Friday, March 30, 2012

Back from Break and Excited for the A-Z Challenge!


I'm back from my blogging break, and can't wait to get started on the A-Z in April Challenge this Sunday. I can't believe it's April 1st already!

My break turned out to be exactly what I needed, and I managed to finish a second draft of my WIP. I did a lot of revising and fleshing out of the characters and situations, and ended up adding more than 11,000 words to my original word count. I feel 100 times better about the story than I did when I wrote my Insecure Writer's Support Group post back at the beginning of the month, and it feels great to be able to say that. Now I am putting the new draft aside for a while and letting it sit before I attack it again for more revisions and editing later.

I also was thrilled to get some paid freelance assignments this month that I really enjoyed doing, so March was a very productive month for me. But, I definitely missed interacting with everyone here in the blogosphere, so I'm looking forward to getting back to blogging and jumping right in with the A-Z Challenge.

Last year I didn't have a theme for my A-Z posts so I decided to change it up this time and write my posts around a specific theme. I'm going to expand on the idea behind my Travels With Clancy project, which is to find the beauty in my own backyard, and write an A-Z of Cincinnati for this year's challenge. I'm writing about landmarks, historical sites, parks and nature preserves, and just general things of interest to me in this area.

If you're new to the challenge and haven't signed up yet, it's not too late to participate! Just visit the sign-up page here and add your blog to the list. 

I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone, and reading all the A-Z posts as we go through April. I hope everyone has a great weekend ahead, and I'll see you on Sunday for the letter A! :)

25 comments:

  1. Yay! I'm glad things are going better on the novel front. Look forward to your A-Z posts. :)

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  2. Hey Julie! Glad you finished your second draft. I probably should've eased back this month so I could work on mine, but there's always May.

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  3. @Jules, thanks, it's great to see you!

    @Tonja, thanks!

    @Cherie, thank you, I'm looking forward to your posts as well.

    @Karen, thanks, see you then!

    @Alex, thanks! And good luck with your next draft!

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  4. Hi Julie - well done for achieving so much .. and I'm going to enjoy your Cincinnati challenge posts - they'll be fun to read ...

    Cheers Hilary

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  5. What a great idea for a theme! I think finding beauty in your own backyard is a wonderful challenge. Have fun with it!

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  6. Well, welcome back and I can't wait to read your blogs...being from Ohio, I love Cincinnati and so I can't wait to see your landmarks...

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  7. @Hilary, thank you! I'm looking forward to reading your posts as well.

    @Emily, thanks!

    @Tracy, oh, I didn't realize you were from Ohio originally. Thanks for the welcome back!

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  8. Very productive break. Kudos. Cool theme for A-Z :)

    Happy Weekend!

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  9. It sounds like you had a very productive time! Looking forward to Sunday!

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  10. Missed ya! How's Clancy?

    Glad you got a second draft done. Yay on the AtoZ. I forgot about IWSG, too. Dang.

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  11. Great theme for the Challenge! :) I look forward to reading them. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  12. I think that's a great idea! I considered doing something with Colorado, but was so intent on matching up the letters that I forgot to be enjoying it. I look forward to hearing more about Cincinnati!

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  13. Sounds like you had a breakthrough break! LOL Welcome back to the blogosphere :)

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  14. @Carol, thank you! I hope you're having a great weekend there.

    @Annalisa, I really did, thanks. See you Sunday!

    @Yvonne, thanks!

    @Mary, thanks, I missed you too. Clancy is great and says to tell your sci-fi kitties hello. :)

    @Christine, thank you! Hope you're having a great weekend too.

    @Shannon, thanks! I always love your pics from Colorado, I think there is probably a lot more to enjoy there, it looks so gorgeous!

    @Carolyn, LOL, good way to put it. Thank you!

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  15. Hi Julie - Welcome back! I'm looking forward to checking out what you have in store for us in this year's A-Z Challenge.

    Cheers, Jenny @ Pearson Report
    Co-Host of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.

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  16. I love the idea behind your theme. It's something we all should do in our own backyards.

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  17. Hi Julie, I'm glad you've found a theme and are ready to go!

    This is me, Duncan D. Horne, visiting you from the A-Z challenge, wishing you all the best throughout April and beyond.

    Duncan In Kuantan

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  18. Glad you were able to get so much accomplished, and congrats on more freelance assignments! Can't wait to see your theme tomorrow! Julie

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  19. It sounds like a break was just what you needed. I'm glad you got so much done.

    You're A to Z theme sounds wonderful. I look forward to reading the posts.

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  20. @Jenny, thank you! I am looking forward to your Challenge posts as well.

    @Gwen, thanks!

    @Duncan, hi, so nice to meet you! I will be checking out your blog and look forward to reading your Challenge posts.

    @Julie, thanks!! I am anxious to see your challenge posts as well, so fun to be doing this again.

    @Rebecca, it really was, thanks so much.

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  21. Yummm. I'd like a scoop of French Vanilla, please :)

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  22. @Carol, I wish I could give you some! It was excellent. :D

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