Thursday, November 24, 2011

6 Things I'm Thankful for in Writing

  1. I'm thankful I have the opportunity and freedom to write.
  2. I'm thankful for a sense of humour--I couldn't complete a novel without one.
  3. I'm thankful for computers--the thought of using a typewriter to write a novel makes me shudder.
  4. I'm thankful for an excuse to put off the house cleaning--my deadlines are more important.
  5. I'm thankful for the writing community and all the support and encouragement it offers.
  6. I'm thankful for YOU.
What are you thankful for in writing?
--

News: Peggy Eddleman has signed with Random House for her Middle Grade novel, "Through the Bomb's Breath." Congratulations, Peggy!

Giveaway: Michael Di Gesu is having a 500 followers giveaway. Pop on over and help him celebrate his one year blogiversary.

NaNoWriMo: I'm on track for my November writing goal of 50k words in 30 days. I'm getting really excited about the story too. It's a science fiction young adult.

37 comments:

Jessie Humphries said...

I am grateful for all those things too. Especially the computer. Seriously, how did anyone use a typewriter? What a disaster!

DEZMOND said...

I love sf

Tonja said...

All of yours plus the internet for research.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You know I'll want to read a science fiction story by you! And can you imagine typing a story on a typewriter? Even one with a correction ribbon? Children today have no idea what they missed.

Old Kitty said...

Yay for your nanowrimo super duper progress! Wonderful! Good luck!!!

Awwwww I was taught my typing skills on ye olde manual typewriter and will always be fond of the things - they were honest equipment - they did just as they were supposed to - put words on paper - nothing fancy - no frippery or nothing gimmicky. And many a great novels were created on them. Ok, I'll stop waving the flag for them now and drag my olde carcass to the 21st century. LOL!

Have a great and happy and fun Thanksgiving!! Take care
x

Denise Covey said...

Hi Lynda. I'm thankful for YOU too! Great things to be thankful for in your writing life. Thank you for being so helpful with your posts. Hope you're enjoying gorgeous spring weather down your way. I just got out of the pool and am heading for the beach later. Oh, what happened to NaNo? It'll just have to wait a bit then I'll catch up.

Denise

Denise Covey said...

Oh, and a typewriter! Fancy having to write a novel on one. I don't mind the idea of handwriting though. I love handwriting but I think it'd take a mighty long time to pen a novel that way.

Trisha said...

I was just having a discussion about typewriters on another blog. I kind of love the idea of going back to one of those classic typewriters. But of course I'd have to transcribe anything I wrote to computer, and that would take valuable time.

I'm thankful for all those things...and for having an outlet when I feel the burning desire to be creative. Sometimes I live vicariously through my characters, too.

Abby Fowers said...

Great list of blessings. I'm thankful for those things too. :) Happy Thanksgiving!

Nancy Thompson said...

Right backatcha! And way to go in NaNo!

Sarah Tokeley said...

I'm thankful for all the people I've met in the past few months that've made all this so worthwhile :-)

Suze said...

Love your no. 2, Lynda.

Nick Wilford said...

I'm thankful just to have the ability to read and write, as there are many people around the world who do not have this opportunity.

Shah Wharton said...

I'm thankful for authors who blog :D For the fabulous NaNoWriMo - (my first trythis year and I've almost finished) which had taught me to write without editing (much :P) which had always been a huge problem for me while writing my first book (so that it still lie incomplete). And I'm thankful for for life and love, of course. :D X

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Jessie, exactly! hehe

Dezzy, I seem to be getting more interest in my sf than I did with my fantasy. Curious.

Alex, thanks :) And yes, I played around with my mum's typewriter when I was young--what a nightmare.

Old Kitty, but, but, they broke my nails! ;)

Denise, erm, spring weather here in SYdney has turned cold and wet. It's good for writing though. And yes!! I love handwriting too.

Trisha, my guess is that if you did go back to a typewriter, the novelty would wear off somewhat quickly ;)

Nick, yes, it's something we often take for granted, but it's such a blessing to be able to read and write.

Shah, congrats on your first NaNo and being close to completion!

Thank you everyone for your comments. And may you all have a wonderful thanksgiving and a great weekend.

Stacy S. Jensen said...

Thankful for my family and friends. Technology is a great one to be thankful for (www.writerunboxed.com had a post on Wednesday where an author talked about being thankful and noted some technology changes too). I appreciate your posts too. I try to avoid putting a random "thanks" on a post, but today - i guess I'm allowed.

Peggy Eddleman said...

I am so grateful for computers, too! Can you even imagine how tough editing would be back in the day? And right along with that, the Internet, because not only does it make research easier, but it brings me you guys! Contact with other writers is completely invaluable.

And thanks so much for the shout out! I got a little choked up when I saw that.

Joanne said...

Oh, gosh! I am so grateful to be alive and for having a roof over my head! And very very grateful to be given the time and energy to write, alas, in my older age! Haha.

I shudder at the thought of hammering out my novel on a typewriter today, but like Kitty says, some masterpieces were created from those clunky machines. Lest we forget. :)

Wonderful about your Nano progress! Only five days left! Yikes. I have 10,000 words to go ...

Maeve Frazier said...

Yay! I'm thankful, too!

Rachna Chhabria said...

I am grateful for all the things you mentioned. I am also grateful for my readers and blog buddies like you and the rest of the writing community with whom I have forged a strong bond across continents.

Neurotic Workaholic said...

I'm thankful that I was so bad at sports that I had no choice but to write. Seriously, though, I'm thankful for other writers who inspire me to write, because reading their work always makes me feel good.

anthony stemke said...

Hey now, they have electric typewriters don't they? OK, just kidding. I agree with all you say, and am thankful to read your posts for the information.

Anonymous said...

I'm thankful for the same.

I remember typewriters...I can't imagine finishing a novel on those.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Carol Riggs said...

That is an awesome list. Ditto to all those to-be-thankful-for things! Wow, I remember writing stories on a typewriter, back in high school...and in college too! The ribbon kept floating around, so sometimes I had letters that were half black and red (it was a multi-colored ribbon). Ah, the good old days. NOT. ;o)

Arlee Bird said...

I agree with all of those. And I'm also really thankful for computers and word programs. Those typewriter days are one of the things that kept me from writing very much to submit anywhere when I was younger.

Lee
Enjoy my delightful interview with Susan Kane on
Wrote By Rote Saturday 11/26

Anonymous said...

I too am thankful for those things.
I'm behind with my NaNo writing... but will catch up no doubt.
xx

Connie Arnold said...

Love your post, Lynda, and I agree with all those things!

Dawn Kurtagich said...

I'm especially grateful for computers as well! Imagine writing a novel on a typewriter and having to write it several times on that thing. Whew. We have it so easy!

Christine Rains said...

What a great list! I'm grateful for those things too. I use to write on a typewriter. I can't imagine it these days even though I've kept the typewriter!

Nick said...

I'm thankful for a dream and a desire, and also for an amazing community of online writers that I had no knowledge of for so long :)

Amie Kaufman said...

Oh, I love YA SF! One of my favourite things to write. I'm thankful for computers as well. I can't conceive of writing with a typewriter, especially given that my collaborator's in the US!

Romance Reader said...

Hi Lynda,

I'm thankful for all these things too and for all my lovely friends!

Congratulations, you won the Nina Jade Singer giveaway- SECRETS OF THE KNIGHT- on Romance Reader!

Please contact nina@ ninasinger. com regarding your win!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Looks like I have some catching up to do after the weekend ;)

Stacy, even though I'm not super great with new tech, I'm deeply grateful for it.

Peggy, and think of all that paper wastage!! ;) (and another huge congrats to you!)

Joanne, grat things to be grateful for. Thanks :)

Workaholic, hehehe, yeah, I'm terrible at sports too ;)

Carol, hahaha I remember those ribbons!

Lee, yep, they held me back as well until my brother bought a microbee with a word processing program. It was awesome!!!

Amie, having a collaborator in the US would be impossible with out today's tech. Yay!

Romance, oh wow! Thanks so much! Super exciting!

Anonymous said...

nice post! thanks for sharing... God bless you...

Dr. Mohamed said...

I'm thankful for the opportunity to express myself in a cultural environment that won't hang or stone me for it.

Betty Alark said...

Writing is an arena where I can go and empty "me" out! That type of release free's me up and takes me to a higher level!

Writing is a sounding board for me-the good thing about that is not having to unload on anyone else!

Writing is opportunity! opportunity to practice and become better!


Writing reaches out to others!

Writing is a means of expression!

Those are the things that I am thankful for in writing!!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Mohamed, that truly is something to be grateful for.

Betty, wow, all fantastic!