There’s a brief few weeks of time, after I’ve turned in my pass pages and before my book’s release date, that I’ve come to look at as a honeymoon period. Most of the heavy lifting is over (at least for that book) and I can take a moment to celebrate and reflect. Sometimes this is when I’m tasked with writing acknowledgements, and at this point, I just want to thank anyone I’ve ever met. The vibe is totally I’d like to buy the world a Coke and have a communal hug. Inevitably the big, wild dreams start to surface.
Earning out.
Hitting the list.
Starred reviews.
Movie adaptations.
A celebrity reading and loving it.
Going viral on #BookTok.
Photo credit: Me:)
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, I’m not such a unique creature that these dreams are just my own. I’m sure other writers have a version of this list. It’s unavoidable – especially when we are encouraged as artists to dream big, and also as we see many of our friends and colleagues crossing those dreams off their own list. The thing about the big, wild (and admittedly fun to imagine) dreams is that for the most part, they are out of my hands. They involve hard work of course, a little fate, some luck, and a let’s face it – a big push from the right people. If these things don’t happen, I don’t consider myself a failure. Writing a book from start to finish, working on it until it is the best version of what it can be – that brings its own feeling of success. Outside validation is great, but at the end of the day, you have to be satisfied with the work.
There are also quieter dreams and hopes:
The book getting into the hands of someone who needs it.
The book becoming someone’s absolute favorite.
The book inspiring a young writer to go on to write their own books.
Maybe some fan mail here and there.
And while these seem much more attainable – are they even measurable? The bigger question is do they even have to be?
No. Once my book is out into the world, it is out of my hands, and most often I’m thinking about something new. But for now, less than two weeks before release, I’m letting all my wildest and quietest dreams run amok and enjoying every second of it.