I’ve done it. I’ve finally done it.
I just signed up to participate in the Slice of Life Storytelling Challenge at Two Writing Teachers.
I’ve thought about participating for years. Last year, I even signed up to be a Welcome Wagon volunteer and commented daily on several new slicers’ posts for the whole month.
I try to slice every Tuesday in March in solidarity. I slice sporadically on Tuesdays throughout the rest of the year.
The reason I’ve never committed to 31 days of slicing is the same reason I’m a sporadic slicer the rest of the year.
Slices are hard.
It sounds so simple:
QUESTION: What should I write about? Can I write about teaching?ANSWER: A slice of life storytelling technique that offers insight into an ordinary person’s life. You can think of it as a small moment story. You’re not telling about your whole day – just a piece of it.
A small moment of a day. I always imagine that a small moment should take a small amount of time and effort to write. But that’s never how slices work for me. Maybe some writers can dash them off, but I’ve never been good at the quick slice. I’m a slow writer. I agonize for far too long over what to write about and then when I finally find the thing I want to explore, I need to go back to the piece again and again over hours or days to shape it the way I want it, to figure out what I mean to say, to discover what I really think.
But I’ve been away from writing for too long. My writer’s notebook has exactly three entries in it since December. I’ve been filling pages—but with notes, lists, recipes, reminders.
I miss living as a writer.
I feel the itch to write every Tuesday when I read incredible pieces by Carol, by Carrie, by Julieanne.
Every Tuesday, the invitation is there. All I have to do is accept it.
I’m a little nervous. I’ve read Michelle’s excellent post, 10 Tips for the Challenge. I’ve bookmarked a few websites for writing inspiration. I’ve started making a list of topics I might write about.
I’m ready.
And so today I celebrate this incredible invitation to write daily in March. I celebrate my own good intentions. And I celebrate the wonderful teachers and writers who inspire me.
the dirigible plum 
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