Grand Rapids, Michigan in the summertime is a lovely place. I know this because I spent a wonderful three days there this past August. At the time, I was halfway through a six-month book proposal writing course and was in Grand Rapids to meet with seven other writers in the group and our instructor, Chad Allen.
As a writer, blogger, speaker, and former acquisitions editor with over twenty years in the publishing industry, Chad has a wealth of knowledge and insight into writing and publishing. Even better, he’s one of the kindest and most modest people I’ve come to know.
(True story: I first heard about Chad several years ago … I came across his name on the internet, along with his bio and tips on writing a book proposal. Thought to myself: What I wouldn’t give to work with someone like that! Fast forward to last Fall when I heard Chad being interviewed on a podcast. I learned that he had started his own book coaching business, then I subscribed to his blog and signed onto one of his courses. In April 2019, I was accepted into his book proposal writing program. I think when something’s meant to be, God has a way of getting us there.)
In Grand Rapids, our merry and passionate group of writers experienced a bit of a transformation—from writers who feel they have a book inside of them, to writers who feel they must get their books written and out into the world. Not because of an ego-driven need to be published, but because of a sincere desire to find and help that one person (although I’m sure a publisher would prefer many more than that) who needs the message our book provides.
Within our small group of writers, we have helped one another believe that we can each do this—make a difference in the world through the words we write. We have supported and championed one another, and now, three months after gathering in Grand Rapids, we are each close to having a finished book proposal. One person from our group is already working with a publisher.
There’s still much work ahead for us all. For me, that includes completing a manuscript. But thanks to Chad and the Grand Rapids Eight, I’m about to scale the book proposal writing mountain, which not long ago felt too tall to climb. It’s a fitting time of year to be thankful for that.
The benefits of being in this community of writers are so clear to me. Anyone who’s a part of a supportive community knows the feeling—of being understood, of being able to leave so much unspoken (but, often, we say it anyway because it’s comforting to know others feel the same way), of hearing someone say, as we’ve constantly heard from Chad, “every step matters.”
It all got me thinking.
It got me thinking about how incredibly fortunate I am to be part of a community … to receive the support in my endeavors of, not just one, but many individuals.
To have the strong, undying support of even one person in anything we do is a blessing. Any more than that is an embarrassment of riches. Which leads me to all of you.
When I started my email newsletter in January of this year, there were some people who didn’t have a choice as to whether they would be added to my newsletter mailing list; my husband, kids, mother, sister, brother, and in-laws were my first “subscribers.” Then I sent out a batch of invitations to friends and more family to sign up. Before long, I had twenty-five, fifty, then seventy-five subscribers. My list of subscribers (the glorious group of all of you) has more than doubled—to just over two hundred—in the past six months. The list continues to grow.
I say that, not with a swelled head, but, with a heart humbled by your generosity—of support, spirit, time, comments … simply your graciousness in allowing me to drop into your inbox every two weeks and share my thoughts and stories. To any writer, including me, that’s huge; it truly means the world.
Writing is typically a solitary undertaking. Even when writing in Starbucks or some other coffee shop, I’m in my own little world, wearing earbuds and hunkered down over my notebook and laptop.
As I write, I am alone with my words, but motivated by a message I wish to share.
As I write this newsletter, I think of you.
As I write, you are with me.
I couldn’t be more thankful.
My wish for each of you this Thanksgiving—especially those who are grieving, or anyone who’s feeling lonely or a bit short of hope—is a sense of peace and of being loved. My hope is that you find both here.
(Photo by Mikhail Pavstyuk on Unsplash)
Thank you for reading my blog! Please feel free to share it with family and friends.
Tess
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