Audrey Driscoll
First, my thanks to Mark for starting this topic. All writers start with a vision or intention that could be called a dream. Those of us who actually complete a book and get it published one way or another get to live that dream. And naturally it changes as we pursue the journey.
In one or more of our WSW video chats, I admitted that until I was in my forties, I assumed being a writer was something you started when you were young or not at all. But then I had an idea for a novel that I could not let go of. “Why not?” I thought. In November 2000, I started writing, and spent the next decade in the grip of a happy obsession.
Did I get published? Yes, but not the way I originally thought I would. During the dizzy first year of writing, I thought of course my book was supremely publish-worthy. Agents would be falling over themselves to snap it up. I even wondered if my holiday time from work would be enough for a book tour. (Remembering this, I blush and giggle.)
The pinnacle of Dream 1.0 was where I would be interviewed on one or another radio (yes, radio!) program on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). That’s still my outlet of choice for information and music. I’ve heard many author interviews. The well-read, well-spoken host asks the author what inspired their book, and the two go on to have a civilized and witty chat. To me, that would have been the ultimate in validation.
Well, it didn’t work out that way. In 2010, I published my first novel myself, as an ebook via Smashwords. Over the next decade, I went on to publish six more books, on Amazon as well as Smashwords, and in print as well as ebook.
By now, I’m onto Dream 3.7, at least. I no longer intend to submit or query. I’m content with the way I publish. I’m lucky that I don’t need to depend on any income at all from my writing. I call all the shots.
But what is my long-term dream?
Like Mark, I hope my books will be read and even reread. Like Berthold, I hope my characters and their experiences will linger in the minds and imaginations of readers. That readers will close my books with a sigh of contentment and a wave of biblio-bereavement. My first novel was inspired by another writer’s story. I would be delighted if a future writer found enough substance in one of my works to be similarly inspired.
Writers Supporting Writers 
Hi Audrey, I never really had a dream that was so clearly formed in my mind. I published my first Sir Chocolate book due to encouragement from friends and I started a blog to market it. It is published with a small publisher who showed me a lot of the publishing ropes. I somehow, never expected to earn a living through writing. Even famous authors like Emily Bronte initially self published and didn’t make money out of her books during her life (I know she died young). Somehow poor and artist/writer go together in my mind..
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I’ve read that very few writers make a living purely from their writing. Most do other things besides, like teaching, public speaking, and jobs not related to writing at all.
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I’m turning 64 in less than a month, but I still like to learn. Somewhere along the line, I decided that writing was just an extension of teaching, but I’m still in the learning phase. I will eventually get to the finish line because I’m the tortoise in The Tortoise and the Hare. I mainly want to see my projects come to fruition so I can someday inspire a couple of grandkids.
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That’s a worthy goal, Pete, and I’m sure you’ll achieve it!
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While moving several years ago, I came across stories I’d written when I was 13 years old, giving me archeological proof of having been a writer for 59 years. Writing, along with art, seems to have been hardwired into me. Being able to spell, however, wasn’t, unfortunately. I dreamed of being a writer at 18, and started college as a journalist major. But I soon realized that I was too shy to be a reporter and changed it the following year to international relations. Shopped a typewritten fantasy novel, a SF novella, and SF short story around to various publishers and magazines when I was 30, without success or the gumption to keep doing it. Wrote a YA novel on my first computer, but only got “serious” about writing when I was 60 and I had a computer with a spell-checker, publishing my first 3 novels when I was 65. But am I chasing a dream or simply doing what I was hardwired to do? Can’t say.
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I think every new writing project has a dream behind it, but needs a lot of practical day-to-day effort to realize.
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Writer’s Dream? Write one good, well regarded piece of substance. One that, when I reread it, I don’t cringe or feel compelled to fix. One that lands on its feet and stands strong and confident and maybe a little swarthy.
And if that dream comes to pass, do it again. And again.
(The WSW site is essentially broken. Likes don’t stick, and any searching in WP for the site (either my followings or just the site’s name in general) turns up bupkiss.)
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Reading the stuff I’ve written and published, sometimes I think it’s great, and other times I think it needs to be scrapped and rewritten, or just scrapped. But at least it’s all out there. I don’t think it’s possible to write something you will always think is perfect.
Haven’t tried searching for the site, since I go there from the inside, as it were. Could be the theme is problematic.
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My dream is the equivalent of Erica Jong’s 1973 Fear of Flying where she had a phrase that started with zipless and if you don’t know it, you’ll have to look it up. I want to write something and have it become painlessly popular. I am old enough to know that it won’t happen but I am not willing to put more time into the effort.
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Ha! I do remember that phrase, Pat. And the thing about writing, is you can start just to see if you can do it, and then you keep going, and it takes off, and next thing you know you have a completed first draft. But if at some point you decide not to keep going, it’s not like a half done piece of knitting that will sit around reminding you of itself.
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Wonderful example Audrey. After I wrote that statement, I read Wikipedia’s explanation and that’s not my interpretation. I was thinking something that happened without effort or planning. You and I both know that even if we are in the writing zone, effort is required
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Isn’t it interesting that older writers (or rather, writers starting older) is a thing? Maybe our brains yearn to be more expressive the older we get.
Anyway, my dream is to get a traditional book deal and earn out. Here’s the part that will shock most people who know me: I’m firmly in the horror genre right now, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stay there. I can see myself branching out.
I don’t think the WSW site is broken. I have similar problems at several sites. And some sites respond perfectly. What the heck? Maybe it’s a theme issue, older vs newer themes?
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It could be that the wider opportunities to publish have sparked people to pursue writing dreams they tamped down while they were working.
Thanks for the encouraging words about the WSW blog, Priscilla. And best of luck with achieving a trad pub deal, in whatever genre!
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I think I’ve told you this already, but I’ve re-read “The Ice Cream Truck From Hell” three times. It’s just perfect, an absolute gem of a story for my favorite season. It really sticks with me, too. Especially the driver of the ice cream truck, for some reason. Super creepy.
To me, it’s a story that every Halloween lover should read. And who knows? Maybe it’ll gain a following, and then one day, the CBC will want to interview the author of the beloved Halloween classic…
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Thanks for that thought, Berthold! Now I have to read that story again.
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Yes I’m still wating to be interviewed on BBC Radio or have my book seriously discussed. I even pictured one of my novels being a Sunday evening television serial!
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Ah, those dreams… But at least we have written books, and published them.
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Keep dreaming Audrey… Thanks for sharing.
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I still do! Thanks for reading, Elaine!
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