Gratitude

The life of a writer isn’t for the faint-hearted, is it? Words do not always order themselves on the page in the inspiring pose you had intended to place them. Editors not only suggest you kill your darlings, but perhaps maim a few other precious pumpkins while you’re at it. Readers view things differently than you expected they would. Agents or publishers look for stories other than what you have written. This is the life we’ve chosen, and it is not always pretty.

The good news is, here we are in November, and it is the perfect time of year to reflect on all that we are thankful for. If you’re like me, you’ve noticed that the more you fill your heart and mind with what is good, the better equipped you are to navigate the less-than-good (or the downright ugly).

Here is my gratitude list for this year. I’m thankful for:

Electricity. It’s not just about keeping the ol’ Dell laptop buzzing. If I am on a deadline, I need the coffeemaker going. Electricity is my friend. Plus, can I tell you how many times an electric crockpot has saved dinner when I’ve had to hunker down over a draft? That number is higher than I thought possible.

Stolen moments. In the face of work changes and illnesses, I have learned how to claim even the tiniest blocks of time to write. Day by day, week by week, these little chunks add up to a completed manuscript, freelance work, and an occasional blog post.

Community. It’s odd for me to write this because I am an introvert through-and-through. In spite of that (or maybe because of it?) I know that I need writer people in my life. I have been fortunate to meet people who have cheered and encouraged me throughout this journey. As important as encouragement is, it is also healthy to have trusted people who will tell you the truth in a way that helps you hear it.

Words and the children who love them. This may seem like a no-brainer to some, but for me it is essential. Without words to build worlds and tell stories, we writers have nothing. We cannot take for granted that our world needs children who read, and parents and grandparents who encourage them. I am exceedingly grateful that words exist, and that there are children and adults who love to read them.

If you have read this far, I am thankful for you too! Thank you for letting me be part of your writing journey today. Since you’re here, what are you thankful for? Please take a moment and write your list in the comment section below. I would love to read it!

Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.