#atozchallenge Theme Reveal!

People. Can you feel the excitement for this year's #atozchallenge?? Because my head is about ready to explode!

We're so close, which means it is time for the annual Theme Reveal! I love hopping around finding out what everyone is going to be writing/picturing/drawing/posting about. It's like a little hors d'oeuvres for the Challenge. Yum.

By popular demand, I have decided to do another Pick Your Plot A-Z Adventure this year. That means that my ENTIRE THEME is dependent upon y'all visiting and commenting every day, because each day's post will be determined by the votes of those who read the story!

This is, yes, madness. Last year when I did it I was not working, and this year I have a lovely full-time job. And, umm, I'm a co-host. So, ya know. It's going to be a busy month. But guys, I CAN'T WAIT! 

I had so much fun writing my story last year that I've decided the madness is worth it.

What is your theme this year?

Visit the other Theme Reveal folks:

#atozchallenge Theme Reveal sign-ups!

Friends,  you still have one more week to sign up for the #atozchallenge Theme Reveal Day, which is next Monday!

The Theme Reveal started a few years ago because people were just chomping at the bit to get A-Z started, so this was a great way for everyone to be able to share their plans, and start to make some friends early. Pretty great reason, if you ask me.

If you are participating in the A-Z Challenge (and if you aren't, why not??), add your name to the list below and tell us what you'll be up to in April :)

IWSG - March 2016

The first Wednesday of every month is the Insecure Writer's Support Group, which was started by the ninja-captain himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh. Check out the IWSG page to see the list of others who participate (or to join!).

I totally initially titled this post "February 2016"... So that's a good indicator of where my head is at right now :)

I successfully submitted a story to an anthology for the first time yesterday! So that's exciting. Now, of course, we wait to hear if it will be accepted, but I'm mostly ok with whatever happens. I put something good out there, and if this anthology doesn't want it, there are always others, right?

There's part of me (a masochistic part? are all artists masochists in some ways?) that is actually looking forward to possibly getting a rejection. I guess it feels like getting rejections is part of being a 'real writer'. Someone who has been tempered and tested, so by the time there is an acceptance there is a little bit more legitimacy there. It means you've put yourself out there, had work critiqued by the industry, and been encouraged to keep working. Keep skill building, learning, reading books and taking classes. 

Not that I need any encouragement to keep learning things.

But.

Little nudges never hurt.

What little nudges have you had lately?

My "very messy chores" pants!

Look out world, it is a 'very messy chores' pants kind of day! #jeans #paint #bleach #homeownership

A photo posted by AJ Lauer (@ayjaylauer) on Jan 23, 2016 at 7:45am PST

This IG post is a little old, but I've been wearing my getting sh*t done pants a lot lately. :)
In relation to last week's post... These pants have been around for a good 8 years. Adulting. Just sayin'.
Also come follow me on IG!

What do you do when you need to tackle your to-do list? Drink caffeine? Make epic lists? Run and hide and watch TV instead?

First #atozchallenge Twitter Chat is tonight!

Hi friends!
A quick note to let you know that our first #azchat of the #atozchallenge season is tonight at 9pm Eastern/7pm Mountain time! Lots of cohosts and helpers will be around to answer questions and generally celebrate the upcoming A to Z awesomeness.

Hope to see you there :)

I'm getting old.

Aww look at that baby face!

I remember once when I was a kid, an adult telling me she'd had a pair of jeans for over five years. And of course, to my still-growing and quite tomboyish self, that was unfathomable. How could you possibly fit into a pair of jeans for so many years? Furthermore, how could jeans last so long without being utterly destroyed??

And then.. I ordered new glasses this week. And I realized that I've been using the frames that are in this picture for almost ten years. I bought them the summer I taught English in South Korea. And I absolutely have jeans that are more than five years old.

I remembered that childhood conversation and thought, How did I get so old?! How is it possible that the summer I spent in Korea was ten years ago? I do have a birthday coming up, so age is on my brain a bit, but still.

Have you ever had one of those "where has the time gone?" moments?