Calling all first-time Slicers!
We are halfway through the 7th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. You are halfway to the finish line! I am sure by now you have noticed that this is a true community of writers. This writing challenge began in 2008 with only 11 participants. This year, there are well over 200 writers. Some of us write Slice of Life Stories every Tuesday throughout the year, while other familiar faces return every March to write and reconnect. It is a community, and you are now a part of it.
This community needs two things: writers and readers. You write, and the members of this community read your words. They comment and encourage you to keep writing. Comments keep us connected as writers.
Which Slicer has encouraged you the most so far during this writing challenge? Who has left a comment on your blog that moved you? That inspired you to see this through to the end? Who has connected to your writing, and therefore, to you? Who inspires you? These questions are at the heart of today’s challenge.
For this giveaway, we are asking all first-time Slicers to leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 16th. In your comment, please tell us which fellow Slicer has motivated you as a writer.
Today’s giveaway is being sponsored by Responsive Classroom.
Responsive Classroom is donating two prizes – one prize to a new Slicer and one prize to the person who is motivating them! The new Slicer will win two books: the 2nd edition of The Power of Our Words by Paula Denton, EdD and the brand new book, The Language of Learning by Margaret Berry Wilson. The person identified as being motivational to the new Slicer will win the e-book version of Energizers by Susan Lattanzi Roser. The winner will be chosen from the comments on today’s post by a random number generator and will be announced on March 18th.
Here are the official rules:
- This must be your first time ever participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge.
- You may only mention one participant who has inspired you as a writer.
- The person who you mention by leaving a comment on this post must also be a Slice of Life Story Challenge participant.
- While the other co-authors and I certainly hope we have inspired you and made you feel welcome, we never enter ourselves into prize drawings. Therefore, please do not mention any of us (myself, Stacey, Anna, Beth, Betsy, or Tara) when you leave a comment on this post.
- Please do not leave the link to your Slice of Life Story as a comment on this post. You must leave your link on Stacey’s daily call for Slices today.
- Again, you must leave your comment by 11:59 p.m. EDT on March 16th to be entered into the raffle.
Good luck! We are so glad you decided to join us this year!
Discover more from TWO WRITING TEACHERS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Hi, there have been so many slicers responding to my blog during the challenge. It is hard to narrow it down. But I also love Mrs. Romaine at http://lromainebrown.wordpress.com/ . I love her blog and I love her comments and encouragements that she has given me as a new slicer.
LikeLike
I would like to nominate Kate Schwarz She is the most amazing encourager and gives wonderfully balanced comments. Not to mention her posts are something you don’t want to miss. Check her out at whateverings.blogspot.com
LikeLike
This is really tough! I had one that inspired me to start blogging. Three who welcomed me in the beginning. Many who regularly comment and keep me writing! Because the rules say I can only pick one, I put all their names in a hat and drew a name. I drew out Jaana from Jaana’s Writing Blog. Thank you Jaana and all my fellow slicers for encouraging me and inspiring me with your comments and your words during this challenge!
LikeLike
Although I appreciate all comments that are sent my way and had a difficult time choosing one, I would have to say comments from Tracy Banach (tsudmeier) have been most helpful. Her comments on craft have been so enlightening, and she is often encouraging. She thoroughly enjoys reading slices and takes the time to write on many of them.
LikeLike
First times are always filled with apprehension. I’d like to thank Kevin @dogtrax for validating my effort on my very first day of slicing by lifting a line from my writing and creating a beautiful poem with it. It made me so happy and I have since learned what an inspiration he is to many, many slicers! This experience has been so nourishing.
LikeLike
I would like to nominate elsie (LeeAnn Carpenter). She has read and commented on all of my posts. She has been supportative and encouraging. She has given me ideas when my well has run dry.
LikeLike
I suppose this is awkward… but I have to nominate Fran McVeigh. She has been a friend and supporter before slicing and now as a slicer, I always can be sure to find her support on my posts. She always replies to every comment made on her blog and has jumped in as a full participant (not really surprising)in slicing, even though I know this was a bit out of her comfort zone. Thanks Fran. so glad you are here slicing and commenting.
LikeLike
I’d like to thank Melanie Meehan for inspiring me & motivating me through this. Her comments are always insightful & encouraging. She’s making this first-time slicer thing a breeze!
LikeLike
I would like to nominate Kay McGriff. I do not know her personally, but it is largely in part to her, that I am still in this challenge for the month of March. At the beginning of this challenge I made so many technological goofs and she was constantly helping me to connect my blog correctly and sharing words of encouragement and motivation. She has continued to post affirming comments on my posts on a regular basis which I so appreciate. Her feedback reassures me that this slicing thing is worth the risk. Thanks Kay!
LikeLike
I nominate: L Romaine Brown – http://lromainebrown.wordpress.com/
She replied to my slice on Day 2 and shared a connection she had while reading my writing. Her reply made me feel like a writer! My words were being interpreted by someone who was bringing their own background knowledge to my words. It just really hit me that I was doing what writers do. I am telling stories only I can tell but then once read, my story can become something else, based on the reader. So exciting and it’s keeping me writing.
Thank you, L Romaine Brown!
LikeLike
I would like to nominate Brittany Butler! The flow of her stories are flawless. She is humble and honest in writing as well as in her comments.
LikeLike
I, too, am arriving to nominate Brittany Butler! I don’t have the privilege of knowing her in real life, but her thoughtful, witty writing has inspired me to take on my writing and my thinking in new and different ways. Her voice is so clear that I feel like I really am getting to know her, and she makes me want to try harder to do the same with my slices. She balances all that with her thoughtful, timely comments; she seems to have the knack for showing up and commenting just when this challenge feels most challenging!
LikeLike
As a science teacher to start my career, it has been quite the transition to being a core classroom teacher. Luckily, Linda Baie http://www.teacherdance.org has been there to mentor and guide me these past seven years. Part of my evolution to a teacher of writing has been to see myself as a writer. I started Slicing last summer and Linda has always commented on my posts no matter how infrequent they have been. This month, I, my co-teacher, and my twenty-three students are slicing and Linda’s comments are frequent and full of support. Thanks for everything Linda!
LikeLike
I’m thrilled to see so many other first-year slicers! When reading posts, I never know how long someone has been working at this challenge and am now comforted to have good company among the rookies! I have been writing with Linda Baie in a teacher writing group and her enthusiasm for blogging piqued my interest and eased my fears. Her daily comments on my blog remind me that I have an audience and inspire me to keep writing. I’m honored and blessed that she is my writing partner and my friend.
LikeLike
I nominate Chris (readsomuch@gmail.com and readingamidthechaos.blogspot.com). She has commented on nearly all of my posts, and for this reason, I thought she was one of the organizers of the SOL contest. When I read the rules of this contest, I realized otherwise! Thank you Chris for your comments.
LikeLike
I am a first time slicer and blogger. Michelle Brezek from bigtimeliteracy encouraged me to start blogging and the challenge. She continues to comment on my posts and encourages me to continue slicing.
LikeLike
Thanks to Kay McGriff for reading and responding to my every post. It is hard to know if you are doing it “right” and her comments have been the quiet daily reassurance I have needed to just keep doing it. I am very grateful to her for having chosen me and my blog to “stand by” and nurture. Thank you, Kay, for reading, responding and sharing. That is exactly what I was hoping for when I joined and took on the challenge.
LikeLike
The person who has inspired me to both begin and continue on in this March challenge is the name person who inspires me daily in many different ways, my co-teacher, Max Maclay. Max and I work closely together, but there is something special about sharing our writing with each other during this challenge. Writing is so personal, and I have troubles sometimes writing about real things. Knowing that Max will be reading my posts, and know that he would never disparage my writing but always offer genuine support, keeps me going. Thank you, Max!
LikeLike
This being my first year, I wasn’t quite sure how the process of commenting worked…”fun read,” “nice work,” “keep writing.” These are extremely ineffective platitudes when compared with the feedback I have gotten from Chris and Chris H. They have been fantastic supporters and cheerleaders. I have been writing memory slices from an extremely difficult time in my life and the process of just writing it down has been therapeutic, but the reactions of these two ladies have encouraged me to continue on this writing journey.
Thank you so much ladies…I have had some difficult writing days and your encouragement has helped me continue my story!
LikeLike
Melanie Meehan has left me the best, most inspiring comments. They started with simple encouragement (letting me know that someone was reading) and moved towards helpful critique. I love that Melanie (and others who’ve commented) offer specific feedback and help make this challenge a way to improve my writing, in part, through that feedback.
LikeLike
As a first time “slicer,” I wasn’t sure about the process of commenting on others’ blogs. But the more I blog, the more excited I get about leaving (and getting) comments on my daily “slice of life” entries. Julie Johnson has been encouraging and has given me feedback on many of my blogs, and we’ve become “blogging friends” just in this month from writing. I appreciate this feedback from a fellow educator. This SOLC is truly a “community” of teachers and writers. Thank you, Julie, for enriching my blogging experience and encouraging me!
LikeLike
I’ve really appreciated Melanie Meehan’s from. Two Writing Teacher. I am a solo blogger as in I don’t really know anyone in the community. I came to the Slice of Life after following along for about two years. I finally took the plunge. She has been very encouraging even though I may not be the best writer. She also often the only person who has stopped by my Blog. many thanks to her for fanning the flames of my writing.
LikeLike
Last year, I learned about the Slice of Life Challenge from Katherine Sokolowski who was doing it. I admired her dedication to writing a slice every day for the month of March. It motivated me to participate this year in the March Slice Challenge. Every day this month, I have read Katherine’s posts for the challenge – sometimes I laugh and sometimes I cry (good tears). I admire her writing and the way she inspires educators with her examples and posts. There is not just one post that I can point to. I think all of them have motivated me and kept me going. I am also thrilled (and a bit in awe) every time she leaves a comment on one of my posts. So, I am nominating Katherine. 🙂
LikeLike
I am so happy to comment that much of my inspiration during this SOLSC comes from Michelle Haseltine, another 6th grade teacher at 1gratefulteacher.blogspot.com. She was there for my first post, and she told me it was ok on Day 7 when I failed to post by the deadline.
She keeps me moving along and I respect the support I get from her. I also love reading her posts because as a 6th grade teacher, I feel we have a full connection to classroom ideas and I think of her as my far away colleague and friend.
It has been a great honor to be a part of this wonderful group of writers. I thank Michelle and all the others at SOLSC for what I hope will be a life-long friendship.
LikeLike
Michelle Haseltine has been so fun to connect with as I’ve been trying out the blogging world! I love reading her posts and she’s been so kind to me on my blog!
LikeLike
I would like to nominate Angela Crotty. Her blog name is peteacher1. I love that she is a business manager and doing this along with the teachers and administrators at our district.
LikeLike
Thank you Michelle Haseltine for always commenting on my slice of life. You’ve inspired me to keep writing and helped me feel a part of the bigger community. I love it!
LikeLike
I don’t receive a lot of feedback, maybe because I post later in the evening and I live in the west. but I think that Melanie Meehan is my assigned keeper. I always know I’ll get at least one comment from her. I don’t mind not having many readers, though. It’s almost a relief.
LikeLike
This is my first time participating in the Slice of Life March Challenge and although I’ve been challenged to write everyday since I’ve been on vacation and had limited access to wi-fi. I would like to give a shout out and thank Michelle Haseltine for he comments each day on my slice of life writings. She probably doesn’t know it, but I look for her comments each day. They make me smile and encourage me to keep writing. Thanks Michelle!
LikeLike
Drum roll please……Brittany Butler!!!!!! Brittany has the ability to capture the smallest moment with her witty thoughts. I look for her pieces daily and cannot wait to comment on them! She also diligently comments on so many other pieces throughout the day. Recently, she shared with me that reading others’ pieces are the dessert at the end of her day. What a great analogy for this amazing challenge! Thank you Brittany for inspiring me to think of creative, humorous ways to Slice!
LikeLike
I would like to nominate Wendell Berry (luckygurl). She commented on one of my first pieces and really described what I was doing well. I often feel like my pieces are just going out into space but her heartfelt praise really inspired me to write more and also to let me know that people enjoyed my writing. Thanks!
LikeLike
I’d like to nominate Jackie Haworth Hoy. She is the person who introduced me to Slice of Life, and I’m very grateful for it! She makes a point of commenting on almost every one of her posts, and has done a lot to make me feel welcomed into the community. I’ve also read some of her comments on other people’s blogs. They are always so bright and encouraging. She is a great team builder!
LikeLike
Ummm, awkward? I’m actually was here to nominate Angela Crotty aka peteacher1 up there on behalf of all the new slicers in our district. She has written on nearly every new slicers piece every day and continues to write her own honest, humorous and heartfelt slices every day too. Not only that, she responds back to her comments – both on her blog and other slicers’. She has inspired me to do the start to do the same and I picture her often when I write. She has spotlighted blogs outside our circle and given boosts to people in need of a lift. Apparently we are sharing the same slice love today!
LikeLike
As a first time slicer, the feedback that I’ve received each day has been both encouraging and thought-provoking. And Chris at Reading Amid the Choas (http://readingamidthechaos.blogspot.com) has returned to my blog nearly every day to leave an encouraging word or make a comment. Not only has she encouraged my writing, but she’s welcomed me into this community of teacher-writers (writer-teachers?).
LikeLike
This is really hard because there have been such great comments and encouragers. They’ve ALL inspired me to keep writing. I think my favorite, though, was Cathy Mere (@CathyMere), who commented with very specific lines she liked from my post on my childhood friend. That encouraged me because she gave me ideas for future stories and let me know I was on the right track. Thank you, Cathy!
LikeLike
I have two wonderful friends who have encouraged my writing for years. They are the reason I joined this year and the reason I have stayed in this long. But, I can’t pick between the two of them, so I am going to nominate Julie Johnson. I don’t know Julie, but she has been a wonderful commenter. I appreciate her time and support. In fact, I can say that of many others. This is a great community!
LikeLike
Shari Daniels left a lovely comment about my “beautiful word” choice, then she sweetly ask if was ok that she wrote down my opening line. Thank you, Shari! I’m very inspired by her blog, Islands of my Soul”. I hope when my blog grows up it is half as interesting as hers.
LikeLike
Drum roll, please! Cue lights! Music! Action! Red Carpet only for Julieanne! (Jarhartz)
Julieanne always adds a personal connection as well as a thought on what I have written that causes me to go back and reread my work with a “reader’s eye”! Thanks for your daily encouragement!
LikeLike
The person who has inspired me the most has been JenniferM. She started my slicing journey by inspiring me to join the challenge. Now, she the comments she leaves on my writing encourage me and the example she sets in her own writing challenges me.
LikeLike
Laura (http://lromainebrown.wordpress.com/) described one of my slices as “gripping her heart”, and when I read her comment. . . relief flooded me. “Someone is reading my slices, wow! I can grip someone’s heart with my words!” Just about every day she has posted a comment (her birthday is a forgiven pass :)) that shows me we have connected, she understands, and she gives specific feedback to my own words. she always ends with “Thank you.”
I have looked forward to seeing her name pop into my inbox, because I know there will be something there to feed me and my writing. As a result of her encouraging words, I have tried to model my own comments after hers. Connect. Contribute. Give thanks. And though I read many slices each day and leave comments on a variety of blogs, there are a few bloggers who I return to again and again. I hope they find my return as encouraging as I find Laura’s. Thank you, Laura!
From, Amy
http://www.parentingandpedagogy.blogspot.com
LikeLike
I love getting comments from Julie Johnson. She always has an encouraging word, or somehow relates with my words. Sometimes shares a story of her own. I live for the comments, and I can always count on hers.
LikeLike
And the prize goes to…Brittany Butler! Brittany has quite the talent for writing. I love her style and though I aspire to write like her, I am not that funny. I am more of the brown crayon where she is colored with yellow. Though, I can still hope to be able to string words together so consciously and beautifully like her some day. I look forward to her slices daily. Brittany has taken the time nearly every night to provide thoughtful feedback. She wonders what I was thinking, what other possibilities exist with each piece. She encourages me to continue writing by leaving her likes and loves. I am humbled by her every word. Thank you Brittany! I am going to keep writing so you can keep reading!
LikeLike