Bring on the Holidays!
  December 14, 2011  |    Author:  admin

~ By Chris Bailey

Because writing is the method that orders my thoughts—my form of quiet meditation—I’m thankful for this opportunity to post. Because back-to-back major holidays demand a little time apart. A little reflection. A little time to ponder the big questions. A little list of reasons to be thankful for all this, despite the stress.

I’m thankful for the gift of writing. Because addressing my own goals, motivations and conflicts (sometimes) prevents me from blurting out random thoughts without regard for the consequences.

I’m thankful that my characters can play out dramatic scenes, heedless of the potential impact of their words.

I’m thankful for friends and family and this season set aside for gathering. Because it’s their anxieties and antics that provide an unlimited supply of plots and characters for the rest of the year!

I’m thankful for Chick Lit Writers of the World and RWA. Because it’s my fellow writers who understand that writing is not a self-indulgent hobby. It’s a gift, a calling and a terminal condition. I’ve tried to quit a half dozen times, but without the prop of written words I fail to maintain a sense of balance.

Happy Holidays, y’all! Shop, light candles and gather together! Make merry! And make a bit of quiet time to write.

~ Chris Bailey’s writing for hire has appeared online, in numerous U.S. newspapers and in mailboxes across the U.S. and Canada.