Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Thanksgiving for Writers

It's almost Thanksgiving, so of course that means it's time for an obligatory Thanksgiving post. I neglected to do this last year, but in my defense, it was my first Thanksgiving as a blogger and I couldn't tell a turkey from a sparrow if you roasted it in my face (pardon the terrible turkey metaphor, but it's another obligatory part of a Thanksgiving post.) It was also Thanksgivukkah, a wholly invented holiday during which American Jewish families were obliged to spend twice as long over dinner and eat twice as much as usual, all while playing dreidel, counting their blessings, and lighting candles, in order to satisfy the requirements of both Thanksgiving and Hanukkah, so I was far too busy making room in my stomach for mashed potatoes and potato latkes to write my obligatory Thanksgiving post last year.

As a result, I now have to write a post that's twice as good as usual, to make up for it. But don't worry, I won't make it twice as long, because as we all know, I have brevity problems, and we'd still be here next Thanksgiving if I did. 

I decided that this obligatory post should be about writing, because the title says it should be. Also, I've been far too serious and sentimental in my recent posts, and it's time to get really serious and write about serious writer things. Without further adieu, I present the list of Writerly Things For Which I Am Grateful:
  1. Fun with Grammar: I'm a writer, so I get to be pretentious about grammar, and say things like "the list of writerly things for which I am grateful" instead of "a list of writerly things I'm grateful for," even though the latter choice sounds better and is less awkward, and might actually be more correct.
  2. Fun with Language: Similar to #1, being a writer entitles me to pontificate at length whilst utilizing a magnificent and multifarious montage of words, and to indulge in the pleasure of the occasional alliterative diversion. Of course, I might sound like a jerk doing it, but that doesn't make it any less fun. 
  3. Confidence: Writers work with supreme confidence; it's one of the pleasures of the job. I've never met a writer who suffers from a lack of confidence. That's why we all take part in the Secure Writer's Support Group once a month, to remind each other to be humble. 
  4. Sarcasm and Satire: I also get to use tools like irony, humor, sarcasm, and satire in my writing, and say the opposite of what I actually mean. This tool also works quite well in real life. 
  5. Reading Is My Job: This might be the biggest perk of being a writer, and one that, #4 aside, I am profoundly grateful for (for which I am profoundly grateful?): I have to read. No, really. Check any blog or book that gives writing advice, talk to any agent or editor, and they will all say the same thing: you have to read if you want to write. Since I was the child who had to be forced to put her book down and play outside, this requirement isn't exactly a burden.
I could go on, but I did promise to let you go before Christmas, so I'll leave my list with just one more writerly item I'm grateful for: you. Thank you for stopping by, giving my blog some of your time, leaving a thought or an idea or even just a wave, and making me part of your life. I appreciate it!!

What's on your gratitude list this year?  Leave a couple of items in the comments!

20 comments:

  1. I have so much to be thankful for I'd be here all day. My Lord and Savior. Family. First Grand-Baby. Friends. Health. Food. Water. Air. Birds Singing....on and on....

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING, LIZ!!!

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  2. I have so much work to do for tomorrow but I'm so happy I stopped by and had a good laugh before I got started. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  3. This is an utterly, delightful post of which I am decidedly grateful. #3 was the most awesome.

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  4. #3 was fantastic, especially since it was followed by #4 .Happy Thanksgiving!

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  5. Things I'm grateful for (writing edition): 1. My writer friends. Hmm, I seem to be stuck at 1. Three rejections in a row makes it difficult to see the bright side. But I AM glad we don't have to do Thanksgiving and Hanukkah at the same time again this year. Instead, we get to do my birthday and Hanukkah . . . Yay?

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  6. You had me scratching my head at number three there for a minute. ;)

    Have a great holiday!

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  7. I'm grateful I still have a full time job that allows me the luxury of writing in my spare time. Of course, this limits my writing time, but my family insists on eating!

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  8. The biggest perk of being a writer really is reading. How lucky are we?

    Happy Thanksgiving, Liz!!!! :D

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  9. We are grateful for you, too, Liz! Your passion for grammar makes me "sigh." lol I can be hard on myself at times, especially when I've written a blog and catch mistakes long after. But when it comes to my books, I try to zero in on my grammar as much as possible.
    I absolutely adored when you wrote, "Being a writer entitles me to pontificate at length whilst utilizing a magnificent and multifarious montage of words, and to indulge in the pleasure of the occasional alliterative diversion." I literally gained two new words from reading this incredible sentence!
    As for what I am grateful for... I am grateful for all of the wonderful authors and friends who I have connected with ever since I started this career. We accept each other for who we are and offer some of the best guidance out there. This is such an amazing community of writers here and I am blessed to have you all in my life.

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  10. I love how you pontificate! Keeping doing it as it's fun to read. I am thankful for all my new blogger friends or for cherished family and friends

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  11. Totally with you on fun with language. ^_^ My co-workers have gotten used to me spontaneously spouting metaphors when we're supposed to be discussing work-related stuff. Whether they understand me, I'm still not sure, but it's fun.

    And I'm ridiculously thankful to have you as a CP. ^_^ Really looking forward to your book, whenever you declare it ready, and hoping you won't mind reading my stuff again someday.

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  12. Happy Thanksgiving, Liz! Have a good one, sounds like you're already on your way. :)

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  13. You're right: we do have to read. And as a bonus, we enjoy it, too. I'm thankful for my job, which gives me 3 months a year to fully devote to writing. This past week off has been very productive and restful, to boot.

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  14. Hee hee hee heeee! Such fun over here.

    I'm finally done with the week long celebration of Thanksgiving. Is it bad form to be thankful for Thanksgiving to finally be over?

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  15. I love your posts. Filled with such wit and personality. Oh, if I could only write like you! :) Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgivikkuh! (Boy, I need to look that up for spelling). LOL

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  16. Too funny! Definitely thankful for #1 on your list. Hope you had a terrific Thanksgivukkah:)

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  17. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Fun post!

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  18. I love catching up with old friends! Love the stuff for which you're grateful. Yes, we sound like pretentious snobs when we write grammatically correct, don't we? Love that, too!

    Hope you had a great T'giving. I'm going to read your Dec. post, now. :)

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  19. great post! Hope your Thanksgiving was amazing! On my gratitude list would be that we just found out yesterday my dad's bone marrow test can back clean, and he's cancer free 18 months now! :) also, my Penny Belle. Because she gives kitten snuggles that I love!

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    1. oh and I TOTALLY forgot how we had Hanukkah and Thanksgiving fall at once last year! I like when it's late Dec the way it will be this year much better!

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