	28
ventriloquisms	14	28
verbalizations	14	28
victimizing	11	28
vizcachas	9	28
vizierships	11	28
vulcanizations	14	28
vandalizations	14	27
vanquishing	11	27
vaporizable	11	27
vaporizations	13	27
vasectomize	11	27
ventriloquism	13	27
verbalization	13	27
vexillological	14	27
victimized	10	27
victimizers	11	27
vizcacha	8	27
viziership	10	27
vocalizations	13	27
volatilizable	13	27
volatilizations	15	27
vouchsafements	14	27
vulcanization	13	27
vulgarizations	14	27

U is for Urban Dictionary

The Urban Dictionary is a web-based dictionary of slang words/phrases and street lingo. The entries are posted and defined by readers so there are some off-color entries. If you can stand it, however, some of the words and definitions are laugh-out-loud funny.

According to Urban Dictionary, the site has almost 5 million words listed. Some of the entries are 'new' definitions of everyday words; words that commonly mean one thing but have evolved to mean something entirely different in 'today's' language. Other entries are made-up words and phrases.

Recent favorites:

Afterclap: The person who keeps clapping after all applause has stopped. Usually an overly enthusiastic parent attending his/her child's theatre performance, dance recital, or ball game.
Example - Even though Joe is a lousy soccer player, his dad is always good for a loud afterclap.

Dungeon Tan: The complexion of a video game addict who never goes outside.
Example -  We haven't seen Earl in days. He must be in the basement playing Xbox and working on his dungeon tan.

Fauxpology: An insincere apology. When an apology is due but instead the person shifts blame or uses twisted logic to divert responsibility.
Example - When Betty opened the discussion with "I know you thought I said..." I turned away because I knew she was offering another lame fauxpology. 

Go primitive: Instead of typing or texting a detailed message, you suggest a phone call.
Example - I've got loads to tell you. Let's go primitive tomorrow, I'll call you at 5. 

Premature exasperation: Getting upset about something before learning the details.

Example: When my boyfriend found out I was in a car wreck, his premature exasperation kicked in. Nobody was hurt and none of the cars were damaged.

Okay, I've spent way more time on Urban Dictionary than I intended to. Check it out for yourself, if you dare.

Do you have any favorite 'modern' words or phrases to share?

source: Urban Dictionary

T is for Too Close to Quit

Warning: cop-out post alert.

That's right. I'm not good about writing on the weekends and today is Saturday. Amazingly, I have stayed 100% compliant with the A - Z Blogging Challenge (on this blog). I say amazingly because, since I escaped from the rigid corporate bonds of my previous existence I've become commitment phobic. So much so that I almost didn't participate in this fun challenge at all. The fact that the challenge had no strict 'rules' attracted me, so I jumped in. See, that's another thing I avoid, rules. No commitments and no rules please. Call it overcompensation or whatever, but I've had enough of those to last a lifetime.

My drive and competitive nature has not waned in retirement, however. Once I start something I will finish it. And I started this challenge so I will finish it.

Today is the day for a T-post. And, as I mentioned, it's Saturday. So my T-post is about the fact that I'm too close to quit. That's it. No more wisdom or insight. Just that I will continue to plug through until I reach Z.

That is next Saturday, right???

S is for Symbolism

Hi. Welcome to my S-post on the A-Z Blogging Challenge. If you came here to learn something today, you may want to move along.

Symbolism is not my strong-suit (apparently alliteration is, I can't stop myself... Alliteration: Why I Love It).

I enjoy good symbolism in literature. Here is a fine dictionary definition:

In writing, symbolism is the use of a word, a phrase, or a description, which represents a deeper meaning than the words themselves. This kind of extension of meaning can transform the written word into a very powerful instrument.

Indeed it can, but I suck at symbolism. At writing it. And sometimes at interpreting it. There are times when I don't get the cryptic references authors work into their stories. If the symbolism is fairly common, I'm on it. But if the representation is too subtle or vague it can pass right over my head.

In a writing group, we recently studied Kate Braverman's: Tall Tales from the Mekong Delta. It's a captivating and odd short story. After discussion, we determined that an entire character (one of only two) is symbolic. He (oops, I gave it away) isn't a real person but rather represents something else entirely. Bravo Kate.

Another example, I'm currently reading The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (love it!). I'm trying to figure out what the stuffed zebra symbolizes. His meaning and purpose are not clear to me yet.

So what I'm saying is: I am no good at working good symbolism into my fiction. This is an area where I need to grow as a writer.  Can you help?

What are your favorite examples of symbolism in literature? If you're a fiction writer, do you work symbolism into your stories? Any tips, suggestions, observations?

R is for Rain

It rained so hard the entire day

My blogging was on rain delay

Hail smacked against the window panes

Then lightening came, and still more rain

The storm, it raged. The winds blew hard

Big puddles formed in my front yard

Loud thunder claps boomed loud, they roared

I stayed away from my keyboard

Now rains have passed and all is clear

A post with R is due my dear

I'll blog about the rain, why not

A poem will fill up the R-spot

It might not be a prize, it's true

But still it's done and I say whew!

Q is for Quagmire

Totally appropriate for today. My Q-word is quagmire.

Q came at the right time because I feel like I'm stuck in a quagmire, figuratively speaking of course.

The Encarta Dictionary defines quagmire (noun) as 1) swamp: a soft marshy area of land that gives way when walked on and 2) an awkward, complicated, or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to escape.

The word quagmire is used more colloquially around here. Instead of using quagmire to describe an awkward, complicated or dangerous situation we use it more to mean a dilemma, a pickle, a predicament, a jam, a quandary.  

The reason I feel like I'm stuck in a quagmire is that I've been pushing out these A-Z Blogging Challenge posts the day of. No preplanning, no scheduling, no rough drafts. And things are starting to get busy. I've picked up a few new clients that expect me to produce (gasp!).

I started this challenge and I intend to finish it so I find myself in a quagmire.

Footnote: I purposely refrained from writing about Glenn Quagmire here. If I open that subject, I'm afraid I'll get in a real quagmire.

P is for Paradox: What is the Difference Between a Paradox and an Oxymoron?

For those of you following along, you probably guessed that today I would write about paradox for the A-Z Blogging Challenge. A discussion of paradox naturally follows a post about oxymoron, which can be found here: O is for Oxymoron.

So, what is a paradox? What is the difference between a paradox and an oxymoron?

A paradox and an oxymoron are similar. A paradox is a statement or event that seems to contradict itself although it is, or can be, true. A paradoxical statement defies intuition.

Although there are no fast rules that distinguish between the two (several sources I referenced for this post consider the words paradox and oxymoron synonyms), there are discernible differences.

A paradox is a statement or even a paragraph that describes a contradiction whereas an oxymoron is a combination of contradictory terms, usually just two words (go here for a list of oxymoron examples).

One of my favorite literary examples of a paradox is from George Orwell’s Animal Farm: “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”

Sources: Literary terms and definitions, DifferenceBetween.net, CliffNotes.com

O is for Oxymoron

With a definite maybe I agreed to participate in the A-Z Blogging Challenge. Surprisingly, I've kept up so far. I'm terribly pleased. And today marks another week and another string of alphabetic posts. I'm almost exactly where I need to be and when I make this O-post, I'll be right on track.

Did you guess what I'm writing about from the intro? There are 3 examples. Okay, the title of the post makes it painfully obvious but would you have guessed anyway? Can you find the examples?

Today's writerly word is oxymoron (plural, oxymora).

Oxymoron is a phrase in which two (or more) incongruous words are used in conjunction to highlight an apparent contradiction.  When used effectively, a well placed literary oxymoron reveals a deeper truth through it's contradiction.

Shakespeare was masterful in his use of oxymora. Examples include:

• Romeo & Juliet: sweet sorrow 
• A Midsummer Night's Dream: tragical mirth 
• Julius Caesar: fearful bravery

Some oxymora are so frequently used they become part of everyday language. Examples:

• Good grief
• Act natural
• Found missing
• Small crowd
• Pretty ugly
• Working vacation
• Clearly misunderstood

Yeah, I love a good oxymoron because, you know, I'm a sophisticated redneck.

PS. You may find this interesting: P is for Paradox: What is the Difference Between a Paradox and an Oxymoron?

Source: Literary Terms and Definitions 

N is for Neville Longbottom

You've got to admire J.K. Rowling's plucky Neville Longbottom. Of Harry Potter fame, Longbottom goes through a noble character arc, growing from a shy, clumsy boy into a brave Hogwarts defender.

Early in the Harry Potter books, Neville is plagued with misfortune. His hardships include:

• Displaying no magic skill as a kid (a Squib)
• Losing his toad Trevor on the train platform
• Nervously running across the Great Hall with the Sorting Hat on his head
• Being bullied by Peeves the Poltergist
• Melting Seamus Finnigan's cauldron
• Falling off his broom and breaking his wrist
• Receiving the Leg-Locker Curse from Draco Malfoy
• And more, but you get the picture

Yet, at birth, Neville was one of only two children referenced in Sybill Trelawney's prophecy about wizards with the power to stand against the Dark Lord. The other child was Harry Potter.

Check this out:
 
Lord Voldemornt: "You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom." 
Neville Longbottom:  "I'll join you when hell freezes over! Dumbledore's Army!"
— Lord Voldemort and Neville Longbottom at the Battle of Hogwarts

Not what you would expect from the introverted Longbottom. He artfully grew from a bumbling kid into a strong and confident wizard. 

True, the story arc is an important element of any plot. But a good character arc-for main characters as well as secondary characters-makes the difference between a series of happenings and a gripping human story. Neville Longbottom is a great example.

Sources: Harry Potter Wikia & the Harry Potter Books by J. K. Rowling   

Manuscript: Basic Submission Guidelines

The word manuscript has two meanings.

Originally, a manuscript was a book or other text written by hand, especially one written before the invention of printing. (Manus is Latin for 'hand' and scriptum is Latin for 'written.')

While still accurate, the word is more frequently used to describe a writer's text for a book, article, or other piece of written work before it is published.

Basics for submitting a written manuscript include:

• Good quality 8.5"x11" white paper (for the US)
• One sided
• Readable font
• Double spaced
• Indented paragraphs
• 1" margins (right and left/top and bottom)
• Header with your name/story title in the upper left and page number in the upper right
• No staples or binders

Basic manuscript submission guidelines can be found all over the internet. My best advice is to do your research. Most publishers and agents have manuscript submission guidelines available on their websites. Some have particular formatting guidelines specific to that publishing company. When submitting a manuscript, follow the directions to the letter. You do not want your manuscript rejected for a silly formatting mistake.

Sources: Encarta Dictionary, Literary Terms and Definitions

L is for Lyrics: Song Lyrics

Song lyrics inspire me. Certain lyricists have an uncanny ability to convey powerful feelings and complex ideas in few words. How do they do that?  How do they register with us on an emotional and intellectual level so quickly.

Due to my fascination with song lyrics, I can't listen to music when I write. I write in complete silence. If there's music playing anywhere, my concentration goes towards the lyrics; studying the phrasing and the word choice, listening to the story.

Do you write with music playing?

Are you distracted by the lyrics?

Even though I am a song lyric junky, music matters. There are songs that I love even though I cannot identify any of the words; Pearl Jam's Yellow Ledbetter springs to mind. By the way, if you've never seen the Misheard Lyrics Guy's YouTube vid, do yourself a favor and watch this. Be prepared to laugh, it's hilarious. 

Granted, this is a subjective topic but here are a few of my favorite lyricists: Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Amy Ray & Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls), Wilco, Joanna Newsom, Paul Simon, James Mercer (The Shins), John Prine, Neko Case, Tom Waits, Issac Brock (Modest Mouse), Bruce Springsteen, Laura Marling, Bright Eyes, PJ Harvey, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Brown, Amy Winehouse, Neal Young, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, John Lennon... I could go on and on.

Who are your favorite lyricists?

K is for Kigo

I love to write haiku, the 3-line verse that contains five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second and five syllables in the third. A form of Japanese verse, haiku usually do not rhyme-and they pop out of my mouth like a Pez Dispenser.

My haiku habit is the subject of jokes among family and friends. I always write a haiku about whatever gift I receive and include it in the thank-you card, for fun. I've published plenty of haiku on the internet as well, but recently stopped. I think my haiku are more fun to write than than they are to read.

Still, this one gets decent page views: 
 Leftover Chocolate Easter Bunny - a Haiku Trio

And some homeschooling parents picked up this haiku riddle sheet to use in lesson plans:
Can you Guess the Animals in the Haiku Zoo?

Okay, enough self promotion. What does haiku (obviously an H-word) have to do with kigo (my K-word post for the A-Z Blogging Challenge)?

As I pondered what to write today, I played around on some of my favorite research sites. Stumbling onto the word kigo, I dug a bit deeper.

According to the Literary Terms and Definitions website:

Kigo is a traditional 'season-word' in Japanese haiku. The kigo must appear within a haiku's text or be strongly implied by imagery. These words place the haiku within a specific month or season, establishing an atmosphere for the poem while maintaining brevity.

Color me excited. That's fantastic! I did not know about kigo until today.

As buds strain to bloom 
Consciousness grows to include 
Word discovery

This is why I love being a writer. Always researching and always learning. 

Happy writing! Don't forget to include a kigo in your next haiku!

J is for Just Write Something

Today has been a busy day in town as it officially marks the 150-year anniversary of the American Civil War. We live in Charleston, S.C., where the first shots were fired (Fort Sumter) so we had to get out into the fracas. Keeping up my morning ritual of writing A-Z Blogging Challenge posts took a back seat on my daily schedule, so I find myself trying to quickly bang out a J post.

Since I’m blogging by the seat of my pants (no plan, randomly choosing a topic when I sit down to write) I have no J word ready. Nope, no nuggets of gold, no pearls of wisdom here today. Just a girl sitting at a desk writing a blog post about nothing. (Hey, it worked for Seinfeld.)

So I'll...

Just write.

Just write something. 

I’ll refer you to my I post from yesterday about where ideas come from. I'm directing you there because today, this random post, is a demonstration of what I was trying to communicate yesterday. 

As I said, when faced with lack of ideas/writers block/no motivation/a missing muse, I free write. So welcome to the inside of my head. This is me free writing.  

Just writing.

Ideas: Where Do They Come From?

How do you come up with topic ideas for articles? What about story ideas? Blog post ideas?

The A-Z Blogging Challenge has been helpful. The structure of coming up with blog posts that begin with corresponding letters of the alphabet appeals to me.

I confess to being hit with writers block on occasion, even though I don't fully understand the concept. See, I'm not sure I know the difference between writers block and lack of motivation. I don't think there is a difference for me.

I have a head full of ideas so I doubt it's writers block I suffer from. I've got ideas scribbled on scraps of paper, texted to myself, recorded into my cell phone. Still, sometimes I can't write. None of the ideas strike my fancy at the time and I can't think of any ideas that do.

And while we're on the subject, what is a muse? How does a muse fit into all of this?

When faced with lack of ideas/writers block/no motivation/a missing muse, I free write. As I pondered this conundrum a few months ago (and could not force myself to even write the ABC's), I scribbled out a poem on the subject.  Overcoming Writers Block.

Earlier today I was thinking about an I blog post and ideas seemed like a natural choice. So I'll ask the questions of you fine writers.

How do you come up with topic ideas for articles? What about story ideas? Blog post ideas? 

Helpful Habits for Successful Writers

Having the good fortune of interacting with many successful freelance writers, I've noticed they have specific habits in common.


I'm not talking about quirks, as in: I can only write standing up, in longhand, on index cards, with a green ink pen, wearing a Lynyrd Skynyrd t-shirt.

No, I'm talking about habits. Good habits. Helpful habits. Habits that help a writer write.   

Here are some work habits of successful writers:

• Read a lot - read books and articles you wish you had written.
• Write a lot - just write. Writers write.
• Listen to dialogue in everyday life - pay attention to how real people talk to one another.
• Record ideas - carry a notebook, handheld recorder or cell phone and take written or verbal notes  when the idea hits. Flesh out as much as you can right then. Later, when you have time to write, the concept is vividly recorded.
• Find your place - determine whether you work best with background noise or in complete silence. At a desk or on the sofa. Try different ways until you establish what is best for you.
• Keep a schedule - maybe you're an early morning writer, a night owl, or perhaps you can't start writing until your email box is clear. Experiment until you determine a schedule that works for you and stick to it.
• Establish daily goals - whether it's x number of pages, x number of words, or x number of articles, it's helpful to have an established goal each day.

What are your best writing habits?