Slice of Life Story Challenge

DAY 2 OF THE MARCH SOLSC #SOL17

Stacey Shubitz

slice of life_individualWelcome to the second day of the 10th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge! Whether you write every day or haven’t written in a long time, I am glad you are here!

If you’re participating in the individual Slice of Life Story Challenge, this is where you share your writing.  If you’re sharing your students’ slice of life stories, then head over to the Classroom Challenge, which Beth, Deb, Kathleen, and Lanny are hosting this month.  (Please see Deb’s previous post.)

A special welcome to the first-time Slicers who are joining us this year.

Each day you’ll find a section called “BE INSPIRED,” which will follow each day’s essential information. That section will include something like a link to someone’s slice of life story, a quote about writing, etc. Even if you’re back for your tenth challenge, please read through the essential information before checking out today’s writing inspiration.

TODAY’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

1) Please leave the permalink to your blog post for the day on the daily call for slice of life stories. Be sure to click on the published post and copy the url from the navigation bar at the top of the screen (not the draft or WordPress admin page). If you need help finding the permalink to your blog posts, click here for a short tutorial.
2) We’ve noticed some people have not configured your blogs to allow for comments. Since commenting on each other’s blog posts is the way we build community, please make sure your blog can accept comments.
2) Some folks left comments on the call for slice of life stories (i.e., on Two Writing Teachers). Please visit each person’s blog post and leave the comment for them on their post. We are unable to publish feedback to other writers in the comments of the daily calls for slice of life stories on this blog.

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

Username:

Please use the SAME email/username information on all of your March comments.

Commenting:

  • Please include the permalink (aka: unique URL) to your post when you leave a comment. Click here and scroll to the “New to Slicing” section of the blog post. Once you arrive, you’ll find two visuals that illustrate an example and a non-example of a permalink.
    • If you link your slice of life story incorrectly today, you’ll receive a reply to your comment from Beth Moore, who is handling tech support this year, or one of the other co-authors.
  • We worked together to create some comment guidelines. We may, at any time, remove a comment from our blog if it is inappropriate. Please refer to these guidelines when commenting this month:
    • Self-Promotion: Please don’t use your comment or link to your blog for self-promotion. The links in the comment section of our Slice of Life Story Challenge are meant to lead our readers to stories from people’s lives–not just whatever was on your blog that day.
    • Linking and Running: Please do not just drop off the link to your Slice without commenting on at least three other Slice of Life Stories. Comments are the foundation of this community. If you choose to link early in the morning, please return later that day to leave at least three comments.
    • Spam: It’s not just big advertisers who spam. Spam can include: Copying and pasting a comment from one post to another, or leaving a message such as, “Nice post. Visit my blog at…” This kind of comment is a form of spam.  We reserve the right to delete comments that fall into this category.

Thank you for appreciating and standing by our guidelines.

  • If you’ve never posted a comment on TWT before, or if your comment contains more than one hyperlink, then your comment will be held for moderation. The co-author team and I will monitor blog comments a few times today so we can approve comments that don’t post automatically. Therefore, there is no need to submit your comment multiple times if it doesn’t appear after you click “post comment.”
    • If you use the same username/email to log in when you leave your comment, your comments should appear instantly in the future.
    • Tech-related questions? Contact Beth Moore at beth[at]elizabethmoore[dot]work.
  • If this is the first time you’re participating in the Slice of Life Story Challenge, please let us know that when you share your link as a comment.
  • If you have a Blogger blog, please make sure you’re using the “No CAPTCHA reCAPTCHA” option or removing the security layers to make it easier for people to leave comments on your blog posts.  Click here for more information about “No CAPTCHA reCAPTCHA.”

Prizes:

Prizes will be given away at the conclusion of the month-long Slice of Life Story Challenge.  You’ll be eligible for a prize if:

1.     You fill out the participant data form, which went live on February 19th.

2.     You comment ONLY ONCE on the daily call for Slice of Life stories (3/1 – 3/31/17).

3.     You sign a Slice of Life Story Challenge Participation Pledge on April 1st.  (We’ll post the pledge and will ask you to “sign.” You’ll sign by leaving a comment certifying you wrote and linked daily, as well as commented on at least three other Slicers’ writing daily.)

  • In order to be in the running for a prize at the end of the month, you must leave the link to your slice of life story by 11:59 p.m. EST to be eligible for prizes.
    • Only links left before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time will count when you’re signing-off on the participation pledge on April 1st.
  • The call for slices goes up at midnight EST. Everyone has the same 24-hour window to post, regardless of the time zone in which they live.
  • Please play fair and leave only one link each day.

Social Media:

  • We are using #sol17 on tweets about Slice of Life Story Challenge.
    • NOTE: You must leave a link to your slice of life post on the daily calls for slice of life stories here at Two Writing Teachers to be eligible for a prize.

Questions:

  • Should you have questions about getting started with this Challenge, please contact:
      • If your last name begins with the letters A – G, please email Betsy, betsymhubbard{at}gmail.com.
      • If your last name begins with the letters H – M, please email questions to Lisa, lkeeler{at}stab.org.
      • If your last name begins with the letters N – S, please email questions to Melanie, meehanmelanie{at}gmail.com.
      • If your last name begins with the letters T – Z, please email questions to Stacey, stacey{at}staceyshubitz.com.

BE INSPIRED

  • BE INSPIRED.Anna Gratz Cockerille is a TWT contributing writer and one of our former co-authors. All of her slices last year were written as letters. They were moving and reflected a unique structure. One of them has stayed with me for the past year. It was “Follow up: A Letter to the Boss.” Click here to be inspired by Anna’s writing and about human decency.
  • Lisa Keeler, one of the TWT co-authors, created another helpful resource for finding ideas when your idea well feels tapped. Click here to view her post now.
  • Click here if you need topic ideas.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

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Published by Stacey Shubitz

Stacey Shubitz is a K-6 literacy consultant and former elementary teacher. She is the author of CRAFT MOVES and other professional books on writing workshop. Her new book, MAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WORK FOR YOUR CHILD WITH DISABILITIES (Guilford Press, 2026), empowers parents to navigate the special education system.

373 thoughts on “DAY 2 OF THE MARCH SOLSC #SOL17”

    1. Hi — For some reason I can’t comment on your blog. I loved your slice! That writing activity is excellent. Makes me wish I was still in the classroom so that I could use it! I’m sure you’re going to see some excellent work generated from that excellent idea! -Stacie

    1. Hello and welcome to the challenge! Please note that this link is not the permalink to your post. Be sure to click in the published post (not the WordPress draft) and copy the URL from the navigation bar.

    1. Hello and welcome to the challenge! Please note that this link is not the permalink to your post. Be sure to click in the published post (not the WordPress draft) and copy the URL from the navigation bar.

    1. Hello and welcome to the challenge! Please note that this link is not the permalink to your post. Be sure to click in the published post (not the WordPress draft) and copy the URL from the navigation bar.

  142. I love how many writers are doing the SOL challenge! I’m joining on day 2 with a serious reflection on school vision from my sickbed. Being out ill was the perfect chance to think and write. Does art matter? Can a school change itself into an art magnet?
    http://wp.me/p3cml8-1xY

    1. Hello and welcome to the challenge! Please note that this link is not the permalink to your post. Be sure to click in the published post (not the WordPress draft) and copy the URL from the navigation bar.

    1. Hello and welcome to the challenge! Please note that this link is not the permalink to your post. It is the link your site’s main landing page. Be sure to click in the published post (not the WordPress draft) and copy the URL from the navigation bar.

    1. Mary – You are my role model as I excitedly await the birth of my first grandchild. Isn’t it funny how we think our baby is the fastest, smartest, most well-behaved etc. until one day when reality sets in? But your little one is so special and so well-loved and you will survive the ups and downs of the “terrible twos”!! (And remind me of how to do that when my turn comes.)

    1. Hello and welcome to the challenge! Please note that this link is not the permalink to your post. It is the link to your site’s main page. Be sure to click in the published post (not the WordPress draft) and copy the URL from the navigation bar.

    1. Wow! I really love this idea. My best friend and I both have our desks positioned so we can look out the window. This exercise is one I’ll definitely have to try. Thanks for the inspiration!

      1. Hello and welcome to the SOLSC! Please leave comments for individual blog posts in the comment section of the post. This is where to leave the permalink to your blog post here.

    1. Sally, I really like how the word edge – such a seemingly simple word – took on such meaning in your piece. You could keep exploring this idea of edges and interiors in any number of ways. I may try this in my own slice today!

    1. I completely identified with your piece! There is nothing more frustrating than knowing you really have more time to sleep, but you can’t. And then those thoughts of the school day to come creep into your head. I’ve tried going to bed earlier and later, but it doesn’t help – I still wake up before the alarm goes off. The one thing that sometimes helps me is to do mindful breathing where you focus only on breathing in and breathing out – you acknowledge other thoughts, but dismiss them to refocus on your breathing.

    1. What a great blog post! I am so new at this…I didn’t know you could post a video! I loved your storytelling voice! We also have a lot in common as I read your biopoem from yesterday…I loved your line about missing God’s gifts when I am wrapped up in myself…(at least that was my take-away)…I really enjoyed reading your posts!

    1. Maybe your next Blog User Name will be PugMug50
      I loved how you and your husband have a mug selection tradition…complete with criteria and almost a rubric! Maybe I will get lucky, and you will bring me a mug on your next trip 🙂
      or maybe someday I will be able to see your amazing collection!
      Regardless, I can definitely picture you sipping your morning coffee from your Disney mug.
      Looking forward to your Day 3 Post!

    1. Hello and welcome to the challenge! Please note that this link is not the permalink to your post. Be sure to click in the published post (not the WordPress draft) and copy the URL from the navigation bar.

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