A to Z Blogging Challenge: G

Here we are already kicking off the second week of the 2013 A to Z Blogging Challenge. Hope we're all still having fun. Find nearly 1700 bloggers with a little bit to say everyday in April.

G: In keeping with my theme of things I intend to expand on or improve on doing in my soon to be full time writing career, I thought of lots of words fitting this letter. I'm going to stick with two.

Goodreads is going to get more of my attention very soon. I'm going to keep all my lists updated and do more reviews. I also going to do some promotions of my own. I'm much rather spend my time there then on Facebook.

The other thing I'm going to figure out in how to better use Google+. I'm not even going to ask for advice on this yet but I will  be. I know many of you are already use G+ but I'm only thrashing around like a tired swimmer on there.

Are you active on Goodreads? Are you a member of Google+? How many blogs used 'goals' as their G word today? I was trying to be different.

A to Z Blogging Challenge: F

I can't believe the first week of the A to Z Blogging is nearly over. I hope you made lots of new friends. I'll be using Sunday to visit more blogs rather than take the day off.

F: Finish. Many people say they plan to write a book today and even start it. But lots of people never finish that book they start. It seems a silly piece of advice but it's important. Finish the durn book. I used to belong to the local chapter of RWA and that was a continuing theme. Finish the book!

Finish the short story. Finish the editing. Finish setting up your website or blog. Get to it and finish. How's that for a short piece of advice on a Saturday? What are you trying to finish? Ever have trouble reaching your goal and finishing? Do you know someone who vows to write a book but never quite gets started or starts and never finishes?

A to Z Challenge: E

Jump right in and join us in the A to Z Blogging Challenge for 2013. 2013 is the year of my retirement from teaching and my theme for the challenge is all about the plans I have to advance my writing career once I can call myself a full time writer.

E: Equipment. Between sending four children to college and buying them computers for their higher education endeavours, I haven't updated my own computer for a long time. I have an old desktop Dell that I retired last week and a really cheap laptop that I've had for over six years. I'm promising myself a new laptop as a retirement gift.

I want a lightweight computer that I can carry with comfort to the coffee shop and bookstore cafe but it also needs to fit all my writing needs. I'm sure I can ask at a computer store for advice on what I need but I'd rather ask the experts. What should I get? I've been leaning toward a MAC but I can probably get more computer for less money if I go with a PC. What should I do? Please give me your opinion as a writer or as a blogger.

A to Z Challenge: D

Thanks for stopping by and being part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. There are loads of blogs to check out here. I'm keeping with my theme of how I'll be advancing my career as a full time writer after I retire from teaching in June.

D: Dream. Since I penned my very first novel in longhand, I dreamed of being a full time writer. Sure I heard the stats of how few writers earn an actual living wage for their efforts. I heard the phrase, 'don't give up your day job,' constantly when I started out. And I didn't but I still dreamed of being able to write full time and envied those who did.

Truth was, most of the people I knew who didn't have a day job and could write full time had a spouse who had a really good job so they didn't need their writing income. But I dreamed and now I'll be living the dream though it's only because I'll have a pension income. I would starve if I tried to live on my writing income. Take note of the countdown on the right. Soon I won't be dreaming and I hope you don't give up your dreams either. They're great motivators.

Do you dream of being a full time writer? Are you close to obtaining a dream of yours even if it isn't writing?

A to Z Challenge: C

Third day already. How many people have you visited on the A to Z Challenge? I hope plenty. I'm continuing with the theme of what I'll be doing to further my career as a full time writer after I retire this June.

C: Conferences. I'm am definitely going to take the time and money to attend at least one if not two writing conferences in the next twelve months. I'm not looking for a publisher or even an agent. I just want to network in person with my fellow writers. Not only is this fun, but I always learn something and come up with lots of ideas for blog posts.

Now today is also Insecure Writer's Post Day and I'm going to relate it to my C. I hope to serve as a presenter at a conference in the near future. I'm entirely comfortable speaking to crowds and have enjoyed serving on author panels. Now I want to do present a session all by myself and not only because it will give me a discount on conference attendance. I want to share whatever I can to help other writers find their way to success. But whenever I think of what session I could present, I worry that I'm not expert enough to be the one speaking. There are so many attendees at conferences with more experience and success than me. Would anyone want to listen to what I have to say? This is my insecurity.

Do you think conferences are worth the money? Do you feel like you're an expert on anything?

A to Z Challenge: B

B: Blog. Blog for all you're worth. I started blogging because my editor and every promotional advice I received said to do it. So I do. And most of the time I really enjoy it. I've learned so much from other blogs. How to format my books, how to use Goodreads, review sites, and even which publishers might like my kind of books.

If I wasn't a writer, I would still follow blogs about fitness, cooking, hiking and reading. When I retire, I'm going to be even more involved in blogging. I'm not going to blog more often, three times per week, but I'm going to visit more blogs. I'm going to be a better follower.

How often do you blog when it's not A to Z? What kind of blogs do you follow? What have you learned from other bloggers? Now go visit more bloggers enjoying the A to Z Challenge.

A to Z Challenge: A

Thanks to so many people who have done so much work to make A to Z Blogging Challenge the biggest blogging event ever. I don't know it that's true but it sounds good. I'm not sure everyone knows, but this challenge was the brainchild of Arlee Bird, one of the kindest, most generous and all around talented writer that I know(through blogging). It's appropriate on the 'A' day to honor him with giving some tribute to Arlee. We can do that best by visiting him today. Hello Arlee and thank you.

 My theme this year is about the steps I'll be taking to advance my career as a full time writer now that I'm retiring from my teaching career. Sometimes I'll be giving advice but lots of times I'll be asking for advice and opinions.

A: Amazon rules the world! Well, the writing world or so it seems. With the latest news of Amazon purchasing Goodreads, the giant expands its grasping reach. Is the purchase a good thing or a bad? Not sure and perhaps only time will tell.

Amazon sells nearly everything not just books. But many writers judge their success on how many books they sell on Amazon. If you self-publish, the process is very quick and relatively painless on Amazon. You can watch your books rank, read your reviews and see what books Amazon compares you to. If you a writer, you need to use Amazon. Agree?

Does Amazon rule the writing world? Is the purchase of Goodreads a good thing for writers? Visit Arlee yet?