Great Blogging Events Part 2 – Fortnightly, Monthly and Yearly Events

Two weeks ago, I published a post about Blogging Events, to my surprise it was far more successful than I had thought possible. I guess that many bloggers are hungry for prompts, events and linkups, readers on the other hand are always on the lookout for some new blogs and stories to read. So, as I mentioned in that post about weekly events (you can find it here), I am now going to present some of the events that I have participated in or have come across that are rarer than weekly. Hopefully you will find something for you, might it be inspiration, friends, readers or a few blogs to read regularly. With Great Blogging Events Part 1 and now the second part, you should easily be able to fill your blogging schedule or reading list.

Fortnightly Events

Go Play, Go Learn – #GoPlayGoLearn

Every two weeks Nerd in the Brain and Eclectic Alli host the Go Play, Go Learn Challenge. Participants are asked to complete a task in relation with a given thing such as water, snow, history. Collecting photos, conducting experiments, doing some crafts or telling a story can be a way of participating in the challenge. Two weeks is plenty of time to get the brain smoking with science creativity and to LEARN something. Make sure to share your post and those of others on social media using the hashtag #GoPlayGoLearn.

You don’t only learn something fun and new by participating in this challenge, no! A special extra of the challenge is that a “nerd of the week” is named who during 2 weeks gets a special badge on the hostesses’ blogs.

Monthly Events

1000 Voices Speak for Compassion – #1000Speak

Every month bloggers are asked to give way to compassion on their blogs by joining the 1000 Voices Speak for Compassion mouvement. Dedicate one of their posts to either the proposed concept to explore such as love, forgiveness, gratitude etc. Or to write simply about compassion. Every quarter there is a linkup dedicated solely to compassion.

The goal is to spread compassion and to make the world a better place.

Posting can happen all month but the linky is open from the 20th to the 25th of each month. Participants are asked to visit at least the person who posted before them.

This month, on the 20th of February 2016, #1000Speak will be celebrating it’s first birthday, which is more than a good reason to join. If you want to find out more about the event and it’s history, rules then you might want to check out the about page. And don’t forget to share the posts you read on twitter with the hashtag #1000Speak!

Insecure Writers Support Group – #IWSG

I have so far not joined this event. Anyone struggling with their writing, living though a stretch of writers block or just worried about their worth of as a writer should probably consider joining in.

When does it take place? Just like the fire sirens where I am, erm, every first Wednesday of the month participants are asked to post their #IWSG post.

Rules are simple, sign up your blog, not your post to this list, and post on a monthly basis including the event’s badge. If you don’t post for 2 months in a row your blog will be taken of the list, but that does not mean that you cannot join again at a later date when the insecurity overwhelms you once again. And of course as is the case with any blog-hop participants are asked to visit as many new people as possible and encourage them in their struggles, here the number aimed for is about a dozen. And of course you are encouraged to share those posts you read on social media with the hashtag #IWSG.

Changing Seasons – #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons

Like the last event, this one has crept into my reader, but I have yet to participate.

Changing Seasons is a photo challenge hosted by Cardinal Guzman, which incites participants to share monthly photos representing well the month in question. Two different prompts are provided to either 5 to 20 photos (only new shots) or one photo that is your own interpretation of the month, on the host’s blog it reads: “post one photo (recipe, painting, drawing, whatever) that represents your interpretation of the month”. Like with the first prompt the pictures have to be new and be not something from the archives.

Yearly Events

A to Z Challenge – #AtoZ

Do I really need to present this event? The A to Z Challenge takes place every April. On the 1st of April participants post an A post and do so for the whole month except for Sundays, which are off days. You can do a themed month or a month without a theme. Last year, I did not pick a theme but did come across many fun themes such as female monsters or traveling Glasgow or what makes a great fantasy squad.

So what do you need to do participate? Sign up on the A to Z Challenge website. Start posting once April comes along, just don’t miss too many days, else you will be taken off the list. Participants are asked to visit at least 5 new blogs per day, leave comments, visit those back who left comments.

Does it sound like too much work for your blogging hobby? Don’t worry there is so much to gain from this challenge and you can always quit. Last year I felt utterly crazy when I decided to join, my blog was not even a month old on the 1st of April! I don’t regret it in the slightest, I developed a blogging habit, learnt to comment and how to comment on other blogs (it builds up confidence), I discovered that I enjoy writing flash fiction. Oh and best of all: I found many amazing bloggers and blogs through which I was introduced to other bloggers and blogs… And for those new to blogging or wondering if you should blog one day, it’s a great way for establishing an initial following and finding readers. So what are you waiting for? Add your blog to the list!

NanoPoplano – #NanoPoblano #TeamTinyPeppers

Nanopoblano is a derivative of NaNoBloPoMo (national blog posting month), it’s hosted by the very lovely Ra and takes place in November. The main challenge is to post something on your blog every day and of course connect with the other participants.

Many writers participate in NaNoWriMo, which makes a month of blog posting even tougher…

Looking back Nanopoblano was by far easier to manage than the A to Z Challenge as I was not bound by the letters of the alphabet.

Readers and participants can add #NanoPoblano or #TeamTinyPeppers to their social media shares.

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Have you participated in these events? Are some of them new to you? What are your favourites? Do you participate in an event or host one that I have not mentioned? Are there events or challenges you have tried but really did not enjoy, why? Do you need events and challenges to keep you going?

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© Solveig Werner 2016. All rights reserved.