Deciding on the Slice of Life Challenge for March
For me, March has typically been a month dedicated to the Slice of Life Challenge hosted by the Two Writing Teachers blog. In essence, it was the start of my daily writing habit in 2017. About this time that year, I took the plunge and started a blog. Five years later, I am still writing a daily blog here at The Apples in My Orchard.
The time has come to sign up for this challenge again.
And, I’m on the fence.
I write daily, whether it’s March or any other month. I have written daily for five years!!!
It is an amazing accomplishment when I stop to think about it.
Here’s the thing. I’m not sure I want or need to participate in this challenge.
Last year, in an attempt to increase my involvement in the Slice of Life Challenge, I served on the Welcome Wagon. I dutifully commented daily on the three (minimal amount) new participants to whom I was assigned. Sometimes I got a response, sometimes I didn’t. I gave to the prize cache for the month, despite never having won a prize myself. Five participants got free books from me written by Ralph Fletcher. I never heard from any of them. Not a thank you or I got it or any kind of grateful comment.
In truth, I have always felt to be on the fringe of this group. I try to follow the guidelines. I write. I post. I comment on three other bloggers’ posts. But, some days, more often than I’d like to admit, three people (other participants) did not comment on my post. I cannot understand it.
I am taking all this into consideration as to whether I want to participate this year or not. I feel like I don’t want to do it again this year. Participation leads to pressure and disappointment for me, it seems. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve “met” some great bloggers during the Slice of Life Challenge, especially Lainie and Tim. But, there are more that are forgettable. I just cannot seem to connect with this group. It has been very different than my connections with the Poetry Friday group, to which I am eternally grateful for their support and camaraderie.
Seen as how participating in this challenge takes time, I think I’ll forgo it this year. I am building my readership on Medium.com, seeking out submissions for my poetry, and working on independent publishing. I have enough on my plate. Five years is a long time to commit to writing daily. I know. I’ve done it. I just think I owe myself some grace in not being one of the pack, especially when I feel that I’ve tried and it doesn’t seem like I’m part of the group.
Of course, I’ll miss some that I’ve come to know. But, I have learned their blog names and can search them out, anytime I choose. Yes, I’ve decided. After five years of participating in the Slice of Life Challenge, I’m going to let it go this year.
I bid you adieu.
Originally published at http://theapplesinmyorchard.com on February 17, 2022.
