Thursday, April 7, 2011

Following Your Dreams

Some years I follow American Idol, some years I don't. Hubby and I started watching this year's competition after the top 24 were picked.

What I like most about American Idol is watching the singers strive to become the next American Idol. Each week, they try to pick the right song, they practice, they sing and perform. They do whatever they can to ensure that they can sing for another week. They give their all each week, every week.

And I find that inspiring.

We all have hopes and dreams and goals and desires.

Right now, my goal is to secure an agent. Then to get a book deal. And on and on. I also want to have 2 more children. I have goals for every aspect of my life.

For those of you who are also writers, I'll take the American Idol analogy a little further. Instead of picking the right song, we have to pick the right genre, the right title, the right characters, the right story to tell in the first place. We have to practice our craft, and sometimes even trunk believed stories. We write and edit and revise and polish. And we read - to learn, to escape, to have fun.

What are some of your hopes and dreams in your life? How are you going about following your dreams?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Nicole, good analogy! Our success as a writer depends on the whole package we create from bits and pieces we choose with care, not just of our creative project but of our image too. If we take care with all that and dedicate to making it as crafted as possible we can achieve our dreams! Thanks for inspiration.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Dedication to self and to the craft are at the utmost importance. Perseverance is also a key. Dreams are made and earned they are not handed to us. If we believe, we will achieve.

Kelly Polark said...

I used to watch about one show per season just to see who everyone is talking about (and I love music; but mostly rock). I always seem to cheer for the rocker like Chris Daughtry. This year I'm cheering for James.
I like how Idol allows regular people to follow their musical dreams.
Still going toward that published goal. But this biz is a lot of waiting; so I continue to write while I wait! :)

Talli Roland said...

I love American Idol and The X Factor - it's so heartening watching people achieve their dreams! Then again, I am a sucker for any kind of reality tv.

Sophia said...

My hope/goal is to one day be published and to that end I'm writing, improving my grasp of the craft, and involving myself in the wonderful online writing community.
- Sophia.

Sheila Deeth said...

It sometimes feels like trying to get published (and be read) is like playing American Idol. Writing, editing, submitting, learning, trying harder, even self-publishing... I might as well sing in the bathroom and expect to be heard. But I'm working on all of those, still dreaming, still hoping...

Anonymous said...

I love how many online friends I've made with the same dream as me, because that doesn't happen in real life as often. The friends I see every week don't really understand this dream of mine and how hard I work to fulfill it. But they're my friends and they support me. So I keep reading and writing and querying, and someday my dream WILL come true!

-Vicki

Cherie Reich said...

I'd go a step further and say you have to be at the right place at the right time. It can help. :)

I'm still hoping for the agent/book deal as my goals. I really need to get back to rewriting that book. *laughs*

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I'm with you on the agent/book deal dream. :-)

ali cross said...

Same as you, girl!

1. find an agent
2. find a publisher
3. find a girl who's touched by my story

sigh

Theresa Milstein said...

The weird part about American Idol is they always have to perform someone else's work and put their own spin on the song. At least we get to do our own thing.

Good luck achieving your dreams. I know how hard you work.