A Writing Gift ~ #sol17

I believe being a writer is one of the biggest gifts you can give to your students. ~ Stacey Shubitz

This month I am participating in the Slice of Life Story Challenge.  Thanks to Two Writing Teachers for creating a space for me to share my corner of the world.

Writing every day is a challenge, not only in finding the time, but in finding the topic and writing something that is worth sharing.

Too many times this month I feel I have slapped a slice together and hit the publish button, just to fulfill the requirement of writing posting each day.  I have reasons excuses, but I don't allow excuses from my students, so I don't want to use them either.  

I have "met" a new blogger this month, and her writing has inspired and refueled me as a writer.  She crafts slices of memories that place me, the reader, right there.  She is a true wordsmith, using perfect words to create the perfect image.   Her writing sucks me into her story, day after day after day.  I have placed many of her slices in my mentor text file, not only for my students, but for me as well.

If you have not had a chance to read Fran Haley's slices from Lit Bits and Pieces, I encourage you to find some time today.  And when I say time, I mean time to read each and every piece of her writing.  I promise, you will come away inspired and motivated to reach for the pen.

In one slice she writes about “...creating the magic” – writing about what matters to you, tapping into your heart, your dreams, your struggles, your memories, making your writing authentic so you can help students do the the same..."

I have lost some of that magic this month.  I wonder if it is because I am just trying to "complete the assignment."  But for me, that is not why I write.  She also says,

"Writing is the closest thing to magic that there is. As teachers we create the atmosphere for our writers. It’s one of excited expectancy, of energy, when young writers discover the power within them, learning how to harness words to impact readers. Writing, after all, is meant to be shared – it’s the connecting of human minds and hearts."

It is our responsibility to create that magical atmosphere for our students.  But when another slicer creates it for us, we are given a gift.

I am on spring break this week, and I will have some extra time to accept the gift I have been given through Frans's writing.  I hope to "harness words" and reconnect with my writerly self to find that magic once again.