Lisa Tener

Book Writing Coach

Thanksgiving

Thankful in 2022!

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Perhaps you’re familiar with my tradition of blogging my gratitude list this time of year. I feel especially grateful for our writing community—and that means you!

Gratitude to You

Here are a few things and people I’m grateful for:

Book coach Lisa Tener
  • My journaling practice. I started my list last year with journaling as well. I often begin by writing what I remember of my dreams, followed by other journaling. This often leads me to work on one of several books (a little ADD) or a blog post. Journaling often frees me up creatively and serves as a gateway for my other writing projects.
  • Sharing the beauty of Rhode Island with friends. This fall, I’ve been blessed with visits from various friends and colleagues that allowed me to share the beauty of the state I now call home (for 22 years). My fellow Get Your Writing Done facilitator, Laurie Hunt recently traveled from Ontario(!) for walks along Narragansett Beach, Wickford Village and Rough Point in Newport (a hidden gem with an extraordinary vista and well-tended gardens). A week before that, Portland Helmich and I watched the silver bait fish leap and splash in a sun-drenched cove. I’m also grateful that I have work that allows me to take time off during the day and immerse myself in nature, which is a source of inspiration.
  • The wonderful writers who join me Thursdays and Wednesdays to breathe, move and write together in “Get Your Writing Done.” And my two amazing co-facilitators who alternate teaching with me—Sharon Burton and Laurie Hunt.
  • Our wonderful writing and journaling private community on facebook: Write and Create with Lisa Tener. (Feel free to send a request to join if you haven’t already!)
  • Health! I continue to be grateful to the healthcare professionals and healers in my life–from practitioners I see to clients who often come into my life just when their wisdom and experience are needed and resonate!
  • To all the readers of The Joy of Writing Journal. Your feedback has brought me such joy and fulfillment. Thank you to every single person who has written a book review on Amazon. Reviews are a crucial part of reaching readers and helping them discover books. I know how busy people are, and I appreciate your taking the time to write a review. If you haven’t gotten to it yet, it’s not too late! I’m envisioning 100 reviews by year’s end. We’re at 67. Can we reach the goal?

Thank You to the Many Authors I Read This Year

At a time when much of the media and politicians are doing their best to divide us through inciting judgment, blame, shame and disempowerment, I’m reminded how books bring us together. We learn empathy, compassion, kindness and openness. Fiction and nonfiction teach us to open up to people different from ourselves. And self-help books often teach us to stop projecting our shadows onto other people and to do our personal work.

Beyond medicine book cover
Thankful for books–like this one!

Here’s a short list of some of the books I’ve loved this year (from famous authors, new authors, clients and a whole mix):

And in the arena of fiction and historical fiction:

So here’s to books and authors: Thank you from the center of my heart!

I know I’ve left out so many. I’ve read so much this year; I can’t even remember from one day to the next!

Thank you, Team!

with Paula after a book event for The Joy of Writing Journal at Willett Free Library

My gratitude list would not be complete without thanking my team here, especially my VA who has been with me for over a decade and without whom I could never have offered the level of service we provide. Thank you Geri Lafferty. Also, Rachel Vane and my New Wonderful Web Designer, Natalie Maguire, Jamie Palmer, social media/marketing guru and her team, especially Joyce Trono, awards consultant Melissa Sones, media coach Debra Alfarone and dear friends Portland Helmich and Paula Shonewald who have rehearsed with me so many times and made me better (and my son Luke Patterson who has also rehearsed with me for media interviews from time to time!). And to writing coach Tama Kieves for grokking all!

Thank you to my two amazing co-teachers of Get Your Writing Done, Laurie Hunt and Sharon Burton. And thank you to all the affiliates who shared the word about Get Your Writing Done. Thank you also to the amazing people in Get Your Writing Done. You make it a joy to teach and to write.

To Ian Garlic, Carina Marquez and the team at Video Case Story. I am so excited to be working with you to reach my people! To author Interviewer and website assistant recent UCLA grad Claire Nakamura, who, by the way, is looking for a job in publishing or writing!

Thank you to publishing angels Tamara Monosoff and Bryna Haynes and her team (hi Maria!) at Worldchangers Media. To Geoff Affleck and Team for those Amazon Ads! It’s a joy to be reaching so many more readers with your help.

Thank you Will Patterson and Blake Russell for your great business brainstorming ideas.

To my coaching, writing and editor colleagues whom I refer—a long list—I love you all and am grateful to have such amazing folks to refer people to. Stuart Horwitz, Annie Tucker, Janice Harper, Simon Golden, Dan Janal, Lynne Heinzmann, Lynne Klippel, Tim Rayborn, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Claudia Volkman, plus old friends I haven’t yet worked with this year and the new colleagues coming online!

And to these special mentors: Joshua Home Edwards and Tim Kelley.

And to these communities that invited me to speak this year: Nonfiction Writers Conference and Nonfiction Authors Association (shout out to Stephanie Chandler and Carla King), Virginia Festival of the Book (Janet Kulow) , California Writers Club of Marin County, 1455 Storytelling Festival (Sean Murphy), Cumberland Public Library (Melissa Chiavaroli), Wordstars Mastermind (Dan Janal), Thriving Well Institute (Megan Gunnell, looking forward to speaking to your mastermind in December!), Best Ever You Women’s Day Conference (Elizabeth Guarino),

And my husband Tom Patterson—grateful to be on this entrepreneurial (and life) journey with you and for all your wise counsel and support.

Dear reader, thank you for showing up in this vibrant community—for your insights, questions, shares, books and writing! I invite you to comment and share anything you feel grateful for this season.

Gratitude and Writing Community 2021

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Perhaps you’re familiar with my tradition to blog my gratitude list this time of year. I have much to be grateful for, especially this writing community.

lisa tener creativity and journaling catalyst

Gratitude to You

Here are a few things and people I’m grateful for:

  • My journaling practice. Just about every morning, I’ve been journaling my dreams, followed by other journaling, followed but what seems to be a new book! I love how journaling frees me up creatively and opens the floodgates to my other writing.
  • The beautiful fall weather–our raspberries have been gifting me with a handful of berries for breakfast up through early November. And since walking in nature stimulates creativity, I specially appreciate all the good walking weather and vibrant colors in nature this year.
  • The wonderful writers who join me two Thursdays a month to breathe, move and write together in “Get Your Writing Done.”
  • Health! 2021 brought its ups and downs health-wise. I’m so very grateful to the healthcare professionals and healers in my life–from practitioners I see to clients whose wisdom has been invaluable.
  • My amazing friends, colleagues, clients, author-crushes and family who have joined me to create 27 inspiring videos to inspire your journaling and writing, and that can be accessed in The Joy of Writing Journal: Spark Your Creativity in 8 Minutes a Day.
Book Cover: The Joy of Writing Journal: Spark Your Creativity in 8 Minutes A Day

Thank you to everyone who helped make The Joy of Writing Journal: Spark Your Creativity in 8 Minutes a Day a bestseller and hot new release.

I am so grateful to the team of amazing colleagues, clients and friends who provided creative input and suggestions, who participated in the videos that go along with the journaling journey who helped me publish the book, and who helped spread the word.

You can meet the team here. A little disclaimer here: Despite my best intentions, I’m a bit challenged to get everything done and I did not get to complete all the links to team members. If you see someone whose website you’d like to explore visit and there’s no link, just email me! If I didn’t link your name to your website, please send me the link and I will. Likewise, if you supported me with feedback, helped with the launch and don’t see your name here, please let me know. I have a feeling my list is incomplete as I got sick a week into my launch and am still catching up!

Special thanks to:

  • My Publisher Tamara Monosoff: From the gorgeous cover to inner design, to the original inspiration for QR codes and putting every single one of those crazy videos on my website, and guiding me patiently throughout the process, Tamara is my dream publisher.

And those who helped spread the word:

To my beta readers, cheerleaders, word-spreaders, reviewers – Mwahhh.

And thank you to every single person who has written a book review on Amazon. Reviews are a crucial part of reaching readers and help them discover books. I know how busy people are and I so appreciate your taking the time to write a review. If you haven’t gotten to it yet, it’s not too late! I’m envisioning doubling my reviews and ratings from 29 to 50+ by the end of the month. Can we do it?

Thank you for Joining the Adventure!

Thank you to everyone who joined the October journaling Adventure–whether you commented on the blog close to daily (Deborah, Mary Ann and Maureen, that’s you!), made a couple of brave forays on the blog or facebook group, or you followed along quietly and told me privately you wouldn’t be posting from your journal but you loved the opportunity to journal in supportive community and were inspired by the posts. Thank you to Jamie Palmer of Outlier Marketing Group for helping me share the October Journaling Adventure on social media.

Thank You to the Many Authors I Read this Year

These trying times have brought most of us to a profound appreciation for the things we took for granted. I feel a deeper sense of gratitude for the many writers in my life and the ways we support and enjoy one another.

I love to read fiction in my spare time. Two recent reads that stand out:

I read an advance review copy of The Good Son by Jacquelyn Mitchard as we are doing an author interview when her book debuts in January. Jackie is the author of multiple New York Times Bestsellers and the inaugural novel of Oprah’s book club. She’s always been a stunning writer but The Good Son is my new favorite. The characters are extraordinarily real and I entered their world so completely. It did cause a few very delayed bedtimes. Pre-order it and discover how one mother comes to term with the heinous crime committed by her son when he was on drugs, and the ramifications of this small-town tragedy for victims, perpetrator and…well let’s just say there are some surprises in store for you.

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki is another un-put-downable novel–wildly creative, masterful, and wise, it offers a fresh perspective on mental illness that is generally absent in our culture–and much more healing than the status quo. I loved the characters. Every scene is masterful.

My gratitude list would not be complete without thanking my team here, especially my VA who has been with me for over a decade and without whom I could never have offered the level of service we provide. Thank you Geri Lafferty. Also, Rachel Vane, Web Designer Extraordinaire, Jamie Palmer, social media / marketing guru.

I invite you to comment and share anything you feel grateful for this season. And thank you for being a part of my vibrant community of writers.

A Writer’s Gratitude

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Do You Even Want to Read About Writer’s Gratitude?

book coach Lisa TenerAs I sat down to write my writer’s gratitude list for my annual Thanksgiving blog post and email, I wondered whether I was really meeting my readers where you are today. I hear from so many friends, clients and colleagues who feel challenged right now.

Is my annual writer’s gratitude list appropriate? Pollyanna-ish?

Then I remembered, in uncertain times, it’s especially helpful to remember that we don’t control what goes on “out there” but we can find calm, wellbeing and joy in our hearts, no matter what. Gratitude is one of the easiest ways to change our mindset and transform our emotions.

And from that place, we can make a big difference! For one, we can write in a way that inspires ourselves and our readers.

I’m Grateful for A Life-Altering Journey

Buddhas surrounding the courtyard in Ayutthaya
Buddhas surrounding the courtyard in Ayutthaya

One thing I am so incredibly grateful for is the journey to Thailand last month—the realization of a childhood dream. I overcame some hefty fears to get there and travel alone. Thanks to Sebastien Leblond and NLP Top Coach for inviting me, believing we could turn an 8 week workshop into a 3 day in-person plus follow up by video conference, and co-creating a powerful experience for a group of world-servers.

I arrived that first day feeling lost and tuckered out. Our luncheon discussion and brainstorm about Seb’s book made me feel 100% at home and engaged. And the pad thai was out of this world!

I’m grateful for the way my muse showed up in Bangkok—and the many hours of almost feverish writing that took place in a mere 10 day span. I’m grateful for my QiGong teacher Leah Franklin and the QiGong Practice, which provided energy and vitality throughout each day and made those late night writing forays possible.

Reclining Buddha, Ayutthaya
Reclining Buddha, Ayutthaya

I’m also grateful for Seb’s encouragement—and lessons—on using public transportation, particularly the Sky Train; and to the three ladies at the museum gift shop who jointly described which bus to catch (of a list of over 20!) and where, in order to get to a vegan restaurant. These transit lessons were liberating and helped me see the city in a way that a taxi could not. I do believe I grew as a person as I opened up to courage and spontanaity.

Has a specific experience changed your life in some way this year? Share your gratitude as a comment below!

More Writer’s Gratitude

Here’s my list of writing-related gratitude to get us started. Please share what you feel grateful for this year, too, especially as a writer!

  • writers gratitude journalWords and the sounds they make in our minds
  • Paper
  • Beautiful Journals
  • The Internet
  • My favorite pens
  • WordPress
  • Books
  • Alliteration
  • The muse
  • Inspiration
  • Beauty
  • Well-crafted sentences
  • The ability to make a great living with writing—and coaching and teaching it!
  • Being able to positively impact people’s lives—sometimes even transform them

I could go on, but let me, instead, offer you a chance to share your writer’s gratitude list of things we are grateful for. Oops, but before that, let’s thank a few people.

Grateful for PEOPLE Who Nourish Us As Writers and Entrepreneurs

  • You! Thanks for your continued reading, commenting, sharing—and letting me know when a post or email really makes a difference for you. Please keep the feedback coming and let me know how I can support you.
  • My teachers, including the late Frank Conroy, whose voice I continue to hear in my mind when I edit

  • While I edited Teri's recently published Success Without Stress, I found myself grateful for the easy and powerful tips and tools!
    While I edited Teri’s recently published Success Without Stress, I found myself grateful for the easy and powerful tips and tools!

    My clients whose books continue to inspire and teach me new, amazing things; who are a joy to coach and so much fun to brainstorm with. You bring my best self to the fore.

  • My assistant, Geri Lafferty, whose organization, savvy and incredible dedication have helped me and my business grow—and who makes the journey fun and worthwhile, too!
  • Coach Tama Kieves who makes sure I give my writing muse the attention she needs and deserves.
  • Mariko Frederick, who showed up in my life at just the time I was ready
  • My supportive writing friends—you know who you are.
  • start right where you areMy brilliant and inspiring colleagues—Stuart Horwitz, Kelly Malone, Ginger Moran, Judy Gittenstein, Sam Bennett (whose new book, Start Right Where You Are, just came out!), Tracy Hart, Linda Joy, Jody Rein, Michael Larsen, Julie Silver, MD, Martha Murphy, Randy Kamen, Tamara Monosoff, Robin Kall, Bryna Rene…and the list goes on and on and on…
  • Colleagues Sara Pence, Rusty Shelton and Frances Caballo who help me reach others
  • My award-winning and publicity guru Melissa Sones who called to encourage me to enter “Company of the Year” in the small business, media category for the International Business Awards and then wrote up a brilliant application detailing our accomplishments–brilliant enough to win the Gold Stevie!
  • My web design and support team: Rachel Vane and Jamey Hoff at Boomtown
  • Tom Patterson and Julia Griffin for helping me overcome fear and encouraging me to travel to Bangkok
  • Tom, Marie and Mimi for making sure the boys had fun and got to their tennis and drum lessons while I traveled.
  • And of course my family who help make life the sweet gift it is.
  • I apologize now if I’ve gone on too long. Truly, once that gratitude train starts moving, it’s hard to bring it to a stop. I hope you find the same—please share your writer’s gratitude list below.

Writer’s Gratitude

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writing in notebook with mug and view

 

Every year, I send an e-mail around Thanksgiving Day that starts with thanking you for being part of my community and supporting me in doing work that is so fulfilling—helping people bring their books to life.

Thank You!

 

 

[bctt tweet=”As a writer, I am grateful to my teachers.”]

I’m also grateful for many gifts specific to writers—I hope you’ll find it inspiring to join me in gratitude for your version of these gifts:

  • Inspiration
  • Insights
  • The richness of the English language
  • Words and the variety of sounds they make in our heads
  • Our favorite writers
  • Our readers—orleaf and purple writing future readers
  • The opportunity to make a difference with our words
  • Memory and memories
  • Great teachers
  • Inspiring students and clients
  • Great editors
  • Our beta readers
  • Supportive family, friends, colleagues and community
  • Alliteration
  • Word play
  • Poetry
  • The ability to make a great living with our writing
  • Being able to positively impact people’s lives—sometimes even transform them

[bctt tweet=”What are you grateful for as a writer?”] Please take 30 seconds to share your “writer’s gratitude” here:

Gratitude, Privilege and Thanksgiving

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writing journalI have my Thanksgiving blog post all scheduled and ready to post. It’s a bit of inspiration. Light.

And then, today, I received an email from a colleague thanking me for supporting his work with others.

As I wrote back to him, I was filled with gratitude recalling all the goodness he has brought into my life and the incredible business opportunities I have experienced through his generosity. It felt lovely, but that isn’t why I’m writing this post.

As I wished him and his family a happy Thanksgiving, I thought how truly lucky we are. I was, of course, struck by the contrast with what I’ve seen in the news these past weeks.

Today, there are refugees–men, women, children, babies–on the run, in sinking ships, in refugee camps, in limbo–just hoping to survive and, in this moment, in stark contrast, we live with such abundance.

These people do not need our hatred or our fearmongering or judgement or blame. Hitler played upon these lower emotions when he blamed Jews, Gypsies and Homosexuals for Germany’s economic plight. There are demagogues who want to capitalize on the plight of others and breed hatred and intolerance, blame and fear. We can choose to let the demogogues into our minds and hearts or we can choose to shut them out.

Let us be grateful for all we have this Thanksgiving and be generous with the bounty we are blessed with. I believe that the most generous thing we can practice is tolerance and love for our brothers and sisters throughout the world and in our own county.

There is no good reason to practice hate, ever.

So, let’s send blessings to everyone, including those fear-mongering politicians who probably need a little love as well. May all be blessed. May all be free from suffering. May all know peace.

Writing Prompts, Gratitude and Thanksgiving Transformation

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book writing coach lisa tenerEvery year, I send an e-mail around Thanksgiving Day that starts with thanking you for being part of my community and supporting me in doing work that is so fulfilling—helping people bring their books to life.

Well, of course, I want to thank you once again.

I also wondered about how I can thank you in a way that’s particularly meaningful and helpful to you. I figured one of the best gifts I could give you is to get you writing. So, here are a few writing prompts—choose one that inspires and write!

  • List 25 gifts you’re thankful for. Include all the gifts that come from being a writer, like being able to inspire others, help others, make a difference in the community/world, the joy of writing, the joy of sharing, the joy of reading. Now pick one item on your list and write about it in detail. Try to use at least three or four of your senses in your writing.

    Just a few weeks ago, we still had blackberries and raspberries ripening in our garden--grateful for the bounty!
    Just a few weeks ago, we still had blackberries and raspberries ripening in our garden–grateful for the bounty!
  • Write about a particularly poignant Thanksgiving memory…or a time you felt especially grateful. Employ all your senses to make the moment come alive again on the page.
  • Is there something that you feel resentful about? Recently, I felt resentful towards my husband about something that had been getting under my skin. It wasn’t even a big thing, but it had been eating at me. I finally told him how I felt. He shared that this was a weakness of his and he was working on changing it. I suddenly felt so much more compassionate and was able to let go of my perceptions and judgments. I felt grateful that we’d had this communication. Can you write about a resentment you harbor or something that’s been bugging you? Once you get your gripes on the page, is there a way to see it from another perspective? See if you can open up to an expanded view. You may even turn your resentment into gratitude.
  • Write 50 reasons for you to write your book. Does 50 intimidate you? Just start thinking of all the possible ways your readers can benefit from your book, then think of the ways your book can change your life. Then think of individual people you can inspire or help—each one of them is a reason.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this year’s Thanksgiving message. I decided to post on my blog in addition to e-mail so you can share your insights, inspirations or ideas that came out of the writing prompts–please do share your comments!

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