Thankful for the past, thankful for the present, and thankful for the future: popular sentiments at Thanksgiving, but this year I feel particularly overwhelmed with gratitude for all three.
When I began as The Voice‘s new managing editor back in 2010, I saw it as a wonderful opportunity to work closely with writers with a wide spectrum of styles, connect with readers on a deeper level, and challenge myself both as an editor and a writer.
And It’s fulfilled those hopes?and then some.
I’ve been so grateful for the guidance and expertise of Tamra Ross, our Editor in Chief, who always knew the answers when tricky questions and situations arose; for our wonderful Voice writers, who have been understanding and accommodating ever since I was a nervous newbie; and especially for you, the readers, whom I have not met in person but with whom I’ve been able to connect almost every week for over three years.
So as I wrap up the Thanksgiving issue, It’s easy to understand how I can be grateful for the past and present. But gratitude for the future?
There could be no more appropriate time to announce that this is my final issue of The Voice Magazine; starting next week I’ll be forging into the exciting world of book editing and indie publishing as I launch my own editing business.
And while I’ll be sad to leave The Voice, I’m incredibly grateful for this new opportunity. Grateful for the way the past and present have guided me in this direction. Grateful for the writers and mentors who have helped me shape and hone my skills, and whose encouragement and enthusiasm have helped nudge me in a direction that fills me with such joy.
And grateful that even in my new venture, I’ll have those Voice experiences and memories to guide me into the next stage of my life.
I’m also grateful that It’s not really goodbye. I’ll be popping in regularly with a new column discussing topics on writing improvement, and I’m looking forward to covering the issues that you, the readers, find particularly important to developing your own writing.
Happy Thanksgiving. This year, I’ve got a lot to be thankful for.
