Monday 23 March 2015

A-Z Theme Reveal Blogfest

Can you believe it's only nine days until this year's A-Z Challenge starts? It's rolled around quick. This year, I'm participating for the first time in the Theme Reveal blogfest.


I really enjoyed my last Challenge two years ago where I wrote a continuous story based on words suggested by visitors. To have a writing challenge as well as a "social" one was a thrill and so I'm going down that route again. But this will be 26 individual stories instead of one long one. Each day, I will randomly pick one word from the dictionary for the letter of the day, and write a story based around it. The only limitation? It can be no longer than 100 words. So, that ticks the "short posts" box (last time, people coming in on the last few letters would have had to read a pretty lengthy story to catch up).

The stories can be about absolutely anything, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes me! I had planned to write each story on the day as an extra challenge, but hopefully I'll have time this week to preschedule a few.

To see more theme reveals, check out the linky list.

Are you getting excited about the Challenge?

40 comments:

Heather R. Holden said...

Wow, what a cool theme to do for A-to-Z! Best of luck writing all those stories. I can only imagine how challenging that'll be! (But no doubt fun, too!)

Wendy of the Rock said...

Sounds like fun. Short short stories often end up taking me a long long time to write!
Enjoy the challenge. This is my first;so, yes, it IS exciting to anticipate what will come to pass.
Wendy at Wendy of The Rock

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nick - I remember your themed story - it was fun .. and I enjoyed the interaction of suggesting words for you to use the next day .. but this sounds ideal .. looking forward to it .. cheers Hilary

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Flash fiction - that sounds like fun. Or would it be considered a drabble?

Tasha Duncan-Drake said...

Great theme. We're doing drabbles (100 word stories) over at FB3X this year too. 100 words are such a challenge, but so much fun at the same time. Good luck.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

Christine Rains said...

Flash fiction is always so much fun. I loved your story from last year. Good luck with the Challenge!

Dani said...

100 words flash-fiction... wow!! A challenge indeed but also quick and fun! Good luck.

djinnia said...

Heh heh heh! I did the story as well last year in my first A to Z. I had word of the day words from dictionary.com.

I love story A to Zs. They are always a delight.

Can't wait for this.

DL Hammons said...

Now that's what I call a challenge! :)

Annalisa Crawford said...

Brilliant, good luck.

Chrys Fey said...

Flash fiction is always fun. Good luck!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

That sounds like a real challenge. I don't think I could be so creative. Congrats on your collection, A Change of Mind.

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

Well that sounds like a challenge in every sense of the word! Good luck with it! :)

@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
MopDog - The crazy thing about Hungarians...

jaybird said...

Looking forward to reading what you can come up with. I remember how much I enjoyed reading what you did last challenge.

Best of luck this time around again!

cleemckenzie said...

I remember your last year's theme. You did a great job. Here's to another success!

Nick Wilford said...

Heather - I hope it'll be fun!

Wendy - I'm going to be brutal and not let myself agonise over the stories because I tend to do that.

Hilary - Yes, the interaction was good. I'm hoping to come up with some good stuff this year!

Alex - I think that has to be exactly 100 words, which some of them probably will be!

Natasha - Cool! I look forward to checking them out.

Christine - Thanks!

Dani - Quick and fun is the key!

Djinnia - I like to have a creative writing theme. Just hope I don't regret it!!

Don - Indeed!

Annalisa, Chrys - Thanks!

Susan - Hopefully I can come up with the goods! Thanks!

Tarkabarka - It's a challenge all round!

Jay - Thank you! Hopefully my stories will make sense and people enjoy them.

Lee - That's very kind. Thanks!

Shell Flower said...

I loved your story last time, but I agree that it's hard to expect people doing A-Z to catch up on a long story. I did one in 2013 like that and, though fun, it did seem like a lot to ask of folks just finding my blog. Also, you should give yourself some breaks and pre-schedule as much as possible. Congrats on your cover reveal, too!

Sharon Himsl said...

Sounds interesting, Nick, and congrats on the book!!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Excellent idea! I'm looking forward to reading your stories!

Misha Gerrick said...

Sounds like you'll be having fun. :-)

betty said...

Thanks for visiting my blog (Bench with a View) and your comment :) Wow, this sounds like an interesting theme to pick a word from the dictionary and then write the story only using 100 words! That takes talent I do believe :) Looking forward to reading some!

betty

Anonymous said...

Keeping stories to 100 words is not an easy thing. Looking forward to reading them!

Arlee Bird said...

If it works well then it makes sense to do it again. Glad you're back with us for another round of A to Z.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Wrote By Rote

Debbie D. said...

That sounds like an interesting theme and the self-imposed word restriction makes it even more challenging. Looking forward to your posts! I'm starting to get nervous, as only the first 4 entries are fully written. The plan was to get them all done ahead of time. Life gets in the way again...Oh well! Enjoy the challenge.

Sophie Duncan said...

Good luck with the short stories - you're brave trying to write some of them on the day. I and my sis are doing something similar for one of our blogs, but we're pre-writing all the stories.

Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
FB3X
Wittegen Press

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to read your posts. =D

Anonymous said...

Wow! What a bold task you've set for yourself! I admire that kind of courage. Best wishes from A to Z!

Yvonne Ventresca said...

Sounds like a fun and creative challenge!

Yvonne

JazzFeathers said...

I have a great admiration for writers who can write stories just 100 words long. I would never be able to.

Let's see what you come up with :-)

Jolie du Pre said...

That's known as flash fiction. Should be fun to write!

Michelle Wallace said...

I'm also doing a flash fiction theme!
Each piece revolves around a photo/random phrase/object.
I'll definitely see you around on the A to Z circuit, fellow flash fictioneer!!

Stephanie Faris said...

Great idea!!! It would be tough to not write ahead, which you'd have to do if you relied on visitors. The dictionary would be easier. I always write a month ahead, so I wrote "T" earlier today...I'm still a couple of days behind. Pre-writing all those posts isn't easy, since we blog six days a week during this.

Unknown said...

That sounds like a great idea. I'm looking forward to reading your A to Z flash fiction stories

Anonymous said...

Hi, Nick! That sounds like a true challenge. Looking forward to reading your stories. :)

Sue Archer
Doorway Between Worlds

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Your theme sounds like quite an adventure! I look forward to following your progress.

Barbara In Caneyhead said...

Nick, I am super-ubber buzzed about the challenge! And I adore the title of your blog!!
Life & Faith in Caneyhead
I am Ensign B ~ One of Tremp's Troops with the
A to Z Challenge

Melissa Sugar said...

I'm very excited about the challenge. I missed last year and I felt lost . I absolutely remember your theme from 2013. I was telling someone about it a few months ago, and forgive me, but I couldn't remember who did it. I am so sorry that I forgot that it was you who came up with the fun , clever interactive theme. It was by far, my favorite theme of that year.

I think it's a good idea to shorten the story and wriite a new story for each letter . I'm bookmarking your site right now so I don't miss a single day.
I am hosting a little mystery game for my crime fiction theme. I will be awarding weekly prizes for solving daily clues and a grand prize for solving the murder mystery. I hope you will stop by and visit .

Http://fictiontoolbox.blogspot.com


Lu said...

This is a fab idea I look forward to reading them x

~Brandy~ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
~Brandy~ said...

Very cool idea and a rather popular one I think. When in doubt about what to write, grab a dictionary! I think it's incredibly smart to keep the posts short. A-Z visitors typically don't want to have to spend a tonne of time on each blog! I look forward to reading some of your dictionary-inspired posts!
Brandy from Brandy's Bustlings