Happy Friday, friends!

School is fast approaching and, as we ramp into a new season, I thought perhaps we could talk about a practice I’ve adopted in recent years. Maybe, if the fit is right, you might look at implementing it as well.

This practice really came into focus for me this week when my editor asked me to send her the Acknowledgments to be included in my upcoming novel, publishing next fall.

I assume most of you have some idea of what an author’s Acknowledgments are. If not, grab the closest novel and flip to the end. There, near the back cover, you’ll see a note from the author thanking the people who contributed to the book’s writing and publication. Not every book has this section, but most do.

Oftentimes, the author will include experts they’ve consulted or even books that were useful in research. Industry professionals who’ve worked on the project will commonly be mentioned: agents, editors, marketing and publicity teams, etc.

Some of my favorite acknowledgments to read are the more personal ones. Thank yous to family and friends, to the inspirations behind the work, to relationships that helped mold the author’s career. Not every author chooses to include these in their book–privacy is often guarded–but when an author shows us a glimpse into their world, I like to take note. It reminds me that even the most brilliant among us are human.

After my first book was published, I realized just how easy it is to forget those who have helped me through a season. And while it’s not necessary to thank everyone in your life, it can be daunting to have to scroll back through years of writing, rewriting, editing, polishing, and promoting to compose a list of those who’ve been of great assistance on a project. And if it’s hard to come up with a list of names, imagine how hard it is to pinpoint just how they helped and why it mattered!

Perhaps I should have started this whole thing by explaining that I have THE WORST memory. Especially for names. I hate this about myself, but it’s good to know your weaknesses, right? To address this concern, I’ve added a discipline to my routine.

Whenever I work with someone new on a project, I jot their name onto a list. I do this in my Gmail ‘Drafts’ folder because it’s handy and always accessible, but you can do it anywhere. You can even keep a gratefulness notebook! How lovely would that be?

I keep things simple, but I do get specific. For example, the other two Go Teen Writer gals, Jill and Steph, acted as beta readers for me this last go ’round. It was very early on in the process–several years before publication–so, to make sure I didn’t forget that kindness, I jotted down their names and a reminder that they were early readers for me.

I’ve had lots of help on this project actually.

WINTER, WHITE AND WICKED is centered around a girl who drives rigs through an avalanche-prone, icy mountain range. Since I have zero experience with any of that, I needed to track down a reliable expert. It took some effort, but I was lucky enough to find a rig driver who not only had ice road experience, but was also a writer.

He was so valuable to me because he understood the fictional, make-believe elements that were so important, and also the limitations of the gear my drivers were trying to use in the season my characters were navigating. Incredibly helpful! And I certainly don’t want to forget to thank him publicly. So, I wrote down his name and just how he helped.

This discipline has extended to more intimate, personal helps. When I have a conversation with a friend or a family member–especially if it’s about my writing journey–I open up my Acknowledgments list and I add their name and why I’m so grateful for them.

Not all of these private moments will make it onto any official Acknowledgments page, but I’ve found it’s good for me to take stock throughout the process of a book. It reminds me that even when things are hard, I have people on my side. People willing to help and encourage.

And so, perhaps, this is me taking a very long time to simply encourage you to count your blessings. If you make it a discipline, writing out your Acknowledgments will be much easier when the time comes, but more than that, you will have gifted yourself perspective. And we creative types can get so lost in worlds of our own making–in compliment and criticism–that sometimes perspective is thin on the ground.

Tell me, friends. If you had to compile an Acknowledgments page right now, who would you include? Who has been helpful or encouraging to you on this writerly road?

Shannon Dittemore is an author and speaker. Her books include the Angel Eyes trilogy, a supernatural foray into the realm of angels and demons, as well as the fantastical adventure novel Winter, White and Wicked. Its sequel, Rebel, Brave and Brutal is due out January 10, 2023.

Shannon’s stories feature strong female leads grappling with fear and faith as they venture into the wilds of the unknown. She’s often wondered if she’s writing her own quest for bravery again and again.

It’s a choice she values highly. Bravery. And she’s never more inspired than when young people ball up their fist and punch fear in the face.

To that end, Shannon takes great joy in working with young writers, both in person and online at Go Teen Writers, an instructional blog recognized by Writer’s Digest four years running as a “101 Best Websites for Writers” selection.

For more about Shannon and her books, please visit her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.