Writers Conferences. Writer Friends. Encouragement from people who barely know me. Encouragement from people who know me well enough they might know better. Hummingbirds. Headphones. Pasta.

1- Writers Conferences.

Writers Conferences are one of the best ways to keep me moving forward with my writing. I go to them and meet people who are also excited about writing, struggling with writing, and persevering at writing. I learn new ideas and ways to keep moving forward through the vast chasm that lives between “once upon a time” and “the end”. One of the things that I also like about writers conferences are the reminders that success in this is more a matter of determination than destiny. Oh, and that Instagram contest they had? I totally could have won if only I could figure out how to work the Instagram app.

2- Writer Friends.

Writer Friends are wonderful. They also help me keep going. There are times when this job feels like slogging uphill through knee-deep mud. It helps so much to be able to turn my head and see that I’m not alone there. This writers conference I made some friends I hope I can keep in touch with for a very long time. For whatever reason, we clicked with each other, and I feel invested in their successes in their lives as writers and friends. I find myself praying for them at random moments, hoping they are well.

3- Encouragement from people who barely know me.

I am surprised by the amount of encouragement comes from people who barely know me. Wait, are you for real? This is what I think every time I drop Sam The Dog off or pick him up from Bongo’s Pet Resort. (Yes, he goes twice a week. It’s VITAL for my sanity as well as his.) I never expected to find a writing accountability partner at doggy daycare, but there you have it. Hank greets me with, “HOW’S THE WRITING GOING? YOU REALLY NEED TO HURRY UP AND GET THAT BOOK FINISHED, BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO READ IT. WE’RE COLLECTING MONEY SO WE CAN ALL BUY A COPY AS SOON AS YOU GET IT PUBLISHED. I TELL EVERYONE WHO COMES IN HERE THAT WE HAVE A FAMOUS WRITER WHO BRINGS HER WONDERFUL DOG IN TO PLAY WITH THE OTHER DOGS.” Yes, he booms it out like that. I wouldn’t dare quit now. That would be a real dog pile. I haven’t worked up the nerve to tell him that the dog he thinks is in my book is actually a cat.

4- Encouragement from people who know me well enough they might know better.

I get encouragement from people who know me well enough they might know better. And how great is that? These people have seen me stumble, struggle, and drop the ball on so many other things, but they still encourage me to keep going. Some of them are in my writing groups, some of them are at church, some of them are in the family, but they all act as background cheerleaders urging me on. I love them.

5- Hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds. I love watching the hummingbirds come to the feeder hanging near the window by my desk. I think I may actually have more than one that visits now. Yay!

6- Headphones.

Headphones are one of my best writing tools. I know. I work in a quiet house, but it seems that I focus better when I don’t have the rumble of lawn mowers, the jingle of dog tags, or a lot of other background noises kicking in and distracting me. Pandora Radio and my headphones, two of my besties.

7- Pasta.

Pasta. This one made the list because I was hungry at the time. Plus, I love pasta. Tonight we ate a sort of mushroom stroganoff type of pasta. I didn’t use an actual recipe, and I kinda messed it up, but it still tasted good and I made enough I can have some for lunches this week. Sometimes it’s the little things, my friends, that bring the highest satisfaction.

What’s a little thing that brings you satisfaction? Share your thoughts in the comments. 🙂