
Linda Baie, who’s been part of this writing community for several years, wrote an important post last month. She said:
I’ve been researching the definition of “ordinary”, mostly because that’s what my slices of life are much of the time, “ordinary.” There seems to be pressure to be “out of the ordinary” or even “extraordinary,” and I feel it. I don’t mean here for SOL, but out in the world, in ads, on commercials, etc. What I found is that the word has its roots from the Latin root for rule. In that same site, here are synonyms given: common, usual, average, fair, mediocre, middling, characterless, nondescript, commonplace, cut and dried, mundane, routine, so-so, run of the mill, and on. So, how does the root word ‘rule’ move into the negative? If one follows an ordinary day, that means to me that the ‘rule’ of the day is that one chooses actions that are done often, perhaps every day, and completed (I’m trying not to use words that evaluate).
Remember: When you’re writing a slice of life, it can be about something ordinary. Please don’t wait until something extraordinary happens to you to share a slice of life story here. That’s not what slicing is about. Sharing the ordinary is more than okay… it’s what slicing is all about!
We’re still looking for a few more people to join the Welcome Wagon to support first-year Slicers this year. The commitment is to comment on 5 – 10 assigned Slicers daily, offering words of encouragement. Please click here if you’d like to help welcome new people to our writing community. THANK YOU!
Speaking of new slicers, the eight of us will hold a Twitter Q&A about the month-long Slice of Life Story Challenge next Tuesday, February 16th at 8:30 p.m., EST. We hope you’ll join us!

As those of you who’ve done the March Challenge before already know, we offer writing-related prizes for people who participate in the month-long challenge. We’ve received lots of incredible prize donations from publishers and authors this year. If you’re interested in donating a prize for the Slice of Life Story Challenge, please let Beth, Deb, or Dana know by tomorrow. Thank you!
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I’m not sure if I’m doing this correctly, but here goes- my test drive failed on the first pass.
SOL Challenge test:
https://cricketsnbunnies.wordpress.com/wp-admin/customize.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcricketsnbunnies.wordpress.com%2F
I’m test driving how to blog for the upcoming SOL Challenge. My fingers are crossed!
https://cricketsnbunnies.wordpress.com/wp-admin/customize.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcricketsnbunnies.wordpress.com%2F
I approved your comment, but I would suggest linking TOMORROW on the Sol Tuesday post. This post is old and won’t be seen by most Slicers anymore.
Check back for the new post after 12:01 am tomorrow. Thanks!
Thanks Stacy. I’ve learned so much already! Please skip the second try. Thank you!
I will look for your post tomorrow. Good luck!
Also, here is the permalink to your post:
https://cricketsnbunnies.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/newbie-test-run/
Yes! It worked! You are a sweetheart! Goodnight!
My first slice… http://flowertattoe.blogspot.com/2016/02/cooking-for-man.html
Don’t Knock on Wood. Ever.
https://lettersfromcoachk.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/dont-knock-on-wood-ever/
#SsTIME2wrt offers authentic audience for students… http://wp.me/p6rnCF-3a
My early morning adventures with Dustin Hoffman!
http://pleasuresfromthepage.blogspot.com/2016/02/slice-of-life-my-airport-run-with.html
More updates in new widowhood: http://redemma1991.blogspot.com/2016/02/slice-of-life-tuesday_9.html
Finally, my husband will get his pacemaker – next week. But it has been a stressful wait.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/2016/02/10/slice-of-life-tuesday-57/
A little slice of sister love and Fruit Loops:
http://literacyzone.blogspot.com/2016/02/joyous-fruit-loops-sol16.html?m=1
Valentine’s Day LOVE
https://lettersfromcoachk.wordpress.com/2016/02/10/valentines-day-love/
A little snippet about a writer’s notebook and a conversation http://deb-day.blogspot.com/2016/02/sol16-it-started-with-piece-of-writing.html
The world lost an extraordinary early childhood educator this past week – Bev Bos. I just had to share my thoughts. http://myiearlychildhoodreflections.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-treasure-that-is-bev-bos.html
Will there be a snow day soon? http://wp.me/p3eVyl-f0
I need a do over. http://dountome.blogspot.com/
PERSISTENCE!
http://drferreri.blogspot.com/2016/02/sol16-my-olw-persistence.html
Inspired to jot my wonderings after reading one sentence in today’s newspaper.
http://mywritingstoriesbysally.blogspot.com/2016/02/2050.html
A lost and found slice! Really lost and really found!
http://theamyrudder.blogspot.com/2016/02/lost-hopelessly-lost-and-then.html
Where did those days pass?
http://wp.me/pPury-1iq
My slice: Students asked me about my blog today. This is what I think about students (or colleagues, parents, etc.) reading my blog: http://wp.me/p2yR3J-3Cu
A slice about illness: http://iheartpurplestuff.blogspot.com/2016/02/flexibility.html
Excited for the month long challenge. I have an original poem for a couple poetry challenges:https://deowriter.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/sol-16-found-object-poetry-challenge-day-9/
Musing about my Creative Spirit. Do you know your Creative Spirit?
http://justforamonth.blogspot.com.ee/2016/02/taking-care-of-your-creative-spirit.html
Respect His Process
https://writereadlearn.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/respect-his-process/
https://kkoehlerblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/oh-that-tooth-fairy/
Dusting off the blogging dust. Time to get back in the swing of things. Here we go…
It seems like we just finished Christmas and now Lent is here.
https://arjeha.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/lent/
A slice about things left half done and then found…so many of them.
http://chrisleish.weebly.com/blog/all-you-need-is-love
This is a new project for me. I am excited to give it a try. As we all have experienced, I am very apprehensive of sharing my stream of consciousness. I hope that through this journey I will become a better writer.
https://diaryofa40yroldemptynester.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/46/
Slice of Life was served up to me this morning after being dumped in my daughter’s lap. Enjoy!http://justwritemelanie.blogspot.com/2016/02/slice-of-life-smoothie-disaster.html
A new experience for me – water therapy.
http://www.mentortextswithlynneandrose.com/blogging-with-rose
Finally! http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/2016/02/slice-of-life-finally.html
Happy #MardiGras everybody! Here’s a light post today about the books I’m currently reading.
http://ateachersruminations.blogspot.com/2016/02/books-books-and-more-books.html
I watched a murder of crows fly through my neighborhood yesterday.
https://booksandbassets.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/a-murder-of-crows/
Whoops: Try this one http://digitalbonnie.me/2016/02/09/letters-to-tuvia14-these-chords-make-my-heart-melt-2-9-16/
These Chords Melt my Heart https://wordpress.com/post/digitalbonnie.me/4803
Part story, part confession.
https://csskubik.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/confessions-of-a-part-time-facebook-junkie/
Writing with friends is like writing with students; We must have trust. https://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/at-times-these-days-i-think-about/
Wrote about what was gnawing at me last night. http://cast-of-characters.blogspot.com/2016/02/two-slices-one-deep-cut.html
An empty nester’s memory
https://vanessaw2007.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/my-youngest-daughter/
Today’s SOL: https://teacherleader.edublogs.org/2016/02/09/sol-one-too-many-chairs/
Inspired by last night’s chat- a found poem:
http://couragedoesnotroar.blogspot.com/2016/02/were-all-writers-here-sol16.html
A moment that stopped me in my tracks
https://murphyslawblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/stopped/
Great post for today. I love it because the ordinary will some day turn into the extraordinary! Here’s my post for this Week: The Writer’s Life https://lisaorchard.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/slice-of-life-post-the-writers-life/
My SOL today is a reflection on this time of year and my job.
http://janiefahey.blogspot.com/2016/02/slice-of-life-uncomfortable-time.html
A funny (I hope) story about some lucky ducks in Florida.
http://haddonmusings.com/2016/02/09/sunny-florida-for-a-snowy-day/
The buzz at school yesterday was all about snow!
https://mbhmaine.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/snow-day-speculation/
Stacy,
Since I am not a teacher will I still be welcome to post on Tuesdays in March?
Bernadette Laganella http://www.HaddonMusings.com
>
Today I reflect on making time for good habits
http://mrspayanreads.blogspot.com/2016/02/slice-of-life-how-writing-is-like-going.html
My brain is still buzzing from the many ideas included in last night’s #TWTBlog chat. Here’s one Ralph Fletcher tweet and my subsequent thinking!
https://franmcveigh.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/sol16-sharing-writing/
A reno has disturbed my “ordinary” routine that keeps me sane and it’s throwing my cat for a loop too! http://morningmusing.weebly.com/morning-musing/tahlullah-i-creatures-of-habit-sol
“Shark Tank” Speech Experience: http://www.evolvingenglishteacher.blogspot.com/2016/02/shark-tank-speech-experience-lesson.html?m=1
I return to the reason I started blogging by writing about a teaching moment.
Sometimes I’m not always paying close attention.
https://lcinmo.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/oops/
Writing about the ordinary…a bowl. http://1gratefulteacher.blogspot.com/2016/02/nourishment.html
Pure book love!
http://sweetwritinglife.blogspot.com/2016/02/like-christmas-sol-2-9-16.html
Some of you might feel like this today, too…
https://newtreemom.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/i-have-a-cold/
Remembering
https://showgem.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/30-years-ago/
Beyond the “Gist” How reading for superficial understandings is like showering without soap.
Here’s you link, Kim:
http://www.burkinsandyaris.com/beyond-the-gist/#comment-199812
Thank you, Tara. 🙂
Listening. http://kimberleymoran.blogspot.com/2016/02/listening.html
Short and sweet written on my blogger app about by teen/tween sons
http://parentingandpedagogy.blogspot.com/2016/02/mom-boys-ramble.html?m=1
Reading the autobiography of Elvis Costello and realizing I stole a song idea from him for a piece about remembering.
http://dogtrax.edublogs.org/2016/02/09/slice-of-life-remembering-a-song-about-remembering/
Kevin
It started with the first line in my head, and then I couldn’t stop…a poem about the mess in my house: http://horizon51.blogspot.com/2016/02/tuesday-slice-swearing-on-state-of-my.html
A walk in the woods stirs up thoughts about writing:
https://readingtothecore.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/slice-of-life-being-a-witness-to-the-world/
Sometimes what seems ordinary is extraordinary! These kids are so smart
http://assessmentinperspective.com/?p=3270
Clare
I had the pleasure of helping some four- & five-year-old writers (including Isabelle!) create their first books yesterday.
https://raisealithuman.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/making-books/
Do I Have the Right Stuff?
https://msvictorreads.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/do-i-have-the-right-stuff/
Thanks for sharing my words, Stacey. I hope everyone shares their wonderful (and ordinary) lives with us. It’s special to read each slice. I’m sharing a bit of a lesson for Valentine poetry. Love poems for the “special” found in the “ordinary”: http://www.teacherdance.org/2016/02/love-on-valentines-day.html
Snowfall by a window:
https://ateachinglifedotcom.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/slice-of-life-tuesday-10/
Unrelated to teaching, and more to general wellbeing and acknowledging some tricky mental health issues which may be overlooked in schools. Would love reading and comments: https://theperspectivesmanifesto.wordpress.com/2016/01/31/i-am-enough-i-am-not-broken-i-am-whole/
A magical writing prompt. https://jarhartz.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/slice-of-life-just-a-sentence/
My offering today is part of a series of thoughts on moving into new directions with my one word believe allowing me to search for possibilities in each day. “Moving Out from the Maze” http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2016/02/moving-out-from-maze.html.
I returned for a second week! I appreciate these wise words from Linda. I wish my slice this week was actually not about something ordinary – for reasons that become obvious if you read the post: Bad Irony
https://thereisabookforthat.com/2016/02/08/bad-irony-slice-of-life/
Something as ordinary as a Writing Revision Workshop turned out to be an exceptional professional development experience.
https://barbarasut.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/collaborative-professional-development-a-workshop-on-teaching-revision/