March Slice of Life Story Challenge
hosted at the Two Writing Teachers
Join us for a month of writing!
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After two days of writing struggles, I was slowing moving out of the writer's block quicksand that was sucking me into that stuck world of "I don't wanna write."
I wrote a different post for today. I was ready to press on with this challenge. I did not fear the orange publish button. I was going to just write.
Then throughout the evening, I read the comments from my slice from yesterday: struggle.
I had tears in my eyes. I had goosebumps reading the comments other slicers, writers, teachers, mothers, friends wrote for little ole me and my writing struggles.
Thank you for sharing in my struggles. Thank you for understanding and reaching out. I try to tell myself I write for me to remember those little moments in life, but I have to say, comments matter.
You came here. You read my words. You connected in some way. You stayed. You left a comment. And I thank you for your gift of reassuring words.
I read many posts like mine yesterday, including slices from:
- Terje rambled and was just "Not sure"
- Dana was "Writing through the crap"
- Tammy wrote even though she thought "This is hard"
- Julie (and her student Dana) wrote about "The Challenge in the Challenge"
- Kari wrote about her lack of inspiration with her "Mid-Challenge Slump"
- Cathy wrote her thoughts about "The Challenge"
- and a reminder of "Why I Write" from Betsy
This writing thing is hard, but it's also about the experience. As a teacher of young students, I can say I've been there and I know what it's like to not want to write or not know what to write about -- but I've learned:
Words on the paper. No one said it had to be a final draft or a published perfected piece. Just words on the paper that connect to one, two, many readers, and . . .
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| Pinned yesterday by Stacey on Pinterest. |
I know I'm not alone in this struggle, or with any struggle for that matter! When you need a pick me up, this writing community sure knows how to bring it!! A HUGE thank you for picking me up and encouraging me to carry on and write!
Comments matter!
Truer words have not been spoken Michelle! I was thinking when I was "afraid" to share my words, now I'm "afraid" if I don't see a comment because like you said they mean so so much!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree! Comments build community. We all need to support each other.
ReplyDeleteI read many of the same slices yesterday and yes, I think we all struggle to find the right words, the right things to write about, and just writing. Writing is like life, there are times when we struggle to just put one foot in front of the other. Those are the minutes, hours, days when we need support and that's what I find so special about this community of writers. Most of us don't know each other, but yet we're here to help and encourage. Love ya M
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. And I think the struggle through when I don't feel like writing makes me a better teacher. When my students struggle with the same problem, I can talk to them. I've been in that place. :)
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more. I hope my posts get comments. I want to inspire discussion. Comments matter.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly do and yours (and all the others)made a world of difference for me and my writing. Thank you Michelle I am so happy to be on this journey with you again this year. I hope we have many years to come.
ReplyDeleteYes, comments do matter....that is why I leave my address on my comments and hope others do the same for me. I wonder how many of us have felt a bit frustrated as we are more than halfway through the challenge. This is my first year and I am so glad to have joined....it gave me a kick to begin writing again. I see so much talent in reading the posts...and so much encouragement too. Thanks for sharing your frustration with us as you voiced what so many of us were feeling. Jackie http://familytrove.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteJust knowing that someone came to your blog, read your words, and shared a thought is a feeling that is hard to describe. Every time I read one a smile breaks out on my face. Since I know what it does for me, I try to pay it forward and give that same encouragement to someone else. Thanks for your comments and I'm glad you found a voice for the words inside of you.
ReplyDeleteI struggled so much this weekend also. Thank you for writing this, it makes me feel like we are in this together. xo
ReplyDeleteSo true! Comments validate what I do. This is a great community that supports each other. Many times comments have helped me through the day/evening. Not to mention the ideas I have cleaned from other blogs...Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head! This community would not be complete without comments. They bring us together, reasure us, inspire us.
ReplyDeleteIt's so true! I remember when I used to be too timid to comment, thinking what I had to say wasn't worth sharing. It wasn't until I started to blog and receive comments that I realized WHAT is said is not nearly as important as SOMEthing being said. Just knowing there are readers makes my heart skip a beat!
ReplyDeleteReally, really important, Michelle, & when reading your post & then seeing all the support, I felt it too, just being there. What a gift we are all giving/sharing together. It was one of those days, but I know I can come home & just enjoy reading others' ideas/thoughts/creations. Makes me happy! So thank you!
ReplyDeleteComments are the fuel for our engine of writing. Comments are mini celebrations we share with others. Thanks for sharing with the community the hard parts too.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, you have said it all. The Comment is a miraculous element. You cherish it, learn from it, and go on because of it. All of it is good even the stalemates in this challenge--we learn we have friends. It's like having many pen pals with writing as our connection.
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
ReplyDeleteYou have so perfectly put into words what I think we all struggle with here and there across this challenge. I'm starting to think it might be "writing boot camp." ;o) I think you're right that comments matter ---- both writing comments and reading comments. Somehow comments help us to unravel the little pieces, to dig deeper in the story, and to connect in conversation. The hardest part of writing is --- writing.
Cathy