A Lump in the Throat

A poem begins with a lump in the throat ~ Robert Frost

Your dream journey usually also starts as a lump in the throat or an itch that one can’t shake. It’s an idea so that so ingrained in your being, it’s probably always been there.

For me, once I settled into my writing routines, I found writing a natural extension of myself. Getting up early in the morning, working for an hour before going to work, makes my day go much better. I much more relaxed, calm, and serene during the day when I get up, excercise, then write for at least an hour.

Working on my dream goal is a regular par of my day as eating or sleeping. When I don’t make the time to get up and work on my projects, my day seems lacking.

Tell me about a part of your dream journey that was easy for you.

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Is it possible for two Civil War veterans to find their place in the world on the Kansas Prairie?

My first novel, A Place to Call Their Own is available from Smashwords!

Can two men find love amidst the pervasive culture of  propriety, honor, and expectation of the 1960s?

My latest novel, Need Your Love is available from Smashwords!

Coming soon from JMS Books: Disappear With Me!

Taking Responsibility

Here’s to the power of taking responsibility ~ Jill Badonsky

If you follow me, you understand how much I try to pass along that everyone owns their goals, their own outcomes. Lately, this concept of having the answer for my life inside myself has come to light.

You might have noticed I’ve been a bit quite since about the middle of December. Lots has been happening. My third novel was released the beginning of December, then I got real sick. I know, I know…I probably caused the severity of it by not going to the doctor sooner, but lesson learned.

Then, of course, the holidays became my excuse for not writing or sharing on the blog. In January, responsibilities at the day job, as well as illness, overwhelmed me.

The last couple of weeks, my responsibility in all of this has become more apparent to me. I know that I am in control of destiny, attaining my vision to be a full-time writer. This week, I am taking the first of many baby steps to get back into the same routines that have helped me achieve my goals in the past. For me this also means setting some boundaries (even though I’d like to write Saturday’s and Sunday’s blog post this day, I need to stop for the night and relax) and also reaching out to some friends for support.

I have the answers and only I can take responsibility for my dreams and goals!

Have you had a recent revelation about responsibility along your dream journey? I’d love to hear!

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Is it possible for two Civil War veterans to find their place in the world on the Kansas Prairie?

My first novel, A Place to Call Their Own is available from Amazon US!

Can two men find love amidst the pervasive culture of  propriety, honor, and expectation of the 1960s?

My latest novel, Need Your Love is available from Amazon US!

Stop, Sit, Listen

...There are times when we stop.  We sit still...We listen and breezes from a whole other world begin to whisper ~ James Carroll

I'll never forget the day that a co-worker shared with me that she wanted to write a novel.  That was 2006.  That one brief comment in passing opened up possibilities for me that I had not imagined before.  You see, she reminded me that I, too, had once dreamed of being a writer.

It took me two years to come up with a premise for my first novel and four years to write that first novel. Now I have a publisher for A Place to Call Their Own and it's scheduled for release later this summer.

Sometimes your dream journey reveals itself in the subtlest of circumstance, be prepared to listen to those whisper from those other worlds.

What "whispers" have you heard lately and where have they taken you? 

Gladness in the Ruthless World

We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of the world ~ Jack Gilbert

I hope your 2013 goals are coming along as you wish.  Part of the reason I think that having a vision, goals, and routines in place is because the world is a big, bad furnace just waiting to burn us up and burn us out while we try to accomplish our goals.

But if you're on a dream journey, I think you have make the positivity come through to cool that furnace.  That's where the stubbornness and gladness come in. 

That's the crazy thing about writing.  A good story is built on conflict and tension and there's a lot of rejection.  But through it all, folks are plugging along and publish books.  When my routines work and I fell myself moving forward with my project, that's when I feel the positivity cooling the furnace in the world around me. 

Where do you pull your stubbornness and gladness from when the world is a furnace trying to burn you up or burn you out?

You Have to Let it Out

Dreams express what your soul is telling you, so as crazy as your dream might seem - even to you - I don't care:  You have to let that out ~ Eleni Gabre-Madhin

When my dreams first came to me, I brushed them off.  I thought I was nuts for thinking that I could help make such things come true.  But once I saw that others just like myself were successful, I knew I could do it, too.

When the thought first entered my mind to sit down and write a novel, I passed it off as someone else's dreams.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it had been my dream at one point.  It still took me nearly two years to come up with a premise for my first novel and get started writing, but I did it.  And now four years after starting the writing, I am working on the editing.

So no matter how crazy those ideas that gnaw you might be, listen to them, because it is probably telling you what you should do with your life.

Hoping to be Struck by Lightning

A poet is someone who stands outside in the rain hoping to be struck by lightning ~ James Dickey

I think most dreamers are hoping to be struck by lightning, in both a good and bad way.  And by dreamers,  I mean those who are actively pursuing a stretch dream goal.  Of course we all want to be energized and meet our goals.

But the other part of being struck by lighting are the frustrating things that come with pursuing our dreams.  Look at all the artists we see in tears on results night from the reality shows that we watch.  If you're a dreamer pursuing a dream, you know the frustrations come from all directions.

So you just have to push past it all and keep developing your craft, your art, and your skill.  I'm going through that now.  I have heard from another publisher who needs me to polish the manuscript and has given me some direction in doing so.  I also have a direct contact so I don't have to start over with a query again!  That's one step closer to achieving my dream of being a published author. 

How are you hoping to be struck by lightning?  I'd love to hear!

If You've Got The Nerve

You sort of start thinking anything's possible if you've got enough nerve ~ J.K. Rowling

Did you watch the Opening Ceremonies last Friday night?  Weren't they just magical?  The producers of that spectacle had the nerve to think they could pull something like that off, and they did.  The same can be said for all of the athletes competing in the Games.  They all have the nerve to attempt to compete and there they are competing on the world stage.

I love the Olympics.  Each time they are on, we are introduced to new athletes and hear their stories of what it took to see them competing in the Games.  Each one of these stories reminds me that will enough work and determination, anything is possible.

P.S. - Happy Birthday, J.K. Rowling.  I can't wait to read your next novel!

What are some of your favorite Olympic stories this year?

We Must Discover it for Ourselves

We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us ~ Marcel Proust

I have been blogging for two years now.  If you've been following me you know that I subscribe to a basic five steps for success:  Create a Vision, Set Goals, Develop Routines, Define Boundaries, and Find Friends.  You also know that recently my daily mantra for achieving my dream of becoming a published fiction author has been WWRR, which stands for Workout, Write, Read, Relax. 

And nearly every personal story I tell you ends with, you have to figure out what works for you and your dream journey.  Just recently, I learned an editing trick that has helped me get past a hurdle and back on a productive editing track.  But again, I had to discover it for myself, try it for myself to see if it would work for me. 

That's the beauty of our dream journeys, they are all individualized and up to each one of us.  You may be following me because you're also looking to be a published author and we may have some similar thoughts, feelings, and obstacles in our process.  But only you can figure out what works for you in your journey, and vice versa.

What have you figured out recently that you could only figure out for yourself?  I'd love to hear!

See Your Soul

You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul ~ George Bernard Shaw

If you really love the arts, you definitely understand what Shaw is saying in today's quote.  I definitely relate to characters, stories, and settings that speak to my soul in books, film, and theatre.  If you are in a creative pursuit, like I am, you know exactly what it means to see your soul and have it come through in your creativity.

It doesn't always need to be a creative goal that helps you see your soul.  When you set yourself a goal, sometimes it takes everything you've got to achieve it.  And that's when your true soul might be reveled.  I also call it figuring out that which you're really made.  For me those two goals were quitting smoking and finishing my degree.  And now, more is being revealed as I complete my first two novels.

Whether it's a creative goal or a business/career goal, if it stretches you enough you can see your soul in your work.  In today's rough environment, that's a good thing. 

What soul enlightening lesson have you learned in your dream journey lately?  I'd love to hear!

The Only Failure

The only failure is not to try ~ George Clooney

Once again, I am at a loss for additional words to add to the quote I've chosen for today.

Happy Birthday, George Clooney and thanks for the great thoughts!

Lump in the Throat

A poem begins with a lump in the throat~ Robert Frost

I might challenge this and say that any dream begins with a lump in the throat.  I can remember the day that I read the words that inspired me to start writing A Place to Call Their Own.  I can also remember the day that inspired the writing my next novel, Disappear With Me.  Both of these days are “lump in the throat” memories for me.

Lump in the throat moments have been few and far between for me, so my advice is that when you get them, act on them.  Remember, there is not time like the present to start working a goal or a dream.  Even my mother, who is looking forward to retiring in August on her 62nd birthday, has found a new passion that she’s looking at pursuing.  And she’s so excited about the possibilities.

What lump in the throat experiences have you had lately?  I’d love to hear!

Dare to Believe

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance ~ Bruce Barton

You have to believe that you are destined for great things.  That can be tough, I know.  We grow with well-meaning people constantly trying to give us advice about our lives and vocations.  Sometimes when things get tough it’s hard to believe ourselves that we can overcome some of the obstacles that we face.

The biggest part of a dream journey sometimes is the personal growth you can experience.  I can’t believe that a year ago I was lamenting because writing 250 words a day and this year I am easily hammering out about 800 words per day, easily.  I think this creative energy is coming from three different places.

First of all, my current WIP is better outlined and brainstormed than my first project, A Place to Call Their Own.  I have some very good notes about what is going to happen and that makes writing each scene and each chapter easier. 

The second source of energy fueling my productivity is confidence with myself that I can write 5000 words in a week.   Back in February I took a week off of work and was able to meet that word count total that week.  The next week, I was shocked when I did again, after working 40+ hours.  And then I did it again another week, and another.  In fact, I think the only week since the end of February I haven’t written that many words was the first week here at my new job when I worked a different schedule.  Now it’s a habit and personal expectation that I achieve that goal each week.

My final source of creative energy is coming from confidence with myself that I actually wrote a novel!  A Place to Call Their Own is my first full length novel.  It’s completely written and I am in the final stages of editing it right now.  Hopefully it will be ready for some beta readers soon.

If you would have told me even a year ago that I’d be writing 5000 words per week, consistently, I would never have believed you.  But I proved it to myself I could do it and now I do it consistently. 

I hope you can find some pearl of useful information in my posts about my writing.  If you’re not a writer, I hope you’re able to draw parallels on your personal dream journey.  I hope everyone has a great week.

Discover You and Trust IT

You have got to discover you, what you do, and trust it ~ Barbara Streisand

I recently watched  “Stan Time,” an episode  of American Dad! where Stan takes pills to stay up all night.  By taking the pills, he’s able to feel rested without sleeping.  He uses the time to indulge in his own activities that he’s not able to during the day, like playing a video game.  Francine eventually catches him and wants the pills as well.  They agree to use the time separately rather than spend it together.  Stan becomes the video champ he wants to be and gets invited to a tournament.  Francine uses her time to get an advanced degree and then discovers a rare giant squid. 

My initial analysis of the episode was the difference between what Stan chooses to do with his time and what Francine chooses to do with her time.   Even though Francine achievements seem to be a bit more noble that Stan’s (at least in my mind), Stan does find a goal and works very hard to achieve.

I think that’s what Barbara Streisand is telling us in the quote.  You have to discover what you do and trust it.  Stan discovers he’s good at the video game, trusts it and gets the invitation to the tournament.  I think we all need to be working towards “the tournament” whatever that means in our own personal dream journeys.  For me, that’s the journey on the road to publication.  For some of my friends, the road is a road to direct sales success. 

Do you trust IT, whatever IT is for you?

Not Smart Enough to Know Better

Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible ~ Doug Larson

It doesn’t take anyone special to reach a dream goal, anyone who sets their mind to it, can do it.  Thomas Edison started as a telegraph operator and went on to originate the concept and implementation of electric power generation and distribution.  Alexander Graham Bell ‘s research in hearing and speech led him to the invention of the telephone.    Could you imagine life without either electricity or your cell phone today?

Take me for example, I have a business degree and have been working in call centers and banks for most of my career.  I don’t have a degree in creative writing or English.  That’s not stopping me from writing novels. 

I love the world we in which we live with access to the Internet.  If you want to learn something new or change careers, the Internet opens doors that only public libraries could in the past.  Whether it’s formal training with online courses at accredited universities or just articles you can find online about the skill you’d like to develop, it can all be found online.

So if you’re aren’t already on a dream journey, it’s never too late to  start one.  And with the resources available like never before, you have the world at your fingertips.  Go for it!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

An Awful Mess

So what adventure have you encountered on lately?  And has it made you stop and take note, maybe even think, what did I get myself into?

If so, congratulations!  I’m glad that you made the plunge. 

If not, your adventure is out there.  You just have to figure it out! 

Have a great week, everyone!

Never Think You've Seen the Last of Anything

Yes, never think you’ve seen the last of anything because everything comes back around.

This week, my posts have focused on creating and refining your vision for your dream journey.  This is not the first time I’ve written about vision.  I started with topics on vision when I started blogging three years ago. 

And this will not be the last week that I write about your vision.  Even when you think you have it down, you’ll find something new and exciting to include in your vision statement. 

In past years, even prior to working on my novel, I used December as my reflection month and preparation for the New Year.  It’s just been coincidence that my topics have been about vision this April.  The point I want to stress is that it’s never too late to revisit and refine your vision of success for yourself.

And just like Eudora Welty says, never think you’ll have “finished” your vision for good. 

I hope you all had a great weekend and wish you a productive and dream-worthy week!

Happiness

Happiness comes only when we push our brains and hearts to the farthest reaches of which we are capable ~ Leo Rostan

If you’ve been following along this week, on Tuesday and Thursday, I encouraged you to write a journal entry of what your vision of success looks like in the future.  Now I want you to revisit that vision and make sure it pushes you to the farthest reaches.

Having revisited my own vision lately and taking the time to come up with that dream lifestyle has fueled my writing and progress lately.  On my first novel, it is exciting to be done writing it, but sometime editing can get boring and tedious.  Reviewing my vision helps me get back to the task of editing; I really do want to get A Place to Call Their Own on the market this year.  

It has also helped fuel my creativity and work on my next novel.  I am stretching myself by using a non-linear plot and setting the story in a foreign country.  That will mean a whole different set of challenges and research to make the story believable to native readers. 

And I’m so happy to be in this moment on my journey.  I was a bit overwhelmed at first with the prospect having to balance editing with continuing to write a new story, but I think I have the appropriate balance for both projects.  And I’m still getting consistent blog posts published as well.

I hope you found time this week to create that dream vision journal entry.  Now go back and ask yourself, am I really pushing my brain and heart to the farthest reaches?

Have a great weekend!

Something to Bring to the Table

You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table ~ Herbie Hancock

Just about two weeks ago we finished the first quarter of 2012.  I hope the plans that you have laid out for yourself this year are going well.  I am excited to share that everything seems to be working very well for me this year.  I finished the first draft of A Place to Call Their Own and am working on editing my manuscript.  In the meantime, I have started a second piece that is just as exciting and even more challenging than A Place to Call Their Own.  I planned for all that to happen and even seem to be a bit ahead of schedule.  What I didn’t plan to do this year was to change jobs a week ago.  And thankfully, my schedule gives full support to my writing schedule.  Everything is working out just fine.

If your dream journey isn’t moving along the way you’d like it to this year, maybe you need to go back and re-examine your vision.  Yes, all the way back to vision.  Tuesday’s blog post was also about your big picture vision statement.  Have you really taken the time to have a clear vision in your head of where your dream journey is taking you?  If not, this is the perfect time to stop and take the time to do so.

I compare your vision to outlining and noting my novels a bit better than I did when writing A Place to Call Their Own.  I just started writing with a vague idea of where I wanted the story to go.  Along the way I got paralyzed because I didn’t know where the novel was going.  Once I figured out where the story was going and had the plot completely fleshed out, the writing came very, very easily.  And for your dream journey, when you know exactly where you’re going and have a vision of what you’re trying to achieve, you’ll be able to move forward, confidently, every day, towards your goal.

Did you complete the vision journal entry I posted on Tuesday?  I’d love to hear!

You Want a Piece of Me?

The Statue of Liberty is no longer saying, “Give me your poor, your tired, your huddled masses.”  She’s a got a baseball cap and yelling, “You want a piece of me?” ~ Robin Williams

Doesn’t the image of the Statue of Liberty yelling that at someone make you chuckle?  At least a bit?  Come on you can admit, it’s funny!

I think what makes that image funny for me is the fact that we always picture the Statue of Liberty as the stately lady she is, guarding the New York Harbor.  But it’s nice to think about her in more modern terms, using vernacular current with today’s pop culture.

Achieving your dream goal is a bit like buying into Robin William’s modern day image of the Statue of Liberty.  Sometimes we have to do things differently than we’ve ever had to them before to reach and achieve our dreams. For example, if you told me a year ago I’d be working in a doctor’s office, I would have told you you’re crazy.  But things happen and here I am working for a group of seven doctors.  I don’t come in until later in the afternoon, so I have a big chunk of my day that I can devote to my creativity.  And I don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn to do it, like it did with my other job.

The growth we experience from our dream goals will be different for each of us.  But through this change, we’ll achieve our dreams and goals and should become better people for doing so.

What change have you implemented this year or what growth have you experienced so far?  I’d love to hear your stories!

Any Time Not Spent on Love is Wasted

Any time not spent on love is wasted ~ Tasso

In my life, any extra time not spent on my loves:  my family and my dream, is wasted.  I hope that any extra time you have, you are also spending on your next step in your dream journey.  And I hope that you are loving every minute of it.

And I’m using the term “extra-time” loosely.  Remember if you are working towards a dream goal, you have to create routines and boundaries around your time to make that a reality.  And even after you create those routines and boundaries, you have to be flexible enough to change them.

I recently accepted a new job and will be changing careers just a little bit.  Part of the appeal is later hours in the day that allow me to get up leisurely in the morning and work on my writing before going work (and not having to be up at 5:00AM to do so).  I’ve had a taste of the new routine the last couple of weeks at my current job and one new boundary I’ve had to set up is only working on the novel for about 500 words at time.  Anything beyond that, I start exhausting myself where I can’t concentrate later in the afternoon.  That’s a good thing, because by limiting myself, my brain is just salivating the rest of the day with great ideas that I can type out the next day.  Sometimes I have time to work on them at work as well, so that helps.

Anyway, I hope whatever you spend your time on you absolutely love.  If not, why not find a dream journey to spend time on, in love?