The Top 10 Things Writers Are Thankful For

While writing may feel like a solitary pursuit, it takes more than one author to get a book or piece published. We all have that model of Real Writer, usually hermit-like, who works at his mahogany desk for hours every day, churning out copious numbers of pages. He then sends the finished manuscript on to his agent, and - voila! - the book is published.

It takes a group effort to get a book published, and it's the savvy author who surrounds herself with a team, and who is thankful for said team.

1. Editors. Some writers are great self-editors; some aren't. Even if you are a great editor, don't trust your eyes to review your precious baby. You're too close to it. Instead, bless those amazing people with good editing eyes!
2. Friends and family who support you. Occasionally, it *is* helpful to hear, "So how's that book coming along?"
3. Social media. You can find even more people who are actually excited that you're a writer. You can ask questions, do research, or just celebrate the fact that you wrote 1000 words today.
4. Computers. Even if you write by hand sometimes or all the time, eventually that piece gets put into a word processing tool. Be grateful for the speed of a keyboard and sometimes-helpful Microsoft spelling tools.
5. Great resources. There are hundreds of writing resources, everything from how to develop characters to how to market children's stories. You don't have to be an expert on every writing strategy, and, as with all art, every craftsperson should be working on his craft.
6. Great writers who have led the way, provide inspiration, and are models for writing that connects. You have your list of favorite authors, those whose writing you admire and drool over. You remember those books and stories that moved you to tears and inspired you to move others to tears.
7. The world - for its variety of inspiration - from the overheard (sorry!) conversation on the metro to cool, vanity license plates.
8. The ability to take the millions of words available to us and put them in some sort of order that has impact and meaning - and conveying that meaning to people who aren't even in the same room. While everyone can write, if you're drawn to writing and you have some skill, be very thankful for that. Words are powerful, and be grateful for your ability to wield that power.
9. Creativity. It 's lovely when it strikes. Just remember that creativity, like everything else, goes in cycles. It's not an always-on technology. Follow your creative energy and acknowledge how grateful you are for it.
10. Readers who read what you write. Without readers, there would be no writers.

May we all be thankful writers.