Wednesday, January 11, 2012

I'm Hearing Voices Blogfest and The A-Z in April Challenge

I’m Hearing Voices

Thanks to the Insecure Writer's Support Group meeting last week, I met some great new blogger friends and learned of a fun upcoming blogfest. As soon as I read about the I'm Hearing Voices! Character Blogfest, I knew I had to participate, as I totally love the title. Not that I hear voices in my head or anything like that. ;)

I'm Hearing Voices is hosted by Cassie Mae at Reading, Writing, and Lovin' it! and Angie at Live to Write...Edit when Necessary. Here are the details, from Cassie and Angie's sites:
February 6th - Monday: Characters on the couch: Have one of your characters answer the following questions (to make this work to your benefit, choose a character who is the hardest for you to write :) Max 250 words (Not including the questions—only the answers).

1.    What is your biggest vulnerability? Do others know this or is it a secret?
2.    What do people believe about you that is false?
3.    What would your best friend say is your fatal flaw? Why?
4.    What would the same friend say is your one redeeming quality? Why?
5.    What do you want most? What will you do to get it?

February 8th - Wednesday - Dialogue Introduction: Have two characters introduce each other using only dialogue—no backstory, no internalization, just dialogue between the two. Max 250 words.

February 10th - Friday - Emotion Flash Fiction: Emotion is the engine of a story. Pick an emotion and in a flash fiction piece of 250 words MAKE us feel it! We want to connect with your character. This will be a challenge in 250 words.
I thought this blogfest sounded like an opportunity to not only have fun, but also stretch my writing muscles, and possibly find ways to more fully flesh out my characters in the process. I think writing the posts will be a great challenge. 

In addition to the writing challenges, Cassie and Angie are also offering prizes as part of the blogfest. If you want to participate and take your shot at winning some great prizes, just go here to sign up.  Thanks to Cassie and Angie for hosting this fun event!





And speaking of fun blogfests,  the fabulous A-Z in April Challenge is right around the corner! Sign up begins on January 30 and, in addition to many familiar hosts, there are a few new members of the A-Z team this year.

I had such a great time with last year's challenge that I knew I wanted to sign up again, but I was having a terrible time trying to come up with post topics or any sort of unifying theme. Last year I had just "winged it," and I really wanted to be more prepared this year, but I was drawing a blank in my preparations.

Until yesterday, when I had to go to the dentist to get a crown. Not a fun task but, amazingly enough, it gave me the theme I've been searching for. I was waiting in the lobby and looking around at the pictures on the wall. Out of the blue, one of the pictures gave me an idea for my theme! I spent the rest of the day running over topics in my head, and getting more and more excited. This is definitive proof to me that you sure never know where inspiration will hit. It might even be at the dentist's office!

Visit the A-Z Challenge site to learn all about the April event. If you are new to the Challenge and unsure about whether or not to sign up, I couldn't recommend it more. If you're anything like me, it will be the best blogging decision you make this year.

23 comments:

  1. I'm going to give the A-Z Challenge a try this year - my first time. I'm pretty sure I have my theme but I'm going to write up a few sample posts to see if I can actually make it work. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Both of these sound awesome! The character one will definitely help me flesh out my characters a bit more!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yay! Super excited for this! Thanks for spreading the word. Eep!

    ReplyDelete
  4. WOW! I got the dentist next week! Will keep an eye out while saying aaarrggghhh in answer to the dentist's questions :)

    Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I did A-Z last year and loved it! Going to do it again this year, glad to see you there!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think we met during the A to Z challenge, yes? I'm doing it again this year. I've got my theme all picked out, just trying to figure out the individual topics. MUST get some posts written ahead of time. I'll be in the UK the first week of the challenge! (that's a hint as to what my theme will be).

    Looking forward to hearing from your characters in the other blogfest. Should be fun. Also, I cracked a crown and now I get to go to the dentist too. Lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  7. @Madeline, oh, that's great you are going to do the A-Z! I'm looking forward to your posts, I think you will love it.

    @Samantha, that's what I'm hoping too, glad you are participating!

    @Cassie, you're welcome, thanks again for hosting!!

    @Carolyn, LOL, definitely keep your eyes open, you never know what you might see there. This is definitely the only good thing I can say about my trip to the dentist yesterday! :D

    @Bonnie Rae, that's awesome, I'm looking forward to your posts. I know it will be fun!

    LG, yeah, I do think we met during the A-Z. I'm so jealous of your UK trip, but that will definitely make for a great theme. Oh no, I'm sorry about the cracked crown, that totally sucks. I hope it's not too much trouble to fix it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have all my A to Z completed in advance this year.

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
  9. OOH, I like the questions, now all I need is a good friend to ask them to. :)

    Glad to see you today, my mind all of a sudden said, "Hey, where is Julie?" and poof a comment. :)
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

    ReplyDelete
  10. @Linda, you're welcome, I hope you enjoy them if you sign up!

    @Yvonne, oh, that's great, I'm impressed. After last year I know I want to have posts in advance too, I hope I can get most of them done.

    @Jules, I like the questions too, I think this will be an interesting fest. Thanks for thinking of me, I must have read your mind! :D

    ReplyDelete
  11. I just signed up for the I'm Hearing Voices Blogfest. Sounds like fun!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Best of luck with the I'm Hearing Voices Blogfest! I'm also excited about A to Z! Sorry you had to have work done at the dentist, but I'm glad it inspired you! Julie

    ReplyDelete
  13. @Carol, yay, I'm looking forward to your posts for the blogfest. I agree, I think it will be fun!

    @Julie, I'm glad you are doing the A to Z again too, I can't wait for it. I think that is when I met you last year! LOL, I still can't believe I got inspired by the dentist! :D

    ReplyDelete
  14. I did the A-Z challenge last year and will be attempting it again this year. It is hard work trying to post every day, but I had a ball last time. I look forward to doing it with you this year!

    ReplyDelete
  15. @Rebecca, oh, that's great, I'm looking forward to doing it with you too. I know what you mean, it can be hard, but I hope we will both make it through the whole month! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ouch on the dentist.

    The AtoZ Challenge was great last year. It's easier if you pick a theme.

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Julie .. it's constantly learning isn't it - experiencing other aspects ..

    The A - Z challenge was a huge amount of fun last year - and Im looking forward to the same this year ..

    Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  18. SOmetimes I have to ask those voices in my head, "Do you think there's something wrong with me?"

    ReplyDelete
  19. The Voices blog fest sounds like fun; wish I could participate! I can't wait to see the entries, though.

    And yay for knowing your theme! I have some ideas, but nothing I'm positive about yet. I definitely want to be more prepared this time.

    ReplyDelete
  20. @Mary, I'm hoping I will be able to get through the whole alphabet with my theme, it definitely seems easier than just winging it. Thanks, and I hope you're having a great weekend there!

    @Hilary, I'm glad you are doing the A-Z again this year too, I'm looking forward to your posts. Cheers to you as well! :)

    @Stephen, LOL LOL. I think I'd be afraid of the answer I would get. :D

    @Shannon, good luck getting your ideas together. It's awesome you are one of the co-hosts for A-Z this year!

    ReplyDelete
  21. It's funny how ideas will just hit us, then opens us up to resolve what may have been previously puzzling us. Inspiration can come in any place at any time if we leave ourselves open to it.

    Thanks for the A to Z mention.

    Lee
    A Cat's Memoir

    ReplyDelete
  22. @Lee, you're welcome, my pleasure. I am really looking forward to April and another A-Z. :)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comments!

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.