In Person

at Two Writing Teachers!

As someone who grew up an avid reader and writer, I've always felt strongly about the ability of writing to connect people. (My one little word for this year!)  I dive so deeply into books that I wind up feeling like I truly know the writer and characters, as if they're my friends.  (I also wind up completely oblivious to the world around me, but that's another story!)  And being a writer as well, I know from the other end the way that writing expresses the true self.  Words flow up from out of this deep place in my soul and tumble out of my head onto the paper.  I read and change and read and change in a flurry of thoughts and feelings.  Then, where once was nothing, there is a little piece of me.  Sometimes messy, sometimes pretty, but always ME.

Blogging has taken this connection to a new level -- now, I can share my connections with the writer and my readers can leave their thoughts and feelings for me!  Nowhere is this more true than the Slice of Life community.  After reading the same people's snippets of life week after week and engaging in dialogue with them about our writing and our lives, I really do know them.  (Husband makes fun of me for talking about you all like you're really my friends. However, I know you are!)  Actually, due to the power of writing, I'm sure I  know some "slicers" much better than many of the people I see every day in "real life".

This past weekend at the Dublin Literacy Conference, I was fortunate enough to turn a blogging connection into "real-life".  I got to meet the incredible Ruth Ayres in person!  Not only that, but I got to learn from her firsthand at two breakout sessions.  This was a huge deal, since she's basically my blogging hero.  I wouldn't even have a blog if I hadn't been inspired by Two Writing Teachers last summer!  Moreover, I have grown so much as a writer and teacher due to the Slice of Life community.

One of the highlights of my day was when Ruth asked during one of the sessions if anybody had participated in Slices of Life. When I spoke up, she asked about my blog and said she remembered it, right in front of everyone!  Knowing there would be an autograph session at lunch, I had printed out the green SOLS logo at home.  I was a little embarrassed to ask Ruth to sign it instead of her book, but she liked it!

As soon as I get a frame, it's going up on the wall of our computer room to inspire me on those hard days!