What? The AtoZ Challenge starts in two days? That can’t be!!!! Ok, Sarah. You’ll be grand. You can do this! Just pull yourself together.

And I’m even better off than last year, but you know? Last year was my first challenge. I didn’t know what I was getting into. This year, I know. And I can’t wait for it to start, but at the same time I feel I’m so NOT prepared. There’s so much that I still need to do. Yes, yes, I’ve finished drafting all my posts, which is a lot more than I had last year at this time, but I still have to revise everything (except the first four posts. Those are ready to go… I hope. I still need one last read through), and I want to have imagines specifically done for every post (thanks Canva. It’s the first time I’m using you and I’m loving you!). I still have to find most of the songs for each post. Find pics…
And once it will be on, there will be visits to my blog to answer to, visits to reciprocate, and commenting and discovering. I have a list of more than 40 blogs I already want to follow for the challenge.

I can’t possibly do this!!!! Someone help me!!!!

Fine. Now that the panicking has be done, let’s go down to business.

Yes, I’ve been going through the theme reveal list and I found quite a few blogs that I want to follow. I know there will be many more. Last year, I never ceased finding new blogs to follow, but that’s part of the fun.

Here are some of the blogs that most inspire me for this challenge. There a many more (as I said, I’ve already bookmarked more than 40), but I find this particularly intriguing. Check them out, and if you have blogs that you find are follow-worthy, let us know in the comments.

Enjoy!

Tales of Many Shapes and Colors: Representation and Diversity in Storytelling
In Zalka‘s words: Representation and diversity are much discussed topics in relation to movies, comic books, literature, and the media. People have been speaking up about having more stories that feature characters that have not been featured before – or if they have, only sporadically, in minor roles, or as stereotypes. As I see it, there is no reason why there shouldn’t be a parallel discussion in oral storytelling as well.

Cultivating Happiness from A to Z in 55 words
In Shilpa‘s words: “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!” Remember this rhyme from our school days? From early on, we were taught to recognize and celebrate feelings of happiness! And today, we know that happiness is not only one of the most positive emotions we can experience, but being happy is also the key to a fulfilled, healthy life.
Most of us believe that happiness is a result of some external circumstance, but it doesn’t have to be. Happiness a daily habit and it can be cultivated in our every day life.

Witchy Women
In Diana‘s words: And so, for this third year in A to Z Challenge, I’m continuing traditions of deepening my research interests and focusing on ladies again. Only this time, instead of girls in children’s fiction or lady monsters, I’m spending the month talking about Witchy Women. I’ll be joined by a few fantastic guests, who’ve offered their takes on their favorite witches. And of course I’ll be chatting about witches…witches from fiction, comics, film, folklore, and even a few historical figures.

Dreams
In Stephen‘s words: Dream interpretation is something I find fascinating and have studied for decades. Let’s go a bit deeper. What are the sources of dreams? Where do they come from? Within the person? God? An outside source? That bad burrito or double pepperoni extra cheese pizza you ate before going to sleep?
I’ll be exploring what dreams are, the different types of dreams, and the meaning behind things in our dreams such as colors, people, location etc.

Castle
In Rae‘s words: Each castle built tells a story. It represents a piece of history. When I visit one, I’m not just drinking in the scale, but also the reason why it’s there. Who lived in its walls and why.

The worst romance novel ever written in 26 days
In Megan‘s words: My hoped-for goal with this chosen theme, gentle readers and writers, is to teach you how not to write a book. Each day’s letter will explore a different component of creative writing and the worst way you could possibly implement it. From awful dialog to awkward foreshadowing, cartoonish villains and even more cartoonish heroes, useless details, too many details, plot that goes nowhere, and metaphor-laced drivel, there will be something to offend even the most seasoned writer/agent/editor/beta reader/long-suffering friend of an author who thinks they’ve seen it all. Take notes, learn, discuss, and most importantly–laugh.

Mermaids
In Claire Annette‘s words: I am currently working on a project involving mermaids so I decided to organize my research from A to Z and write posts about what I find. I’ll be sharing books, movies, songs, poetry, and lots of interesting information about mermaids from around the world.

Chicago
In Laura‘s words: Chicago is my hometown (or, anyway, close enough), so I’ve got a lot of fond memories of the city. And since April is the month where all the ice and snow typically melts into Spring there, meaning that Chicagoans can actually come out of their lairs and explore again, I figured it’d be a nice way to spotlight some of my favorite places throughout the city – as well as some places I’d like to explore if/when my family ever moves back to the area.

Easter Rising of 1916
In Loca4Crafts‘s words: This year is the 100 year anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916 in Ireland. I am Irish but have never taken the time to learn about this part of my history. I left Ireland before the topic came up in my school history lessons. So I am taking this opportunity to learn more about my history by blogging my way through an A to Z of the Easter Rising.

A Brilliant Conspiracy
In Roland‘s words: Inspired by this mystery, I will post a brief episode in “A Brilliant Conspiracy” on every day of the challenge, from A through to Z, each one starting with the relevant letter.
Each episode will consist of one word for each of the letters of the alphabet, initially in alphabetical order. As each letter is ticked off, I will then use it anywhere in the following episodes. For instance, Day 3 will start with ‘C’ for ‘Confessions, and somewhere I will use A and B – possibly for ‘Archibald’ and for ‘but’. By the time the mystery reaches Z, all the other letters will be in non-alphabetical order. That means 26 posts, each one of 26 words.

Well? Are you as escited as I am?
Come along for the ride!