Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Thanksgiving for Writers

I'm thankful that I'm a writer.

I'm thankful I have fans.

I'm thankful I can make a money at this, and that people actually pay me for my words.

I'm thankful for the support of fellow writers.

I'm thankful every time I see my name on a book spine, on a byline, in an interview, or on a blurb.

I'm thankful that I'm slightly less neurotic than I was last year.

I'm thankful for my publishers and my agents.

I'm thankful my family and friends support my dream.

I'm thankful I have the opportunity to help newbies get what I've got.

I'm thankful for my creativity.

I'm thankful my career is going well.

I'm thankful for booksellers and librarians.

I'm thankful for those who want to review me, interview me, and publicize me.

I'm thankful that the writing is still its own reward.

------------------

If you can't find anything to be thankful for, why are you still in this business?

When things get tough, remember how lucky you are. Also remember that no one is forcing you to do this.

You take out what you put in.

Happy Thanksgiving.

10 comments:

  1. Happy Thanksgiving, Joe!

    ReplyDelete
  2. And I am also thankful for this blog, Joe.

    ReplyDelete
  3. as I am and for the help you've give me...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy Thanksgiving, Joe!

    Even though we're in Connemara we always celebrate the day ... so Jean and I went shopping today: the turkey, the sweet potatoes, the creamed onions ... and of course there was a Priscilla Mullins ( well - close enough to Mullan ) on the Mayflower ..

    Enjoy the day!
    Slan,
    Pat.


    ..and this is for those native Americans who served that first turkey:




    SAVAGES



    When I first saw you, you were a painted savage
    riding down on the circled wagons,


    your arrows showering death,
    scalps like medals on your belt.


    We cheered in that cinema when the bugle sounded,
    and the cavalry rode to the rescue


    and you ran away leaving
    your dead face down on the ground.


    I met you again in the Zane Grey westerns of my teens
    and later watched you die in The Last of the Mohicans


    and, even later, when my romance with America began
    Geronimo and Cochise were legends in your land


    In my seven years in Florida your Miccosukees taught me well
    and showed me how the Seminoles survived their hell


    forging a separate life, salting their hearts and
    soldering their souls forever to tree and stump and hammock.


    No Hollywood lies can ever destroy the dignity of Sitting Bull

    or paint a savage mind from the words of Chief Seattle


    the ashes of my ancestors are sacred
    and their resting place is hallowed ground


    I weep today when I think of you, Choctaws,
    forced out of your rich Mississippi land


    thousands dying on your Trail of Tears to Oklahoma,
    burned by the roadside, ground too frozen to bury you


    yet, only sixteen years later, when we were dying,
    from famine, in our thousands by the roadside


    you sent us $710 and whatever corn and food you could spare,
    which makes me wonder about all that we share


    maybe your Kowi anukasha, your playful little people, belong to
    the same world as our own little people, our leprechauns


    and maybe your spirit Ishkitini that warns of death
    can hear the wailing of our own banshee.


    Pat Mullan

    ReplyDelete
  5. We all have so much to be thankful for, as writers and otherwise.

    Have a great one!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous10:35 PM

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

    I've got another video of me regarding my latest round to query 450 literary agents.

    I received one positive response two days ago from an agent at ICM from the first round of 42, and I got the manuscript out to him right away.

    Very cool, man. Very cool.

    Stacey

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous11:54 AM

    I'm also thankful that I'm allowed to lurk here and glean what I can from your experience. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous1:53 PM

    I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

    I am thankful for you and all of the authors I learn so much from. Blessing to you all.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for the comment! Joe will get back to you eventually. :)