For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers.
Slice of Life #21 Challenge Day 11:
Blogging Reflections
“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” Sylvia Plath
Yesterday marked ten days into the Slice of Life March Challenge. Ten days means that I am nearly a third of the way through this daily blogging challenge. Although this is my fourth year participating in March's Slice of Life Challenge, this year I wasn't sure that I would be even get through the first week. Up until about a month ago I wrote only eight blog posts since the end of last March. That's right, eight. I kept up with writing in my notebook, but I just couldn't get into the rhythm of writing a post. School has also been especially challenging this year, and I have had a challenging time keeping up with all of the changes.
Writing and publishing for ten days straight is a celebration for me this year.
As I think about the last ten days of blogging, these are the things that I have noticed about myself as a writer:
- I am not sure I would have participated this month had I not gotten a nudge from a fellow blogger. Thank you, Glenda.
- When I am regularly blogging, I do a better job of noticing.
- It feels good to take a few minutes away from the stress of my teaching day and just write.
- I'm more likely to write and publish a blog post if I have some accountability.
- In order to be able to keep up with blogging, I need to write small (slices!).
- I do better finding seed ideas, organizing, and developing a post when I write in my notebook first.
- I used to be really bothered when I didn't get many comments - I am developing more of a tough skin about this.
- My dear friend Lisa reads my posts each day. My friend Glenda also reads my posts (and comments!) daily. Knowing that these two people are reading what I write makes me want to keep going throughout March.
- This is the first year I have not used Twitter to share my blog posts.
- My inner critic is not as loud during March (or maybe I do a better job at ignoring it?).
- Although my personal life has changed a lot in the past four years, my writing territories have not changed that much. I often write about nature, about writing, teaching/school, my own children, and my pets. I like to sprinkle in Haiku.
What have you noticed about yourself as a writer during the Slice of Life Challenge so far?
I like the Sylvia Plath quote and I enjoyed reading your observations. I've noticed that it is very easy for me to write in a journal, but as soon as I think of creating something more polished for an audience, I get stuck. I've been advised to post as if I'm writing for myself only. I'm trying to fret less and to post more confidently.
ReplyDeleteAs you know this is my first time doing this. I find it interesting that no matter what I am able to carve time out for this. I didn't know how I was going to do it. But now when I have an extra 3 minutes before my next meeting, and it's not enough time to start a project, I read a little. It has changed my focus and made me more aware of my students during quick writes. Part of the Writing Project I always loved. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your slice! I think I may borrow this idea. I can connect to the line, "In order to be able to keep up with blogging, I need to write small (slices!)" I've noticed that I also tend to write shorter slices... and I tend to read and comment on slices that are also shorter. Happy slicing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts. I have been posting every Tuesday in Slice of Life for four years, but this the first time I am taking part in the March challenge. I am surprised that I am finding something to write everyday and it is fun.
ReplyDeleteIt feels good that we have been able to write for ten days. The success fuels the future writing. I enjoyed reading your reflection. I think that the more we write the better we ignore the critic. My writing territories have pretty much stayed the same even after a decade of writing.
ReplyDeleteI’m thrilled you’re here, Trina. Meeting you through this challenge and as part of my welcome wagon crew has been a wonderful blessing. You’ve pushed me to write more poetry, and ai think you know how hard that’s been for me. I’m happy to be here w/ you this month. I love this list and that you’re giving yourself grace this month. I’m not sharing my posts on Twitter either. I think I’ve shared one. The commenting issue will always be a thorny issue for me, regardless of how I lecture myself about it. Rest assured, I’ll respond to every post and look forward to do so. 🤗
ReplyDeleteTrina, I have been enjoying your posts and the truths you share. You share so many powerful observations here around writing and self-discovery. I, too, am drawn to write about nature, family, poetry. And I love memoir; many of my posts are recollections I haven't written about before, and my blog is like a scrapbook of memories. Most of all, I love how stories connect us all. Keep rolling - you never know when a dormant little seed of an idea will suddenly sprout into a slice!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your reflections and I share many of them. I also find I"m noticing so much more, and finding a sense of lightness in having time to write and publish. Thank you for sharing this idea!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post so much and share many of your reflections! I am also not sharing my slices on Twitter this year. Like you, I've kept up with writing in my notebook this year but I just can't blog. I had been feeling a bit draggy this week, realizing over the last two days that we are "only" one-third through the challenge and I feel like I'm losing a little steam. Your post encourages me to celebrate that I published slices for 12 days in a row. I needed that reframe!
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