Okay, Listen Here

Okay, Listen Here

Monday, July 30, 2012

Dreams


I don't see myself as a cynic, but who does?  Maybe I am. I prefer to think I am pragmatic.

For instance, I don't believe in the muse. I don't believe in waiting to "feel it". I believe in putting your bottom in the chair and your hands on the keyboard. I believe in, when out of the chair, thinking about the characters and story (in that order) then going back to the chair.

 I also have never had time to worry about when (or if) the sale was going to happen or if somebody else was going to get there before me. Because it was going happen or not and somebody was always going to get there first and somebody wasn't. Move on.

Stephanie shares this philosophy. That's what you want in a writing partner.

Now Katherine Bone is not a cynic, not even close. She has put herself  in charge of keeping up the spirits of those she loves. I guess she had noticed that I don't have any of those little signs around my computer that lots of writers have. You know. Or maybe you don't. They say things like "Never, never, never give up" –Winston Churchill. "Believe", "The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places", "When the world says, 'Give up,' Hope whispers, 'Try it one more time.'" 

I have bought quite a few of these things—mostly for gifts for Kathy. Some for gift baskets and such. None for me. None for Stephanie. 

So I think Kathy felt a little sorry for me that what I've got around my desk are plotting charts, maps of my towns, and pictures of my characters that I've torn out of magazines. The only thing close to inspirational I have taped to my monitor are some reminders to write the scene in the point of view of the character who has the most to lose and what my current hero and heroine need from each other. 

So Kathy brought me a little doodad that says: "Dream: All dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." Walt Disney. 

"Walt Disney was a wise man," Kathy said.

Because I enjoy picking on her a little, I answered, "Walt Disney is a frozen man. And, dream or no, that is not likely to change." 

She tsked at me. (She does that.)  I then explained the flaws in Disney's philosophy. Let's say for instance that I want to be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. No matter what, no matter how hard I try, they are not going to let me be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. (Nor should they.) And let's be honest. There is a point when courage crosses the line into pure stupidity.  Kathy maintained it was a moot point since I have no aspiration to be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. 

But you know what? That little doodad was smiling down on me two days ago, when I got The Call—the one that said Stephanie and would be  published authors.  It sat there while Stephanie and squealed at each other like, well, cheerleaders.

I am going to keep that little doodad forever—or at least until Walt Disney comes back to life.

But still. 

"The best way to make a dream come true is to wake up." Muhammad Ali. 

I believe that. But let's go ahead and factor in a little courage--as long as it's realistic.

What is your view on dreams?

19 comments:

  1. I tend to have a very American view of dreams...
    I believe if work hard and work smart that your dream will come true!

    Guess that is pretty pragmatic and why Jean and I seem to look at the dreams in much the same way!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hard work will ALWAYS lead to a promise that dreams CAN come true. SQUEEEEEEE!!!!! I'm so excited for you, Stephanie and Jean!!!!!

      Delete
  2. I had a great comment typed out and then Blogger tried to make me join Google+ and messed it all up.

    Basically, dreams are great but goals are better. A goal should be realistic and attainable. "I want to sell a book by December" is a great dream but it's out of your control. "I want to write 1000 words a day between now and December" is a good goal (barring major life issues).

    Congrats on your sale! I heard while I was at conference and still humming Disney songs like "When you wish upon a star..." and "A dream is a wish your heart makes..."

    Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congrats on your sale!!! I'm so happy for both you and Stephanie.

    I like your philosophy, too.

    As for dreaming, I prefer to have dreams that are attainable at some point with reasonable effort expended to achieve them. I don't want to get so caught up in dreaming that I fail to live my life. Eye on the prize but not to the exclusion of all else, so to speak.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keep a weathered eye on the horizon, Crystal. AND send that book out!!!!! Remember if you don't send your ship out, it will NEVER come in. And I KNOW your ship is ready for launch!!!!!!

      Delete
  4. SQUUUUEEE!!! I am BEYOND thrilled for y'all!!!! So, so deserved! *jumpy claps and hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  5. Woooooooo-hooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!! Snoopy Dancing... Disco Dancing... Flamingo Dancing... Doing that Russian squat, kick dance!!!!!!

    I'm SOOOOOO happy for you Jean and Stephanie!!!!! (And thank you for posting about the Walt Disney quote I gave you for your birthday, Jean! I knew it would inspire you AND pass along some great MOJO!)

    I've believed in your writing all along and am so happy that your dreams are coming true. You'll LOVE Jennifer and the entire Crimson TEAM!!! And I'm so grateful and happy that we'll be published in the same house.

    Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    "Never give up. Never surrender."

    "Live your dream. Love your life."

    Or as my Yoda Star Wars quote says, "Do or do not. There is no try."

    ReplyDelete
  6. First of all.....SQUEEEEEEEEeeeeeeEEEE!!!!! OMG! Jean and Stephanie, Kathy and I squealed like little girls when you called about your sale! I'm so excited for you! What an exciting time! YaY! <3

    My view on dreams....I believe anything is possible so long as you put your booty in the chair and write the book! I think we've all had at least one "cheerleader dream" in our lives that had to be edited out at some point, because we wouldn't recognize the unavailability of it had it not happened. But we learned from it and moved toward the dream that was real.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When you get ready to submit I am turning that Disney doodad over to you.

      Delete
    2. Tehehehe! Get it ready....I'm submitting very, very soon!!! :D

      Delete
  7. I'm so happy for you guys! You both deserve this. You're fantastic writers and I'm thrilled that everyone will have the chance to discover that for themselves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Kira. When we first met you, you had just sold. Now I know how surreal it feels.

      Delete
  8. Well, I, like Kathy, DO have a lot of sayings taped to my (old desktop) monitor. And I do love that quote from Walt Disney. It isn't likely that a person with deep thoughts and tons of talent at writing, like you and Stephanie, is going to aspire to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. (No offense to people who DO aspire to be a pro football team cheerleader.) If you DID want to be a cheerleader, you would most likely put forth effort to look like, think like, walk like, and otherwise be like, a cheerleader. But thankfully, Jean, you are you, which means you are a darn good writer, I have no doubt. And I also had no doubt that both you and Stephanie would be published some day, therefore fulfilling your lovely dream of being a published author! Because you were working toward that end, and that that was where your talents were directing you. Now your dream has come true! I knew it would happen. It was bound to.
    After all, God is a giver and fulfiller of dreams, and He loves you very much. :-) Hugs and BIG HIGH FIVES!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have been making this list. It's called, "When we are Published, that's how we are going treat people" list.

      You are on it. God Bless you right back.

      Delete
  9. Still catching up! Congrats to both of you -- it was just a matter of "when," not "if."

    ReplyDelete