OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
I have big dreams as a writer, and as an entrepreneur.
But I often try to squash those dreams down because they feel too egocentric or too ambitious or too unreasonable. Not sensible at all. And I have always been a sensible girl, taking everything very seriously! I try to be practical and pragmatic and realistic.
But today I read this passage from the brilliant Julia Cameron in The Sound of Paper, an excellent book to dip into for creative inspiration.
“A great deal of the time we dismiss our longings on the grounds that they aren't reasonable – and often they aren't. Where did we get the idea that life was intended to be reasonable? … We have very little evidence that sensible and frugal are actually qualities cherished by the Great Creator … Most of us have a dream that we could set sail if only we dared … Rather than act on these dreams, we often shoo them from our consciousness, saying ‘I need to be sensible. I would never be able to manage that.' But perhaps we can manage more than we think.”
This passage challenged me, so I am sharing my big dreams with you. Please share yours with me in the comments. Maybe together we can make some of them come true – even if it takes this writer's lifetime.
- I want to be a brand name fiction author – which means becoming an excellent, commercial fiction writer and all that entails
- I want to be a New York Times bestselling fiction author
- I want to write a James Bond book – maybe be the first women to do so – and have a book launch with a fantastic sports car and hot guys in tuxedos flanking me in a scarlet dress (inspired by the launch of Carte Blanche by Jeffrey Deaver)
- I want my books to be made into action-adventure movies, preferably featuring Angelina Jolie, and I want to walk down the red carpet at the premiere
- and yes, I want to be on the Forbes list of the highest-paid authors 🙂
Nothing too ambitious then?!
These dreams may be crazy and ambitious, but I also know the difference between dreams and goals. My current goal is to get the third novel in my ARKANE series, Exodus, finished before July. I know I can achieve that goal.
But our dreams feed our goals, inspire us and keep us focused on the future. I've always wanted to be a brand name fiction author, that's a little guilty secret from years ago, but I am definitely closer now than I was 3 years ago. Back then I didn't even have one novel. Our dreams have to start somewhere, right?
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1 2 3 … 6 Next »At present, simply finishing and publishing my first novel is a dream, though I, too, have long hankered after the red carpet treatment!
Wendy, I have to challenge you on that one! Finishing and publishing your novel is a goal - it is absolutely do-able and under your control! The red carpet treatment however, is more of a dream - I'll see you there :)
I heard Jeff Goins say that you need to write because you want to write or need to. Hopefully, the Red Carpet treatment will come, but if you're hoping for that at the outset, then you're likely to be disappointed. So know that you want to get the story out there. That has to be the first priority.
Spot on Joanna.
Aims & Objectives need to be achievable, but your vision and dreams should be whatever you want them to be. Why would you dream small? Why would you aspire something that you can become overnight.
No, dream big, and at least if you fall slightly short you will still be something close to the person you wish to be
The world is a very rational place, but there is always time to aspire and dream about something slightly out of reach. And guess what...dreams sometimes come true :)
Matt (Turndog Millionaire)
Exactly, someone has to be on the red carpet right :)
I would have to a movie and/or cartoon series based on my works. I'm one step closer from just my goal of finishing a project through to the end, but that's better than nothing.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
I agree dreams need to be big; the bigger the better. What is the point of setting a low easily achievable target? As writers we are creative people and so we can apply that creativity to developing ways to achieve these difficult targets. We have to accept we might not achieve them but we must try and we must not be despondant if we are unsuccessful. Life throws up regular hand grenades to steer us away from our goals but dealing with these is half the fun of being alive. Imagine how boring life would be if everything planned was achieved? Often it is the journey that is the fun bit when we look back, and the realisation of the dream can be disappointing.
My current dreams are; three books published this year (they are already written but need editing and covers which I do myself); two or three books next year (not yet written); change jobs to become a full time writer at the end of 2013 on a comparable income to my current full time job.
Are these achievable? Yes. How likely? Unlikely. But I am going to have a lot of fun trying and if I am a year late or even 5 years late, so what?
I don't want to end my days on a seaside town bench (apologies to Marlon Brando) saying to anyone who will care to listen;
"I could 'a' been a contender..."
Thanks Christopher - it sounds like your creative output is more like a goal - within your control and perhaps even the move into full time writer. I have made the move but with a significant drop in income - with the goal of improving that over time. I agree with the sentiment though - you've got to be trying in order to even be in the running!
and most of the writers on the Forbes list are in their 50s - so I've got 20 years :)
My dream is a little less easily defined as it is down to the critique by a judging panel. But it's to win the Miles Franklin award in Australia. Nothing much.
Adam B @revhappiness
That's fantastic Adam - and I think it is a dream if it is in other people's hands - if we can control the outcome, it is a goal we can achieve. So keep writing and the Miles Franklin is a possible - after all, someone wins every year! All the best.
Love this blog post, thank you for putting it up! It's strange that we don't allow us to make up these imageries for ourselves... I mean, it's not that we think ourselves better than anyone else - it's just a personal goal and a vision to help us focus, isn't it? Compare it to professional athletes: I don't think their goal stops at coming in on fifth place in the local running contest - they want that gold in the Olympic Games. Having a positive vision of your future goals gives you strength, so be proud of your dreams and ambitions! :-)
Great comparison Linda - especially with London gearing up for the Olympics. Of course they don't train for fifth place. They train for first. That's what we should all be doing too. I'm fired up now!
Hi! This is so exciting to read - thanks for having the courage to start us off.
I have TONS of dreams, ha ha, but here are a few
have my books made into award winning movies with my own choice of cast.
have a role in one of those movies (with one of my fave actors!)
become a well known author
people love my books
Through my books, make a big difference in the lives of some people
help animal conservation in a BIG way.
have people ask me to review their books as a famous author
etc.etc.etc. ha ha
great list Nicua - I think 'people love my books' is definitely a goal, not a dream - in terms of the fact you can control it by publishing quality books in a niche that people love, and you can give some of the profits to animal conservation - so that's a couple ticked off!
I think I'd like a walk on part in a movie too - many authors seem to do that - I like that Clive Cussler always cameos in his own books as a wise man :)
Great!! That is so random that he chooses a wise man ever time! I would love maybe a secondary role, so I get to act :-) its a dream, right? Thanks!
Nicua,
I just read your post about helping animals. Me too! :)
Nice meeting you here,
Kim
I'm loving that idea! Speaking of which, though, does anyone here CAST their stories as they're writing? Sometimes, I find it easier to 'hear' the character if I can imagine the actor who could be playing him or her. Most of the time, I do it right from the start, and sometimes, as the character develops, I think, "...... could play this guy!" I'm in that second part now. I haven't found the actress for my lead character yet. But it's early days as far as the story, so I have time.
Glad I'm not the only daydreamer :D
oh, and be so well paid that I can buy my farm at last! :-)
Goals
- Maintain my daily writing routine.
- Complete two novels novels by this time (14 May 2:05am) next year.
- Be a better husband (there's always room for improvement right).
Dreams
- Be a highly paid and successful fiction author while blue water sailing and exploring the planet.
- Be a paid consultant in maters of security, possibility, and personal strategy.
- Turn down a red carpet event .. "sorry on the other side of the world that week ... is a jet available?"
marvellous! I sailed from Fiji to Vanuatu on a tallship once - my only bluewater sailing experience. I was sick for 24 hours and then enjoyed the rest of it - awesome dream!
It takes great courage to put and share your dreams out there for people to see. I like it very much. I will have to do this also.
I almost deleted the post Matthew, as I was worried people would think I was egotistical - but I do think these blogs are about us taking some risks - and all your lovely comments make me feel it was worthwhile :)