Sunday, March 1, 2015

And so #SOL15 begins

Motivated by Kevin's example, I tried the March challenge last year -- or was going to and either got sidetracked early or fell off the wagon -- but can't remember which. Then there was a daily blog challenge in November. I was holding on until my internet went out for a week. 2014 was not a good year for blogging challenges. It was not a good one for writing challenges. Going on 13 years of NaNoWriMo, 2014 was the year I threw in the towel. Chalk that up to the number 13.

Maybe 2015 will be better. I've done blogging challenges before although not recently. They are a good way to recharge or break through a blogging block. I've got one of those too.


The problem is not word deficit but could be word and information overload -- too many blogs, social media streams and daily writing commitments. I'm still OK with writing letters (now email) but that is a lifetime habit. What if that starts to go too? Like gradually losing vision from age and cataracts?

That's the why -- now a few words about the who. If this were journalism not slicing, I'd have started off here and moved to what, etc. Slices can be sliced and diced any which way. I'm retired, not a teacher anymore, unless teaching the world by through community and advocacy blogging counts. I taught college as a late returning (there's a slice) graduate student teaching assistant and then as an adjunct -- other teaching (mores slices) too. Born in Canton New York, 1943, I grew up moving around (super slice!) back when hardly anybody did and lived overseas for eight years (there's another!). Mostly though, I lived in South Louisiana, Cajun country, moved to Davis CA in 1993 and Mountainair NM in 2000. I've been here since then and blogging since 2006.

By Vanessa Vaile, hopefully
to be continued.

9 comments:

  1. I hope you do stick to it this year! I'm excited to read about your adventures. I am dying to travel and explore more of the world. This is my first year doing the SOLC, or any blogging/writing challenge. I tried last year and just let myself get busy and give up. We got it this year!! Keep writing!

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  2. I'm glad you've decided to join us this year, Vanessa. I hope you'll stick with it. Keep writing!

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  3. I am glad to read that this was not easy for you! This is my first year, and I am intimidated at the thought of posting every day, but I want to give it a try. Hopefully, the community will keep me going!

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  4. Thanks Morgan and Jennifer ~ I actually do a lot of writing so it may be as much burnout as block. Feeling obliged to write posts on community and advocacy blogs can take the fun out of writing. Not being obliged leads to procrastination... wicked, eh?

    Work yes but it still should engage us. I have no plan other than writing what comes to mind -- and maybe starting earlier in the day.

    I figure we can spend a few days in introduction mode or whatever takes our fancy

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  5. Glad we're all in this together. I think a supportive community can only make this easier. I've moved around quite a bit in my life. I lived in Davis for a while too. ;)

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  6. file that in the small world dept, Crystal. When were you there?

    Hahaha...Stacy, I run a gang of blogs and social media: stay or go, I'll be writing.

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  7. This is a wonderful community of writers. Welcome. I've retired from teaching as well and so enjoy my time - for writing, reading and art.

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  8. Hi Vanessa! We meet in so many places. I look forward to reading your slices, and I too hope I can keep up. You do have many slices to write about!

    I'm still teaching -- thinking about retiring -- but it's still fun and engaging.

    I hope you keep the stories coming...

    https://askwhatelse.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/sol15-a-writing-life/

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  9. hahaha...Sheri, we do seem to keep running into each other.

    It reminds me of the old movie cliche, "we've got to stop meeting like this"?

    Beverly, looks like we have a gathering of the past prime time but never over the hill gang

    Morgan ~ I'm adding "places" to the list too. Places we remember are -- like Hemingway wrote -- our moveable feasts.

    They don't have to be Paris either.

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