I was reading something in the Guardian online yesterday and
got tugged into reading an article called- excuse the somberness- regrets of
the dying. Now, that’s not normally something that would get a double click
from my mouse, but there was a sweet picture of a wrinkled hand holding a
strong, youthful one and the emotional author in me was hooked. I had to take a
peek to make sure I wasn’t going to have any regrets on my way out. You can
guess most of them—I shouldn’t have worked so much, I should have followed my
dreams—but one that really caught my attention was a wish to have kept in touch
with old friends.
Writers are fortunate to have a secret, powerful weapon that
helps them do just that. Not many other professions encourage
“acknowledgements” each time you finish a piece of work, but upon completing a
novel for publication, writers are asked to recognize the people who have
helped them on their journey. Every time I’ve penned a dedication, I’ve thought
about how lucky I am to be able to publicly reflect like this.
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| From The Wedding Audition by Catherine Mann & Joanne Rock |
It’s a huge treat for me, for one thing. It nudges me to be
introspective for a few hours and really think about who has helped me to come
up with an idea or who inspired me to write. I’ve acknowledged high school
English teachers, bloggers, other writers, family members and yes… old friends.
I’ve penned dedications to women who cheered me on personally and
professionally, girlfriends who cheered me up when life got too difficult, and
mentors who showed me how to do things better, faster or more efficiently.
People who’ve made an important impact on my life and my happiness.
I also like to think this tradition is a treat for the
people who are recognized. Actually, I can attest that is an honor because I’ve
been named in friends’ books as a helper in the story process and it always
makes me walk a little taller. Plus, it touches my heart to be valued that way,
and to have a friend use that limited space to give a shout out to me. When my
first book came out and I mentioned my English teachers in the dedication,
I had fun sending them a copy of my debut along with a letter telling them how
much they inspired me. I hoped that my enthusiasm would help make up for the
fact that some kids occasionally yawn in their classes (who could yawn during a
lesson on the Romantic Poets??)
and it was just plain fun.
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| Win my June release! |
Knowing how cool it’s been to send out acknowledgements into
the world, I guess I wanted to share the idea with anyone who hasn’t written a
book and had the thrill of penning a dedication. You can still write a letter
to tell someone who inspired you that you still remember their awesome
contribution to your life. That their words meant a lot to you or helped you
grow, change, see the world a little differently. Your old friends, mentors, teachers or family
members will be touched to be recognized, and the joy you spread will sure make
you smile too.
9 comments:
Well certainly you always inspired me my entire life, I can remember being overwhelmed every summer you had a stack of books on topics to learn more. My kids have inspired me as well, each have over come their own disability and made the best of it. Certainly I have had teachers that have also inspired me to become better and exceed expectations. Above my desk at work is a saying one of my favorite math teachers ad, "Good better best, never let it rest until your good is your better, and your better is your best".......
Susan, you made my day... there aren't many people in my life who would remember those days that I carted all those books home from the library every summer! I looked forward to that big haul so much, having big, beautiful books at my fingertips for weeks on end to read and peruse because I *wanted* do and not because they were assigned reading. Thank you for sharing a happy memory with me. You inspire me too, in the same way your mom always has. I've long admired your seemingly peaceful, joyful attitude no matter what life throws at you. I know that's a choice you make, and it isn't one that comes easily, but it is beautiful to be around :-). xo
The person who inspires me is my oldest daughter. She has had 3 open heart operations, with the last one being the dr. had to replace a valve. We weren't expecting it at the time. She had the surgery when she was 22 and today she turns 40 !!! She is my inspiration thru and thru. She is quite often my mini me. We both love so many of the same things from Build A Bear to music, tv shows, to pizza! Pam Hamblin
Mrs.Wilkerson. She always gave me really good grades on my romantic stories. Funny thing is that at that time I read lots of romance comic books and would model my stories after them. They were all pretty much the same in the early 60s.
I didn't see YOU carrying those books all summer, but *I* was also lugging them around for my own interests. In fact, one summer was spent in the reference section of my local library, where I did my own Christopher Columbus project (and I'm in Canada!!!).
I wrote a letter many decades ago thanking a former neighbour for being such a big influence in my life. She hired me to babysit her two kids ... then got me my first summer job at a local farmers' market where I took their entry fees and bought them coffee/donuts ... which led to her being a reference on my CV ... and the insurance company owner was a Kiwanis volunteer and knew my neighbour who was in the Kiwanis Club too (in a different town) ... and then the finance company manager was the president of HIS local Kiwanis and knew my neighbour ... and while working at that finance company, I met my now husband of 38 years. And I attribute/attributed my place in life to that neighbour, all those years ago. She loved getting the letter.
My sister leads the most adventurous life. Her nursing credentials take her all over the world. Not only an inspiration, but lots of fun too.
My friend Pooks and my friend Jane have really given me some inspiration and kind words over the past year.
denise
Elaine, that's a great story :-). It's wonderful to see how kindness snowballs that way, affecting people long afterward!
***Winner - Kathleen Richardson, congratulations to you!! All you need to do to claim your book is message me at jrock008@gmail.com with a mailing address and I'll send it your way asap! Thank you all for visiting!
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