A couple of days ago I had a short post on my personal blog about never giving up on your dreams, whatever they may be. Don’t ever let someone tell you it can’t be done, or it’s silly or frivolous. Even if it is silly or frivolous, so what? Who ever said a dream had to be serious?
Several years ago, I was told by a boss that I couldn’t write. Well, not me personally, but me as part of a group of professionals to which I belonged. So I set out to prove her wrong. I’m just made that way. LOL If I had kept in touch with her, I’d be able to point to several e-novellas and my four Brava books and tell her she was wrong. There might even be some sticking out of the tongue involved, at least in my head.
So, tell me, if you dare, what your dreams are. What (or who) have you allowed–or not allowed–to get in your way?
And keep this in mind: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” –C.S. Lewis
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Sherrill Quinn
Follow your passion to the edge…and beyond
TAMING THE MOON – 5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies
SEDUCING THE MOON – 5 Hearts from The Romance Studio
DARING THE MOON – “…Un-put-down-able!” 4 1/2 Stars from Manic Readers
BELONG TO THE NIGHT – Recommended Read from TwoLips Reviews
http://sherrillquinn.com | http://sherrillquinn.blogspot.com
Love that CS Lewis quote! And it’s so true. MM Kaye, one of my favorite authors of all time, didn’t hit an international bestsellers list till she was 70!
Hey, Mia! It’s all about following your dream wherever it takes you, however long it takes you, right?
Hi Sherrill. It’s so inspiring to hear about people following their dreams and making them come true. Remember that old saying “follow your bliss”? My dream for the longest time was to figure out what my “bliss” was, so I could follow it! It took me ages to realize it was writing, and it was such a wonderful feeling to have discovered the thing I felt I was meant to do.
So, then I had a new dream: to not only be a writer, but to make a living (not be rich, just make a humble living) as a writer so I didn’t have to do one of those many other jobs that were okay but didn’t feel like “me.” I’ve been pursuing the writer dream for 15 or so years and still not achieved the “making a living” part, but I’ve worked hard and taken it one day at a time and always felt grateful that I finally found my “bliss” so I have that goal and dream to follow. Now, with 7 books and 4 novellas on the shelves, I’m getting closer and closer!
What I’ve learned is that dreams are wonderful, then you need to do the hard work of breaking them down into concrete goals so you have a practical plan for achieving them. But as you slog along doing the practical day-to-day stuff, you always keep the dream alive in your head to motivate you.
That’s it exactly, Susan! I haven’t made it yet to a point of making a living from this, either, but that’s my goal, too. Good for you for staying the course!!
Good for all of us who stay the course! Especially all of us in the arts world. It seems there are a few superstars who do really well, but they’re maybe 1% of the writers, painters, musicians, and actors. For the rest of us, it’s a really underpaid job. As most of us say, we have to be crazy to be doing this, but we do it because we love it! I used to have a job I didn’t love, where I could afford lattes and new shoes, but you know, I wasn’t as happy as I am now.
Susan, one of my favorite quotes is by Stephen King from his non-fiction book Danse Macabre (and it’s a long one!): “I think that writers are made, not born or created out of dreams or childhood trauma–that becoming a writer (or a painter, actor, director, dancer, and so on) is a direct result of conscious will. Of course there has to be some talent involved…What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work and study; a constant process of honing…To be successful, the artist in any field has to be in the right place at the right time. The right time is in the lap of the gods, but any mother’s son or daughter can work his/her way to the right place and wait.”
Sherrill-
Thanks for the great post. I really like that last quote you put up from Stephen King, specifically “a constant process of honing [your craft].
I read recently that the average superstar in any field–whether it’s writing, lawyering or even gardening–puts in 10,000 hours of work before attaining that level.
You’re welcome, Shannon. Thanks for stopping by!
Here’s the thing: Whatever artistic endeavor you’re pursuing, you need to treat it like a job. And on any job, mediocre isn’t acceptable. You should always be learning and growing, getting better at what you do. And just because it’s a “job” doesn’t mean it can’t be a dream, too! As in “dream job”. Right?
Hi Sherrill,
Great blog post. If I’d given up my dream of being a writer I’d wouldn’t have been published. I sent my book off last year on a whim and was totally floored when I received an email saying they wanted to buy the book.
I think all artists no matter the media have a hard time keeping the dream alive until it actually sells or receives awards.
I’m glad I never gave up on my dream and I didn’t allow anyone to stand in the way of that dream – although I will say I was thrown off track several times.
Hey there, Marie! Great to see you.
I hear what you’re saying. You can get derailed–the important thing is to get back on course.
I’m off to work now. Will check back in later.
Hi Sherrill! I just wanted to pop in and let you know how much I really enjoyed your Moon series. I just finished reading all 3 of them this week. Do you have any more coming out? They were fantastic!
You are inspiring! I love hearing how you’ve paved your own way and proved the naysayers wrong.
Sherrill,
I’m agreeing whole heartedly-
a fantastic topic because staying motivated needs steady effort so your post gave me today’s push.
‘Never give in.’ [from a speech by Churchill during World War II]
Two great thoughts in the comments: Your quote from Stephen King about honing one’s craft to be waiting in the right place for the right time and
Shannon’s comment on needing 10,000 hours of practice. The most recent version of that I read was in one of Malcom Gladwell’s books.
Hope you’re enjoying blogging!
Laura
Barb, thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed the Moon books.
I don’t have any more in that series planned at this point, but you never know when another trip to that world might be in order! 
Lisa, likewise!!
Laura, I’m glad I could push you a little bit today. LOL Hope the writing is going well.
Sorry I’m late!
But I had to comment.
My dream is to make a living from writing, too. It heads my “bucket list”! As always, thanks for your words of wisdom!
Hey there, Colleen! Better late than never. LOL
You’re welcome. I’m happy to share what I’ve learned. Am still learning.
Reminds me of Churchill’s saying “Never ever give up. Never.” I might have added the last never, but it makes the point of perseverance is key.