Pages

Sunday, March 1, 2015

The Challenge Begins! #SOLC15 3/1

Hello!  I have been reading Michelle's "10 Tips for the Challenge" and trying to decide what to write about for day 1 of the Slice of Life -2015 challenge.  She says not to stress, but that's basically what blogging is for me.  Stress about people reading my writing, what they think about it, what if I sound dumb? What if I misspell a word? What if my grammar and punctuation is all wrong?  What if one of my students reads this and they hate it?  None of that matters, and I know that.  You have to write to get better at writing, just like anything else... the stress remains....

So let me start by saying this: I am not a writer.  I tried writing a clever little poem about how I am not a writer.  It went badly.  I consider myself to be a professional appreciator.  Writing is so romantic and beautiful, and it's just something I've never felt very confident doing, so I appreciate the art and the images others are able to create with just words. 

I read.  Everything.  I prefer fiction, usually YA, fantasy/sci-fi books to historical fiction, but I am in the middle of one of my new favorite books ("All The Light We Cannot See") about a little French girl and a German boy during the rise of Hitler and the bombing/invasion of France.  It is because of the writing in this book I have really had an itch to start writing.  If I can ever come close to making someone feel the way his writing makes me feel, it will be one of the greatest successes of my life.  I bought a journal and have been trying to write at least once a week.  I keep my favorite quotes from the books I read and try to write for the sake of writing.  Writing for myself is cathartic, it's the publishing that is scary.  Here's to trying! 

Just so you know me a little, I am a 2nd year Spanish teacher in West Texas.  This year, on the day two-a-days started, I was hired as an official volleyball and track coach!  I come from a long line of teachers.  Both of my parents, my grandparents, my great uncle, and my maternal grandmother are/were all teachers.  Science, Art, Economics, Government, Geography, Math, Basketball, PE, and Piano.  And I added Foreign Language to the list.  

If I won/found/was gifted a billion dollars, I would do a bunch of adult things that I now would consider victories.  I'd pay off all of my student loans, I would pay for my master's degree with cash instead of taking out more loans.  I'd buy a house on the good side of town and a new couch for my new house.  The current one is... well loved... by humans and cats.  I would buy a new car and pay off my brother's truck.  I'd invest a good chunk into my IRA and the stock market, and save the rest for my hypothetical-future-kids' college.  It's expensive now, I hate to see what it's going to be like in 20 years.  

I hope this isn't too long!  I'm so excited to be a part of the SOLC15 and am looking forward to getting to know you all! 


11 comments:

  1. What a great getting-to-know you post, Morgan!

    Nothing to be nervous about. You'll see... it's going to be a great month. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad you have joined the challenge! I think the key is to just write. Everything else will come along! Wondering how you found out about the challenge?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Glad you have joined the challenge! I think the key is to just write. Everything else will come along! Wondering how you found out about the challenge?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Last year around New Years I decided to start a blog, just to do it. I had read so many other teachers' blogs and found so many good ideas and thought I'd like to try writing one too. Just from clicking around I found some Slicers and tried to start last year but didn't do very well. Attempt #2!

      Delete
  5. Welcome to the challenge. Your line of teacher ancestors is really impressive. I loved reading how a book inspired you to write.
    I started my blog five years ago for the March challenge. I started it on a spur of a moment and the title says what I intended (Just for a Month.) I am still blogging. I hope you will enjoy the writing experience and continue blogging. It's an amazing learning experience.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are a writer. You have written a thoughtful, honest post. I'd be in a world of hurt if I kicked myself for every misspelled word and/or grammar error, and I teach English! "All the Light We Cannot See" is on my TBR list. I'm planning to read it on the plane when I travel to Great Britain and Europe later this month.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have just been in love with the book. I hate to get your hopes up and then you think it's just an okay read, but I have really enjoyed it. Let me know what you think of it!

      Delete
  7. Welcome to SOL! I started 4 years ago at the encouragement (aka challenge) of my daughter (the Michelle you referred to). I had many trepidations, but they were all for naught and I have continued writing, not only for the month of March, but most other Tuesdays throughout the years. I'm glad to get to know you and look forward to many more slices.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm a regular blogger but not a regular Slicer. I find them really challenging to write. I really liked Michelle's post about slicing--I got some good ideas for writing. Regular blogging was hard for me until I found an audience and had real readers reading my writing. That actually helped me figure out what to write about. When I'm super stuck, I usually take my notebook to a busy coffeeshop, settle in, start eavesdropping, and take notes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a brilliant idea!!! I live in a college town, there is never a shortage of people to eavesdrop on.

      Delete