Thankful Thursdays: Career

I've decided to start a regular feature on the blog called Thankful Thursdays. I keep reading over and over again about how the best way to feel happy and fulfilled in your life is to be thankful for the things you have so that's what we're doing. Every week will have a theme and today's is career.

This is a tricky one for me because I can easily let the voice in my head say, "What career? You're not published! What can you be thankful for?"

But being thankful is not about wanting, it's about appreciating, and sometimes you need to ignore that initial voice and dig deeper.

This is what I found I have to be thankful for in my career as a writer:

1) I am thankful for the courage to query that I've recently found. Yay, courage! Why were you hiding?

2) I am thankful for starting this blog and having the inspiration to share my thoughts with others!

3) I am thankful for all the new techniques I'm learning on how to edit a novel! And for sticking with it!

4) I am thankful to myself for staying true to my purpose, and continuing to write no matter what.

5) I am thankful for all of the wonderful agents, editors, librarians, illustrators and all people connected to writing, publishing, and helping books to reach readers and enrich people's lives.

6) I am thankful for libraries! (I think this one is self-explanatory.) And for the wonderful librarian who was at my school from Gr.6-8. She took the time to invite writers to our school and to take us on field trips to meet writers, and she generally took me and my best friend under her wing. Thank you. You changed my life.


Well, it appears that I found some stuff after all : )

What are you thankful for today?

There Is No Rejection

That is the lesson. That has been the lesson all along.

There is no rejection. 

There is only what matches and what doesn't, what works and what doesn't.

You wouldn't want an agent who doesn't completely love your book so don't even be disappointed. Be glad and thankful that you're getting closer to the agent that will love your work.

Let things be. Let things go.

The Universe is constantly working with you and has much bigger plans for you than you can initially imagine.

Listen to your intuition, your gut feeling. Let yourself be guided....

To the right agent....

To the right editor....

To the right novels to write....

Let yourself be.

Let yourself be guided...

in your first draft and in all your editing and revision:

plot

character

paragraphs

sentences

flow

rhythm


Let the Universe in. It is working with you, gently lighting up the way for you. And whenever anything feels off, it's because the Universe is showing you how to make it even better, not because you're not good enough.

You Will Be Brave

Dear Muse,

I am tired. I stayed up too late sending a query.

My eyes hurt, my brain is foggy and my fingers are having trouble finding the keys.

I don't know if there's any point in trying to write, I'm afraid it will not be any good.


Dear Writer,

I will whisper in your ear.

I will be there.

You will hear me louder because you are too tired to have as many inhibitions.

You will still write.

You will still write well.

You will be creative.

You will be brave.

Just show up every day, that is all you need to do.


With all the love in the world, and all the confidence too,

Your Lovely Muse