Writers Being Thankful

I am writing this blog on the eve of Thanksgiving. Thinking about this holiday causes me to consider the fact that we only designate one day a year to ponder gratitude. Yet the Bible encourages us to “be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NIV)

So while I know this post will run in the midst of Christmas season, I’m going to claim a day of thankfulness and encourage writers to think about the many people who bless and enrich our lives.

Here are just a few of the folks for whom we can be grateful:

• Critique groups who offer helpful advice.
• Authors who write better than we do. They inspire us to excel and do better.
• Spouses who don’t mind eating take-out food when we’re in the midst of editing.
• That friend or relative who believes we are the best writer they’ve ever read. We know it’s not true, but we appreciate their love and support anyway!
• Editors who catch all those mistakes that we know are there but we just can’t see. They have our backs.
• That more experienced author friend who takes us under their wing and helps us become a better writer.
• The acquisitions editor who says, “Please send me that book proposal.”
• The fellow writer’s conference attendee who sees you sitting alone at lunch and says, “Can I sit with you?”
• That author who takes the time to read and review your book, even though you know they are too busy.
• Your family and friends who will always love you, even if you never become a best-selling author.

So in this Christmas season of remembering the birth of our Savior, let’s remember that the Child born in the manger came to save us and be a blessing to us. Let us, in turn, be a blessing to others. Be an encourager to a fellow writer.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

Merry Christmas!

Green typewriter image courtesy of Just2Shutter via freedigitalphotos.net