I appreciate the wonderful people who dedicate hours of their free time to host blogging challenges. It is not easy. Even if a blogger puts in all the work to create a challenge, they still have to inspire people to participate. As a participant, there are hundreds of challenges to choose from. Some are a raging success in terms of numbers of participants, so moderate, and a few fizzles out after anyone discovers them.

Curiosity drove me to interview bloggers to find out what it takes to create a successful challenge. Read For the Love of Challenges Explained.

Along the way, I interviewed some wonderful bloggers who participate in rather than host challenges. A big thanks to all of them.

Featured Bloggers of the Challenge Interview Series

1. Colleen Chesebro
2. Charli Mills
3. Cee Neuner
4. Terri Webster Schrandt
5. Susan Gutterman
6. Yvette Prior’s Original Interview ,Yvette Prior’s Summary
7. Irene Waters
8. Susie Burke
9. Lens-Artists – Tina, Patti, Amy and Anne-Christine
10. Esther Chilton
11. Becky B
12. Restless Jo
13. Leanne Cole
14. Lisa Coleman
15. Natalie the Explorer
16. Sarah Wilkie
17. John Steiner
18. Friendly Friday Challenge – Amanda and Sandy
19. Jez Braithwaite Fan Of…, Water Water Everywhere
20. Biasini and Ma Leueen from The Horse Addict
21. Bushboy – Brian Dodd
22. “What’s on Your Bookshelf” Donna , Debbie, Jo, Sue
23. Keep It Alive, Interview with Challenge Hostess, Sadje – What do you see? Sunday Poser

When I first started blogging, I realized that most challenges were grassroots, started by regular bloggers like me. So, I tried creating one. It flopped. Not ONE person responded. I wondered why and what I could do to host a successful challenge.

Before this was a regular series, I had the opportunity to interview several bloggers who enjoyed participating in challenges and started my blogging career.

• Another Day to Paradise
• Mama Cormier – Thursday Trios
• The Eternal Traveller
• Leanne Cole – & find her on You Tube

Author Interviews

• Hugh’s Views and News
• Put in Writing
• Unusual Fiction and Random Musings
• Mostly Blogging
• Cycling Grandma
• Susan Braithwaite

Basic Questions That Drive This Series

Questions for Hosts

• Tell us a little about your background(s) and a little about your blogging history.
• What challenges do you host?
• Do you have a partner or partners?
• What prompted you to begin to host a writing/photo challenge?
• What is your purpose in hosting the challenge? How does it help other bloggers?
• How long have you been doing this?
• How do you measure the success of your challenge?
• How much time does it take to create a challenge? 
• What steps do you take to get your challenge ready? 
• How do you follow up with your participants?
• How did you attract people to participate? / How do people usually find out about your challenge? 
• Which specific bloggers do you admire and want to give a shout-out to?
• Other thoughts?

Questions for Participants

• Tell us a little about your background(s) and a little about your blogging history.
• In which challenges do you participate? Why?
• What prompted you to begin to participate a writing/photo challenge?
• How long have you been doing this?
• How much time does it take to create a challenge post including adding links? 
• How do you manage your blogging time in order to be a regular participant? 
• How does your host follow up with you?
• Which specific challenge participants like yourself do you admire and want to give a shout-out to?
• Other thoughts?

If you host or participate regularly in a challenge, I’d love to feature you on my blog. Contact me.