A to Z Blogging Challenge: Z

I can't believe it's the last day of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Don't forget to revisit the list and find some time to check out a lot of wonderful blogs. This is my last post on the many ways I'm going to try and improve as a writer after I retire.

Z: Zzzzzz. I know it's not a word but I'm going to use it as one. During my early days as a writer when my kids were small and still needed me every minute of the day, I did most of my writing late at night. I sacrificed sleep to write books. I like staying up late. I like the quiet of the house after every one but me and the cat are in bed. Many nights I wasn't getting more than five hours of sleep.

Again research shows that not getting enough sleep contributes to all kinds of health issues like weight gain, increased stress levels and a lower job efficiency. Like my running, I've been making more of an effort to behave in a healthier manner. I'm trying to get no less than seven hours of sleep per night. Once I retire, I'm going to up that number to eight hours every night. That means sleeping in to around 8am in the morning. I want to do it. Being better rested, I'm going to be a better writer.

How much sleep do you get? Does your writing cost you sleep? Did you survive A to Z? And a great big thank you to the organizers of A to Z and those of you who kindly visited me here.

A to Z Blogging Challenge: Y

Do you see the light at the end of the tunnel for the A to Z Blogging Challenge? Check the list and see how many blogs you can pick from the visit. I had to think long and hard to find the right word for today's post on how I will improve as a writer and author when my June retirement comes around.

Y: Yearn. I've sold nine books to publishers and self pubbed a few on my own. I feel like a moderately successful author even though I'm not getting any where near to rich. A fear I have is that I'll settle into complacency. I'll start to be happy to stay right where I am. I hope that I always yearn for more.

I yearn for a big book contract where the publisher will do loads of promotion for me. I yearn for some movie maker to want my book to make into a feature film. (I do have a list of actors who should be in that movie). I yearn to see my bank account make tax day extremely painful, even more so than it is now with my teaching salary.  I yearn for so many contracts coming into my inbox that I need to change the ink cartridge after I print them all out. And I hope I never stop yearning for more.

Do you ever fear your drive to do or be more is lagging? What do you yearn for as a writer right now? Are you yearning for A to Z to be over?

A to Z Blogging Challenge: X

Hey all you, A to Zer's, thanks for stopping by. Please check out the rest of this year's Challenge bloggers on this list. I've nearly wrapped up my list for my theme of ways I'm going to make sure my full time career as a writer is successful.

X: eXercise: And what, you might ask does that have to do with writing? It's so much easier to work at you job, no matter what it is, if you feel good. Every study ever done shows that exercise is good for you in numerous ways. The major health risks in my country are all less for people who exercise. I'm talking the big ones, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, back injuries and every stress-related illness there is.

Sometimes when I get really involved in my writing, especially when I get to the last chapters I'm writing on a new book, I want to spend every minute at the keyboard. I'm always thinking I should skip just one or two days or maybe a week until I finish my latest project. I have to remind myself that I'll concentrate better if I go out for my daily run.

I used to run a lot. Usually around five miles per day at seven minutes per mile. When I really got my writing career rolling, I started skipping my running. Then we moved to the country where every direction means running up a hill. I was tired and feeling guilty about it. I knew I was making a bad decision but I rationalized that my writing needed all my attention. But then as you might expect, I started to add some bad weight. Finally last year, I started running on a regular basis again. And I feel great and my writing is going fine. My concentration is better and my mind sharper. Also I've worked out a lot of plot sticking points while I forcing myself up those hills.

Do you exercise on a regular basis? What is your torture of choice? Do you think it helps your mental health as well as your physical health?

A to Z Blogging Challenge: W

It's nearly the weekend and we're nearly done with the A to Z Blogging Challenge. I bet you can find lots of blogs on the master list that would be fun to visit the first time or to check out again. My theme is a list of all the thinks I intend to do or do better once I become a full time writer in June.

W: Widen My Interests. I write a lot of epic fantasy and scifi romance. But I read almost any type of fiction. But I'll have time this summer to read some things I not only like, but that will help me in my writing.

I love reading science magazines. I have a minor in biology to go along with my health and physical education degree but I also took quite a few chemistry classes in college. I never studies astronomy but I love reading it. In high school and college I never cared for history. How did they make it so boring and tedious when it's so interesting?

I intend to do some traveling, get in some horseback riding that I haven't done in years. I'm going to go cross-country skiing again. I'm going to try out some of those recipes I've found on Pinterest and try my hand at some decorating ideas. I'm going to widen my hobby interests and my reading interests.

Do you have hobbies that help with your writing? What kind of magazines do you read? What hobby would you add if you had more time?

A to Z Blogging Challenge: V

Welcome to another post in the 2013 A to Z Blogging Challenge. Meet lots of interesting bloggers on the complete list here. I'm made so many new friends as I throw out another piece of the long list of steps I plan to take after my retirement from teaching to become a full time writer that will propel me into fame and fortune. Well, at least advance my career in some way.

V: Video. Like so many of my generation, I'm not at the top of the class when it comes to technology and all the wonderful ways it can be used to promote my books. Some people are much better and display their talent by creating beautiful, engaging book trailers. This summer I'm going to make one of those videos. Or two or three or perhaps ten. I already have ideas and lots of notes and web addresses of how to do this. Wish me luck.

Have you made a video to promote your book? Do you think them a good way to promote a book?

A to Z Blogging Challenge: U

I'm sure most of us have found challenges in keeping up with the A to Z and its long list of survivors. I've been picking up lots of ideas for the vow I'm making below as my next item on my agenda of becoming a more successful writer.

U: Update. Update everything and often. Update all my online profiles. Update all the pages on my blog. Update this blog in so many ways. I'm going to update my author's page on Amazon. I'm going to update some promotional items languishing in my desk. Changing things around on this blog may help bring readers back time and time again.

I'm going to update my friends list on Facebook. Early on I accepted just about any friends. I need to whittle that list down. I'm going to post more on Twitter more even though I'm not a fan. As I told you on letter E, I'm also going to update the equipment I use to write with. Don't worry, you all will be some of the first to know when I get a new computer. I'm going to update my list of online review sites. The list could go on and on but my point is there are tons of updates I can be constantly doing but I put them off for a day when I have more time. That time will come in June.

How often do you update your blog(I don't mean new posts) or website? Do you keep all those different profiles you have online somewhere up to date?

A to Z Blogging Challenge: T

Can't believe we're nearing the end of the alphabet already in the 2013 A to Z Blogging Challenge. Find all the master list here. Are you ready to hear about another thing from my plans to be a better writing upon my retirement.

T: Thanks. Yes, I'm going to use my blog and other social media to thank people. There are so many. The first publisher who took a chance on me. My newest publisher and editor. Members of writing groups and my very first critique partner. The online friends who shout out my new book releases. The people who are loyal commenters on my blog. The family members who support my efforts and all my sisters who buy and read my books. The online community, like this one, that has given me advice and guidance.

But the little paragraph above isn't what I mean by giving thanks to and for this people. I'm going to name names. I'm going to publicly proclaim these people as kind and good and smart. I have lists that keep getting longer and longer. You could be on it.

Do you use your blog to thank people? Are there some people you should be thanking? Has someone surprised you by thanking you publicly when you weren't expecting it?