A-to-Z Sign-ups and Links!

I was going to post photos from the Kim Harrison signing I attended up in Denver last night, but I've decided to save that for my Monday post, as today we're opening A-to-Z sign-ups (though it sort of started yesterday for those overseas...), and because I don't want to make it so wordless.

Yes, today you, too, can add your name to the A-to-Z linky list in order to join us on a wondrous journey of alphabetical proportions in the month of April!

A brief explanation:

The A-to-Z is a blog challenge that asks you to post every day in April, save Sundays, in alphabetical order.  So on the 1st you would post with an "A" theme, the 2nd with a "B" theme, etc.

You can choose to write about any topic for each day, as long as it has to do with that day's letter of the alphabet.  Some do themes.  Others wing it.  I've done both, but am thinking I will do a theme again this year.  No promises.

For more information on the A-to-Z, you can click HERE.

This year, due to popular demand, we are opening up categories.  You may choose to add a single category code to the end of your blog name when you sign up on the linky.  You are in no way required to do this.  I won't be, as I feel my blog fits into several categories, and I don't want to pigeon-hole myself.  If your blog fits several categories, but you want to categorize, choose the one that fits you best, or that best fits the theme people will stumble across during the A-to-Z.  Please write your code in capitals and in parentheses.

Note: If your blog has adult content, that MUST be the code at the end of your blog title.  All adult content sites must be marked as such, because we may have minors participating.

Here is a list of the codes:

1. Writing  (WR)
2. Books  (BO)
3. Film  (FM)
4. Photography  (PH)
5. Gardening  (GR)
6. Craft  (CR)
7. Art  (AR)
8. Music  (MU)
9. Culinary  (CU)
10. Lifestyle  (LI)
11. Fashion  (FA)
12. Personal  (PR)
13. Social Media  (SO)
14. Gaming  (GA)
15. Education  (ED)
16. Politics  (PO)
17. History  (HI)
18. Science  (SC)
19. Humor  (HU)
20. Travel  (TR)
21. Miscellaneous  (MI)
22. Adult Content  (AC)

Due to the length of the sign-up linky, you can find it on the A-to-Z tab above, rather than in this post.

Also, I guest posted on the A-to-Z on how to make a hyperlink signature to lead people back to your blog.  Please check it out if that's something you'd be interested in learning.

And if you'd like to help spread the word on the A-to-Z, we'd greatly appreciate it!

Hope to see you on the A-to-Z road!

Now for some links:

Accepting Submissions:

Severed Press is accepting submissions for horror novels and novellas.

Less Than Three Press is taking submissions for two different anthologies.  One has to do with messages discovered late, and the other has to do with vicious vampires, not afraid to be the beasts.  Paying markets.

Chuffed Buff Books is accepting submissions for novellas and novelettes in science fiction or science-based genres.

Blog Hops/Fests & Contests:

Beth Revis is having a Paying it Forward Contest with 21 prizes.  Check out her blog for requirements.

Horror Novel Reviews is having a monster short story contest.  $100 to the winner, plus being featured in the marquee.

Screenwriters, check out Scriptapalooza, a contest for scripts.  Any genre.  First prize is $10,000.

New Rocky Mountain Voices 2013 Competition is looking for one-act and ten minute plays for their competition.  Winning plays will be performed onstage.

Sharon Bayliss is having a World Building Blogfest that started Monday, the 18th, and goes through February 3rd (not the 34rd, like I typed the first time).  You can still sign up, even though it has already started.

Other/Of Interest:

Chuck Wendig, of Terrible Minds, wrote 25 Hard Truths About Writing and Publishing.

The 2013 Colorado Gold Conference, put on by RMFW (Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers) is seeking workshop proposals through March 15.

Howard VanEs is offering a free webinar on Cashing in with Kindle Books.  You must register.  Thursday, January 31.

Anything to add?  Any of these interest you?  Signing up for the A-to-Z this year?

May you find your Muse.

A-to-Z Sign-ups are Open!!

Hello everyone! The sign-ups are here if you're interested in the A-to-Z Challenge. Last year was my first year participating in the Challenge, and I'm looking forward to doing it again this year.

If you don't know what the A-to-Z Challenge is, have no fear (that comes after you sign up, haha)! The A-to-Z challenges you to post every day in April, excluding Sundays (other than the first one, as April 1 falls on a Sunday), following an alphabetical scheme. You can post anything you want, but it has to be in alphabetical order. For example, A is for Author (April 1), B is for Benchmark (April 2), and so on and so forth. You sign up on our little linky and you'll get lots of new visitors by your blog. Hopefully, you'll hop around and visit others, as well.

These posts can be thematic (mythological creatures, poems, horror movies, books, authors, games, websites, publications, you name it) or anything that particular letter of the alphabet stirs up for you. Though many of our participants are writers, you do not have to be a writer to participate, just a blogger! This is a great way to stretch yourself, get yourself on a schedule, challenge yourself and meet new people.

Thank you, Jeremy!

For more information, you can go to the official A-to-Z Challenge Blog. We will have all different kinds of posts on how to approach the A-to-Z, survival strategies, technical help and anything else that has to do with the A-to-Z. You can even find people's reflections on last year's A-to-Z if you want to try to get a better grasp of what it will be like. We welcome others' posts, as well, so if you've participated before and want to share your strategy, advice or story, please contact myself or one of the other hosts.

Speaking of hosts, how about a list of my wonderful co-hosts for those who might have missed it?

Arlee Bird Tossing It Out
Damyanti Biswas Amlokiblogs
Alex J. Cavanaugh Alex J. Cavanaugh
Tina Downey Life is Good
Karen Gowan Coming Down the Mountain: A Writer's Blog
DL Hammons Cruising Altitude 2.0
Jeremy Hawkins Retro-Zombie
Matthew MacNish The QQQE
Elizabeth Mueller Author Elizabeth Mueller
Jenny Pearson Pearson Report
Konstanz Silverbow No Thought 2 Small
Stephen Tremp Breakthrough Blogs

If you haven't already checked out all of these blogs, I highly recommend you do so. I couldn't be more delighted to be working with all of these wonderful folks!

You can find the A-to-Z Challenge on Facebook. Stop by and chat with other Challengees or ask questions.

If you Tweet about the A-to-Z, be sure to use the hashtag #AtoZChallenge. This is yet another great way to find out more about the A-to-Z and chat with your fellow Challengees. There's already lots of discussion.

You can see last year's A-to-Z posts in my archives if you look at April 2011. This may help you if you're on the fence.

The A-to-Z is a great time, and we hope to see as many of you participating as possible. There will be familiar faces, but also new faces. Also, for any of you out there who like to do videos, or maybe want to try their hand at video-making since you'll eventually be doing a book trailer, for instance, check out our current Pre-Challenge Video Challenge on the A-to-Z blog.

If you have ANY questions, please feel free to ask them, either here in the comments, by emailing me through my profile (or any of our esteemed hosts) or at the official A-to-Z email: 2012azinfo@gmail.com. There is a convenient "Contact Us" tab at the official blog, as well as an FAQ that we will build on as we get questions.


The linky list can be found on the A-to-Z Info and Sign-up tab underneath my header. I hope you'll join us!