"Your next post should be about the loss of bookstores," Clare commented on my Slice of Life post, A Familiar Pattern, about the pattern of malls closing.
A few days later she returned to another post, Start a Contribution List, asking, "What's a Passion Planner™? Can you slice about that?"
I've appreciated her comments. I've kept these little nuggets tucked in the back of my mind knowing when I need an idea to continue my goal to write every single day this month, I'll have a few ideas to use for my post.
In my first grade classroom, one of my favorite things to do was greet students at the door. Students always entered first thing in the morning full of stories, and I was the story catcher. My students would share tales of losing teeth, learning to ride a bike, or going someplace special. They'd share stories of friends, new experiences, and funny things that had happened to them. Of course, I'd listen intently and then say, "You should write about that. That would be a great story for writer's workshop." The more reluctant the writer, the more deeply I listened - and the more animated my reaction.
Even among my friends who have blogs, it isn't uncommon to hear one of us say to another, "You should write about that." It's like a gift when that happens. It's not always easy to see our stories we might share.
There's power in having someone say, "You should write that."
Writing every single day isn't easy, but having someone to help shine light on your stories makes it a little more possible.
These are words I love to say to my students--and also love to hear myself. I really like how you put this--"having someone to help shine light on your stories." Sometimes we don't see the potential in our own lives and interests and it helps to have someone else point it out to us.
ReplyDeleteEncouragement is so helpful and important for writers. I ask my students three mornings a week is they have anything to share at our morning weekend with the hope of hearing from everyone during the week. You'll be happy to know I use Evernote to record what they share and often comment I bet you could write about that.
ReplyDeleteCan you write a post why your husband puts banana peels under evergreen trees, please. I can't remember.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that you are one of those friends who frequently says, "I would love for you to write about that", and I know from personal experience, how that helps lift me up as a writer. Great connection to how that looks in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI love that...the story catcher. You most certainly are! :)
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing! I hear a story and then gently nudge them to write about that -- not being in the classroom, I don't always know if students follow through. I should do a better job of following up! I love this: "Writing every single day isn't easy, but having someone to help shine light on your stories makes it a little more possible." Thanks for the reminder ... and a little suggestion with comment writing too!
ReplyDelete