For This Season of Gratitude, Ten Things I'm Grateful For:
Writers, artists, actors, song writers, musicians, dancers, film makers, all people who take the risk of working to create something new from their heart and spend the time and effort (and money) necessary to develop their craft.
Readers, listeners, audiences, museumgoers, all people who take the time to fill their own wells with stories and music and art and film and great television and to appreciate looking at visions of the world through other people’s eyes and ears and talents.
First readers of the “shitty first drafts” and the encouragement they provide anxious writers to keep working on a story.
Critique group partners who nurture a story in its many and various stages.
Beta readers who take time out of their busy lives to read and offer honest feedback, a crucial part of the process of improving a story.
Editors, from those who have that uncanny skill of being able to see the story’s big picture and point out crucial missing elements or issues that need tweaking, to those who examine each and every line with a magnifying glass to make sure it’s just as it should be.
This wild new world of publishing that has eliminated so many gatekeepers and allowed so many new writers to share their stories with the world. And the same parallels in the music world, where new song writers are sharing their songs.
Audiobook narrators! What a treat to hear a story read aloud by talented actors who manage to create distinct voices for each character and offer their own unique interpretation of a story, so much that the narration itself becomes its own work of art.
Book stores and the people who run them and work in them and offer guidance to buyers. Years ago, I stopped by a bookstore to buy “The Hunger Games,” which I’d heard so much about. The bookseller asked if I’d like to buy the whole trilogy and I said no, I’d just see how I liked the first one. She said, “Okay. See you tomorrow.” And sure enough, I was back the next day.
Libraries and librarians. Where to even begin: these keepers of knowledge and truth and access and history, these creators and protectors of safe spaces, community centers, multi-generational hubs, these sharers of every kind of story and resource. Some of the most important people and places in the world. Thank you.