IT'S ALMOST APRIL

Okay, I am honestly freaking out a little bit because it is almost April. And I signed up for the A to Z Challenge for the first time in like four years. I have no idea how this is going to work out.

Anyway, last week I was in North Carolina for Spring Break (even though I'm not even in college). It was spring break for my siblings, so that was nice. We got to visit some cool places and see the ocean, even though it was freezing cold.

We also got to visit Roanoke Island.

If you're American or English, you probably know the story, but if you'd like to know a little more about it, I wrote a whole post on it on my new blog which is less about writing and more about a lot of random stuff, My Unofficial Guide To Everything.

This week has been so busy and a bit stressful, so I apologize for this post being so short! I love you all, and I hope you have an amazing day :)

–Jess

A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal!

My dear readers, before we get going, I'd like to make a few announcements. First of all, I have officially started a new blog! I'm not entirely sure why I started it, but I have a feeling I will be posting there more often than here. If you would like to check it out, here is a link My Unofficial Guide To Everything, and if you enjoy it please follow me!

Secondly, I apologize for posting so late today, but I'm on vacation in North Carolina so I've been a bit busy relaxing.

Now I'd like to present to you, my A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal!

And my theme is…

A short guide to: From The Ashes

For those of you who don't know me, From The Ashes is my first published novel (the sequel is on the way). So my theme is going to be all about my book so you can get a little sneak peak of the world and the characters.

Visit other participants in the A to Z Theme Reveal here.

Are you participating in the A to Z Challenge? If so, what is your theme!? Don't forget to check out my new blog My Unofficial Guide To Everything.

Have a lovely day :)

Jess

Throwback Thursday – Rory

Lately, I've been doing a lot of reflecting on my past. It's not nostalgia, it's more just remembering things because I've felt like it. Maybe it's like trying to make sense of it all, in an attempt to piece together how I got from 'there' to 'here', and how I got so lucky.

So, I've decided to start a Throwback Thursday thing. Okay, I know it's already a big thing on social media, especially for teens. But I realized a lot of people that I know who blog don't really say much about their past. So…I guess this is a way to learn about me and that's it haha.

So today, I just wanted to do a little throwback to my 17th birthday.

My 17th birthday was my second best birthday so far. (The best was my19th).

September 15, 2013 was the second best birthday for me because that was when I got Rory.

(Rory at 8 weeks old)

My sister and I named him after Rory Williams from Doctor Who. He was only eight weeks old when we adopted him, and even though he caused trouble sometimes, he was a really good puppy.

In February of 2015, I was admitted to a hospital for malnourishment and I was in a full day treatment program for four months. Things were hard, but no matter what, Rory seemed to be able to tell whenever I was sick or not feeling well, and he was always there to help.

(Rory sitting in my lap)

He's almost three years old now, but he's still the best dog I could ever have wished for. He's still a bit suspicious of my boyfriend sometimes, but they get along now.

Do any of you have a dog? What's your story?

–Jess

IWSG – I'm Trying

Today is the first Wednesday of the month, meaning today is the Insecure Writer's Support Group day! I have not participated in this in years so I'll try and make sure this post doesn't turn into a novel.

I'm actually a very confident person. I don't always show it, and sometimes my "being humble" can come off as insecurity. I used to be insecure about my looks and that sort of thing, but I think that's normal when you're in your younger teenage years.

At the age of 19, I love myself very much. I'm not being self-centered, or trying to brag, that's just the honest truth. I know I'm not perfect, but I love how I look and who I am. And anyone who doesn't like me for who I am can get out of my life. (There's actually a hell of a lot I had to go through to get to this point, but I feel like that's not really relevant to this particular post.)

Despite all my confidence in myself, that has not yet translated over to my writing. Let me say, I'm not a 'timid' writer. I let all my words come straight from my heart or my soul or wherever words might come from. But when I'm getting ready for publication, my whole story seems to turn into a huge mess. I find myself thinking, "What the hell is this? Who turned my beautiful story into this crazy nonsensical disorder?"

As of yet, I have not found a solution, so…I mean I was going to try and make this post a bit hopeful, but I guess this part isn't haha. Not yet anyway.

The second part of this post is that I'm also a bit insecure about getting back into blogging. It's been so great being able to post here again, and see what everyone has been up to, but as I've mentioned in the past couple posts I wonder if I'm just shouting out into the darkness. Is anyone listening?

What are you insecure about this month?

–Jess

Feeling Sorry For Myself :)

I feel like blogging has become kind of awkward for me. I think it's because I feel like I fell off the face of the blogging earth for a little while, and now I'm back, which is great, but I've missed out on so much and the blogging earth has just continued on revolving without me. I have no idea what's going on these days.

Like David Powers King has a book out now, I don't know how long it's been available for, but it looks really cool!

A lot of other people have stopped blogging completely, or taken long breaks like I have, and a lot of the old blogs I used to visit aren't active anymore. Some don't even exist.

For those of you who have continued blogging, I feel like I'm that one friend who disappeared for three years, and then came back expecting everything to be the same but now people hardly recognize me.

Basically, this is me feeling sorry for myself that no one is reading my posts anymore. My plot for world domination seems to have been put on hold for now, seeing that I barely have an audience, but oh well! I'm hoping that changes very very soon.

Anyway, I've signed up for the A to Z Challenge this year, and I'm really excited. Since the world has continued on without me, I probably don't need to give you a link for it, but just in case, if you haven't signed up for the challenge yet, you can sign up for it here: Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

Any ideas on what your A to Z Challenge theme will be about this year?

–Jess