Training the A-Z way

It’s January and it's my plan this year to participate in the blogfest A-Z Challenge in April. This blogfest is about posting for 26 days with every day corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. There’s much more to it at the Blogging from A-Z Challenge site here. Wait; don’t go until you read my post.

Lee at Tossing it Out is the man behind the scheme. He thought up this challenging blogfest and it’s been a hit ever since. And he’s recruited some of his friends and fellow bloggers along the way to help. Beginning January 30th you can sign up.
Now, I don’t join blogfests often. There’s the commitment issues. There’s the “marching to my own drummer” philosophy. But sometimes you long to belong.
And that’s where the Blogging from A-Z Challenge comes in. To get prepared, I’m in training. Here’s my workout plan.
Exercising
Fingers stretch out. Fingers pull in. Repeat eight more times. Then—stop.
Resting
·         Get eight hours of sleep.
·         Dream each night about a dancing alphabet.
·         Leap vigorously to catch random letters in your dreams since you will need them to complete A-Z.
·         And even if they struggle and bite to be free, catch them. It’s well worth it.
Mental Games
Repeat daily: A-Z is only one month. Not even a month. Only 26 days. It’s a challenge not a marriage. You’re only committing yourself for 26 days. Consider it a very long date.
 Read
·         The Little Engine That Could (I think I can, I think I can)
·         Old A-Z posts for ideas. New A-Z posts for ideas.  (This helps you know you’re not alone.)
·         Gone with the Wind (“I can’t think of that right now, If I do I’ll go crazy. I 'll think about that tomorrow.”)
Nutrition
·         Eat chocolate – lots and any kind is fine.
·         Drink coffee. Lots. Coffee helps with memory. True story, I think.
·         Eat fried foods to store fat because writing is a lonely and cold profession. You’ll need the comfort of fried food.
Write
Write random ideas. Write conversations. Write grocery lists. Write until you find your theme. Then…write it for real.
And that’s my training workout for the Blogging From A-Z Challenge coming to a blog near you April 1-30.  I’m stoked. I have a theme. I’m getting prepared.  
Now go visit the Blogging from A-Z Challenge site to learn more about it. Get outta here--go!


Comments

Hi Teresa .. loved this post - great you're exercising your fingers .. if we're very lucky .. the weather will have warmed by that Fool's Day .. and I totally agree with your statement:

"But sometimes you long to belong."

I'm just so pleased I did it last year ..

Wonderful build up you've given us .. enjoy yourself - I know you will .. cheers and start that workout this weekend .. don't frazzle yourself though - cheers Hilary
Joanne said…
A-B-C, easy as 1-2-3 ... Have fun :)
I think you'll have fun! Love your reading list for this challenge. :)
~Sia McKye~ said…
Teresa, I did some last year. My blog isn't set up for me to do many blogfests but I tried to get authors articles to correspond to some of the letters. It was fun.

Your tips made me grin. :-)

Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
Sounds like you are prepared!
Arlee Bird said…
Great post! I liked that it is fun and practical at the same time. You hit the essentials. Now good luck with April.


Lee
Wrote By Rote
Girl, I adore your directions to get ready for this exercise.

Fun!!!

God bless ya and have a great weekend sweetie!!! :o)
Mason Canyon said…
I love your workout plan, especially your nutrition section. Wishing you fun and success. Have a great weekend.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Mary Aalgaard said…
It is fun. A little planning, and exercise, goes a long way.
CM said…
Haha....too funny. Good luck, can't wait to see what you come up with! I can't usually keep up with those things, but maybe I'll go check it out. Thanks for the link.
Jaime said…
I learned about the A to Z Challenge from your blog and I'm planning on signing up. I've never done anything like this as I still consider myself new to blogging. I'm really excited. It is the spark that's been missing in moving my blogging forward. Thanks for the tips.
Deb Shucka said…
I'm impressed with your training regimen. I think that could be effective for a number of things. :-)

I'm tempted by the challenge - but not so sure about the commitment, or dealing with the guilt if I don't keep up. I can hardly wait to read your A to Z, though.
Tina said…
Hey there! Nice to meet you! Thanks for plugging our challenge, and glad to have you on board. I love this post and I think it would make a great guest post at the A-Z blog. Let me know if that sounds good to.

Tina @ Life is Good

Co-Host of the April 2012 Blogging from A to Z Challenge

Twitter: #atozchallenge
Fun, fun, fun! Especially the training exercises! Looking forward to April.
Jeremy [Retro] said…
good job being prepared, i am drinking lots of coffee and going to scramble... last minute.

Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]
A to Z Co-Host
IZOMBIE: Visit the Madness
Marie said…
This was great! I plan to have lots of chocolate on hand :-)

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