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solsc: experiment 13/31




March Slice of Life Story Challenge 
hosted at the Two Writing Teachers
Join us for a month of writing!

I believe an important part of a writing challenge is to be reflective as a writer . . .

One of the advantages of a writing challenge it to be creative in my slices from day to day.  I write slices of my life at home and at school, include some dialogue and descriptive word choice.  I write a lot about my girls because I want to hold on to those memories.  Each year goes faster and faster.  I also dabble in some poetry and list making when I'm feeling short of words.  I never really thought of myself as a poet, but I enjoy the less is more approach.  That's my repertoire in my back pocket.  Not too much creativity, but that's okay because my goal is to write every day!

But how does a writer venture out?  Try something new?  Experiment?


Easy answer:  Read.  Read lots of slices.  Read some more.

Gather ideas and mentor texts.  Pin them to revisit later.

Let the ideas float in your brain and play in your writing notebook.



Time and balance are two of my restraining forces from doing more reading of slices.  I can't stress about it -- look how many of you are writing in the challenge!  That's awesome!

So, I go about my day and when I have a minute here or ten minutes there or my lunch break or late in the evening, I start reading some slices.

I start gathering ideas and let them soak in like little seeds.  Seeds that will grow when I begin to cultivate and nurture, encouraging them to sprout and blossom into the stories that are meant to be shared.


How has this writing challenge pushed you as a writer? 
Have you tried experimenting in your writing?

Comments

  1. Hmm, good questions. I usually write about my day. Sometimes I will try poetry.
    I want to write some short flash fiction. When I found out I had skin cancer last year, I started to write short memoir pieces. An on-line diary for my kids. The cancer was contained. But it was a wake-up call to write, and not just talk about writing.

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  2. I had never thought of Pinning slices...that's a great idea!

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  3. You said this so well. I'm thinking about this challenge in similar ways. You have done such a good job at sharing narrative pieces. I have loved reading about your daughters, but also about your reflections as a writer and a teacher.

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  4. You are right, the posts I read early in the day are like seeds sprouting ideas throughout my day. Then something takes hold and won't die and I have to write about it.

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  5. Totally agree, reading other posts jogs my memory of things that need to be written. I like the lists, they are easy to compile. I've tried my hand at poetry and it was okay, but I didn't feel that I had the flow of words. I like to reflect on what has/is happening in my life and share what goes on in my world. Great questions and thoughts (once again). Love ya M

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  6. Your reflection leads me to do some more reflection. Thanks :)

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  7. Exactly my thoughts! Our thoughts become words and our words be it simple or really creative become our slices of life. . .You always push to make us think! Thanks...

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  8. I collect those little seed ideas and keep them in a "greenhouse" (aka Google Docs) unitl I get a chance to go back and water them, nurture them, fertilize them. Finally I share what has bloomed on my blog. Every part of this experience is a stretch for me. I can't believe how much I have learned from reading all of these fantastic posts and fellow bloggers---I mean these folks are literacy experts, instructional coaches, professional development leaders, professional authors -how could I not glean knowledge from them everyday!

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  9. I've really stepped out of my comfort zone thanks to Kevin's nudge to try podcasting. Though most of my sound recordings are more like moments in time I happened to record (rather than a true podcast), I'm having fun with it. I never would've done this without the nudge, especially since I don't love the sound of my voice!

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  10. I keep a folder of photos & bookmark ideas. I am on Pinterest but that's a good idea to keep things there too, Michelle. There are so many ideas that I don't think I'll run out. If you've found a way to pin some hours on a board, let me know!

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  11. I'm experimenting big-time this year, trying to write in a different poetic form every day. It has already given me classroom material to work with. Reading and commenting on the work of others is always so rewarding as well; it's a great learning experience.

    I like experimenting with forms because it makes this experience about play. Maybe my poem will turn out, maybe not. But the wordplay and the attempt is satisfying enough.

    Your ideas for venturing out are exactly what we need to encourage in student writers. :)

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  12. Hmm. Not sure I have experimented that much this year on Slice. Or even written anything very significant actually, which is kind of disappointing. I have been playing around with writing poetry in different forms for April. Not sure I can pull it off though.

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  13. What a great slice, Michelle. Like you, I pin slices I like. I also write ideas from them into my writer's notebook. Then when I have those days when I don't know what to write, I have plenty to choose from!

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