Monday, May 2, 2011

The Big Reveal, and Reflections on A to Z

Ok, so if any of you have ever wondered what the wine bathed (thanks erica!), angel-sculptured (thanks Laura!) me actually looks like, here I am:


So what do you guys think about using a real photo
vs
a cartoon/your pet/a closeup of your eyeball/any other random image?

~ ~ ~

And, in other important news, we survived the A to Z Blogging Challenge!
My reflections:

  • Thank you to all the FABULOUS people who visited here and decided it was worth clicking the FOLLOW button. Do you want a reward? Do you? Do you? Awesome! Click here.
  • It was a lot of FUN to post about random things for a month instead of always trying to write something about writing! (Can I keep posting randomness?)
  • I was very bad about visiting new blogs. In comparison to the whole list I only managed a FEW. I was on holiday with a limited internect connection, using my super slow BlackBerry to check blogs, and I considered it a good day if I even managed to get back to just the people who visited me first.
  • I FOUND some awesome new blogs to keep up with :-)
  • And... am I going to be doing this again next year? Um *gulp* probably!


Thank you soooo much to Elizabeth Mueller for creating this award for us :-)


33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lovely photo! I say, use whatever makes you happy.

Anonymous said...

Pretty photo :)

Congrats to you on finishing the challenge, and yes, Elizabeth rocks for creating that award :)

Anonymous said...

Pretty photo :)

Congrats to you on finishing the challenge, and yes, Elizabeth rocks for creating that award :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I wasn't very good at visiting new blogs either, but it was fun.

Misha Gerrick said...

I love the pic! You are so pretty.
:-)

I like seeing what people look like. Makes the blogging experience a little more personal. Still, I've made friends with anonymous blogger too, so I guess I'm not too fussy about it.

Congrats on finishing the challenge!

Grandpa said...

That's a lovely photo!

I didn't visit many either, just happy I managed to complete the Challenge.

Laura Josephsen said...

Great picture! You're beautiful. ^_^

I had a lot of fun on the A-Z challenge. :D

Ellie Garratt said...

Love the picture - it's perfect!

David P. King said...

Great photo. As a writer, I think it's good to show your true self.

Huntress said...

Oh, COOOOLLLLL!!!!!!

Great pic :)

D. U. Okonkwo said...

Very cool photo! Well done on finishing the challenge.

Shari said...

I LOVE the photo. Beautiful! I use both so I don't really have an opinion. Great job on the A-Z Challenge.

Colene Murphy said...

You are absolutely, undeniably beautiful! Hello! So nice to see you!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Gorgeous smile... and a dimple to boot! It's nice to see your face.... A smile is worth a thousand words....

Golden Eagle said...

Great photo! :)

I agree--it was fun to post on random subjects instead of trying to keep to some kind of schedule.

Abby Minard said...

Aw, Rachel you're so pwetty!! Missed my fellow twinkie bloggy buddy while I was away- glad you had a fabulous time with a-z even if your internet was sketchy.

Kit Courteney said...

Very pretty and it's nice to put a face to the name :)

I've always used the little cartoon me but decided (under C for Claire on the A-Z Challenge - that's my real name) to post a few iffy photos of me.

It felt strangely liberating.

I plan to get a (half?) decent one and use it as my main avatary-type-thingy soon.

Yours rocks, so it's a no-brainer!

Cally Jackson said...

I for one have been wondering what you look like! Nice to put a face to the emails. :-) I agree with Misha - I think it's more personal when a identifiable photo is used but it's not the be all and end all.

The Words Crafter said...

Well, don't you look just gorgeous!

Congrats on finishing the Challenge, btw. Wow!

Nicole L Rivera said...

I'd say the real photo works better in a marketing sense because, if you go on a book tour you want people to recognize you and remember your face. But both pictures are great :)

Rachael Harrie said...

Aw, you're so cute!!! :D

Real photo definitely - it helps remind people there's a real person at the other end of the keyboard I think ;)

Hugs,

Rach

Theresa Milstein said...

I love being able to see your real picture. Authors are eventually going to show their faces when they get published, so why not sooner.

I'm glad the A to Z Challenge is over. It's too much pressure to know I can't comment on some of my favorite blogs daily. I don't like April for it or November (NaNo, because everyone disappears). Now y'all will get back to regular and more typical posts!

mooderino said...

Depends whether you're wanted by the police for questioning about a major crime. Hypothetically.
regards,
Mood
Moody Writing

Susan Oloier said...

Beautiful you! I like the real pic of you, but it is your choice (of course).
I have an award for you on my blog. In fact, it was gifted to me by David. Now I have passed it along to you.

KM Nalle said...

Hey there - that's a great photo. I'm all for doing what makes you comfortable. I had an avatar for a while until I felt comfy enough to reveal my mug.

I also didn't get to nearly as many folks on the challenge as I should have, but it was really fun meeting all those new people.

Julie Hedlund said...

Love the photo, and congrats on finishing A-Z. I was exhausted just watching everybody!

Anonymous said...

That's a great pic for your blog. I'm already looking forward to next year! Congrats! on finishing.

Faith said...

I like seeing the person behind the blog, but I don't mind the cartoony images either. However, once an author has been published, I get a little frustrated when I write a book review and want to put an author picture up but can't find one. So... you're ahead of the game there ;)

Arlee Bird said...

Yay Rachel! It would be great to see you back next year. And random is kind of fun. I vote for some randomness now and then. Photo--very nice. I really need to get a good head shot to put on my profile, but then again maybe that faraway pic is okay.
Thanks for Blogging from A to Z with us.

Don't forget to pick up your Winner's Badge at my site.
Lee
Tossing It Out

Sarah Ketley said...

Love the new picture :-)

go with that. I agree with previous comments i don't mind the cartoon images, but i prefer the real ones. I think it is better to see the face behind the name.

Perhaps it is more professional

that is just me.

sarah

Paula Martin said...

I prefer a photo too, like seeing what people look like.
Congrats on completing the A-Z and good luck with your writing.
Paula Martin’s Potpourri

Jennifer Shirk said...

Great picture!

Su said...

I confess: I only visited the A to Z bloggers who 1) I was already following or 2) visited me first. I'm a bad blogger!