Writing can be a lonely and it can be illusive. To help with the lonely part, writers will find communities of like-minded authors to surround themselves with (physically and virtually - especially now!) For illusive, those of us that are a bit more superstitious than we may like to admit, will find small trinkets that become our muses.
Every year for the past couple years I have participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) where
authors will attempt to write 50,000 words in a single month. I belong to a regional group in Omaha for support from fellow writers throughout the month. We are known as the Omaha Writers League (Yep - that means we are OWLs!) and we help to keep each other accountable for our goals. This year at our kickoff I chose my muse - meet Horatio, my adorable owl muse.
Horatio has followed me everywhere this month, from my office desk to the geysers in Yellowstone National Park. Everywhere I have gone to write Horatio has been there with me. He has watched me with those piercing eyes, reminding me I have a goal to publish my full length novel early next year and if I don’t keep on schedule, I will not be able to achieve those goals in the time line I set.
So, this morning as I sat at my desk preparing for my day of writing I realized this is Horatio’s first Thanksgiving here at my home. My two older kiddos are now adults (!) and living their own lives, unable to make it home to be with us. But that small muse sitting on my desk reminds me how much I have to be thankful for.
I am thankful my family is happy and healthy even if they cannot be physically here with us, I am grateful I have a husband who loves to bake and is preparing the dough for our Thanksgiving Pizzas as I type this out. I am incredibly privileged to have the ability to do what I love every day.
Here’s wishing you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving, whatever form it may take this year!