Wednesday, December 4, 2019

A Christmas Wish: Welcoming A New Year (And A New Decade) With Renewed Resolve In My Writer Self!


Welcome back, friends! Here we are, the final month of the 2000-teens. And like being a teen, this last decade had its fair share of adventures and growing pains--a constant back and forth of good and hard times. Hopefully, I will approach this coming decade with "2020" hindsight after all I have learned (see what I did there?).

Rather than recap much of what is already archived on this blog, I think this month's IWSG question sums up my thoughts nicely:

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.htmlDecember Question: Let's play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?

To be honest, I wasn't sure I wanted to answer the optional question for this month. Is there such a thing as being somewhere in the middle?

Over the last ten years I've managed to do some incredible things that I am very grateful for (finding an agent, publishing two books--one of them internationally, and becoming a licensed counselor), but would I say that I am living the dream? That got me thinking ... what is the dream? Best seller status? Movie deals? National tours? Ten years ago, that's what living the dream would've looked like to me.

Fast forward to now, and the dreamscape looks much different. It's not just one dream, but a sequence of them. A chase towards one, followed by another when caught. I'm lucky to say that some of them have come true and can't be taken away. Sadly, others have not. And that's okay. They can still happen, and I'm in a better place to pursue them now. It's my Christmas wish to do so for the next ten years.

But yeah, writing full time, regardless of success, sound great to me.

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Updates: a few colds and a week out of town slowed the formatting on The Dragon's Heart, so the cover isn't ready to reveal this month. So how's about we start the new year with a reveal? I'm game! If you would like to help spread the word around release time, let me know.

Next month will be a goals post for the foreseeable future. 

Other than that, I plan to enjoy these last few days before 2020 with family, friends, and a few thousand words here and there. I wish you a Happy/Merry Christmas, and a bright New Year in this New Decade! May you find and live the dream before 2030 comes to town. 

What does 'living the dream' look like to you? What are your holiday traditions? Have any New Years goals in mind for 2020?

I'm David, and this Friday the 13th will be delicious!

17 comments:

  1. More than one dream - exactly! I didn't answer the question but I'd have to say the dreams have already happened with my books and the IWSG.
    Merry Christmas!

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  2. My biggest dream is to be healthier since my health has declined and to "keep" my family here and healthy, however, God orders all of that. I love writing so a personal goal would be to finish something and publish. I have SO MANY stories.

    Merry Christmas!
    Teresa

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  3. Dreams change over time. What I'm living now certainly wasn't my dream as a kid. (Except for the author part.)

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  4. Sounds like you've figured out some things you do and don't want. But isn't that always the way? Our ideals change over time.

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  5. Happy Holidays! I hope you achieve all your goals in the coming year.

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  6. Dreams definitely change over time. I hope you find your dream and live it! Plus, drink lots of great cocoa. :)
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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  7. Dreams are, indeed, fluid. I like to think I'm always living my dream. As I achieve my goals, I set new ones. Sometimes circumstances and information require or inspire new directions. It's all part of my journey.

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  8. Life has been up and down for me too and not all my dreams have come true. Being a full-time writer sounds great. Happy Holidays!

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  9. That's true that our dreams change as we reach our goals. There are always new dreams to reach for!

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  10. I definitely agree that writing dreams change! Mine I would say is to make a living - or a portion of - off my writing. I'm not there yet by any means but that would be wonderful. I'd say my 2020 goals are to branch off into unfamiliar territory with writing like new genres.

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  11. You are so right. I too, have more than one dream. Mine seem to all blend together though, and like you, I win some and lose some, but not giving up yet! I too, wish you the best of holidays and look forward to reading you in the new year!

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  12. I know my writing dream looks a lot different now than when I first started seriously writing. A lot less on the fame and fortune side and a lot more of the just-getting-to-write-books part.

    Happy Holidays!

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  13. Happy holidays and every success in the new decade! 🤗

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  14. I'm a big dreamer. Been getting my nose stuck in corners for it since I was in elementary school.

    I'd be more than happy to help spread the word. You know where to find me, right?

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  15. No matter how your dreams change, i hope you enjoy the pursuit, and reach as high as you can.

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  16. Hi David, wishing you a very, very successful coming decade and Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas in advance.

    Finding an agent, publishing two books, one of them internationally and becoming a licensed counselor, you have achieved lots. Hope you achieve all your dreams.

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  17. Wishing you all the success in the world.

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