Since Ramona asked and she traveled all the way from Seattle, I honored her request. We went around the room and introduced ourselves. It was a big dinner party — 33 people in all. Check out who was there. I’ve been excited for months about this dinner. After all it was a room full of slicers and tweeps, people who share their stories and impact my life. People who nourish my soul and keep me writing. People who push my thinking and are part of my most powerful professional learning community. My writing group was there and colleagues who join me in cyberspace. And the person who first encouraged me to write professionally, Carl Anderson, was there too. Really, it was a bit surreal.
I might have been giddy.
I didn’t know they were about to give another gift. How could I have been prepared? It was just introductions. Name, blog, Twitter alias…nothing spectacular should really come out of introductions, right?
But, as I’m learning, writing always gives more than it takes. Always. Tonight was a concrete example. It will etch onto my heart, becoming part of my story. The people in the room were there because of story. We were woven together by story. Through slicing and tweeting, people were bound by words.
And they went around the tables, sharing why they started writing and what writing has offered them. I sat there humbled. Writing matters. It really matters. This act of putting words down and sharing stories and then responding makes a powerful difference.
Writing is part of my ordinary routine. Slicing is an expected part of the week. Twitter is always chirping, always giving. When I talk to people, I ask them about their writing. It’s become such a part of me that it is often a joke among my dearest friends. Tonight was one of those moments when I saw the magic in the ordinary.
It makes me want to keep writing, even when I think I don’t have anything to give. Because what I’m learning is when I stack the words, Story gives back.
Thank you, friends, for dinner tonight. You nourished my soul in real-time. I’m overwhelmed by your kindness.
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 
I arrived a bit late to the party, and entered a room filled with warm community. Yes, I was overwhelmed searching out familiar faces from the thumbnails on my favorite blogs. What a wonderful way to kick off the jam-packed All Write 2013 Conference.
Thanks to Ruth and the home team of Slicers.
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What a gift indeed, story, connection and the heart that everyone in the community shares each week. Loved the gathering and miss everyone already.
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The power of connection never ceases to amaze me. You have given us such a gift by affording us the means, the site, the inspiration, to connect. Thank you!
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I was a party crasher, and it was wonderful. I may take up party crashing as one of my retirement hobbies. Where can you go and have so many people who all love the same thing?–reading, writing, supporting, relishing food and friends of the same mind. Thanks, Ruth, again and again!
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The evening was delightful and inspiring! My heart soared meeting slicer friends who have encouraged me and whom I have encouraged. Listening to friends share stories and teaching moments has added to my learning. Thank you!
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Thank you for such an amazing evening of meeting new/old friends in person. What an amazing community that believes in the power of community. love nanc
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Thank you Ruth for not only putting together a nice evening but a wonderful community as well. It was great to put faces to the names and beautiful words behind the slices.
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It was quite a special evening, Ruth. Thanks to you & Stacey I have become a part of something magical. It’s challenging to communicate these particular connections. Only those who write in a community understanding how one can “know” someone through their words, well, also unless one is a reader! Thanks much for the welcome from everyone, too! And Much learning and fun today!
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How special and fun for all of the group-thanks for sharing how much it meant to you Ruth!
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Thank you, Ruth, for organizing this evening for us. It was delightful to meet so many fellow slicers in person. Putting words down, sharing stories, and then responding…thank you Two Writing Teachers for providing the vehicle for me to become a writer and my fellow bloggers for this great community.
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Wow. Reading this put tears in my eyes. I wish I could’ve been there. I was so excited this week when my first friend I know from the real world joined us in slicing. Interesting, though, so many of you I know for real, even through the words on the screen, as we share our stories, our lives, our slices. What an amazing community–and the photo proves you are all for real. Sorry I missed it.
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How wonderful to share those stories. I know that every time I feel like giving up the pen, I can count on a visit to twowritingteachers to renew my writing energy.
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This sounds so wonderful! Some year I am going to jump in the car and just come!
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It truly was surreal, so many virtual friends in person. Because we read and write we connect. Thank you Ruth and Stacey for creating this community so we can share our stories. You weren’t the only one giddy.
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What great fun! Thank you as well – this “little” blog got me writing again and has given me a writing community that I have not had for awhile. It is amazing how one builds friend over the cyber space. I love it!
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