…Of A Writer’s Life
Ah, living the dream, living the dream…
Yeah, but which one? The dream whose definition is a cherished aspiration or ambition? Or the dream whose definition is a series of thoughts images, sensations occurring when one is asleep?
I know, I know, the expression is meant to reflect the cherished ambition. Quit your day job to write full time, and earn a comfortable living as a well-respected, award-winning author? I’m all in!
But in my experience, living the dream of the writer’s life is much more like the second: nightmarish, anxiety-inducing, waking-up-in-a-cold-sweat dream. And rainbows-and-unicorns and pastel-colour worlds. And everything in between.
It’s this version of “living the dream” that is (ironically) more realistic. Writing isn’t all sunshine and roses, as the first definition implies. It’s not all about feeling joy and bliss and happiness every day.
Because writing is hard.
But we often forget that. Instead, we dream of words flowing effortlessly onto the page, a waterfall of brilliance—and then are disappointed when it doesn’t happen.
So we need to remind ourselves that writing does take effort, that it can be challenging, that it’s not always fun—that it’s okay to hate it sometimes. By validating our own frustrations, we feel better—which leads us back to joy.
So yes, I am living the dream: both nightmares and sunny days. To me, it’s worth it.