Let’s start with the fact that I’ve been trying to write this post for the last three days.  I hate to admit it, but I haven’t been feeling inspired this week.  It might be a letdown of emotion from the events of the past couple of weeks, but there was nothing I really wanted to say.  Until I listened to a talk about gratitude.

There’s much for which I’m thankful, but since this is a blog about writing and editing, I’ll focus on that.

I’m grateful to be a writer in this age, rather than a woman seeking publication two hundred years ago.  I know there must be very few publishing venues that openly reject women writers in our time period.  While we’re talking about women writers of a couple centuries past, I’m grateful I don’t have to change my name to Horace Von Binglemeister VI in order to sneak my manuscript onto the desks of editors and publishers.

I’m grateful I’m not typing this on a machine that requires sheets of carbon paper in order to make duplicate copies.  And that the “Backspace” key is a special friend to my fingers.

I’m grateful that massive amounts of preliminary research can be done at my own computer, in my own home.  At the same time, I’m grateful that travel is so easy in this age, and I can visit locations around the world for detailed research, even completing a trip round the world in a matter of days.  Or hours.

I’m grateful to be a writer today, along with some of the most exciting, imaginative scribes ever.  Taking nothing away from the classics, I love the variety and inspiration offered by today’s writers.

I’m grateful for all the new friends I’m making in my journey as a writer.  I love the way we share knowledge and experiences.  It warms my heart that most writers want to support each other, and do so generously.

And I’m grateful for every one of you who take the time to read and comment on my posts.  You make every moment of writing them worthwhile.  Thank you.

 

When you look at things to be grateful about as a writer, what’s the most important item on your list?  Share with us in the comments and we’ll be grateful along with you.