Sunday, May 15, 2011

Protecting The Dream

Somewhere between the age of ten and thirty we forget how to dream. Who really knows what the magical age is that all our hopes and aspirations, those limitless possibilities, vanish in the face of the harsh realities of life? One day you turn around and poof. They’re gone. But I believe it’s more important than ever for writers--and women, especially--to keep the dream alive. We have so many demands on our lives and responsibilities that can weigh us down and pull us in a hundred different directions that we often overlook or push aside those secret dreams and goals we’ve nurtured deep inside. Instead, we choose to sacrifice what’s good for us for that which seems best for our families and loved ones. However, I’d argue, it’s when you’re pursuing your goals, when you’re tasting the fruit of your dreams, that you become a stronger person and have more to offer those who depend on you. What are your dreams? And what are you willing to do to achieve them?

Here are five key things I’ve discovered are important to breathing life into your hopes and dreams, no matter what your age.

Believe in Yourself - If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. Start there. Recognize your talent. Work hard to be the best writer you can be. Acknowledge you can achieve anything you set your mind to and then do it. Realize that no one else really cares if you finish that novel and they’ll all do everything in their power to make sure you don’t. It’s all up to you. You must believe in yourself and your writing.

Know What You Want - If you don’t set goals, you’ll never achieve them or know that you’ve achieved them. Are you afraid of success? Start little. Baby steps will get you moving in the direction you want to go as long as you know the destination. If you never have a destination, you’ll float through life. That’s okay if you’re a balloon. Not if you want to be a published author.

Keep Your Focus - When the rest of the world is frittering away time on x, y, and z, keep your focus. Write. Write. Write. Those pages add up. If you want to be a published author you need to write like a published author. No excuses. What are you willing to do without to complete your manuscript?

Take Risks - Don’t let your fear cripple you. Take appropriate risks to further your publishing career. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Push yourself outside your comfort level. Yes, it’s scary. But you’ll grow exponentially. Pitch to your dream editor. Corner that rockin’ hot agent at the bar. Take a class that will push your writing to the next level. Present a workshop. Courage and confidence will take you far.

Surround Yourself With Cheerleaders - The writing life is hard. It’s a lonely, solitary life. Find a group of writers who will help you grow and cheer you on when the process becomes overwhelmingly hard. We can’t do this alone. We need to know that even though writing is a solitary journey that there are others like us walking a similar path.

So, what are you prepared to do to make your dream a reality?

13 comments:

  1. Candy, you've hit on a lot of truths in this post. Dreams definitely need protecting and then we need to let ourselves run free to achieve them.

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  2. I've got the cheerleaders. And I think I'm pretty good at taking risks. But the beliefs and goals and FOCUS are where I'm lacking.

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  3. Michelle ~ Absolutely. Run free is a good description. You've achieved some pretty huge dreams . . . how do you handle keeping the dream fresh? Or maybe pursuing different dreams at different times in your life? Do you have any words of wisdom how best to protect those dreams?

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  4. Yvonne ~ Yes. You're a great risk taker. And you definitely have the cheerleaders. You do have goals and I think every day they become a littler clearer to you. Some days those goals seem to shift and change direction a little, but, overall, I do think your eye is on the prize and there's strong evidence of your focus because you've stuck with this writing life even though the road has not been an easy one. And for now, we'll believe in you enough for you too. How about that? ;0)

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  5. Great advice for a Monday morning, Candy!

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  6. Candy - Just what I needed to read this afternoon. So many challenges arise in life that can de-rail those dreams and it can be so hard to hang on to them. But when one is finally achieved it all seems worth it. Thank you my friend for inspiring me once more to not give up and to keep reaching high!

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  7. Great post! I've recently rediscovered my dream so with that, I'm off to revise chapter 3....

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  8. Yay! Good for you, Kerri. That in itself is inspiring. Good luck.

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  9. Mary ~ Yes, keep your eye on the prize and take those victories where you can. They help us keep on keeping on. ;0) Sometimes I feel like the stretch will do me in. But it doesn't. I just become a little more flexible. Good luck this week reaching for those dreams and keeping them safe!

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  10. The times that I let my dreams get kicked to the corner were very unhappy ones for me. I think everyone needs dreams and goals - something to look forward to. Otherwise you just end up going through the motions and not moving forward. A big part of making dreams come true involves growth and sometimes that's a scary prospect, even if the outcome is positive. Great post, Candy. :)

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  11. When I first knew I wanted to make this dream a reality, I found I still got caught up writing for clients, doing the shopping, walking the dog, and cooking dinner. I'd promise myself that once those things were done each day, I'd write toward my dream.

    Then one day, I made a sign for my workspace. It wasn't fancy. It was just a sheet of paper printed in my favorite font. In big letters, it read WRITING IS NOT A LUXURY.

    For me, that changed everything.

    I still get caught up in the dog and laundry and schoolwork deadlines these days. But then I remember my writing--my dream--is not a luxury. And I feel okay about everybody-make-your-own sandwiches for dinner because I'm writing toward my dream. I have to let my dream be on a par with everything else. I have to let it be important.

    To me, it is.

    Great post, Candy.

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  12. Awesome, Nicole. I love that sign. "Writing is not a luxury." I think I'll make my own sign to hang in my space to remind me on my "off" days. Thanks! Great words of wisdom.

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  13. You're so right, Lisa. Those are often the worst moments in life. When we have nothing to hope for, nothing to look forward to. And, yes, I agree. Growth is often painful and just plain hard. But without it, I'll never become the person I truly want to be--and that's all part of the dream. Excellent insights. ;0)

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