20 Ways to Celebrate Your Writing Talents

“20 Ways to Celebrate Your Writing Talents” by Joan Y. Edwards

Here are 20 ways you can celebrate your writing talents.

1. Join other writers in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)

2. Join other writers in Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo)

3. Invite another writer friend to eat lunch with you at your home or at a nearby restaurant. Read the first page or first 1000 words of each other’s manuscript.

4. Respect yourself as a writer.  Submit one of your manuscripts before the end of next month.

You Have the Essentials for Submitting: Go for it. 

Step 1 Get work critiqued, revised, printed, and proofed.

Step 2 Choose the publisher, editor, agent, or contest for this writing project.

Step 3 Write the pitch, query letter, cover letter, resume, bio, and/or proposal as required by the guidelines of the editor, agent, or contest you chose for submission this time.

Step 4 Proof and Send your pitch, query letter, cover letter, resume, bio, and/or proposal as required by the guidelines of the editor, agent, or contest you chose for submission this time.

5. Put little sticky notes on your computer or file cabinet that compliment you on your accomplishments. They can be silly or serious, but they have to mean something to you. You want them to encourage you.

  • I wrote for 15 minutes today.

  • I figured out the pitch for a new novel.

  • I brought an old manuscript out of cold storage.

6. Respect your time to write. Set aside at least 10-15 minutes a day to write.

7. If you receive a rejection, send the rejected manuscript out to a different editor or agent within 7 days.

8. If you receive a reply that is not a form letter, have a party, dinner, or special dessert to celebrate getting closer to publication.

9. One day a week, do something that doesn’t have to do with writing, just because it’s fun for you.

10. Make yourself a certificate. Print out the words and decorate it with crayons, markers, or stickers. Frame it and hang it on the wall.

11. If your writing group meets in person, have a ceremony to celebrate each member’s completed manuscript.

12. Pray and thank God for your many talents every morning and every night, especially for your writing.

13. Give yourself a money reward for completing a manuscript, revising a manuscript, setting aside time to write, or submitting a manuscript to an editor or agent. It can be as little as a penny or as large an amount as you deem appropriate.

14. Buy a special gift for you. For instance, if you like hats, buy or design yourself a new hat each time you finish a manuscript. Have the design be one that the main character might wear.

15. If you know that a writer friend has submitted a manuscript, send them a snail mail or an email card. Encouragement may help them travel farther down the path to success at being published.

16. Go to a movie.

17. Visit a museum.

18. Call an old friend.

19. Cook your favorite meal.

20. Imagine what a character in your book would do when she was bored, tired, or excited.  Do it. Write down your feelings before, during, and after.

Celebrating is part of thankfulness and excitement to help you achieve your publication goals.  Develop unwavering faith.

Even with complications and obstacles, the vision of success in your mind, the excitement of getting it, your thankfulness, and your action toward it will create the reality for you.

Thank you for reading and for subscribing to my blog. I now have 51 subscribers. Hip Hip Hooray. If you haven’t subscribed, it would make me smile if you did. Sign up for an email subscription from the left hand column. Thank you for reading my blog.

Celebrate You Right Now
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
Copyright © 2011 Joan Y. Edwards

8 thoughts on “20 Ways to Celebrate Your Writing Talents”

  1. Hi Joan,

    This post is full of terrific ideas. One of my favorites is one I have done–enjoy a one-on-one critique over lunch (#3). I loved the use of “cold storage” (#5) for a manuscript written long ago that is pulled out for revision. #13 suggests paying yourself for a completed manuscript. That’s a winner. Whether it sells or not you get paid! 🙂
    #15 suggests supporting and encouraging a friend with a card or email. All great ones. Thanks for encouraging us to keep writing and to encourage others to do the same.

    1. Dear Linda, You’re welcome for my encouraging you to keep writing and to encourage others to do the same. I’m glad you’ve used one or more of the suggestions. That’s true, if you pay yourself for a completed manuscript, you’re a winner and you get paid regardless of whether it sells or not. It’s good you liked the term “cold storage” for a manuscript written long ago and pulled out for revision. I thought it might bring a few chuckles. Thanks for writing. You and others who leave comments make my blog more interesting.

      Add Color to Your Life

      Play. Laugh. Smile. Joan Y. Edwards

  2. Hi Joan,

    This is a wonderful, uplifting post. I really like the idea of meeting a fellow writer friend for lunch and critiquing each others work. And, I like the silly/serious sticky note idea too. I will use both ideas starting today. Thanks for sharing

    1. Dear Karen,
      I’m glad that this post uplifted your spirits. I know your friend is going to enjoy meeting with you. I’m glad you liked the silly/serious sticky note idea, too. Enjoy your day being your sweet self.
      Never Give Up
      Joan Y. Edwards

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