Monday 1 April 2013

An A-Z Story - A

It's here! Day 1 of the A-Z Challenge 2013, and all around the globe bloggers are kicking off an explosion of lexicographical fun. (A bit like those busy little ants there.) For my second time doing the Challenge, I wanted to do something fun that would push me as a writer. My theme also means I can't preplan any posts (well, apart from this one). It will require audience participation, but I won't make you work too hard!

In the comments section, I want you to give me words beginning with A. As many as you like, and they can be as obscure and outlandish as you like (feel free to use a dictionary for inspiration). I will randomly select FIVE of these words to use in the first sentence of my story, which I will post tomorrow and then ask you to suggest B words. This process will repeat until we get to Z (which I will post my sentence for on May 1st).

In the event of there being less than five words, I will use all words offered. The more words you suggest, the more chance you have of one being picked. It doesn't matter if you suggest the same word as someone else (as I know not everyone always has time to read all the comments); each will count as its own entry.

Hopefully that's clear! I really can't wait to see where this takes us, and I know it's going to be fun.

So, with all that said - fire away with your words beginning with A!

70 comments:

Mark Means said...

Wow, sounds like an awesome idea for a theme Nick :)

Here are my five: Ambitious, ambidextrous, affable, alleviate, and authoritarian.

Best of luck with your A to Z'ing :)

Cynthia said...

That's a very creative idea for a theme...Off the top of my head, here's what I have:

adrenaline, apple, armor, antagonist, alien, architecture, ancestry, and (that starts with an A too!) art.

Misha Gerrick said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Misha Gerrick said...

Sounds like an intriguing theme. :-)

My five words are:

Ancient, agreed, assuage, amble, ambiance

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nick - great idea ..

A, apple, abject, arbour, aunt

I'll be back to see your creation tomorrow .. cheers and enjoy the A-Z .. Hilary

Rhonda Albom said...

This sounds really fun! I am a new follower. I'll go easy on you today.

Any, average, addicted, arrangement, ant


Rhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com
AtoZ #42

Heather R. Holden said...

Oh, this sounds fun! Here are some of the first A words to pop into my head: antelope, anchor, aerial, angel, argyle, aura.

Good luck with this A-to-Z challenge! :)

J.L. Murphey said...

Anteater, Afghanistan,Aggravation, Articulation, Andromeda, Aries,Aunt, Another, Article

Suzanne Furness said...

Sounds like you are going to be busy, Nick! How about - amphibious, artichoke or ace!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Challenging!
Androids, Andromeda, Asteroids.

Cassie Mae said...

I like it! I'll pop out with the first A words that come to mind.

Hmm...

Armpit
Ambiguity
Airhead
Alleviate
Awesomesauce

Michelle Wallace said...

Reminds me a little of the theme I've chosen...

aura
artist
amateur
alias
avenue

Good luck Nick! You're gonna have loads of words to get through...
Happy A-Day!

Donna K. Weaver said...

ADORE this idea! Good luck, Nick.

S.P. Bowers said...

Aardvark.

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Alienate, Abhor, Avarice, Arch, Atlas, Awe, Attract, Aim, Arrest...pants, ok that's it.

Great idea Nick and can't wait to see where it goes. I'm not sure if I told you but I bought a copy of the Overcoming Adversity Anthology on Amazon last week. So wonderful to see how so many bloggers helped bring the stories to reality (including me *grins*).

JeffO said...

Arduous, anticipate, antipathy, anemone, acrimony.

Good luck!

Nick Wilford said...

Thanks for all the brilliant suggestions so far! I do kind of hope aardvark and awesomesauce will be picked. I actually wanted an aardvark for the pic, but couldn't find a good, free one.

Sally said...

Here are my five words:
Amber
Amethyst
Agate
Avalon
Angels
Good luck.

Jay Noel said...

anchovy, arrow, ample, ark, and answers

Randomness!

Unknown said...

What a really fun idea!

How about: affinity, adulation, akin, analects, appease

Laura Eno said...

Ants! *shudder* What I think of that photo:
Awful, antsy, antagonistic :)

Laura Eno – A Shift in Dimensions

Al Diaz said...

America
acknowledgement
art
alien
amaze

Clare said...

Oh, this is such a great idea Nick! I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Okay my A words are: Aardvark, Anorak, Asparagus, Ancile (yes, it's a real word ^_~) and Argon.

Annalisa Crawford said...

Automotive came to mind straight away!

Unknown said...

What a unique idea! Here's my A list: anthology, alphabet, android , apple, alligator, allegory.

Jenn @Scribbles From Jenn

Susan Oloier said...

Nick, you truly are challenging yourself. I am impressed by you, as always.
"A" words from the top of my head: alleviate, accident, apple pie (I must be hungry), and Annapurna (in Nepal). Happy writing!

Anonymous said...

I stopped by as we are near each other on the A to Z Challenge list.

Great idea for your theme. My A words are as follows: anaesthesiology, acid, acute, atomic and autopsy.

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Just one word from me: azure. I used it as the name of the king of the unicorns in BLACK ROSES IN AVALON. Great idea! :-)

Anonymous said...

what a great idea! :-)

Five words: alibi, allocate, antidote, actual, albatross

Unknown said...

WOW! You are amazing and so BRAVE! I took a very easy route for the Challenge, my only excuse is it's my first year. Again... WOW!! You are brave!
Connie
I'm visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge
Peanut Butter and Whine

Donna L Martin said...

Already a fan and following...;~) Good luck with the challenge! I participated last year and had a blast!

Donna L Martin
www.donasdays.blogspot.com

Elise Fallson said...

Great idea for a theme Nick, and ambitious I might add. (;

I'll add three for you:

Antlion
Admiral
Airhead

Can't wait to see what you come up with. :D

A-Z participant blogging from Elise Fallson

Jennifer said...

I dont have any words for you, but this sounds really interesting and exciting. Cant wait to see what l you come up with.

klahanie said...

Aha Nick,

Great idea. And I have found out you are starting with the letter "A" in the alphabet challenge :) Interesting.

Lets sing shall we? Acapella, Anti, Auntie, Astute...

Have fun with the A to Z, Nick.

Gary :)

Julie Flanders said...

I'm so impressed by this and can't imagine how much work it will be for you to put this together.

Here are my A words:

antique, apricot, angelic, altruistic, adventure

Good luck with your idea! :)

Samantha May said...

Cool theme! My words:

Aardvark, Avocado, Acatour, Accoy, and Accremention.

Nagzilla said...

Interesting concept. Can't wait to see what you churn out.
Here are my a words
Altoids, allegory, antediluvian, ash, and abuse
Good luck!

Hi from Nagzilla bloghopping A to Z

D.E. Malone said...

Love this idea! Here goes...atmosphere, austere, altered, anise, ambience.
Cheers!

Christine Rains said...

Oh, this is so much fun! Here are my words: absorb, acrobat, agony, alchemist, and ambiguous.

Nancy Thompson said...

What a creative way to engage your readers! You are too smart, my friend!

acquisition, amen, arrest, aurora, awe

Gwen Gardner said...

How fun! ambitious, allowable, archaic, assuming, adjust.

Jennifer Joyce said...

Ooh, fun idea. My words are: Always, Anonymous, Aubergine, Altercation and Amiable.

Botanist said...

What a great idea for a theme!

Avocado, authenticity, arrogant, artist, atomic.

Unknown said...

Amazing. I'm so impressed by your Audacity and Ambition. I'm Anxious to see how you incorporate all these words. Kudos and Applause to you!

Dani said...

This is completely genius! I really love this idea!!

Empty Nest Insider said...

Has anyone chosen anatomically correct yet? You really have a challenge ahead of you Nick, but I know you can do it!

Julie

Unknown said...

here are my words: ambiguity, anxiety, aftershave, anthology, agony, answer, artistic

great idea, Nick!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Angels, ankles, android, antigravity, anxious.

You're so clever.

Mel said...

Great idea! Have at it:

artichoke, alpine, arduous, anteater, alfalfa

And, for a little flavor: adios, ausfahrt, aufengeil, adieu, anders :)

Jennie Bennett said...

Great idea! i don't know if I could handle the pressure of blogging on demand though, you're awesome for doing it!

A words -

apple
apostrophe
Aristotle
aristocrat
Aries
and
airway

That's all I can think of right now, lol!

Crystal Collier said...

Fun! Way to challenge yourself!

aesthetic
argumentative
African
Argonaut
astrologer

There you go, the first 5 random "A" words that came to mind.

Cherie Reich said...

What fun!

Your theme is definitely "ambitious" and "awesome"!

A to Z Participant
Cherie Reich - Author and Surrounded by Books Reviews

Nicole said...

Ha - neat idea! My word is: acrimonious.

Ella said...

Nick you are so fun! I love how you are pushing the boundaries~

Okay here we go:

April
ardent
angel
aqua
ablaze
amply
abrupt
afraid

I can't wait to see how you approach this ;D

cleemckenzie said...

You're brave. Here are my A words:
1. Aard-wolf A carnivorous quadruped of South Africa, resembling the fox and hyena

2. Abate

3.Abattis A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy.

I'm looking forward to that story.

Unknown said...

Awesome idea... There's already one A word.

Arachnophobia
Apple
Achilles

Those are my words for today. Break!

Dee @ A Deecoded Life said...

What a clever idea!

My words: aardvark, apricot, adventure, alphabet, ark, arbitrary, asian

Your fellow A-Z challenger,
Deecoded

Chuck said...

Well Nick, I am giving you my A-word from my post - Atavistic, I also like algorithm...I just like the word. Great original idea here and what looks like a lot of last minute work for you. Good luck!!

Chuck at Apocalypse Now

Unknown said...

Allegorical, achy, apprentice.

This sounds like you're going to have a fabulous time, I can't wait to read these!

Krista McLaughlin said...

Ooo - this sounds like fun!

How about:

ant
ahem
accidentally
atrocious
attempt

Not too hard of words! :)

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Nick,

What an imaginative theme!

First I wanted to let you know that Ivercoming Adversity will be featured for m O post.... Surprise! I hope you are pleased.

Now for the A words...


Amazing

Articulate

Abstract

Arson

Artifact

Ammunition

Kathy Bradey said...

Aardvark

Alliteration

Ailment

Allegory

Avarice

Maria said...

I'm very late, but.....


arable
assonance
ashamed
askance
askew

Best of luck with the challenge

Unknown said...

I did this for my first challenge...but I asked for the words in advance-- you've picked a very touch challenge indeed :). All the best with the A story!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

now this is an interesting theme for the A-Z

agony
agate
aggitate
anthology
aadvaak

Nick Wilford said...

Thanks everyone!! These are amazing. :) I've got my five words and about to create my first sentence, so can I ask for no more suggestions on this thread please - my B post will be up shortly!

Anonymous said...

I'd have to go with analecta on this one:)

Rebecca Green Gasper said...

Nick- you're crazy!!! Love your theme...I'm in AWE of you. (Okay...I know I'm late- I will head off to day two and post B words!!!) Best to you.

Summer Ross said...

What a great theme! Love it!
brontide
brumous
babledom
bantling
betwixt
biblioklept
blandish
bodach
bullace

Yolanda Renée said...

I think this is so creative, now to check on the other posts!

Looking forward, and hopefully I'll come in once in time to contribute!