Thoughtful Comments Fuel Writers

NCTE Annual Convention in Chicago - Nov. 2011 - I met up with several Slicers for meals during the convention.

In 2008, Ruth Ayres and I began a writing challenge for teachers on our blog, Two Writing Teachers.  The Slice of Life Story Challenge’s primary purpose was to get teachers into the habit of writing about something ordinary every day for a month.  The secondary purpose of this writing challenge was to build community.  Every March, a group of teachers from five continents virtually comes together to share their writing by leaving a link to their slice of life writing on our blog.  In addition, people who leave a link to their writing are encouraged to read and comment on other people’s writing as well.  This simple act – reading and commenting – builds community.  It connects people from different ends of the earth by helping them get to know through written comments.

The Slice of Life Story Challenge also occurs on our blog every Tuesday throughout the year.  Many of the people who have participated in our month-long Challenge continue to share their writing every week.  This has been happening for five years, which means our writing community grows stronger with every passing week.  In addition, it has brought many of us closer since we’ve come to know one another through the slice of life pieces we share.

I’ve become acquainted with other bloggers thanks to the thoughtful comments they’ve left for me on my blog.  They’ve boosted my spirit when I’ve written about a sick day at home, responded thoughtfully when I’ve written about religious rituals, and have praised me when I’ve shared a personal triumph.  I’ve gotten book recommendations, advice, and well-wishes.  It is helpful to have people who consistently read my writing and encourage me as a person and as a writer.  Thoughtful comments take time to write and when I read them, they fuel me.  They keep me going and make me want to share more of myself in writing.

Getting to know others virtually through comments forms real-life connections.  I’ve met several of the people who take part in our challenge at professional development conferences.  Sometimes we plan to get together for a meal while other times we just run into one another in passing.  All of the interactions are special despite the fact that we’re often meeting in person for the first time.  Chatting for the first time is easy since we know each other through our personal writing and through the kind comments we have left one another.

We welcome non-educators to take part in our annual Slice of Life Story Challenge.  If you’re interested, then click here or here to learn more.  It would be great to have you as part of our writing community.

Finally, would you take a moment to share how other people’s comments have fueled you as a blogger/writer?

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Stacey Shubitz is a literacy specialist who consults with teachers about the teaching of writing in elementary schools.  You can find her online at Two Writing Teachers, Raising a Literate Human, and on Twitter.