Friday, May 3, 2013

A to Z Reflections Post


It’s reflection time. How did a month of daily posts change me as a person? How did it make me grow?

Well, like last year, I spent all my prep time not doing prep work, and instead was doing work daily in order to post. Anytime something came up at home and I couldn't make time to sit down and do a picture then that day just got pushed back.

At one point I was posting my L or M when everyone else was posting Q or R… it was a real struggle to keep up the pace.

But I wasn’t willing to skip a letter, so I ended up double posting on some days, and in one glorious day of insanity, I would work on my image, post my progress, then get back to work, post again a few hours later… I managed to get four posts done that day.

It was all a bunch of stressful fun, the sort that I was freaked out about in the middle of it all, but really enjoyed in retrospect.

There was however, a down side. The purpose of the challenge isn’t just to post, but to go out and meet other bloggers. There were thousands of people participating and I probably didn’t get to 50 of them over the course of the month – too caught up in my own drama to pay attention to anyone else. So in that sense, I didn’t do what I wanted with my time.

Lesson learned for next year. I will NOT be doing an art related project if I can’t have some posts ‘in the bank’ before I begin. A lot of posts, ‘in the bank.’ Next year, it’s all about visiting others.


15 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I asked you last year if you were going to do something different. You are stubborn that way!
But you did complete a really cool cover for Andrew. As long as he's happy, that's what matters.
I didn't get to many new blogs outside of my section of the list. I was too busy trying to keep up with blogger buddies while drowning in comments.

PT Dilloway said...

You say that now but next year you'll probably end up with the same problems.

jaybird said...

I tried to visit five new people a day- but sometimes life just didn't allow that to happen.

I went without a theme and that actually helped me. I had a little more flexibility in the creative process and I think that's the only reason I was able to finish.

Briane said...

I only just now realized, looking at your final post, just how creepy that shadow coming OUT OF the dark tunnel is.

VERY CREEPY.

Even better? I like the smaller shadow S in "Spinner" as part of the larger "S" in "Shadow."

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Glad you still pulled through despite the stress.

Andrew Leon said...

To respond to Alex, yes, I am happy with the cover. I need to email you with specifics about all of that.

If all goes to plan (when does that ever happen?), I'm going to have all my posts for next year finished before the end of this year. Yes, that means I already have next year's theme figured out!

Golden Eagle said...

I didn't get around to many blogs this year, either. Probably because I, too, ended up writing my posts during the month rather than before, which cuts out a lot of blogging time!

Simply Sarah said...

Congrats on making it to the end. I agree that having posts ready ahead of time sounds like a good idea for next year. I didn't have any done ahead so I spent all my evenings writing a story every day. It was fun though!

Tami Von Zalez said...

What? You didn't visit me? *grins* Well, now is your lucky day. I'll be here all year (till the next challenge) ...

Cheers from one AtoZer to another!

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Jay Noel said...

Your art is a labor of love, and I appreciate how you shared it with us.

But I'm sure your blood pressure might be served best if you didn't have to stress out so much.

Jo said...

I enjoyed your cover progression and I was happy when my idea was included. I know it was stressful for you but it was fascinating for me and others I have no doubt, to see how a cover might be drawn. At least yours relates to the story, so many covers I see have no connection whatsoever.

JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

Jo said...

I enjoyed your cover progression and I was happy when my idea was included. I know it was stressful for you but it was fascinating for me and others I have no doubt, to see how a cover might be drawn. At least yours relates to the story, so many covers I see have no connection whatsoever.

JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I thought you did good. I just busted your chops halfway through cause it was fun. I didn't mean anything by it though.

Trisha said...

I love this challenge and how we learn along the way, each year. I too have learned what I DON'T want to do from here on in, with the A to Z. Namely, I DON'T want to go forward if I don't have posts scheduled. :)

Printed Portal said...

well done on getting through it all :)