The Thing About Dreams (and Some GREAT Deals on books)

I’ve been thinking about dreams this week, and what people will often do to achieve them. How far we travel, how hard we work, the sacrifices we willingly make, all for dreams that may—or may not—turn out the way we hope.

That’s the thing about dreams. They generally don’t work out the way we plan them in our heads.

If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you probably already know I’m a dreamer. My dreams tend to be grandiose and maybe even unrealistic on some levels, and yet on other levels, I openly acknowledge that sometimes it’s the ability to dream, the hope it inspires, and the journey I’m traveling that makes me truly happy. And I’m really very okay with that.

I want to be a bestselling author who makes millions of dollars. There. I said it. Seriously, I don’t know a single author who would turn that down. But that’s not why I write. In fact, it’s not why MOST of us write. Some friends of mine have posted beautiful thoughts about dreams and how they change over time. How some dreams might have to be retired to make room for new ones, and how one friend realized she writes to share a bit of her soul with others.

I don’t write to make money, and that’s a good thing. If that was why, I would have been forced to quit years ago. I don’t write to please others, teach a lesson, push an agenda. I write to tell a story. I write because the very act of creating soothes me, makes me whole. I write because it’s part of who I am.

I will always dream. I will always hope that someday I’ll write that book that takes off. Someday, I’ll make enough money to buy my vacation island in a tropical somewhere. Or a yacht. Or, you know, pay off my house and send my kids to college.   

But if that never happens, it’s okay. I may have to make room for other dreams that can be more lucrative, but I don’t think I’ll ever truly be able to stop writing. And so the dream lives on.

What about you? Why do you dream?

PS. This week, you can get a boxed set of seven romantic suspense books for .99 here. This is a SERIOUSLY great deal. Don’t miss out! Also, if you haven’t grabbed your copy of Elana Johnson’s latest release, Elevated, it’s not too late. And if you haven’t snagged your copy of DESCENDANT yet, better hurry! BIRTHRIGHT comes out in a little over a month. 

Do It Anyway

I've always been into positive thinking. You know, that whole believe in yourself and you can do anything...thing.

And I do believe it. I believe I can, and you can, and my kids can. We all have opportunities to succeed, to do big things, to become better people. We all have the opportunity to succeed, even if that success is preceded a thousand failures.

But we have to take those opportunities, and we have to be willing to fail. We have to try out before we can be cut from or make a team, and audition before we can get the part, and we have to apply for a job before we are hired.

We have to be okay with learning how to pick ourselves up out of a hole of destruction and rebuild our lives. Or our self confidence. Or whatever. You know what I mean.

I am willing. Always. Because this is the way dreams are discovered.




What are you willing to do for your dreams?

A Never Surrender Story

(This one is a little longer than my usual posts—sorry!)

For over a month, I’ve been planning this post. Originally, I was going to write (once again) about myself. About how I keep submitting and querying and how I’ll never give up, no matter how many rejections I get and blah, blah, blah.

But I changed my mind.

Today’s post isn’t going to be about me. It’s about other people in my life. People I believe in, and who inspire me. People I know will someday have the world at their feet if they continue to persevere. That person could be you. Or someone you know. Or someone you’re related to. (But don’t ask if it is, because I’m not telling.)

The Girl Who Never Gave Up

There once was a girl who yearned to swim. When she was little, her parents introduced her to water, and she taught herself to stay afloat. Later in life, she visited nearby pools and lakes, where she learned how to backstroke, and breaststroke and butterfly.


One day, she saw a picture of the ocean, with its endless expanse of crystal blue, and knew that someday she would go there to swim and live forever. That same day, a friend told her about sharks, barracudas, swordfish, and a whole lot of other scary creatures who could swallow her whole should she ever encounter one.

And the girl was afraid.

That friend told her that these creatures swam faster than any person, that their teeth were sharper than the blade of any knife, and that they were experts at hide and seek.

And the girl, however much she longed to swim, pictured the ocean as a dark, frightening thing. A place where no self-respecting, independent young lady should visit. But her desire to go there, to bask in that never-ending stretch of water, would not die, no matter how hard she fought the idea.

In the back of her mind, she began to plan. Twice a day, and often more, she practiced swimming. In pools. In rivers. In lakes. She learned to scuba dive, and studied books about creatures of the sea. She joined the swim team, and though she competed well, swam better than many other swimmers, was eventually cut from the team because she refused to stay within the dividing lines.

Then something terrible happened. Her beta fish—a most trusted, loyal companion—died. His final wish was that she not flush him—as most people would have done—but instead, to release his body to the sea. So on that day, when she was more alone than she’d ever been, the girl faced her greatest fear, and also experienced her greatest dream. She saw the ocean. And after she’d released her fish, she dove in herself.

The fresh, cool water invigorated her senses, reawakening the hope that fear had tried to extinguish. She swam and swam and swam until she encountered a shark. The shark opened its enormous mouth, and the girl cried, “Please, don’t eat me!” And swam with all her might.

The shark gave chase, snapping a powerful jaw full of razor-sharp teeth. But the girl was faster, and eventually, she got away. When she made it back to shore, she crawled up on the sand, realizing something about her was different. The ocean had changed her.

Not only was she no longer afraid of the ocean, she wanted to stay in it. Live in it. No amount of scary creatures could keep her from this place, this thing, that she loved. After many, many years, and hours and hours of swimming, conditioning, practicing, she experienced the biggest miracle of her life.

She grew gills and a fin. And with a shout of, “Never surrender!” the girl swam away, never remembering that she’d been cut from the swim team or that she’d been afraid of the ocean or that someone had convinced her that her dream was impossible.

And guess what? She lived happily ever after.

(If you think that story was cheesy, then most likely, it was meant for you. Also, there are a bazillion more cheesy stories where that came from, but I try to keep them out of my “real” writing. Usually. Most of the time. I swear!)

**Click here to read the rest of the Never Surrender blogs or find other blog fest participants**

Dreaming About Agents

I think everyone has a dream agent. You know. The one who will make them rich and famous bestsellers, right? Some authors know all the names and details about all the agents they’ve ever queried, or hope to query, and even have them listed in order of ideals or whatever. (Talking about in the author's heads, here, not just a spreadsheet.)

And that’s all good and fine. Except what if that dream agent at the top of their list doesn’t end up being a good match? Agents can look great on websites and Publisher’s Marketplace, but what if your dream agent and you have totally different personalities? Different plans? Different individual ideals that clash?

Signing with an agent is a big deal. An important, big deal. And while it’s only one more step in a writer’s journey, and certainly not the last step.It’s...you know what? It's kind of like getting married. You want to be really sure you’re making a good decision, that the agent and you are truly a good, lasting, beneficial match. 

So. My dream agent?

1. Loves my manuscript. Seriously loves it.
2. Has good insight about how to improve the manuscript we both love.
3. Enjoys working with me, talking to me, exchanging emails with me, etc. (But not excessively or obsessively.)
4. Gets my voice, my style, my characters, and maybe even my ideas.
5. Has a sense of humor, a good heart, and a realistic view of the publishing world.
6. Is patient enough to be tolerant when I have a breakdown (which I promise won’t happen often, but might happen occasionally).
7. Is also patient when I have an idea that excites me to the point where I just have to discuss it.
8. Wants to sign me and get right to work.

Some people would say that’s a tall order, a long list, a lot to hope for. I know. Just like I know it’s unlikely that I’ll get all that. But you know what? Just like when I was younger and dating—you have to have some kind of standard, some kind of criteria for the guys you go out with. I think it’s the same with agents.

What do you think? Am I hoping for too much? Thinking too hard about it? Messing up my chances just by posting my thoughts on this subject?

I Have the Freedom to Pursue My Dreams

When I was young, this song was one of my favorites. I used to sing it regularly, no matter the season. It's still one of my favorites, and never fails to bring me a sense of pride.

Happy Independence Day!

And a great big THANK YOU to the men and women of the armed forces who have made it possible for all of us to pursue our biggest dreams.

Sunday Inspiration

Sometimes, it doesn't matter why. We have to dream big, try hard, and belive in ourselves--no matter what happens or what other people say. We don't make excuses, or tell ourselves we can't do something. We believe in ourselves and do what we need to do. And when it feels like the world is falling down around us, we still do it anyway.

Write on!

Martina Mcbride - Anyway - Watch more Music Videos at Vodpod.