A Season of Gratitude
November 2024 Newsletter
Shalom fellow word painters!
Starting with the Feast of Sukkot, and continuing through Thanksgiving, the fall season bursts with a sense of reflection and gratitude. This year is absolutely no exception, and as I reflect on the events of the last two years, I see how full of blessings not only my creative life is, but also how much I have to be thankful for in my personal journey.
Writing, in particular, offers many gifts and blessings. It’s a sometimes-difficult calling, full of the joys of creativity and discovery and the lows of publishing snags, the stumble of writer’s block, and the plague of self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Yet through all the ups and downs, gratitude is a powerful anchor. Gratitude keeps us focused, and reminds us why we started, why we keep going, and keeps the joy and wonder alive as it reminds us of what makes us writers in the first place.
Not only in this season, but in all the seasons of my life, I want to focus on the art and practice of gratitude. Not only for my successes, and thrills of writing, but also for the readers, mentors, and fellow writers that make this journey possible and worthwhile. As authors, we often measure success by goals met, word counts, deadlines, or reader reviews, but maybe, just maybe, in the practice of gratitude, we can also learn to measure it by the moments of joy, growth in the struggles, connection, and fulfillment that come from pursuing our passion! As Melody Beattie so beautifully put it: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.”
May this season bring you moments of quiet gratitude, and a renewed love for the words and stories that you birth into this world!
Gratitude As a Writing Practice
This November, I am so excited to share the theme of my current WIP, Counting Stars: Finding Joy Through Gratitude! As writers, we often focus on productivity, especially during the month of November as we take on our National Novel Writing Month challenges. However, it is the quiet moments of gratitude that give true joy to our creative journey. As I have been working on Counting Stars, the practice of gratitude has begun to permeate every aspect of my life as natural as breathing. It has been an amazing experience seeing how just the simple action of true gratitude can enrich our lives, increases our resilience, and brings unexpected joys, even on the days when everything seems to be going wrong!
So as authors, how can we practice gratitude and thankfulness in a way that cultivates joy and light for ourselves and others?
Keep a Gratitude Journal - Begin or end each writing session, or your day, by jotting down at least one thing that you’re grateful for today! This might be a new idea, the simple joys you experienced in the day, or something or someone that has encouraged you.
Celebrate the small wins - Every step forward in life and writing is worth celebrating. Take a moment to appreciate and acknowledge even the smallest progress you are making. Use it to motivate you to take the next step in new confidence!
Appreciate your support network - From family and friends to fellow a writers, influencers and publishing professionals, expressing gratitude to those who support you can deepen your connections and bring more joy to your, and their day! Take a moment to send someone a note or text of appreciation for their presence in your life. Post a note or give something back on your social media pages in appreciation to your audience. Use gratitude to kindle a spark of light in someone else’s day!
Do you have ways that you practice gratitude in your life? Please share them with us!
Counting Stars is a project very close to my heart, and I look forward to sharing more about it with you in the coming months. For now, let’s use this season to nurture our creative spirits, create a practice and habit of gratitude in our daily lives, and find joy in the journey, one thankful step at a time!
In our digital age, we are no longer just writers; we’re also the voices behind our work, bridging the gap between our stories and our readers. The Author Platform Roadmap: The DIY Author’s Guide to Building Your Unique Brand is a resource created with this in mind. Designed to empower authors to create an authentic connection with their readers, this guide focuses on building a platform that not only serves its purpose to sell your books, but also reflects your unique voice without compromising your values.
In The Author Platform Roadmap, I explore how showing gratitude and being genuinely present can deepen the connection with your audience. Gratitude isn’t just a practice; it is also a way to foster trust, breathe warmth into your brand, and build lasting relationships with your audience. Whether you’re just starting to build your platform or looking to strengthen it, this guide will guide you through the process.
If you’re interested in aligning your brand with a heartfelt approach, I encourage you to explore The Author Platform Roadmap. It’s my way of supporting fellow authors in creating a platform that not only serves to support their work, but also creates a genuine sense of community and appreciation.
To learn more about this resource, please visit my website!
Final Thoughts
As we enter the last two months of the year, take a few moments to appreciate all you’ve achieved, big and small. Living a creative life is a brave act - baring your soul and sharing your words with the world is nothing to scoff at, and every word you’ve put onto paper is a testament to your passion, persistence, and creativity.
This season, I encourage you to reflect on what you’re grateful for in your writing journey. Maybe it’s the joy of seeing an idea burst into life, the connection with readers who find themselves immersed in your story worlds, or just the thrill of learning and growing as a writer. No matter what drives you, gratitude brings us back to the very heart of why we write, reminding us that each and every word, thought expressed, and hero’s journey has value.
May your month be full of gratitude, inspiration, and countless moments worth celebrating!
Shalom!
