ebook carnival has changed my life
Ebook Carnival is part of blogchatter.com, which was part of 2017’s AtoZChallenge. If none of this makes sense, bear with me.
Until the last week of March, I knew nothing about the annual AtoZChallenge, which is a blogging challenge—twenty-six blogs posted in April on a theme of your choice. Obviously, starting with “A” and ending with “Z”. I joined through blogchatter.com, which I didn’t know at the time, was based in India.
Fast forward to April. I’m writing and blogging almost every day and reading and commenting on >10 blogs as well. I’m learning a lot, a ton, a gargantuan amount about the people of India.
Fast forward to May. Blogchatter has generously offered its marketing muscle on its website and through Twitter posts to anyone who wants to consolidate their AtoZ blog posts into a FREE ebook.
Cue the trumpets. I’m in. I spent a couple of days formatting all twenty-six posts, getting rid of repetitive end material (thank you for reading, sign up for my newsletter, etc), then sent a .pdf file, bio, blurb, and cover to blogchatter.
BlogChatter calls the project ebook Carnival, and it has changed my life.
The best things about ebook carnival:
- I can revisit my favorite blogs from the challenge in a condensed version. No more waiting until the next day to read Anami’s poems, or learn Geethica’s lesson of the day, or try one of Tina’s desserts. No more missing posts. Every post is there, complete, and ready for my enjoyment.
- I’ve learned a bit about Indian culture. I’ll admit I’m naive about much of the world. I’ve lived in three states:Michigan (conservative), Hawai’i (diverse) and Arizona (diverse). Reading essays of Indian life has opened my eyes to the beauty of the land, the culture of a great people, and how different we are. But, we’re alike as well. Parents still worry about their children and want to raise them right. Children honor their parents (perhaps more than in America), we all want good grades in school, to find the perfect mate, to pay the mortgage, to have a good life. We’re more alike than we are different. A lesson we need to take to heart in these troubled times.
- ebook Carnival gave me the chance to blog a book, something I’ll do again in the future. Since editing, formatting and sending my Writing Tools 26 Tips on How to Improve Your Writing to BlogChatter, I’ve taken another look at the other non-fiction books I’ve written: The Plot Thickens: 21 Ways to Plot Your Novel, and Birth Order, Adding Depth to the Characters You Write. I’ve learned much since writing them. They need to be reformatted, with new images and new covers. In fact, while making a book cover for Writing Tools, I decided to give all of my current and future non-fiction, writing-related books covers that compliment each other. I have designs on Canva.com waiting. I also have plans to bog a book on how to create characters. Thanks, ebook Carnival!
- AtoZChallenge and ebook Carnival stretched my boundaries, tested me, and made me realize that writing, whether through blogging daily, or writing a romantic paranormal comedy, is an integral part of who I am. I need to feed it, nurture it, and not be afraid of where it will take me. This is especially important, as this year I’m starting (and hopefully completing) a book outside my normal genre. The idea has brewed in the back of my mind for two or three years. I didn’t think I was brave enough to try it. But with the confidence I’ve gained from AtoZ and ebook Carnival, I’m ready to tackle it! Yeah, me!
In conclusion
I’d like to hand out a great big THANK YOU for the organizers at blogchatter. Your work is amazing, tireless, enthusiastic, encouraging, and wonderful. I cannot say thank you enough. Bless you, every one.
Cheryl
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Yea i agree!!!!