Tuesday, February 17, 2015

The Slicing Community - A Field of Beans


Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating a place to share our Slice of Life.  Read more slices or add you own here.

My original thought for a post today was irony - the irony of getting President's Day off because we have had no snow days and looking out the window to see 8+ inches of the lovely white stuff.

Then, last night happened - the Slice of Life Challenge Twitter Chat.

Participating in this chat reminded me just how special this community was.  It is one thing to read slices, share stories, and write comments once a week, but having a "live" conversation took it to a new level for me.  There were old seasoned slicers and new slicers all with a common goal - to share tips, ask questions, and encourage each other.  The chat had the feel of a reunion.

There are other communities in which I participate in conversations and chats, but they are not like this one.  Last night, I felt like I belonged there.  I felt like I had truly become part of this community.

It wasn't always like this.  I remember last March thinking there was no way I could write something for 31 days.  Listening to the new slicers last night, I could feel their fear along with their excitement.  I remember it well.

When I first began slicing it was like this bean field, a field full of slicers.  I was quite intimidated.  There were days when I felt like the corn stalk in the middle of the bean field.  I felt I was in a place where I didn't belong, way out of my comfort zone.  Could I write stories like the other slicers?  Would anyone find my writing interesting?  Who would read it?

I passed by this field many times last summer,
and I have waited for the perfect slice to use it.

It didn't take long to realize that I was among a group of wonderful people.  People who wanted me to grow right along side of them.  It didn't matter who was a bean plant or who was a corn stalk.  We were all growing writers, thriving in a field together.  Our harvest is in the month of March where we reap what we have sown all year.  We share stories, we share smiles, and yes, we even share tears...every single day.  But that is the wonderful bounty in it all.  That is this community, and I am so blessed to be a part of it.

I hope those of you who are reading today and are considering the March challenge, will just jump in and join.  I became a better teacher, a better writer, and a better person because of it.  And I don't even mind being that cornstalk anymore.

19 comments:

  1. So true! It's a wonderful community. I've drifted in and out over the last several years but always look forward to coming home in March.

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  2. I still sometimes feel like a cornstalk, too. But this field of human beans has been wonderfully accepting and encouraging.

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  3. You've never been a cornstalk, :-). Anyone who writes fits right in, it's all about the tale to tell. We all have that story, we just tell it in different ways. This is the best place to be.

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  4. What a great post about last night's Twitter Chat, which I'm so grateful you joined!

    May I share this post in my upcoming calls for SOL stories in March? If that'd be okay, please email me at stacey{at}staceyshubitz.com.

    THANKS!

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  5. What a great analogy - and I feel so blessed to know that you are part of this community, Leigh Anne - in March, and every Tuesday.

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  6. Since I don't have a Twitter account I was not part of the chat - I'm lucky I even have a blog. I agree that this is a great community of writers. Last year was my first March challenge and I wasn't sure I would make 31 days. It was the support and encouragement of this community that kept me going. I am looking forward to this year's challenge although I still don't know if I have 31 straight days of things to write about.

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  7. I love this line you wrote - "Last night, I felt like I belonged there. I felt like I had truly become part of this community." This is what writing should be all about

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  8. I'm sorry I missed the chat-family things kept me out! It sounds like I missed a very good time, Leigh Anne. You must now feel like a veteran, moving in to your next SOLC. I've been doing it a while, but this year with my class-nervous about that a lot! I tell myself it will be okay, but, like your bean field, a stalk in the midst! Thanks for the support in this post-it helped!

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  9. You describe all those emotions of jumping into the March challenge so well. I can relate.

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  10. Such a wonderful metaphor you share here, Leigh Anne! This IS an awesome community to be a part of.

    Jennifer

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  11. I LOVE this post. You're right, the SOL community is such a wonderful thing. I've been away for awhile and it felt good to be part of the conversation last night. I am so impressed that you saved that picture for the perfect slice. It IS the perfect slice. I'm looking forward to connecting more in March. :)

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  12. Leigh Anne,
    Live chats are so uplifting as they "add to" that feeling of community. As a farmer's daughter, I love the bean field metaphor. I was often paid to get the volunteer corn out of the beans! LOL

    I think the best thing about #SOL is all the great writers - great encouragers ALL!

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  13. I agree with everyone else! This is about as close to a perfect metaphor as you could ever hope for! And I totally agree with you- the Slice of Life community is an amazing group! Hope I get to meet a few in person someday!

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  14. I'm so glad that you decided to write this post today. Love that photograph you took of the lone cornstalk. Great analogy! But between you and me, you fit right in! :) Looking forward to our harvest, stories abounding each day!
    Michelle

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  15. Oh shoot! I missed the Twitter chat! :-( Last year was my first time for participating, and I honestly think it was a game changer in my writing life. I can't wait to participate in it again!

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  16. I'm so sorry I missed the chat. I saw the tweets after the fact. I love the analogy you made with growth and a harvest of writing. This community is extremely special. I am so honored to be a part of it!

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  17. I, too, love this slicing community. So many wonderful friends here! You are not a cornstalk in a field of beans. So many wonderful memories of your slices, but you're always at the grocery store with me when I buy milk! Looking forward to our March Madness, writer's style.

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  18. Leigh Anne!
    I really love your post-great analogy of how I know I personally feel at times! I love being a part of this community of writers. The chat was inspiring and fun! Thank you for capturing how the seeds of doubt sometimes creep into our fields leaving us feeling insecure...rest assured that it's all about growth and connecting to each other that adds to the lushness of the field of beans and corn (singular)- lol!

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