What Do You Dream About Writing?
March 3, 2008 by joanna
Filed under Writing Space
Are you ready to share your writing fantasies?
Now I’m not talking here about the dream where you chuck in your job and make a fortune as a best-selling author. (Apparently more people in Britain dream about being a writer than any other job – I wonder what the figure would be in your part of the world?)
And I’m not talking about the books you might already have in the pipeline – the ones you’re thinking about, half-writing in your head, mentally slotting in for a year or two from now. I’ve got a few of those of my own – books about the work I do, ideas I’ve got for spreading the word and inspiring people to write in as many different ways as I can think of.
They might not all get written, but I know – somehow – that some of them will, that there’s a serious intention and a positive reason to write them, and that if I manage my time and energy I will.
No I’m talking about the writing that’s a much wilder kind of dream altogether.
Writing that has nothing to do with what you’re currently about, who you’re being, what you’re doing.
Writing that’s something you’ve always wanted to do, since childhood maybe, but never thought you could.
Writing that makes you smile, secretly, just at the thought of it.
Perhaps it’s poetry. The family memoirs. A loving history of the place where you live.
A children’s book maybe. Or perhaps you’re one of those creative geniuses who could illustrate a children’s book. (Now that’s something I could happily fantasise about.)
Short stories perhaps? I know a lot of people who have that on their list of ‘going to do some day’. And for some it’s to get their short stories published – and that’s part of the dream – but for others it’s the sheer fun of writing, the pleasure of mastering the form.
And mine?
I’ve got two.
One’s a crime novel. Perhaps it’s because crime’s my favourite form of escapist reading. Or because a good crime novel is so well constructed, so tightly written. Or because I live in Edinburgh, where the narrow streets are the perfect setting for gothic horror or modern noir.
The other’s historical romance. Totally over the top, feisty-female bodice-ripping historical romantic nonsense. Because it would be fun, because it would really test the range of my writing, because it would connect with a totally different part of my writing self.
I don’t know if I’ll ever get round to writing these books or even to experimenting with the forms. And you know, it doesn’t really matter. I enjoy the idea of them, playing with the possibility in my mind, knowing there’s always more and different I could write – as and when I want to.
How about you? Do you have books in mind that you ‘know’ you’re going to write… and others that you really dream about?
Ah Joanna, what delightful diversion just thinking about this! And you know, I think that just about every woman (and probably a lot of men) if pressed for honesty would say they would love to play with “over the top, feisty-female bodice-ripping historical romantic [or erotic] nonsense.”
My more practical dream, the one I am intent on making happen as soon as I can partner with a good illustrator – a children’s book on the Hawaiian values.
My over the top writing dream? It would be to shed all of my possessions, live a nomadic existence in a new place every 6 months all across the world (including Edinburgh for time with my soul sister and spirit spiller of course…) and write about Sense of Place and cultural callings in each and every one. I am drooling with the wanting…
Joanna, you’ve really touched me with this!
Early in our relationship my husband used to tell me I should write ‘Mills and Boons” books… and even though I never read them, I knew he basically meant romantic stuff… because funnily enough that’s what I wrote for him.
As I have learned more about myself and my writing strengths, I realise that fiction is probably not for me, unless it’s children’s books. I marvel at the plot intricacies of some of the novels I read, and know I could never do that.
I guess my writing dreams, the wild ones, are more along the lines of inspiration… stories, ideas, pictures.. beautiful paper, with a very tactile sense of the book. I have dabbled in making books – as in the paper and the thread and the cover/binding – and I would love to be able to combine that love of paper and physically making the book with writing the words to grace the pages with.
NOW you’ve stirred juices I didn’t even know were lurking there… like Rosa, I am left ‘drooling with the wanting’… (and Rosa, I love your over the top dream – all I can say is WOW!)
Wow!
I am left saying ‘wow!’ to both of you for sharing such powerful and heart-felt writing dreams.
Rosa, thank you indulging the diversion
I love the idea of the book for children. I’m sure you’ll find the illustrator when the time is right.
Your big dream is just that: big, powerful, beautiful. I will watch and wait to see how you make it happen…
Karen, my skin is tingling as I read your words! What a fantastic dream and desire to have uncovered. Now we just need to find the way to make it be…
Joanna
Great stuff Joanna – go the Agatha Christie and Barbara Cartland!
Having written a children’s book (second in draft), I can tell you how wonderful an experience that is! I’ve always had fairies in me so they had to come out sometime thanks to a push by the beloved (not the least bit fairy!) Commonly publishers don’t want you to have your books illustrated – they like to use their own. I had a stab at a couple of illustrators though because the fairies were so vivid in my mind, I wanted to give it a go – very hard to impart so have given that up for now.
Now busy writing a ’serious’ book which is not easy to do with full time work but very rewarding nevertheless.
Thanks Joanna – you keep me going!
Annie, that’s fantastic you’ve already written your first children’s book – and another one in the pipeline. The illustration thing must be a challenge when you have a clear mental picture of how a character or indeed a fairy should look – hard for someone else to capture it.
I remember my own frustration and irritation as a child when I looked at the illustrations in books that bore absolutely no relation to how the characters ‘really’ looked (inside my head!)
I’m glad my words make some connection with you – it’s such fun to write here, and I love the way the ripples spread out…
Joanna
Joanna
I’m late to find the chance to sit down and read my Calm Space for the month.
And what do I find? A challenge and not just from you but the gauntlet is also thrown down by Rosa and Karen.
I too think I have a book inside me and like Karen, I have no desire to be the great Australian novelist. I’d love to do something about relationships but it’s such an overworked genre in the self-help section!
But I’m also delighted to discover another crime fiction lover and I envy you living in the gritty world of Rebus and his ilk!
Chris, I haven’t had the chance to read all the articles yet either… But I will.
I’m sure you’ll find the right frame for the book on relationships – something that suits your style and adds value for others – and when you do, when the time is right – you’ll be away
Edinburgh is tailor made for crime novels right enough – so many contrasts of darkness/light, wealth/poverty, even streets that run over each other, criss-crossed in layers with cellars, basements, narrow tenement closes, underground passages…
I don’t know when I’ll ever get time to do this – but it would be so much fun. BBC Radio Scotland ran a series of tips and prompts on writing a crime novel in February – I’ve saved all the e-mails and links for the ‘rainy day’ (or two!) when I finally get round to it…
Joanna
i want to write the truth.