December 1, 2009

A writer’s prayer of thanksgiving

Filed under: The Writing Life — jenny @ 7:06 pm

You can surmise from how overdue this post is the first thing I’m thankful for.

I’m thankful for my family, which inspires me daily even when it takes me away from writing.

I’m thankful for the Christmas morning feeling of excitement that comes with opening up a new document.

For the knowledge that for better and worse (hopefully a lot of worse) I’m on a barreling ride for the next five months or so of a first draft and I can’t get off.

I’m thankful when the words flow so that I think twenty minutes have passed and I look up and it’s four hours.

For that sudden jolt when a story appears full blown before my eyes. (I’m not thinking then about all the hard stuff, the parts that won’t work, the wrinkles I haven’t yet foreseen, the sentences I will strike…)

For the time when every bush that blows in a breeze, every word I overhear, each thing I see/feel/know will somehow become part of this novel I am creating.

For the guy who waits on me in the diner and unwittingly agrees to be a character.

For the dreadful, wrenching plot twist that because I am sick/a suspense writer (take your pick) makes me grin.

For the discovery of a new author.

For the books I read that remind me of the heights I have yet to scale.

For this joy we call writing even though one word can’t possibly encompass all it is.

Your turn. What are you thankful for?






5 Comments »

  1. I’m thankful for all you mentioned, and maybe a couple more.

    I’m thankful for the new friends I have never met, but who have shaped their way into my life through the hard, cold internet. Which, when you have blood and flesh people willing to extend themselves on the other end, ceases to be hard and cold, but becomes a weird connective tissue.

    Jenny Milchman, I’m thankful for you. For your clear, concise thinking. For your support. For your personal integrity and perserverance. You are a Writer to Watch. Hmmm . . . I feel a new blog post coming on, inspired by you.

    Many, many blessings to you and your family.

    Cyber hugs.

    Comment by Peg Brantley — December 1, 2009 @ 10:52 pm

  2. Ooh, that’s such a good one, Peg, and so well put (cold, hard internet). How could I have forgotten to say that? But I won’t hijack your point and slip it into my original post (sometimes the internet defeats integrity, no?) I am thankful for you too–and so happy to watch as you travel your own road to success–I simply cannot wait to read that PLD of yours! And very thankful for all the friends I never would’ve made as Peg so wisely points out.

    Comment by jenny — December 1, 2009 @ 11:00 pm

  3. I can relate to a lot of the things you mentioned to be thankful for!

    Morgan Mandel

    Comment by Morgan Mandel — December 2, 2009 @ 12:48 am

  4. Awww. Well, I am thankful for Jenny Milchman!

    Comment by sapphiresavvy — December 2, 2009 @ 10:05 am

  5. I am thankful to you, too, Jenny, for making me aware that I have had made-it moments!

    Comment by Sara — December 5, 2009 @ 1:52 pm

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