Writing is like ice skating: As soon as you think you look cool, that’s when you fall on your keyster.
I was on such a high a couple of weeks ago, too. I had just written the first real short story I had finished in several years. Boy, was I proud of myself! I couldn’t wait to share it with the fourth-graders I wrote along with.
Fast forward to today. There I sat, crafting allegorical stories with my fifth graders. We were gathered around a central table, lights down and lamps on. There was an energetic hum to the quiet as everyone toted along with their work.
Everyone, that is, except for me.
I’m stuck.
Don’t get me wrong, I did write things today. I actually wrote several paragraphs’ worth of stuff. But I didn’t really like anything that much.
No, maybe that’s not accurate. It’s better to say…I wrote some things, and I kind of liked them, but I don’t know how they’ll serve my story. I don’t know what order to put them in to best build the plot. And I know where I want my story to go, but I’m not sure yet how I’ll get there.
This is the part where I’m most likely to abandon a story. It’s the part of writing where I recognize there’s a difference between the movie that plays in my head and the words that appear before me. Things are getting difficult, and the realization whomps me.
I’m not dropping the ball this time, though. I owe it to myself to do hard things, and I owe it to my students to show them I can get through tough stuff. Because I believe they can get through tough stuff, and I’d like to think they believe the same in me, too.
So tomorrow during my fifth grade session, I’ll be back and typing away at my laptop. I might crowdsource some ideas, I might dive into my own thinking. Either way, I’ll be pushing through.
Thanks, as always, for the Two Writing Teachers March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Check ’em out!
Soapbox: The Way I see Things 
Your tagline pulled me in! 🙂 Your slice resonated with me. I haven’t been as motivated to write this month and have been trying to give myself grace on the days that are extra hard. I appreciated this part of your slice, “I owe it to myself to do hard things, and I owe it to my students to show them I can get through tough stuff. Because I believe they can get through tough stuff, and I’d like to think they believe the same in me, too.” Yes! I love that you write with your students. Being an active part of your classroom writing community is so powerful! Thanks for sharing.
Ohhhhh I definitely feel that lack of motivation, and the need for grace. Which is often easier said than done, to be honest.
As for being a part of my classroom community, it’s amazing to me how much TEACHING actually happens during these times. Our conversations in the midst of writing are often more effective than most of the mini-lessons I do…
How cool that you have a writing community (fifth graders can be of good support) to keep you writing. It’s always ups and downs, ebb and flow, with all writers, and knowing this makes it easier to be gentle with oneself when things don’t go your way.
Yes! That self-forgiveness: when things don’t go our way, when the writing won’t come, when GOOD writing won’t come…it can often be tricky. But it gives me such a deep understanding of what I ask my students to do.
And my fifth (and fourth and third and second and first) graders are amazing colleagues to have along for this process!
” And I know where I want my story to go, but I’m not sure yet how I’ll get there.” Isn’t that the plight of so many writers? You will get there and the results may even surprise you.
The results almost ALWAYS surprise me, Bob! =)
Than you for sharing your writing process and the sticky times you’ve experiencing. I’m encouraged to give it a try even if I’m stuck. I haven’t written a short story, but a finished short story is better than none.
Your students are lucky to have you share your writing process with them, especially when stuck. I also like your idea of crowdsourcing.
You’re a great mentor for people of all ages.
Thanks, Alice. I feel like I’m tremendously lucky to 1) have the students that I do, and 2) to have discovered something that works for all of us. As for the crowdsourcing, it’s been one of the biggest game-changers in my writing instruction in a VERY long time.
And…thank you =)
Way to hang in there, Lainie! Putting yourself in that uncomfortable position and trusting that your will work your way out of it alongside your students seems like a pretty big win for the effort.
It was – and still is! – an uncomfortable position, to be sure. But if I’m asking my students to get over themselves and do it, that I can give it a go.
It’s also possible that my story will be a DUD. And that’s okay too!