Dear New & Returning Slicers-
How’s it going? I wasn’t sure I’d slice this year, but I’ve neglected my writing and I NEED it, so here I am.
Tuesday slicing tapered off for me, not for lack of ideas, but lack of follow through on my part. I’m not the morning type, so by the time all of the things that need doing get done, I’m the one who’s done. I’m hoping this helps me course correct.
Do I have a plan or strategy this year? I’m still mulling it over. I don’t want to say what it is yet-I don’t want to jinx it, even though I’m not the superstitious type. Except maybe I am, just a little.
I started my fall posts-when I “started” posting on Tuesdays again-writing about the last time I did something for the first time. I started (actually, my brain did this) overthinking and arriving to at the conclusion that it’s impossible for me to keep up with the last time I did something for the first time because something else would knock it out of place. However, the real me just said-NO ONE CARES-pick one of the many on your list. Perhaps those will be revisited for future slices.
I like to see where the writing takes me, if I let it. (Still working on that one). Last year was tough for me. I can’t figure out why. Here’s to LUCKY #7! I’m okay with not having a plan. Why change what’s worked for me? As me this on Friday and I’ll likely have a different answer.
One thing I’ve been up to is writing a letter every Sunday (except I skipped one already, so today I’ll write two. I found the Sunday Letter Project some time in December. I’ll sign up for the reminders as if I need reminding that Sunday is coming. Its’ the only solid day of structure I have (ooh, didn’t see this one coming-saving it for a poetential slice). The point is to write a letter to someone-anyone, even yourself, on paper with a pen or other writing stick. Mail it or keep it. Do this for a year. Slicers, you get #8. #9 has a yet to be determined recipient since I skipped a week.
Thing #2: I randomly chose The Correspondent by Virginia Evans as an audiobook read. It’s an epistolary and enjoyed peeking in on Sybil Van Antwerp’s life. Chick it out, you might like it. This book, paired with The Sunday Letter Project led me to listen to the nudge to get back on track with writing. I signed up for SOL’26 and here I am, writing letter #8, giving a nod to a book I finished, and writing my first slice. Cheers to year 7!
(This is where I raise my glass to to toast with an orange mimosa)
Sincerely,
Alice
P.S. I’m currently reading I See You’ve Called in Dead, by John Kenney. What are you reading?
Nerds Beget Nerds 
Dear Alice,
I love the letter writing challenge, and appreciate that you shared one with us! It is a brilliant way to connect pen and paper to the world, rather than knee-jerk social media comments and shares! Best wishes in your journey this month. May there be many more firsts and lasts to your stories!
Peace to you,
Dustin
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Dear Dustin,
Thank you for reading and responding to my post. I do enjoy putting pen to paper so the letter writing challenge is right up my alley. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Sincerely,
Alice
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I’m loving how you combined Sunday letter writing to your first March slice AND to The Correspondent, which I enjoyed this January! In fact, my old book club buddies were just saying how we can be each other’s pen pals! Happy writing!
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I love the idea of pen pals with book club buddies. Snail mail is such a treat!
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Here’s to starting over as many times as we need to! ❤️ I loved The Correspondent and am intrigued by your letter writing goal. Thanks for the inspiration!
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That’s the great thing about writing: you get to try again any time. So far, I’ve been scanning all of my letters and envelopes before sending them.
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Thanks for sharing your many ideas. I’m glad you are back and love the idea of letter writing. It certainly is a dying ember in modern life. Write on!
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Dear Alice,
Welcome back! It’s always a treat to hear from you! I read The Correspondent earlier in the year, and it’s inspired me to want to get back to letter writing myself. I hope you have a pen you love, beautiful paper, and a designated writing spot with a view, like Sybil did. I look forward to hearing from you again soon!
Sincerely,
Natasha
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Hi Natasha,
Thank you for your kind words. Wow, this book is popping up everywhere! It’s like a bird flitting around the universe, much like the cover of the book suggests. I do love great paper and I have a too large stash of favorite pens. My view, well, it’s a suburban backyard, but we do have some decent trees. I also look forward to reading your work as well.
Sincerely,
Alice
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Dear Alice,
Thanks so much for your letter. I loved seeing your handwriting. I love your Sunday letter writing project. I might have to give that a try someday. Not going to commit right now as I’ve taken on several creative projects recently including doing this monthly challenge for the first time.
I read The Correspondent in December and loved Sybil’s letters to authors.
I’m currently doing slow reads of three books with Simon Haitsell on substack—Midnight’s Children, Wolf Hall, and War and Peace which I’m rewriting in haiku.
I’m also reading Kiran Desai’s The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. It would make a good slow read as there’s lots to think about, but I’m gulping it down because I need to be at the halfway point for my book club tomorrow night. Even though I’m the one that sends out the reminders, the date kind of snuck up on me. We’re spreading the reading and discussion over two months since it’s 650 pages long and while a couple of us, including me, are newly retired, most of the group’s still teaching. Desai’s writing is beautiful and I’m especially loving when the characters think and talk about art.
Please write again soon!
Take care,
Sharon
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Dear Sharon,
Thank you for sharing your slow reads. Wow, sounds like such a rich experience. Your War and Peace written in haiku is ah-mazing! I look forward to seeing how that project evolves. Congrats on being newly retired. I’m currently eligible, but not quite ready. I’m jotting your slow reads to add to my never ending list of books for someday.
Sincerely,
Alice
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That book is SO SO good. It is the perfect audiobook. I look forward to your slices this year.
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I recently finished The Correspondent, also on audio, and enjoyed it. It made me want to write letters. I wrote Sunday letters to my daughters for years… until I didn’t anymore. I liked your orange themed paper and that you hand wrote your slice. Welcome
Back!
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Hi Jessica! The first letters I wrote were to my kids. I wasn’t sure how they’d respond, but they actually enjoyed receiving them. Thanks for the warm welcome.
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Alice, I enjoyed reading your hand written letter. Being an avid letter writer until just the last few years, when email just ‘took over’ because it was fast, I am inspired by your Sunday Letter Writing Project. I rarely have a writing plan or theme for the month of March and just kind of go where my writing wants to go. 🙂
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Debbie, I agree with you about the email. Now it’s texting nonstop, mainly with family members. We occasionally send birthday cards, but even that has tapered off. That’s one of the main reasons I decided to do the Sunday Letter Project. Although it’s slower, people still enjoy receiving a letter in the mail.
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It’s very true, and that is why I am embracing your letter writing challenge. Just mailed one off to grand daughter in college. 🙂
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Welcome back! Love the letter idea…and the fact that you chose orange-themed paper is the icing on the cake! I would like to get back to handwriting too. I was journaling the other day and got a cramp in my hand after 2 pages…when did that happen? I guess it’s all the typing I normally do. I just finished The Correspondent, too. I like how you added the PS with what you are reading, just like Sybil did. 🙂 I’m reading The Frozen River now.
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Hi Jennifer, I just happened to have orange themed paper in my stationery stash. I considered merely typing the letter, but that paper needed to be used. A nod to Sybil, I couldn’t resist asking what everyone is reading. 🙂
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Letter writing is a lost art, unfortunately. I used to do this at Christmastime but I seem to be using my computer for letter writing now. My handwriting is not as good as it used to be due to arthritis. Your plan is a very good one so enjoy exploring it this month.
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I agree, it’s becoming a lost form, but only if we let it happen. I do enjoy writing and receiving letters from my nieces and nephews. My brother’s kids send me letters now and then. It might be part of a school assignment, but I’ll take it!
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So smart, combining your letter writing with a Slice! I would give yourself a break and do this every Sunday in March. Five Slices taken care of!
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As for what I am reading…my lab reports, this week. Sigh
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You know me well. I almost decided to do this whole challenge in letter form. Handwritten letter form. After having to scan, download, and upload, I decided nope! But Sundays will work.
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