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“The JOURNEY of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~ Lao Tzu
This quote was my mantra when I started on my writing journey and began this blog. I was very nervous about starting the blog but I told myself, it's just one step. Try it and see where it leads.
It's amazing to look back over the last four + years and see where that single step has taken me. I am very indebted to the A to Z, as I doubt I would have kept blogging if I hadn't signed up for my first challenge back in 2011. That April made me see how many great people were out there in the blogosphere and how much fun blogging could be.
The best thing about this journey of mine is I feel like it's just getting started. I'm hoping I still have a thousand more miles to go.
I signed up for the very first Challenge in 2010 and like you, it made a huge impact on me and my blog.
ReplyDeleteI agree this challenge can be motivational - certainly it has been a big kick up the backside for me to blog again
ReplyDeletejulie - my girl!
ReplyDeleteloving your quotes and the extra sharing!
we need to keep going like a clock!
and triple dog dare each other to do more!
joss whedon is a gem - writing takes us places we'd love to go and lets us create characters we'd love to meet and lets us share them with everyone!
fail better, nuff said
and the irish pessimist quote and story? priceless!
journey on, woman! see you in a couple of weeks!
booyah!
It's clear to any person who becomes an author, whether via self publishing or traditional publishing, that it takes that first step to get anywhere.
ReplyDeleteThe A to Z definitely helps to get you out there - and introduces you to many great new people, too!
My first Challenge was last year and it was awesome! I was amazing at how much support I got through the Challenge.
ReplyDeleteMy first year was 2012 - and it made a huge impact on me too. Before that, I was getting only a few visitors - and some posts went unread entirely! I'm so grateful to all the bloggers who have continued to read my blog over the years - including you Julie, it's been a pleasure to get to know you :-)
ReplyDeleteAnnalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
There are so many participants this year that I had no idea you were part of A to Z. So happy to visit your blog again!
ReplyDeletethis is my third A to Z (but I skipped a year). It's fun to meet the writing community and enjoy the creativity from the mere alphabet. Cheers on your journey
ReplyDeleteHi Julie - I nearly did the 2010 - regret that I didn't .. with only 100 members .. but was so pleased I settled more easily into the 2011 and from then on in ..
ReplyDeleteI agree it's really made the blogging experience so well worth .. a dedicated group - people come and people go - but there's all those friends of other bloggers around for us too ..
It's a great journey .. couldn't agree more .. cheers Hilary
Hi Julie. I stopped over from Alex's blog. He mentioned you write about Alaska. In my H post, I feature an author who wrote a book about Siberian Huskies, a girl who tries to save them, a dog sled race, and the setting is Alaska!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're enjoying the blogging/writing journey. The A to Z Challenge is a long, but worthwhile, journey!
Play off the Page
Absolutely agree! In my first Challenge in 2012 I made many firm friends - some of which have gone on to be CPs and other associates... it's definitely a great example of the fact it's not a journey you have to undertake alone.
ReplyDeleteSo true! I remember having that same hesitation when I posted my first blog on MySpace in 2006...and it led to an amazing experience. Blogging has allowed me to connect with so many incredible people over the years. I love it! But the best thing about it is being a part of a writing community. We all need that.
ReplyDeleteThe journey is all the fun! Where would we be without the journey and where it takes us
ReplyDeleteI thought this was going to be a post about the band. I did just come from Alex's site, so that's probably why. Good luck getting though A-Z.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie! sorry I'm so late to the party- but I'm catching up!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you took that first step all those years ago- your blog has been a pleasure every time I've visited!!!
The A to Z helped me become a better writer and to connect with writers like myself. 2010--my first a/z, also.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite quotes as well! It's funny that's exactly how I felt about blogging and it looks like April 2011 was the first A-Z for both of us! Look how far we've come already! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's like you've taken words out of my brain and onto the page. I could have written this exact post.
ReplyDeleteThis is also one of my favorite quotes, and that's why my blog tagline reads: Writer-In-Transit... the journey never ends.
I always tell my students that I will never stop learning... until the day I die!
My first A to Z challenge was also 2011... and I can't imagine NOT doing this challenge!
I also agree with your closing sentences... 100+%
Happy A to Z'ing, Julie!
It's good to connect with you once again!