The Beauty of Dreams

Before I commence with my regular post, I have a special announcement to make! Kit Parker – Book One: Why Rodney Never Should’ve Gone to the NAPIC has an official release date! [insert cheering] I have put the finishing touches on it and am waiting to hear back from the publisher about whether or not everything is in order.

So, I am proud to announce that my book will be available for purchase on Monday, May 12, 2014!!

If you haven’t already checked it out, make sure to read the synopsis and sneak peek of the book here: http://ivorypalace.blogspot.com/2014/04/sneak-peek-why-rodney-never-shouldve.html

And now, for this week’s post:

One of my favorite things about Tangled is the scene toward the end, when Flynn and Rapunzel are sitting in the boat, waiting for the lights to appear. I love these scene for many reasons, but for now I’ll just go into the one. As Rapunzel sits there, waiting, she expresses concern that maybe the lights won’t be all she hoped they would be. And, if they are, what then? All her life this has been her dream. So, if she fulfills it now what will she do with the rest of her life?

The part I love is Flynn’s response. He tells her, “Well, that’s the good part, I guess. You get to go find a new dream.”

As many of you know, I recently completed my book- the second book in the series I’m currently working on. I’ve been dying to finish this thing for a while now. I couldn’t wait to be done. And so, after I typed that last sentence- three little words: It’s a fact- I stared at the computer screen in disbelief.

I’d finished it.

I had actually finished it.

I couldn’t believe it. It actually took several minutes for the reality to sink in. And then I said, quite calmly to my parents, “Um, guys. I think I might have finished it.”

As the reality sunk in, I got more and more excited about it. I squealed some. Bounced up and down. Freaked out to my parents. Grinned like an idiot in Staples while I waited for it to be printed. Mentioned that we were celebrating several- several- times while we ate dinner.

And then, Saturday night, we got home and I sat down at my computer. To write. Because that’s what I’ve been doing for the last several weeks.

Only, I didn’t have anything left to write.

I’d finished it.

And, instead of feeling excited, or relieved, or pleased with myself for my accomplishment, I felt rather empty. Purposeless. For the last several weeks I have poured all of my time and energy into this little book. And now I had nothing. Nothing to invest in. Nothing to consume my time. Nothing to exert my energy on. I was done.

And, all of a sudden, that word- done- wasn’t such a nice word anymore. All of a sudden, it was the worst word I knew.

Because I wanted something else. Something to consume my time, my energy, and my passions.

I’m a writer, I realized. Without a story to tell, I’m nothing. If writer is the word I use to define myself then when I’m not writing what am I? If my stories are the thing that give meaning to my life then without them where is my meaning?

And, I came to realize that I think that’s how all of us are. We all have something that defines us, shapes us, excites us. We all have something with which we identify ourselves and our lives with. It’s the one thing which gives us purpose. That one thing which gives meaning to our lives. I think God wired us that way. For you, it may be something other than writing, but it’s something.

And, finally, I realized I needed to find myself a new project before all this emptiness drove me insane.

So, Sunday I did a little research and inspiration gathering, trying to decide what I wanted to work on next. There were so many possibilities, so many things I could write. I finally boiled it down to three stories: a time travel sci-fi, a modern adventure with secret agents, or a fairy tale mash-up retelling. I was leaning toward the fairy tale since I was kind of ready to work on something besides a modern story, after all the time I’ve spent on Kit Parker.

And then, Sunday night, I opened up a new Word document and began to type. And before I knew it, I had the first chapter for Kit Parker – Book Three written. And so, for now, I’m working on another modern adventure. And that’s okay. Because Kit Parker still ignites my passions. And, she gives me purpose.

How can I complain about that?

How about you? What is it in your life that gives you purpose or meaning?