giveaway · Slice of Life Story Challenge

New Slicer Challenge

Dana Murphy

TWT SOLSC Prize Image 2015 - V2 copyCalling all new Slice of Life writers!  We have a challenge for you!

Now that we are nearly half-way through the 8th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge, I know you have gained a good insight into this incredible writing community.  I hope you have been welcomed with open arms, and I hope you have been inspired by many to keep writing.

This community needs only two things: writers and readers.  Both are equally important to this community.  Our mid-month challenge aims to recognize both.  We are asking those Slicers who are new to our community:  Which Slicer has encouraged you this month?  Who has left a comment on your blog that moved you?  Who has inspired you to keep writing?  Who has lifted you up as a writer?

Stenhouse

First-time Slicers, please nominate a fellow Slicer to be your co-winner in this mid-month challenge!  Leave a comment on this post before Monday, March 16th at 12:00 p.m. EDT.  Tell us which Slicer has inspired you the most through the comments he or she has left on your blog.  Both you and the person you nominate will win a signed copy of Kate Messner’s newest book, 59 Reasons to Write, donated by Stenhouse Publishers!

59 Reasons Cover

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 Betsy’s daily call for Slices today.
  • Again, you must leave your comment by 12:00 p.m. EDT on March 16th to be entered into the raffle.
  • The winner will be chosen by a random number generator.

Thank you to Stenhouse Publishers for the generous prize!

Comments are now closed.

The winners of the challenge are agurney2015 and ccahill2013.  Agurney left the following comment, which was chosen by random number generator:

I want to nominate carriedotcom. She responds to my slices almost daily and she notices the small nuances in my writing and often shares a connection that she can personally make. I have actually started following her blog as well for some inspiration. She writes from ccahilldot.com.wordpress.com and her comments are received as ccahill2013. Thanks CarrieDot!

Published by Dana Murphy

Literacy Coach, Reader, Writer

54 thoughts on “New Slicer Challenge”

  3. This is very difficult. One of the things I shared at school was how amazing a feeling it is knowing someone has taken the time to read what you’ve written and then leaves supportive comments. With that being said (since I’m only able to choose one person), I nominate Angela- peteacher1. She’s commented on most if not all of my posts, One in particular she found and shared a quote that really meant the world to me.

    Like

  4. I want to nominate my work wifey, Jennifer Morales. She and I are both new slicers this year and it’s been a wonderful experience to share together. The best thing about doing this with a friend is that you can hold each other accountable, but also that you can encourage each other along the way. Even though we had a super hard week this week with report cards and starting conferences, we both managed to find a moment to write our slice of life posts each day. I am inspired by her, in so many ways.

    http://thechroniclesofateacher.blogspot.com

    Like

  5. WhenI reflect on which blogger has been an inspiration to me, I look no further than Linda Baie at http://www.teacherdance.org/. She is supportive, creative, and an advocate for learners. Linda has been a faithful follower and supporter of my work since I started blogging. As one of the SOL mentors, she has provided me with information from the onset of this challenge and has responded to any question I might have. Beyond blogging, she has connected with me this weekend when I was faced with a difficult medical situation with my young adult son. Linda listened and corresponded inquiring on the outcome of testing. It would be a pleasure if Linda was recognized for her spirit of collaboration and support.

    Like

  6. I’ve been blown away with inspiration from many slicers, and have difficulty choosing just one, but since those are the rules, I nominate Holly Mueller at http://www.hollymueller.blogspot.com
    Holly inspires me in a multitude of ways – through her example as a person and an educator; through her brilliant sol writing (which I would pay dearly to read), and through her encouragement of my own writing. It would be a dream to co-teach with Holly, but at least I can learn from her via the internet.

    Like

  7. Ccahill2013 of Carriedotcom has inspired me and lifted me up. She always has inspiring, “You go girl!” and “You belong here” comments on my slices. I always enjoy reading her diverse and well written slices as well.

    Like

  9. Tara Smith from A Teaching Life (https://ateachinglifedotcom.wordpress.com/) was the first person to comment on my first post. She was thoughtful, encouraging, kind…all the things we need a person reading what we write to be. In the days after, she has continued to comment, and the nature of her comments are ones about craft, about content, about feelings…Knowing that she’ll probably stop by to read something I wrote is additional encouragement for me to keep writing, even on the days when I don’t want to (those are rare, I admit, now that I have a writing habit). She’s simply wonderful. The students she teaches are lucky; for now, in this challenge, I’m the lucky one. Thanks! Kim (Single Mom So Far)

    Like

  10. I nominate Jennifer M of http://ihabloespanglish.blogspot.com/

    Her blog is what first directed me to the TWT and SOLC. Her writing is always interesting and inspiring to me, and she has left several comments for me. She is such an inspiring teacher for her students (and it is a DIFFICULT job) and still finds time to write and give comment love.

    Thank you Jennifer!

    Like

  12. I have been completely inspired by Anita Ferreri. Anita turned me on to this website and presented me with this challenge. Without her I never would have started up my blog that has been percolating in the back of my mind for months. The contest spoke to me, but it also made me realize I can continue writing even after this challenge is over. I am a teacher and fiction writer by day, but something about Anita’s comments and the way she inspires me to write more, stays with me daily really resonates. I will always be grateful to her for adding fuel to my passion.

    Like

  13. I nominate Kristi Lonheim. She comments on my posts often and has taught me the importance of picking a few blogs to read regularly and making a real connection rather than jumping around to all different people everyday.

    Like

  15. I would like to nominate Barbara Suter at https://barbarasut.wordpress.com/. Barbara and I are friends through the Long Island Writing Project and were trying to get blogs going through an LIWP site. We were each other’s only audience! I am glad we have both found a community of teachers, readers, and writers here but I am glad we are still each other’s audience. Barbara comments on my posts each day, always with a kind and encouraging word of support and I look forward to learning more about Barbara’s life as each day’s slice tells me something new about her! Check out her blog and her courageous story of beating cancer.

    Like

  17. I nominate Carol, from Carol’s Corner, http://carolwscorner.blogspot.com. Carol has left several comments to my posts and all of them felt well-thought out and sincere, showing she was really listening to me. I also loved her latest poem, which gave me perspective on a sad day. This SOL challenge has been so rewarding so far, and Carol has been of the reasons.

    Like

  20. Adrienne Wiley, from Walking the Walk, has been a faithful visitor at Galley Street this month. I have been encouraged by her support of my posts; and I have been inspired by reading the stories on her blog. Thanks so much, Adrienne!

    Like

  21. I want to nominate carriedotcom. She responds to my slices almost daily and she notices the small nuances in my writing and often shares a connection that she can personally make. I have actually started following her blog as well for some inspiration. She writes from ccahilldot.com.wordpress.com and her comments are received as ccahill2013. Thanks CarrieDot!

    Like

  22. Sonja Schultz at thttp://thesassybibliophile.blogspot.com/ has encouraged me to write/blog. Her example has made me better librarian & has taught me step out of my comfort zone & try new things.

    Like

  23. I’d like to nominate Adrienne at adriennewiley.wordpress.com. She encouraged me to start this challenge and has been a cheerleader each and every day. I appreciate her thoughtful comments on my posts and our quick check-ins at work. The support has been nothing short of fantastic!

    Like

  24. I nominate Fran McCracken of pencilonmybackporch.wordpress.com. She has left such thoughtful, funny, attentive comments on my blog throughout these past two weeks. I really appreciate her!

    Like

  27. I nominate Elsie at “Elsie Tries Writing.” I think she’s commented every single day and I appreciate her writer’s voice, her connection to this SOL project and just knowing that someone will hopefully be reading my ramblings.

    Thank you Elsie!

    Like

  30. I nominate Anita Ferreri, who has read and commented on every post I have written. I don’t know Anita in real life or how she found me amidst all the wonderful Slice blogs, but her comments have been so encouraging – positive, insightful, and thoughtful. Thank you, Anita!

    Like

  31. I want to nominate Katie from Coffeefueledmusings.wordpress.com because she got me started in this challenge in the first place and has continued to encourage me long the way.

    Like

  32. Leigh Anne Eck!! She not only found me floundering out on Twitter trying to get started with SOL back in January, but she then helped me set up my blog. She kept encouraging me as I got started with this new endeavor. Since then she is always certain to stop by my blog and I’m so happy to have connected with this new friend. She really has gone out of her way to support me. Love reading her work…such an inspiration. Thank you Leigh Anne!!!

    Like

  35. Being a part of a blogging community is completely new to me. When I sit down to write my Slice and read others, I read a few new ones and I revisit blogs I have visited before. It has felt a little like visiting with friends. One blogger I have felt this “friendship” with is Jessica at https://jess2e28.wordpress.com/. She has regularly commented on my posts and I find myself looking forward to what she has to say/write. I find her posts/slices very real and easy to relate to. I find myself nodding a lot, as to say, “I have been there.” This new writing/blogging community has really inspired me to write and to read what others are writing…and that has made me a better writer.

    Like

  36. I want to nominate Julie Johnson. I see Julie’s profile picture almost every day in my comments section. I appreciate her feedback on my actual writing craft, and love her shared connections and advice.

    Like

  38. Sandy Brown’s willingness to take on this challenge has been a great encouragement. She is our district language arts coordinator, and she leads a team of teachers who have been developing writing workshops for DISD. She was hesitant to get involved, but each time she posts something, I am inspired, motivated, and engaged. Sandy has posted a few comments on my blog, and she has written me several private messages about the power of leading others. Even when I push her, she takes time to acknowledge how the nudging helps us all become better teachers. I nominate Sandy Kay Brown!

    http://sandyksniderbrown.blogspot.com/

    Like

  39. Elsie has definitely been my biggest encourager. She has commented on every post and always says insightful things. She even manages to find things in my writing that I hadn’t seen or noticed. So many slicers have welcomed me and respinded , but Elsie has been that consistent voice, daily speaking into my writing.

    Like

  41. There have been many wonderful commenters. I’m nominating Julie Johnson because she has been a supportive and and understanding reader.

    Like

  43. I nominate Janice Ewing (who is slicing on pawlpblog.org). I’m ashamed to say that I never heard of the SOL challenge until Janice brought it up to me a few weeks ago, and she inspired me to jump right in with her!

    Like

  44. I suppose all any of us slicers ever really want, is for our readers to have one tiny string of their heart pulled when they read our writing. After all, it is the pulling of heart strings from other authors that inspires many of us to write in the first place. So, when I wrote about my divorce on SOL day 7, the comment by Jackie from The Patchwork Life, led me immediately into a full out ugly cry. She had shared a bit of her own experience and wrote, “Thank you for sharing your emotions in this slice-it has made me feel less alone.” This pushed me in so many ways to keep writing. She made me feel that my voice was needed, even if she was the only one who needed it.

    Like

Comments are closed.