Saturday, March 31, 2012

Slice of Life #31 of 31: Why Write?


Created with Tagxedo from my Slice of Life blog posts.

Why write? 


I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.1
My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations 2
Ink and paper ...passionate lovers, ... brother and sister, ...mortal enemies.3
I love being a writer.4  
The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time...4
but you do have to
Exercise the writing muscle every day, 6
...a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry 6
blog post
slice of life
How can I know what I think till I see what I say? 7
“So why does our writing matter, again?" they ask. 8
"Because of the spirit," I say. "Because of the heart." 8


The Slice of Life Story Challenge ends today: 31 slices, 31 blog posts. I've enjoyed the writing though it always takes me longer than I imagine it will. Reading and connecting to other teacher writers has been a great experience. The writing community I've felt grow around me has kept me motivated to read, write, post, and comment. What heart, what spirit I have discovered in this group. Thank you to Ruth and Stacey, to Beth and all of the slicers who shared, encouraged, tweeted, commented and didn't knock my spelling or grammar. What a gift this has been. 

Until Tuesday,



1 James Michner
2 John Green
3 Emme Woodhull-Bäche
4 Peter De Vries
5 Robert Cormier
6 Jane Yolen
7 E. M. Forester
I've been participating in the Slice of Life Story
Challenge sponsored by Two Writing Teachers.
This is post #31 of 31 for the month! 
8 Anne Lamott

7 comments:

  1. You and Beth inspire more than just students. I have decided to take this challenge as well. I can remember being in school and always afraid of the English teachers because they never encouraged students to write without consequences. I am able to write today because I am not afraid to make a mistake and because I know that you guys won't condemn me if I do. I hope this is not the last Slice because your writing makes me want to continue to grow. :)

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  2. Oh, Dale, thank you! Write with abandon! I'm thinking of doing the Tuesday slices that continue throughout the year on Two Writing Teachers and of course, I too want to try it with students in May with Beth (but perhaps for 14 days or 10, maybe not the month, we'll see).

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  3. Thinking about doing a poem a day in April...to keep my slices going...thanks for plunging in with me lee ann...always easier to sweat it out with a friend...love how you've put this together...am thinking about still writing every day....will do my reflection on sunday...perhaps mondays...what are you reading...obviously the tuesday slices ...love you...

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  4. What a beautiful found poem. I like the tagxedo too. This truly has been a gift!

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  5. Love the quotes very much. At first I thought you had lifted your own lines. Your tagxedo is amazing, with that 'student' right up there at the top! Woo hoo, what a teacher you are! I appreciate your giving me support & comments when you could Lee Ann, & hope I'll see you during April too. I just put you on my reader, so here we go into another month.

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  6. I love the line, "all of the slicers who shared, encouraged, tweeted, commented and didn't knock my spelling or grammar. What a gift this has been." I too am so thankful for the safe place, what a gift! I have been amazed at how creative everyone is. So creative to put all those quotes together, they go together so nicely! See you Tuesdays!

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  7. I agree with Jen about slicers who do not point out spelling and grammar! I have also experienced the connections with other writers. That has been amazing!

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