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Tayari's Blog: Brigdes Over Troubled Waters

Posted by TayariJones on July 30, 2008 04:58 AM
Filed under The Writing Life

Are you halfway through a project and sort of feeling all alone, adrift in a sea of half-way-though-ness? Trust me, I know the feeling. To get to the other side, I have a suggestion for you. Warning: It’s a little bit warm and fuzzy, verging on the touchy-feely, but it really worked for me.

Here’s the idea: Right now, today, WRITE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS as though your book is all finished and being published tomorrow. The purpose of the exercise is not so that you can fantasize about what it would be like to have your book coming out; this is a time for you to take stock of all the people who have helped you along the way. It’s easy to feel all alone out here and forget that lots of people are pulling for you.

Take your time with it. Thank people that you don’t even talk to anymore. Don’t do the negative spin. For example: “Special thanks to my ex, who taught me everything I will ever need to know about betrayal…” That is not in line with this assignment. Instead, thank that loser for how supportive he was when he first met you. But don't call him a loser. This is an attitude-banishing endeavor!

Craft the document. Make it beautiful. This is no time for a laundry list. Imagine that you are telling the world how much your support group means to you.

Okay, once you have written your acknowledgements, write a letter or send an email to someone on the list and tell her thank you. I recommend that you thank someone who won’t be expecting a thank. Don’t choose your partner or your writing group. Do something special for the laundrymat lady who always says “Hey there, book writer! Hurry up! I need something to read.” Or what about the secretary at your job who looks the other way while you score extra paper and padded envelopes to help you make submissions. Try taking it way back and giving a shout to somebody who encouraged you when you were just a little tyke scribbling around. Remember, just as that person encouraged you, you can actually encourage that person by letting her know what she means to you!

For kicks, here are my acknowledgement pages from Leaving Atlanta.