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I’ve known about A to Z Challenge for a couple of years now, but I never got around to joining it. Mostly because I never considered myself a blogger, and my posting schedule is still at best “shaky”, with merely a post a week (or even less). But, as you can guess, this year is different and I’ll be doing my best to post 26 posts throughout April (Sundays excluded, everybody needs a bit of rest!), each related to one letter of the alphabet.
And today is the challenges day for theme reveal.
Even thought themes are not obligatory, I thought it would be good to have some structure and direction in the challenge and I took some time to consider what would be worthwhile to share. Of course, I’d love to write about my stories and projects, but it wouldn’t be fun with most of them being works-in-progress, and nothing available for the readers, so it would feel like showing pictures of ice-cream, but sharing none for others to eat.
“Books” seemed to be the best choice, so in April I’ll be sharing my reads, old and new, that affected me as a writer, inspired me, provided food for thought, or simply allowed me to escape into another world for a little while. It might not be the most original of the themes, but I think it’s good for a start, isn’t it? (Besides, I love books.)
Even thought I’m a speculative fiction fan, not all the books will fall into that genre and I’m sure at least several choices will surprise you (yes, I’ve already made a list of titles, so prepared I am!), while some might seem a bit too obscure or might make you regret you don’t read in Polish. I hope you’ll find these posts fun and informative.
I’m looking forward to the A to Z Challenge, especially it’ll connect with my 1000 words a day goal for the 365k Club Challenge, and possibly free up some time for the novel rewrite I planned to work on during Camp NaNoWriMo… So, three challenges in April (though goal of two of them overlap a bit) and I’m excited to see how it goes. I managed to stay on top two challenges last July, but will it be the same this time?
And what about you? Are you participating in any challenge in April? Or maybe you have other plans?
Wow! Books is such a wonderful theme and writing 1000 words a day is quite a challenge.
It’s my first year too with A to Z challenge & would be happily following your posts.
Thank you 🙂 I see we’re both in for the first time, so we can cheer on each other!
That is a wonderful theme with books; always looking for people’s reviews on them as I enjoy reading myself 🙂 I think it is great to have a theme; it keeps you focused on getting through the letters. The first year I did the challenge, I didn’t have one and I was scrambling around trying to come up with what to write; when I went with a theme, it went so much smoother 🙂
betty
Thank you, Betty! 🙂
I don’t write reviews myself (I find doing it as a writer a bit controversial), but I do share my impressions of certain reads every once a while.
And I’m glad to know picking a theme was a good idea 🙂
This is my first year of A to Z also, but I’d never heard of it until a couple of months ago. Looking forward to your posts!
Thank you for stopping by! I hope we’re both enjoy the challenge. 🙂
(I’d pop over to your blog, but you haven’t left a link…)
I like the notion of a theme and will be following your book-related blogs in April:) with great interest:). I’ve set myself a couple of challenges this year regarding reading – to read more science fiction and more authors I haven’t encountered, particularly women. So far I’m hitting my targets, but I have no illusions – it could all go belly-up when I get to the stage when I’m self-publishing The Sunblinded…
Best of luck with your challenge – knowing your work ethic, I’m sure you’ll succeed, or if you don’t, there will be a solid reason for not doing so.
I hope you’ll find my not-reviews interesting, Sarah! You have your daily blogging downpath and I admire you for that, I can’t even imagine how much work and planning goes into that.
And somehow I still think you’ll manage your reading goals, since you read so much. 🙂
Like so many others, my first time too. And looking forward to reading your posts. All the best 🙂
Good luck to you too, Roshan! I hope it’s going to be fun for everyone. 🙂
Welcome to the A to Z Challenge, Joanna! I’m looking forward to learning more about the books that have influenced you – especially in Polish, since I don’t know much about Polish authors.
Thank you, Laura! 🙂 I have a few Polish titles in mind (and few more as a backup in case I change my mind), but I didn’t want to overwhelm the list with authors who are not translated into English.
I am participating in the challenge this year. This will be my second year participating. I didn’t do a theme last year, and I’m not doing one this year. Maybe next year, I will.
Whatever works for you 🙂 I find structure appealing and helpful, but some people work better left free “to explore” as they go. 🙂
I’ll be particularly interested in the Polish books, though I don’t understand much of the language. I love learning about literature from other parts of the world, particularly Eastern Europe.
Good to know! 🙂 I didn’t want to have too many, because of the language barrier, but there is at least one who had been translated (well, one book, but still), so I hope you’ll find the posts interesting!
You really can’t go wrong with books / influential reads as an A To Z. Though I wonder whether you’ve been able to find books for letters like X and Z…? But you mentioned you already have a list of titles, so I’ll wait and see what they are next month – along with your other picks, too! 🙂
Z was easy, it’s a Polish book. For X I considered Xanth, in a twist approach of “I never got into it”, but I thought of something else instead what might work. Not a title, but definitely books-related.
i’m a book fan too. i like seeing what other people read because i find new authors and titles to enjoy!
Thank you for stopping by! I hope you’ll find some interesting reads here. 🙂
I always like to see what other people are reading. You actually get a pretty limited look at what’s out there at the bookstore–now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a bookstore, but it’s always nice to see beyond it.
I love bookstores too, but I agree, the choice there (especially the chain ones) is quite limited.
I remember “Hughes and Hughes” bookstore in Dublin: four or five vast floors, sci-fi and fantasy were taking up a whole wall. I almost felt spoiled for choice there, though they still didn’t have “everything” ;).
Good luck and have fun – I however am remaining unchallengeable. Pure laziness I suppose.
Or a way to limit unnecessary stress and pressure in your life. 😛
Books is a great theme. I’m curious about what you will be highlighting. My TBR pile needs to grow. 😉
I hope you’ll find something for yourself, Patricia. 🙂
Great topic! look forward to reading and catching some for my ever growing reading list 🙂 All the best
I hope you’ll find something interesting for your list, Dahlia. 🙂
It’s a perfect theme and I look forward to reading some of your selections. Enjoy the challenge. 🙂
Thanks! I hope it’s going to be fun. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by, Shalzzz! It’s very motivating to see so much encouragement. 🙂
Such a great theme! I’m looking forward to reading your posts. Let’s have a rocking April 🙂
Books is a fun theme! Enjoy your first year of the challenge.
Yvonne
Thank you! Two days left, I should be getting ready. 🙂
Books always make for a fun theme. All the best for the challenge
Nilanjana.
Ninja Minion, A-Z 2016
Madly-in-Verse
Thank you, Nilanjana! 🙂