This is the part of Thanksgiving where I make everyone set down the turkey and the sweet potatoes for a second and go around the table and say what we’re thankful for. I guess this means I’ve officially become my mom.
What are you thankful for in the publishing/writing world?
I am very thankful for my amazing agent and editor for believing in me, my awesome and talented colleagues, my incredible clients, and of course YOU, for reading the blog and teaching me so much.
What about you?
Miss Tammy says
I am thankful that writers, agents, and publishers are keeping quality YA books on the shelves. It makes my job of getting teenagers to read much easier.
stephanie says
I am immensely thankful for my virtual writing partner Rachel Green, who provides me with daily reading pleasure and whose skill has helped me better my own. Aside from Rachel, I am grateful for my writing group, the many talented authors in the world who delight my senses with their prose, and the agents and editors who blog so generously to our benefit.
Happy Thanksgiving, Nathan.
Marsha Sigman says
For the stories. The ones that have changed my life, made me laugh hysterically, and weep with despair.
Thank you for making the world a better place for even a few hours.
Yat-Yee says
Okay, Mom, here it is: I am thankful for the writing community, to know I am part of a group who shares my passion for word and stories.
Marybeth Poppins says
For my life, and for it being nothing like it was two years ago!
THAT alone is something to be thankful for 🙂
Jared X says
Verbs. We couldn't complete the sentences we write without them. I'm also thankful for nouns, but I'm especially thankful for verbs.
Emily White says
I'm thankful for the wealth of information about writing that the internet offers and for all the great writing communities available to make this lonely business not feel so lonely.
Jeni says
I'm thankful for the generosity of writers who support each other in all aspects of writing and publishing.
MzMannerz says
It's probably already been said, but books. I love to read. I'm thankful for everyone who makes that possible!
Have a great Thanksgiving.
Anonymous says
Im thankful for my wonderful daughter who has her nose shoved in a book more often than me. And for her father for knowing that there is bonding in the silence. And for the courage that found me sitting in front of a blank screen, earning to free these stories from my mind.
DG says
I am thankful for my wife, who listens tirelessly to yet another rewrite, having been convinced that it's so much better than the last version, so much better in fact that it will be like she's never heard the passage before. She listens, and she smiles, and agrees it's better.
And thank you too, Nathan, for all your effort.
Sarah Allen says
I'm grateful for:
-Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'
-Egg nog
-The smell of old books
-A break from school
-Words.
(my creative writing blog)
Rick Daley says
I'm thankful that so many in the online writing community are willing to share their time and experiences to help others progress toward their individual goals.
Thanks everyone, I've learned a lot from you. And Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.
Stacy McKitrick says
I'm thankful for my husband, who has put up with me talking about my book non-stop (he's not into romance). But maybe that's because he's got $$ in his eyes (must let him down gently).
I'm also thankful for my daughter, who gave me hope that my writing was better than I thought it was.
Happy Thanksgiving All!
Kristi says
I am thankful for – this blog and its fabulous community, my wonderful critique group members, my supportive hubby and family, and all the blogs out there dedicated to writers and writing. Happy Thanksgiving!
Lucy says
I'm thankful for the opportunity to write: it frightens me to think how much I would have lost to be born in a culture where women are not valued as human beings. Having a voice is a privilege.
Amy says
In the writing world, I am thankful for my husband — I could not be doing this without him. My dream as a child was to be an author, but I gave that up for something "more practical". I've read comments from so many authors who cannot financially support themselves with their writing. Because of my husband, I don't have to worry about that – at least for now. It's because of him that I can pursue my childhood dream.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Renee Collins says
I'm thankful for my twin sister, who genuinely, unflinchingly believes in my writing.
Misssy M says
I'm not even American but since you ask I'm bloody grateful for the Australian publishing company who just offered me a contract for my book. Wahey, Australians get me! At last someone does!
So grateful that I'm beginning to speak like an Aussie- did you see that there?
Happy thanksgiving to all celebrating it- never give up, people.
Marilyn Peake says
What a sweet post, and such a nice invitation to step back and remember what we’re thankful for in the publishing/writing world. I’m thankful for so much…
For this blog. I don’t know if you realize, Nathan, exactly how special this blog is, and we probably don’t thank you enough. Not only are your posts interesting and filled with wonderful information, but you allow a level of rigorous debate difficult to find elsewhere on the Internet, demanding only that contributors be polite to each other. Like many others here, I look forward to this blog every day.
I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity to work with incredibly talented people in the writing community, and to be able to meet them through the Internet. I looked at Alan Rinzler’s blog after you mentioned him here on your blog. I contacted him and he agreed to read my novel, GODS IN THE MACHINE. He wrote back that I’m a "good writer with some very interesting ideas" and he’s agreed to work with me on editing. We’re going to begin working together after the new year, and I’m both very thankful and very excited about this!
I’m thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had in the small press world to publish, submit my work for review and enter contests. People in the small press world work long hours in order to bring non-mainstream books and stories to the world. I’m very thankful to them for their dedication.
I’m also thankful to the commenters who contribute to this blog. All of you make this such a fun, lively place. Plus you are all so nice to allow me such long posts. 🙂 I often think of this blog as everyone sitting around a dinner table having long conversations about writing and the world in general. Can you pass me the sweet potatoes please? And what do you think about that new eBook gadget?
I’m also thankful for the authors of amazing books. Right now, I’m reading BONESHAKER by Cherie Priest – Wow! What a book!
Happy Thanksgiving, to Nathan and all my fellow commenters!!
The Pollinatrix says
I'm thankful that I've shifted my focus off of getting published and rediscovered the absolute joy of writing again.
I'm especially thankful for the medium of blogging, which has proven to be rich in rewards I wouldn't have suspected when I began.
I'm also eternally thankful for the abundance of books in the world.
Nett Robbens says
I'm thankful to be a year older, and wise enough to know when to listen to people who know more than I do.
pjd says
My writing group friends, even though I've been unable to meet with them for the past six months. What wonderful people (and good writers) they are.
Blues Greene says
I'm thankful for the support of my writing group, The Guttery, (www.the guttery.com) 4 years now and going strong. For blogs of substance, like this one. For being around to see the revolution taking place in publishing. For books, readings, contests, workshops, and ideas that go "boom" in the night.
150 says
My word verification, no lie, is "binge". If you insist!
Nancy Coffelt says
I am so very thankful that I've been blessed with the opportunity to BE thankful for having such a fabulous agent and terrific editors.
If I ever even give the impression that I take any of this for granted I give the universe permission to give me a good smack down.
My word ver. is allymphr which I think would make a pretty snazzy name for a character in a fantasy novel.
My gift to the fantasy writers out there. 🙂
mlsfleming says
I'm thankful for you and K. Nelson for the astonishing education. And for screenwriter Jeff Wolfman for critique and encouragement!
Margaret Fleming
Aidan Ryan says
For my first fiction publication at Grey Sparrow Journal!
https://greysparrowpress.net/WINTERFLASHRyan.aspx
Cheryl Barker says
I love your line about officially becoming your mom 🙂
I'm thankful for fellow writers who encourage and support me in my writing efforts. Love the fellowship found with other writers.
Voidwalker says
I am thankful for those people in my life who have encouraged me to write. AND for people like YOU, Nathan, who provide people like me invaluable information through great blogging!
Jamie says
I am not in the publishing world – but I am so thankful for blogging – it helps me to meet interesting people and it helps me to look – really look at my world!!!
Susan Quinn says
I'm thankful for the freedom to pursue writing, and the amazingly supportive community of friends and colleagues I'm finding along the way.
I'm thankful to all the bloggers and commenters who share their expertise (thank you Nathan!), and make the online world such an interesting and engaging place to be!
Happy Turkey Day to everyone!
Ink – Do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving?
Mindi Scott says
I'm thankful for my agent who sold my debut novel this year, for my editor, and for everyone at the imprint who helped make it happen.
I'm also so incredibly thankful for all the other writers I've met over the years who have offered encouragement, advice, and camaraderie in this journey.
Larissa says
I just posted about this on my blog! (I think many of us did).
I am thankful for the wonderfully supportive writing community – here, on twitter, and especially the Blueboards.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Christina Davis says
I am thankful that life is filled with interesting people and stories and that we are willing to write them and read them. Words are life.
Ink says
Susan,
We do celebrate Thanksgiving, only we do it in October. As Treebeard would say, we're a very hasty folk. November is saved for… well, dreary misery. Spare turkey, anyone? Anyone? I'll even eat the leg…
Amy says
It sounds corny, but I am so thankful for my brain. No matter what is going on, even if chaos surrounds me, I can use my brain to put myself somewhere else. Sometimes it's to work on my characters, to imagine a scene, or just ponder.
And of course, I must say, books in general: I can't get enough. I have Book Acquisition Syndrome, I can't stop purchasing them. They make me feel rich!
Lastly, this blog is a great resource to be thankful for, and so is all the tubes that make up the Internet. YAY!
Jade says
I'm thankful that I started my blog and met all my cool blog-friends.
I'm thankful for my future agent. He doesn't know it yet, but I'm going to rock his world.
I'm thankful that it's summer now and not at some other random time of the year.
I'm thankful that Johnny Depp gets better looking every year.
~Ellie Kings~ says
I think I explained it best in my post today. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Jess Haines says
I'm thankful for my agent, my editor, and my beta readers. Every one of them believed in me enough to get me where I am today. Their help and thoughtful words and occasional whip cracks helped get my work where it is today. (Huzzah for Amazon and Borders.com preorders!)
Jennifer says
I'm thankful for the MFA program at George Mason and the boyfriend who is paying my tuition there.
Book Maven says
The Internet and all the lovely new technology! Google Wave, Skype, Twitter, Facebook, blogs – love 'em all.
Wanda B. Ontheshelves says
1. Jólabókaflóðið
"Every year in November, Iceland experiences what is known as jólabókaflóðið, or “the Christmas book flood”. It’s when publishers flood the market with new or [occasionally] re-released books, in time for Christmas. This is because one of the most long-standing Yule traditions in this country is to give the gift of books for Christmas – new Icelandic books, in particular."
https://tinyurl.com/yzf3r5n
2) Jólakötturinn (Yule Cat tradition, also from Iceland):
https://www.sbpoet.com/2004/12/jlaktturinn_yul.html
Melanie Avila says
I'm thankful for agents and editors who have blogs to help us writers, and for my published writer-friends who take the time to help those of us still trying to get our feet in the door.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Crystal says
I see everyone so far has left out the most important thing, so I'll just come out and say it.
I'm thankful for Chipotle.
Melissa Pearl says
I am thankful for the opportunity to write and the hope that I'll one day get published. I am also very grateful for all those great agents out there who really want to see us "newbies" succeed.
Thanks also for your hard work, Nathan. Your blog is one of my favorites.
Marilyn Peake says
Crystal, I'm eating at Chipotle with my family tonight. 🙂
I should have mentioned earlier that, as a writer, I'm very thankful for Starbucks mocha lattes and the freedom to choose as many shots of espresso as I'd like in each cup.
David Kubicek says
I'm thankful to my friends and family who put up my writer's idiosyncrasies. I'm especially thankful for my wife, Cheryl, who is my first reader and motivates me to work harder by saying things like: "You can do better."
And I'm thankful for technology. This is a great time to be a writer. Websites, blogs, and Twitter can put you in touch with as much up-to-date information in a half hour as it used to take a month to gather by writing letters and licking stamps (yep, I started out when one actually had to lick stamps).
I'm thankful also for agents who blog. This has helped me see agents as people who love books and want to help worthy books get published.
Karen McQ. says
I'm very thankful for my supportive husband,terrific kids,enthusiastic readers, Jeff Bezos, and that one of my novels was optioned for film.
AndrewDugas says
Readers.