It all started when I was around 13 years old, back when I was still living in Toronto. I had always done well in English class, especially when it came to creative writing. I did fine with literature (Shakespeare, poetry, etc), but what I really loved to do was write.
Then one day, the school came up with this special program with a publishing company and one of their authors (I can't remember her name, but we did study her novel in class). It was a writing workshop with the author. During that time, we would all write a short story, it would be compiled, go through editing and then published... I was lucky enough to be selected to participate (who are we kidding, I was good!! That's why I got in!! :P).
So, a bunch of participated in the workshop and submitted our work. Now here's the problem... I never followed up on what the book (compilation of short stories) was called or when it would be published... So technically, I am already a published author... but I don't know what the book is called, or whether it is still on sale. It probably had a very small initial run and now sits in a handful of libraries in Canada.
So much for making my mark, eh?
Ever since then, I've always dreamt on being published (this time I would like to know the title of the book!). I've never really done anything about it. I've written short stories between then and now (on my own, not for school), but never really done anything which would be considered a step forward in realizing my dream.
Until about a year ago, of course, when I started this blog... the blog's secondary purpose was to get my creative juices flowing again... need lots of juice to write a whole book! And now, I've finally bought a laptop, which main purpose is for me to write.
Do you know how much I've written for my book? Nothing.
If you get stuck in the middle of the story, it's called a writer's block. If you get stuck before you even get started, well... you can't even call yourself an author, can you?
As far as making my dreams come true, I truly suck!
There are two types of people in this world... those who work hard to achieve their dreams, and those who only dream... I've been the latter for around almost two decades!!
I've got a friend that gave up his high paying job with an ad agency so he could start his own firm... he gathered his savings, borrowed some money and acted on his dreams... he's almost a 'minor success' now, though the last few years were tough on him... but he keeps on chugging along...
I've got another friend who has a full time job and works very hard at it... she tries to earn as much bonus/incentive at her job... and she's been beefing up her finances so she can one day afford to do what she's always dreamt of... opening a cafe...
I have highly motivated and focused friends, but instead of joining them, what do I do? I complain about writer's block (or more accurately, just 'block') on my blog...
I guess it's time to stop the excuses, and begin with...
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times....
Wait a minute... that sounds familiar...
Dear Hisyam,
ReplyDeleteFirst, appreciate that you have friends around you who can motivate you. It is not easy to have such inspiring ambient all the time.
Then, please stop complaining. While you complain on this or that, you will not get things done or fixed. Furthermore, you might be trapped in depression cos you will allow yourself to run away from the problem with a lots of excuses. We always can take out an excuse from pocket any second. Brilliant right? haha...
After that, think proper and plan what you wanna do. Both short term and long term planning. Every single little achievement that you have outlined earlier will motivate you to continue your steps. And, it will lead you to your goal one day.
So, JUST DO IT!! I am not surprised if you have read more than a thousand ways of achieving success. I believe you know what you should do. So the matter is, when you wanna get it started ya? ^_^
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."
ReplyDeleteSounds very Terry Pratchett-ish. Or maybe I am mistaken?
(Hey, blogwalking here... ^_^)
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI was just talking to my friend about the fact that I complain a lot!! So does my friend, but let's not get into that... yet.
Complaining about something instead of doing it seems to be the easier way out...
Hmmm... why do see a blog post about 'complaining' sometime in the near future?
Dear Caveat Lector,
ReplyDeleteI see you also like to remain anonymous, but at least you've chosen a pseudonym... easier for me... :)
Anyway, much much older than Pratchett... It's the opening line for "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens...
Dear Hisyam,
ReplyDeleteSorry I don't mean you who is complaining. Most of the time I get complaints from my friends, complaining on their parents, husband, boss or colleagues, friends, customers blah blah blah.. But, I have yet to hear from them on the positive part e.g. how to improve the situation. If you keep repeating what you are doing now, you will definitely get the same result. If you are expecting some things different to happen, then change your routine. If you want to be singer, do you practice songs everyday or are you doing some thing relates to music? At least you need to sing right?
Why not try this, maybe tomorrow morning, you take another route to work, you might arrive office earlier? =)
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteEvery self help guru preaches about change, but yet hardly anybody does... it's because we are creatures of habit... but it's good to at least try...
btw, i do get to work earlier now... different route... :D
Dear Hisyam,
ReplyDeleteAgree to you. Most of the time, we do know what we should do and how to work it out. But some how, we might not want to do it. Lots of funny reasons e.g. lazy la, lack of motivation la, need support or partner la blah blah blah.. But I do think that there is a common reason - Avoid from the crucial fact, cos you don't want to lose your dream. If you work on it, you know by end of the day, there will be an ending, no matter is positive or negative. If you don't really work it out, or keep delaying it, you always have the space to imagine the possibility, where our imagination is borderless. We can continue to dream and that dream can last forever~~~ ;p
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteYou are totally right... holding on to a dream in your mind is better than dealing with failure... you just inspired a blog post! :D
Dear Hisyam,
ReplyDeleteSince I'm contributing, will I get myself rewarded as well? I prefer $$ in return.. hehe... ;p
But then, no new posting as yet.. Don't be so lazy can? As you know yourself is so forgetful. Haha...
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteYou get me published and I'll give you a commission as my agent... ;)
Dear Hisyam,
ReplyDeleteIf I'm so willing to get yours published, I think I can also work out mine. Yet nothing happened from my end as I don't write for people and the major factor is, I am so lazy and not committed. So, are you still confident to hire me? ;p
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteYou're not committed as a writer, but publishing may be your true calling! :P
So what are you fees? ;)
Dear Hisyam,
ReplyDeleteI think rewards is one thing, interest is another story, character plays important role to make thing happens as well. When my interests level is low but my procrastination and laziness is high, even though the reward is high, i think, you better hire someone else. haha... I can foresee my first pay out will not gonna happen. ;p
Especially now, I'm still enjoying to be a reader than a worker. ^_^
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeletei guess you'll just have to support me by buying all my books when it's published... buy the hard cover and i'll autograph it... ;)