Last week, Stacey shared a post full of tips for new slicers. When you make the leap and begin the March challenge, you can plan for parts, and many of the best parts surprise you.
If you have joined the challenge before, you know how writing every day in March brings a focus to noticing stories from your everyday life while also bringing you close to a community. And, like the name, you also know it is challenging.
On January 30, seasoned slicers shared the benefits they have experienced while participating in the SOLSC. You can still view these helpful videos linked below.
The session with Lainie and Melanie
The session with Amy and Nawal
These participants also had some helpful strategies for any slicer, whether it is your first year or your fifth. I know I will be printing this post to hang near my desk as a source of inspiration on those days when I find myself still searching for a story to tell.
Take a look at these strategies from seasoned slicers!
JULIETTE AWUA-KYEREMATEN collects rich vocabulary from other writers or different genres of writing from slicers to use as a mentor. Juliette also suggests listing language structures or unique ideas to copy and try out within the classroom.
NAWAL QAROONI uses her phone, scrolling through pictures she has snapped. She says, “If it was important enough to photograph, it may be important enough to write about.” Nawal also looks out the window for observations or grabs a song lyric as a starting point.
SUSAN KENNEDY uses themes to help guide her writing and ideas. Her notebook, files on her phone, or a running bullet list of ideas also helps leading up to the challenge. Then she is ready with several ideas before March begins. Susan also sets aside a “prescribed” time to write and schedules the post.
ERIKA VICTOR likes to use familiar and preferred formats, like poetry. Reading other posts also gives her ideas. Erika also asks her students for slicing ideas before they leave for the day.
PETER VON EULER lists memories, recent and distant before March begins. This serves as a sort of menu if he gets stuck. He also finds inspiration from conversations kids are having throughout the day and can use snippets of what he hears. Peter says, “Before the first day, I try to write two slices. That way I always have one in the bank in case I have a really rough day and have no ideas or time.”
MELANIE WHITE uses mentor texts to imitate and tries to model writing techniques from a selection of professional writing. She also selects various craft moves to intentionally use, when framing her thinking and writing. Melanie also shared that physical movement is helpful. Going on a long walk or run, changing locations, and using nature can all be portals for inspiration.
Big thanks to them for sharing their favorite strategies for continuing the momentum of daily writing in March. I hope you can gather a few ideas from this post when the challenge gets challenging. Below is a quick guide to the ideas shared by our seasoned slicers.
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 
I have been blogging for awhile so I also go back to old blogs to see if they spark and idea. Often I find things have changed in my thinking and I do a complete rewrite of an earlier entry. It is interesting to go back, edit and rewrite your own work. A great thing to model with students as well.
LikeLike