“You say grace before meals. Alright. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing, and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”   C.K. Chesterton, writer

Wow, our boy C. K. was a busy guy – amazing he found time to write at all! But write he did, with wit and verve. and I love his idea of “saying grace” before witnessing any act of someone else’s creativity and before he began writing himself.

To give thanks for the work we do and to invoke the mysterious wellsprings of wisdom and originality before we set pen to paper or fire up our computer – what a novel idea. I love it! What a rich, nourishing concept to integrate into our writing regimens. At a sweep, it:

Reminds us to be thankful for the opportunity to write and to never take it for granted.

Encourages us to reach beyond ourselves and ask the universe’s support as we ply our trade.

Challenges us to treat each writing session as an act that is worthy of praise and devotion.

Centers us and helps us screen out the distractions that can get in the way of our work.

Signals our intention, both to ourselves and to the muses, that we are ready for action.

What a gift C.K. has given us! Let’s embrace it as we all write on!