Calling all new Slice of Life writers!
UPDATE–WINNERS ANNOUNCED BELOW!
We are closing in on another successful Slice of Life Story Challenge. We hope all our newest members have found a writing groove and a supportive community.
This community needs two things: writers and readers. Both are equally important to this community, and this challenge aims to recognize both. We are asking Slicers who are new to our community: Who 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?
First-time Slicers, please nominate a fellow Slicer to be your co-winner in this final challenge. Leave a comment on this post by Sunday, March 24th at 11:59 p.m. EDT telling us which Slicer has inspired you the most this month. Both you and the person you nominate will win a fantastic prize from the National Council of Teachers of English organization!
NCTE will award the following to each winner:
- Tote Bag
- T-shirt
- Postcards
- Popsocket
- A copy of Continuing the Journey 2, Becoming a Better Teacher of Authentic Writers by Ken Lindblom and Leila Christenbury
Official Rules:
This March must be your first time ever participating in the Slice of Life Story Challenge.You may only mention one participant who has inspired you as a writer.Your comment must include the slicer’s name as well as the name of the slicer’s blog or URL. For example: “Melanie, from https://justwritemelanie.blogspot.com, inspired me this month because she left an uplifting comment for me on my post.”The person who you mention, in your comment on this post, must also be a Slice of Life Story Challenge participant (i.e., they must be slicing daily and have registered using the participant information form).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 (i.e., myself, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Kelsey, Lanny, Melanie or Stacey) 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.Again, you must leave your comment by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 24 to be entered into this giveaway.The winner will be chosen by a random number generator. The name of the winning pair will be announced by Tuesday, March 26 at the bottom of this post.
Thank you to NCTE for the generous prize!
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 
Having a reader who engages is a gift. Adrienne from Books and Bassets (https://booksandbassets.wordpress.com) comments with genuine feedback and encouragement. Her blog features posts that are relatable and full of heart. Without her consistent readership, I may have quit. Knowing she’ll be reading and responding keeps me going. 😉
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I am inspired by the comments (and writing) of Fran Haley at https://litbitsandpieces.com. Unknowingly, she has held up a mirror to my teaching. As a literacy coach, I preach the importance of teaching the writer, not the writing. Fran does that. She comments not only on the content of my posts, but on the craft. She has given me confidence both in my writing and in my teaching. Thank you, Fran!
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I have been so grateful for a few people who have inspired me and supported me in this challenge. However, for sheer dedication and support I have to go with Amanda Potts at https://persistenceandpedagogy.com/ who from Day 1 has read every single one of my blog posts and commented meaningfully and thoughtfully on every single one of my posts. Amanda made me feel welcome and heard and appreciated. I truly can’t believe how lucky I am to have her by my side through this challenge.
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Tammy Breitweiser at https://tammysreadinglife.wordpress.com/ has been tremendously encouraging to me. We found each other through #TeachWrite. While others in that group had encouraged me to try slicing, Tammy noticed we were from the same area and went out of her way to connect with me in person as well as online. Knowing that she is around makes me feel more accountable for my writing, and I admire the way she is always experimenting with different forms and challenges for herself.
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I have appreciated the many positive comments that I have received from fellow slicers. Agriffinwa from Writing Tribe has been so kind in her daily comments. Thank you so much!
https://writingtribeblog.wordpress.com/author/agriffinwa/
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Leigh Anne Eck from http://adayinthelifeof19b.blogspot.com/ has been one of many of my cheerleaders throughout this challenge, as well as being the person whose encouragement really pushed me to join in and give it a shot! Her comments consistently remind me of the power of positive feedback, and the importance of having an audience for our words! Thank you, Leigh Anne!
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Oh, I really wish we weren’t limited to one. This challenge has been uplifting in so many ways. Juliette Awua-Kyerematen (from https://justgiftslife.wordpress.com/ ) has inspired me with such gracious comments. It’s really meaningful because the comments always include specific lines and/or elements from my writing. Specificity adds so much value.
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I have been consistently inspired by Paul Fornale (at least I am gleaning his name from WordPress :)– https://pfornale.wordpress.com/
From Paul’s post about taking his dad for treatment to posts about music and mindfulness concepts, I have been given a lot to think about as well as inspiration to keep going.
I have been blogging for a few years now and have participated in a few challenges. While I am an SLP in schools, and don’t “teach writing” as many other educators associated with this challenge do, I have found new and interesting perspectives which have reinvigorated me to writing. Sharing stories and recollecting about what has brought me to this point in my life has been nothing short of amazing. Coming across educators like Paul have made this a truly enriching experience.
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I have been encouraged this month by Liz at http://loves2writealot.blogspot.com/.
Liz is a teacher consultant with me at Gateway Writing Project. I learned about the project through her and others, but Liz has especially inspired me because of our opportunity to talk about the project before it happened. We went on a writing retreat together and she shared ideas and prompts — she got me excited! We’ve also buddied up for commenting. I’m so enjoying reading her slices, getting to know her better, and knowing that she is an audience for me too. She’s really helped make this writing project meaningful for me!
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While I am so overwhelmed by the presence of considerate and beautiful readers and writers, the voice that keeps me going, one incredibly thoughtful reader who seems to be connecting my random dots, has been natashadomina at https://tendingbulbs.wordpress.com/
Thank you.
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This is such a wonderful writing community. I was nervous when I first started, but every commenter has been so positive and genuine. It is difficult to pick one because so many have been thoughtful and consistent with their comments. I am thankful to Fran McCrackin at https://pencilonmybackporch.home.blog for her inspirational comments.
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Jennifer Floyd from wahooliteracyteacher.wordpress.com visits and responds to my posts every day. Her comments and her own blog posts are positive and uplifting. I am thankful to have gotten to know her!
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I have to thank my sister, Emily, from Sometimes Fabulous, Sometimes Fail, for introducing me to SOL and for her early texts to remind me to slice and for her early comments. I have so enjoyed reading bits of her day, as we don’t live close by and are busy with our housefuls of boys.
But my nomination goes to Elisabeth from https://thedirigibleplum.wordpress.com She has not only provided varied and specific feedback on my slices, her early interest in my blogs helped me to keep writing. I believe our purpose for writing is for connection. Elisabeth helped me connect to this community and to believe in myself as a writer. I have enjoyed and at times been challenged by her writings. I have learned from her techniques. She will be someone I will follow even after this challenge. I want to say a huge thank you for all who have made SOL a project. I have had a blog site for almost two years and had only mustered a single post, too worried to send my writings out until I had ‘perfected them’ This process has been therapeutic. I also hope to get my students involved in the challenge next year. Does March really have to end??
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I’ve had a steadfast commenter whose responses I’ve come to look for, which is saying something seeing as I’ve always shuddered at the thought of anyone reading my writing! Being on opposite sides of the world, meaning I post at silly hours in the morning US time, I haven’t had chance enough to read her writing, though I want to and will from now on. Thank you, Andrea Clarke.
https://teachingwithmrsclark.wordpress.com
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