giveaway · Slice of Life Story Challenge · SOLSC

A Challenge for First Time Slicers

Dana Murphy

Giveaway Image V1 (1)Calling all new Slice of Life writers!  We have a challenge for you!

We are nearly halfway through the 9th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge.  As a new member of this community, we hope you have found your writing groove.  We hope you are living like a writer and finding the Slice of Life Stories that exist in your day-to-day life.

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 14th 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 Paula Bourque’s book, Close Writing, donated by Stenhouse Publishers!

Close Writing

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, Anna, Beth, Betsy, Deb, Kathleen, Stacey 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 Dana’s daily call for Slices today.
  • Again, you must leave your comment by 12:00 p.m. EDT on March 14th 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!

Congratulations to first-time Slicer, terierrol, whose random number (26) was chosen.  She nominated booksandbassets.  Each Slicer will receive a signed copy of Close Writing. Congratulations!

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Published by Dana Murphy

Literacy Coach, Reader, Writer

42 thoughts on “A Challenge for First Time Slicers”

  1. I’ve been so thankful for each person that has commented on my blog these first days of the March challenge! There are several writers that have encouraged me greatly, made me smile, and given me the stamina to keep going. At least two commenters have been there for me each and every day, which means more than they can know! I look forward to their responses, and they inspire me to leave kind words for other bloggers as well. I would love to nominate each of these people because I want them to know how much their efforts have meant to me and impacted my writing. I’m a rule-follower, though–and the rules say just one! So this time I would like to nominate Fran from franmcveigh.wordpress.com. I am fortunate enough to know Fran in “real life” and it is due to her great encouragement that I started my blog in the first place, and then tried the Slice of Life challenge. It is fair to say that I would not have been brave enough to do so without her advice, wise words, and fine example. Fran not only writes wonderfully herself, but is a champion of writing–she truly does show teachers and students alike how to find joy in sharing words. Although Fran is very busy, she often finds the time to check on my little blog and through her comments let me know that she is cheering me on. Thank you so much, Fran! And thanks also to the new friends who are building my confidence as the days pass. I do wish I could nominate you all!

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  3. Erika from erikaloularson.wordpress.com. We work in the same district, but I didn’t know she was doing the challenge when I started. Knowing there was someone else I knew participating and checking my posts gives me an added accountability to keep going. And I really appreciate the way she comments no only on the content but also the craft of my writing.

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  4. Samantha Marquardt has been so encouraging in her comments. I look forward to them everyday. It has been so inspiring to receive such thoughtful feedback from someone I never even met. I especially appreciated when she told me that my teaching profession will be like “an old friend waiting for me” when I return to it. Those were encouraging words that I needed to hear!

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  5. So far, this has been the coolest thing that I’ve started in a long time. There are so many people that I have already made such great connections with and I look forward to talking to them each day. I would like to nominate Jennifer Laffin from ‘Sweet Writing Life” for being such an inspiration. She was the one that encouraged me to get this journey started, and also introduced me to many wonderful writers. She makes sure to read each of my posts to check in, send a quick text to make sure that I remember to link up and also comments on what I write. I am so thankful to her and many others that I have met. I wish I could nominate them all!

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  7. I have learned the power of writing for an authentic audience! When my first comments were posted on my blog, I was hooked. I couldn’t wait for others to comment. Of course, everyone is so kind and encouraging in all their comments (even when I know my writing could be better), and I appreciate it so very much. I have a new apprciation for my writing students and the power of sharing their works with others. Thanks to all who have commented!

    This being said, I nominate Emily Donaldson from riceandcoffee@wordpress.com. We embarked on the writerly adventure together, and this camaraderie has encouraged me everyday. Thanks, Emily!

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  8. How hard to pick one person whose comments have inspired me. I read and re-read through the comments trying to pick one person. I guess it would have to be Lsquared, at lromainebrown.wordpress.com, as this person has commented on most of my posts. Not only has this person commented, but gave encouraging words of wisdom that help me to not give up and give in to the popular opinion at my school, but instead to keep pushing my students to do their best. I love looking forward to the feedback on a daily basis. Whether it is encouragement or just understanding, that they have also experienced what I am writing about, it keeps me going.

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  9. As many have already written, I would like to nominate each person who has commented on my blog. Every bit of feedback has fueled me to write again the next day. It has been no easy feat to keep up the momentum of daily blogging and commenting, and there is a moment almost every day when I think, What would happen if I just didn’t make it through the challenge? For that reason, the single person I will nominate is Aileen Hower. I don’t know she’s doing it, but she has been there the most often to offer feedback, and when I comment on other slices, she’s often been there, too! It amazes me, and I am grateful for her encouragement. One day, she even wrote to me: “I am learning so much about excellent writing by reading your posts. Thank you for having committed to this challenge this month.” Wow! With encouragement like this, I have shown up to write each day. Thank you, Aileen, and every other writer who has stopped to offer words of support. It matters so much, and I hope to achieve what other writers are accomplishing in this challenge!

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  10. I would like to nominate arjeha. Arjeha welcomed my blog into the writing challenge with my very first slice. The second day I received another warm and thoughtful comment from arjeha. I felt encouraged to have a reader return. When I received another encouraging comment the third day, I began to wonder who arjeha was, so I went to arjeha’s blog. I read arjeha’s blog and learned a lot. Arjeha was a man – I had assumed my commenter was a female. Arjeha was about to have surgery – he had commented on my blog up until the day of his surgery! I also learned that arjeha’s writing was fantastic and as beautiful and thoughtful as his comments. This might sound weird or over the top, but arjeha felt like a friend to me. I was worried about him undergoing surgery. I thought about him for the days that followed his surgery when I wasn’t receiving his comments on my blog. I checked his blog daily, hoping for a sign that he was well and recovering. Yesterday, a wonderful thing happened. I saw that arjeha left a comment on my blog. I was thrilled. He was back! I went to his blog immediately and read a breathtaking poem about his surgery. What an amazing person to come back from something like that and comment – to encourage me and others to continue to write immediately upon recovery (arjeha comments on many blogs)!!! I’m so impressed by his fortitude. His courage and his comments make me want to write every day! I hope that I can encourage other writers and welcome them to the community the way arjeha has for me.

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  11. While I appreciate all of the warm and welcoming comments I’ve received here, I am going to nominate Mindi Rench, as she has been a consistent cheerleader for this first-time slicer!

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  12. I would have to say that rosecappelli has inspired me to write every day. Her comments are heartfelt and I know I always have at least one person reading my post everyday! Thank you Rose!

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  14. Thank you so much fr hosting this challenge. It truly has inspired me to be the writer I need to be in order to improve my teaching of writing. And I have grown immensely myself.
    So many people have been great commenters and have inspired me to move forward. Adrienne Gillespie has given me a daily dose of positive energy. But I want to nominate Clare Mulligan as my star commenter. I met Clare a few years ago and having the opportunity to reconnect with her through her comments has been wonderful. She inspired me to begin in the first place. Thank you Clare!

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  15. Thanks to everyone at TwoWritingTeachers for dreaming up this wonderful writing challenge AND creating the community of support that sustains it. There are many writers that have taken the time to offer me words of encouragement and specific writing feedback over the past two weeks. THANKS TO ALL! In response to this challenge, I am nominating Adrienne of booksandbassetts. She has commented on each and every one of my posts from the beginning and I look forward to her daily insights and connections.

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  16. All the comments I have received have been positive and encouraging, and I look forward to hearing from Adrienne (booksandbassets). She always reminds me of why I wanted to challenge this challenge.

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  17. I would like to nominate each one of you that took the time not just to read my posts but to comment as well. Your time already is very much appreciated. All your inputs are highly valued! But for this, I chose Kathy: kathyschuitema for her comment on my Read to Someone. She’ll try what I did: stepback.

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  19. Going through this challenge, I thought that I would not enjoy it as much as I have. I was completely wrong. I really enjoy writing these blogs, but what I enjoy more is hearing from people responding to my blogs. I like that I have made people I work with look at me in a different way. I appreciate everyone that has taken the time to respond to me, and that is what encourages me to write my next blog. Thank you to Dana Murphy for getting me to do this in the first place. Thank you to Beckymusician for being the first person to respond to me on day one, and literally every day since. Thank you to my fellow coworkers who have read and responded to my blogs. This has been a challenge, but a great challenge. I am really enjoying it, and hopefully everyone else feels the same way.

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  20. Can I nominate two? Loralee from This and That and Chris from Reading Amid the Chaos. They been a constant support commenting on my posts. They have made me feel like my words matter, so I keep writing because honestly, I would have probably already given up already. Should I win, give the copies to these girls, they’ve kept me going! 🙂

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  22. There have been so many thoughtful and supportive commentS that it is hard to name just one, but BevBaird has consistently been a voice of positivity, support and encouragement.

    Thank you for this chance to share the love!

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  23. My inspiration is my beloved colleague and friend, Dr. Kim Parker at https://singlemomsofar.wordpress.com! She convinced me and five other teachers at our school to Slice this year, and she is the fearless leader of our Critical Friends Group as we attempt to reinvent writers workshop in our English 10-12 classes. Additionally, as a fellow mom and teacher, she continually impresses me with her ability to juggle it all! Truly an inspiration.

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  24. There have been several people that have been encouraging, but the person that has consistently commented on my posts and has helped to make me feel like my writing is being noticed and that someone has found my writing worthy of reading is “travelinma.” Thank you!

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  26. I also wish I could nominate more than one person. I literally checked my blog stats and looked at commenters to try and see who has left the majority of comments. That person was Terje from Just For a Month Blogspot. She is not only a frequenter commenter on my blog but her words often make me teary. I feel like she really hears me. Thank you Terje!

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  27. I wish I could nominate more than one. I have been very encouraged by several people who are commenting regularly on my posts. Ultimately, though, I’m going to nominate Brian Kelley of Walk the Walk, however. http://www.brianjkelley.net/ I had not read his blog before participating in this challenge, and I find his posts very inspiring. In fact, I even started following him on Twitter and also added a link to his blog to my blogroll. Because he makes me think and inspires me, I often find I’m renewed in my commitment to this challenge after reading one of his posts.

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  29. Lynne Dorfman was the one who inspired me to do this challenge. I’m so grateful that I have participated in the Slice of Life Challenge this year. It has been so rewarding in many ways. Most of my writing has been done solely in the classroom. This challenge has opened me up to live more like a writer.

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  31. Through the first 12 days of the challenge, I’ve felt Julie Johnson steadily having my back. “I hear you,” her comments say, “I notice you.” Gentle, persistent support like that often goes under-appreciated, in my estimation, so: thanks, Julie – I’m noticing!

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  32. teachlamissa has not only written daily, but she has done it in such a way that inspires me. She has shown me how you might look at life in a very unique way! Her extended metaphor of softball is a unique perspective I’ve not read before. I’m inspired to see the extraordinary every day because of her slices!

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  33. While each person who has taken the time to leave a comment on my slices has added to my motivation and excitement to keep this up, Lori Sheroan was the very first person ever to comment publicly on my writing! I have never written on a blog and honestly, most of the writing I do is used in the classroom or I haven’t shared with anyone. So, I was just shocked and so excited on that first day when I tentatively clicked “publish” and shared that link. Within minutes, I had a sweet, simple, encouraging response from Lori. Then, when I clicked on her blog and saw how amazing her writing was, it felt even better that someone so talented would leave an encouraging word for me.

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  34. Barbara Suter has reacted to every slice I have written. Her responses are thoughtful and thought provoking. Barbara’s kind words and gentle nudges have become something I look forward to each day. She seems to understand exactly what I am saying with each post. I am a first-time blogger. I have never met Barbara outside of this forum. I am thankful for her!

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  35. Michelle Brezek (@BigTimeLiteracy). Michelle is the Literacy Coach in our K-5 building and through her role as a coach has always encouraged us to write along with our students, embracing the writer-ly life. I never took her up on that because I always felt I had no time to do it and had nothing to write about. This year when she was encouraging people to participate in the SOL Challenge, I know that she had no idea that she finally hooked on me on to trying it out. The best part was telling her that I would take on the challenge and blog. She was so excited and immediately was brainstorming ideas for what I could title my blog. Her positive attitude and encouragement really helped me to try out something outside of my comfort zone and grow. I am grateful for that. She also comments on each of my entries which is building up my confidence with writing. I appreciate her more than she knows.

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  36. “Memory of the Heart,” aka Natasha Labaze, fellow first time slicer, steadfastly writes thoughtful comments on my blog. I look forward to her responses every single day and find her words motivating and reaffirming, like we are having an ongoing conversation about the topics we slice about, as well as the process of writing every single day for a month. It’s been so much fun to see comments from everyone, really, but Natasha is my most steadfast and timely responder. For that, I’m very grateful.

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  38. My mom (bjdonaldson) over at onewritersjourney.wordpress.com is my inspiration. I wouldn’t even have ever heard of this challenge without her. My mother is my inspiration because she has always believed in my writing and encouraged me to keep it up (even as I grew up, followed a career in music, rather than English.) She is an amazing woman and I am so honored to call her my mother!

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  39. Adrienne Gillespie over at https://booksandbassets.wordpress.com/ has commented on most of my posts. Her comments feel like a good writing conference, commenting on both the content and the writing moves that she sees me making. I am grateful for any input, especially with this being my first time, but Adrienne’s comments stand out the most for me.

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  41. Molly Hogan! She inspires me to write along with my students and gave me the nudge to do the SOL challenge. Every day she mentions, “that would be a great slice” and encourages me to see my world through writer’s eyes!

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