Slice of Life: Living the Writerly Life #SOL20 #TWTBlog

Last week when I read 16 Words by Lisa Rogers and Chuck Groenick, I immediately thought about this Slice of Life community.  This book tells the story behind “The Red Wheelbarrow” and reminds us what can happen when we slow down to notice the moments in our life. Slice of Life does that for me, especially the March Challenge.  Many people have been talking with me about giving it a go this year and my answer is GO FOR IT!  It's an experience that pushes me as a teacher, a writer and a person. You will learn to trust the writing process and realize that when you commit to writing daily you live differently. I now notice, question, reflect and respond to my life differently. This will be my fifth year. Here are some tips that have helped me:

Keep a List of Possible Topics

I keep an ongoing list of topics using Stickies on my computer. I often capture a word, quote, or image that strikes me throughout the day.  This app syncs between my laptop, phone and iPad. Some of my ideas stay untouched while others get drafted immediately. Sometimes an idea on the list sparks a different idea when I reread the list later in the week or the next month. I like beginning each writing session by rereading my list, reflecting, thinking and letting the idea find me. Then I am off and writing.

Audience

This writing community motivates me to write and stay the course for 31 days.  I get ideas from other writers, I look forward to hearing what is happening in the lives of others, and I think about my colleagues when I choose my topics.  It is like having an ongoing conversation for the month.  The response from other Slicers helps me understand my thoughts more deeply and consider other points of view. It is through this dialogue that I push myself to continue to grow professionally and become better a teacher.

Follow Your Heart and Mind

Lucy Calkins tells young writers to think about a strong emotion when you are generating topics. I have found that this strategy works well for me too! When I find myself experiencing a strong emotion about something that has happened in my life I stop and think about the experience. When something lingers with me for days, weeks or months I know it is a topic worth exploring in my writing. It is through writing that I make sense of what is happening around me and try to learn from these experiences as well.

Provision

There’s nothing like some felt tip pens, candles, a new journal, and fresh flowers to inspire.  I love creating the space I will inhabit throughout the month of March.  I find myself making more fires, baking more, and sipping more cups of tea.  It is difficult, but it is also a gift.  A gift to give to yourself.  A gift of time, connection and reflection.

I believe that teachers of writing should write. Writing daily, truly writing for a purpose, helps you truly understand the writing process. If you are thinking of joining the March Challenge – do it! You will never believe how you will grow as a writer and a teacher of writing. I hope you join me.

Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Marina, Kathleen, Kelsey, Lanny, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum from Two Writing Teachers. Check out the writers, readers, and teachers here.