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solsc: struggle 17/31


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

Tap. Tap. Tap. (Fingers not typing on the keyboard. Just empty taps.)

We are half-way through the month-long writing challenge.

I'm on my day 2 of struggling.

Tap. Tap. Tap. (Fingers not typing on the keyboard. Just empty taps.)

I'm struggling with what to write about.  I'm struggling with noticing those small moments during the busy day. I'm struggling with bringing emotion.  I'm struggling with playing with words.  I'm struggling with energy.  I'm struggling with creativity.  I'm struggling with sharing something of value.  I'm struggling with wanting it to be just right.

Tap. Tap. Tap. (Fingers not typing on the keyboard. Just empty taps.)

Yesterday I squeezed a few words out, twisted them together, added, deleted, added, deleted, and then hesitantly clicked publish.

I sit again.  Still struggling.  Still wondering if I should click publish.

Tap. Tap. Tap. (Fingers not typing on the keyboard. Just empty taps.)

I'm struggling to be a writer.  Oh, the life of a writer.  I'm living it.

Click.


Comments

  1. I'm right there with you. I usually always write my post for the next day before going to bed. I prefer it that way. However, I've been so exhausted lately I just couldn't last night. So now I think. And then switch to Twitter. I'm sure I"ll find inspiration there. :)

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  2. Michelle,
    Thanks for sharing your trip to the barren desert of Writer's Blank! We've all been there, definitely a challenge to overcome! Hope you are filled with inspiration again SOON!

    Love the empty tap motion, seems so mindless sometimes. I actually wrote my slice at the library yesterday-sometimes a change of pace inspires me...just books to distract me there...nothing else.

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  3. And your struggles have produced a slice. This is life in its purest form.

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  4. Living the life of a writer is a struggle - but we plod on. I love the way you crated this slice, Michelle - the tap tap signifying that dreaded "oh, I have really nothing to say"...but you did!

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  5. Right there with you. Sometimes it's easy to write, mostly it's not. Or I write stuff that I think is garbage. Or stuff that is on my mind, but is way too serious to share. And then I think, do I really want to share that? Don Graves used to always talk about getting rid of the editor on your shoulder and just putting it out there. He always said that we are far more critical of our writing than other people are.

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  6. Your repetitive line - Tap. Tap. Tap. (Fingers not typing on the keyboard. Just empty taps.) brings such a powerful rhythm to your slice. I so often walk this very road. I so relate!

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  7. I love how your musings about not knowing what to write turn into a slice. Jealous! :)

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  8. I think we all have this exact struggle...thanks for saying it for us. I also think sometimes we may "think" too much about the words we want to put down... will the words be interesting enough, funny, too deep or dark??? But in the end the words are for the person who writes them and our audience well our audience takes away what they choose to take from the words...

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  9. And so goes the life of a writer. Do you ever wonder how authors ever get a whole novel written? I think after 17 days of writing, we get into a lull. Thank goodness for comments to encourage us and other slices to inspire us. You don't know how many times I've tap. tap. tapped on my keyboard trying to figure out what to write, Thanks for speaking for me as well.

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  10. tap tap tap...I felt it! I have also hit a roadblock these past few days. I think you did an awesome job of expressing the not knowing what to write about, though! Like Chris said, jealous!

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  11. I think we've all hit a wall. Between getting my own slices written, reading and commenting on other people's posts, and trying to keep up with daily life, I'm exhausted. Don't even get me started on replying to all the lovely comments people have left me! (Sorry, everyone! I really appreciate all your kind words!) Thank you for letting me know I'm not alone.

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  12. This is a fantastic post! It so clearly describes what we have all experienced. What a creative, and poetic, way to put your thoughts into words! Well done!

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  13. I love the tap, tap, tap of this piece. We are living like writers, and I do love it.... even through the struggle. I don't know who said it (I must Google it), but this piece reminds me of "I don't love writing. But I love to have written."

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    Replies
    1. That quote is perfect! That's how I have been feeling - and my goal was to write every day, not create perfection. Thank you!

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  14. I can relate. What I love about this community is that we are not alone. Seeing how others are honest about expressing their struggles and how they find their way out, encourages to continue. Your post today has helped me to worry less and see the positive. I loved your tap, tap, tap.

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    1. I finished this comment and then went to my email. There was a comment from you. It almost felt like you were so close I could have touched you. One day we will meet.

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    2. Oh, I so hope so Terje! (Goose bump moment, for sure!)

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  15. Well you captured my day(s) perfectly. I too was going to write about not knowing what to write about. It is a struggle some days for sure.

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  16. You're certainly not the only one struggling, Michelle. These middle days are so hard, and I've been struggling too. I feel that having gotten through this weekend, I'll start gaining momentum again. By the way, I love the way this post was constructed -- the repeated interjected lines of "tap tap tap..." made your struggle come alive. (I do that too, when I'm trying to think of something to write!)

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  17. These are the weary days of the challenge and you see you have lots of company. It really helps to remember these moments when faced with students who say they don't have anything to write about. It's all about getting the word out, not searching for perfection (but to tell you the truth, your posts always have perfection to me).

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  18. I get where you're coming from, Michelle. We've all been there.

    A couple of ideas:
    1) Play around with podcasting. I've been doing it using Soundcloud, as per Kevin Hodgson's suggestion. I feel kind of goofy doing it, but I'm capturing little bits of life that I cannot wait to share with my daughter when she gets older. You can check http://raisealithuman.wordpress.com to hear them.
    2) Last year I played around with a format I borrowed from someone else (not a Slicer) called "Things I'm pretty sure of today." Here's a link to a few of them in case you want to give it a try:
    http://reflectionsofamommy.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/things-im-pretty-sure-of-today-day-vii-of-vii/
    http://reflectionsofamommy.wordpress.com/2012/03/17/things-im-pretty-sure-of-today-day-vi-of-viii/
    http://reflectionsofamommy.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/things-im-pretty-sure-of-today/

    That said, your poems are always beautiful. I hope to read many more of them.

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    1. Thanks Stacey! I remember your posts about the "Things I'm pretty sure of today." I appreciate your ideas and advice!

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  19. Some of the days during the challenge I have been thinking the same thing. I still always think back to Ruth's post "I Don't Wanna Write": http://ruthayreswrites.blogspot.com/2012/02/i-dont-wanna-write-sols.html. I think that the challenge is a great way to push me to write even when I don't feel like I have just the right slice because it helps me to live the life of a writer and to write everyday. I love the Don Graves line nulla dies sine linea (Never a day without a line) and would love to get into the habit of writing daily no matter what. The SOLSC in March helps me to do that for at least one month of the year!

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    Replies
    1. I missed Ruth's slice - thank you for sharing it!

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  20. Your conclusion leads these empty taps to a slice filled with meaning. You are a writer.

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  21. It looks like lots of us are struggling. It's nice to read so many comments and I got a few ideas. Thanks for leaving a comment on Dana's blog. She will be so happy and I'm sure it will give all of us in Room 114 some ideas. I love the repetition of Tap, tap, tap. Very creative! I'm already starting to feel rejuvenated. :)

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  22. I think you're doing great. It takes a great deal of energy to write about something rather profound about teaching, so I resist most times doing that. I want to be thoughtful, and creative, and I've been busy, and... tap, tap. Be the comments above, I guess we're all feeling so appreciative that you expressed our feelings, Michelle!

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