Linda K Sienkiewicz

  • Home
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Fiction
  • Children’s
  • Poetry
  • News
  • Etc.
    • Press Kit
    • Events
    • Art
    • Publishing Credits and Awards
  • Social Media
  • Email
You are here: Home / It's Personal / Chalkboard Messages

Chalkboard Messages

February 8, 2021 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

The Start

Last year, as the pandemic slowed life down and caused us to physically withdraw from one another, I dragged out a cheap chalkboard I’d bought for book shows a few years ago. On it I wrote messages for my neighbors and others who walked past our house, and put it on my front porch.

Early spring 2020, lettered with regular chalk

I hoped to create a sense of camaraderie while we hunkered down. I believe in the power of small things making a difference. If you can’t find anything to make you feel good, be the one thing that makes others feel good. Writing these messages was my way of reaching out to strangers.

My neighbor Tina often ran over to read the sign, and she’d pull the chalkboard out so it could be easily seen.

Summer, 2020

A year later, I’m still at it. I love seeing people pause to read the sign. Matt the mailman told me the one below made him laugh out loud.

Late summer, 2020, lettered with liquid chalk

Some days are a challenge

I’ve enjoyed brushing off my calligraphy skills. I also graduated from regular chalk, which doesn’t hold up well, to liquid chalk markers, which come in great colors.

Writing chalkboard messages challenges me to reflect on current politics in a positive way.

Notorious Ruth Bader Ginsberg

I can celebrate the seasons and add a little humor at the same time.

December 2020
Welcoming 2021

Be the light

The pandemic is still with us, but we have the promise of a vaccine.

A line from Amanda Gorman

January also gave us a new president and the amazing poetry of Amanda Gorman, who read “The Hill We Climb” at the inauguration. There is reason to be hopeful.

I hope to keep sharing messages with neighbors and friends. Let’s all be the light.


Thank you for visiting Linda’s blog.

Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist.
Learn more about her award winning novel, In the Context of Love.
Learn more about her picture book, Gordy and the Ghost Crab.

Learn more about her poetry chapbook, Security

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: It's Personal Tagged With: messages, pandemic

About Linda

Award- winning writer, poet & artist. Cynical optimist. Super klutz. Corgi fan. Author of two novels, a picture book which she wrote and illustrated, and five poetry chapbooks. More here.

Follow this Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to Linda's blog...

Categories

  • Agents & Querying (7)
  • Art & Crafting (20)
  • Books (69)
  • Grief and Loss (19)
  • In the Context of Love (14)
  • It's Personal (230)
  • Publicity & Marketing (33)
  • What, Why, How (163)
  • Writing (112)

Let’s Connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a giveaway, fun event, or an announcement!

Search this blog

Top Posts

  • Proper use of "I" and "Me" - Grammar Basics
  • Book Art: Crafting Paper Roses
  • Blackout Poetry - as creative as you want to get
  • Gen Z “Chaos Theory” Fashion
  • Quick Bicycle Helmet Visor How-to
  • What's so special about Howard Street?

Blog Tags

Agents anxiety art books children's books childrens books Christmas Clementine corgi crafting creativity Detroit dogs family fantasy Fiction grammar grief Historical Fiction humor idol talk loss love marketing memoir motivation Music mystery nonfiction novel pandemic poet poetry Publishing reading romance sewing sexual assault shame short stories social media storytelling suicide writing writing tips
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Adult Fiction
  • Children’s
  • Recent News
  • Poetry
  • Art

Recent Blog Posts

  • What, Why, How: Poet Karin Hoffecker
  • Dinner with Elmore Leonard (sort of)
  • Beyond the Smile: Elevating Character and Emotions in Writing
  • A (Mostly) Clean Challenge: Writing a Novel with Minimal Profanity
  • The entertaining side of Chat GPT
  • Yous got the last laugh: How my husband’s favorite pronoun was vindicated
  • What, Why, How: author Kate Woodworth
  • Magical Realism: Blurring the Lines Between Reality and Wonder

Blog Tags

Agents anxiety art books children's books childrens books Christmas Clementine corgi crafting creativity Detroit dogs family fantasy Fiction grammar grief Historical Fiction humor idol talk loss love marketing memoir motivation Music mystery nonfiction novel pandemic poet poetry Publishing reading romance sewing sexual assault shame short stories social media storytelling suicide writing writing tips

Search

Let’s Connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a giveaway, important event, or publishing announcement!

  • Home
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Fiction
  • Children’s
  • Poetry
  • News
  • Etc.
  • Social Media
  • Email

Copyright © 2025 · Website design & development by Little Leaf

%d