New April Blog Challenge, not what you think

 Tomorrow is April 1st. That has usually meant that I would have been participating in the April A to Z Blog Challenge. But not this year.

I have been aware now for a long time that while I find fun in the Challenge, any blog challenge really, I don't get the same sorts of interactions I do the other 11 months. I can see that my readership shifts and at least a portion of my normal readership changes. Like I said, I enjoy the challenge, and I enjoy interacting with new people. At some level, I also like to think I become, at least for 26 days out of 30, a bit of an ambassador of our strange little hobby to the wider world. Or at least my particular point of view on it.

I had written about 6-7 full posts for this year and had another 10-15 mapped out in outline and the rest at least figured out. My theme this year was going to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons to coincide with my son's group using it as their "second" game. But after working on a few of the posts, I could not help but feel I was shouting into the void. My regular readers (you reading this now) might not see many of these posts, and they were too esoteric for non-fans and casual gamers. Plus, in truth, any non-gamer coming here is going to want to hear about "the D&D" they can go buy at their local book stores or Amazon. Not a system that is 40 years old now. 

So. I am not going to do the challenge this year.

I am, however, still going to challenge myself. 

My April challenge is to visit and comment on every blog in my following. I don't want to go to other blogs and just post "great post!" and run away. I want to engage with their (your) topics authentically. I want to challenge myself to step outside of my "blog tunnel vision" and see what others are saying and doing. 

I *hope* I don't come off as an over-opinioned ass. I can be. I am in many respects, but you know I have own place for that. I honestly want to see what others are saying and doing and engage with that. Pull my head out of the sand as it were.

If you like, please feel free to comment here to let me know what you are doing. Add a reply with "check out this post!" Shameless self-promotion is welcome all month long. 

I still am not going to allow Anonymous posts or posts that attack others. That hasn't changed. But otherwise, go nuts. Tell me what you are doing and why it is the coolest thing ever.

Blogging in the world of video, Pateron, and Substack might feel "old" now. But I am committed to providing my thoughts and ideas in this free, written medium for as long as I can. 

And I want to read what you have as well.