Thread: Fantasy Island - Is it just me?

Is it just me, or does anyone else do the Fantasy Island bit when you're done (or near done) with your manuscript draft.

1. First, I imagine myself at Barnes and Nobles, and other bookstores with long lines of people who want an autographed copy of my book.
2. I'm giving a speech on how I created such a masterpiece.
3. Oprah has me on her show (which is now a primetime special since her show ended).
4. Anyone who is anyone has read or wants to read my book.
5. A movie is being created, and guess who got to choose the actors who will play my characters.
6. A record breaking book deal.
7. Global, world-wide enthusiasm about my book! Tours with auditorum full of readers.

Then I come back to the real world - rejections.

I picture this as well, minus the Oprah point. Instead, I see it as more of on a national news program, such as the Today Show, and even having some fun jokes jabbed at it on the Tonight Show, Conan, and/or SNL. But just to bring my fantasy to a crashing end, I have remind myself the chances of that happening are minuscule, and that I'm not even on the second draft yet. Even if it did become a big hit (aka the next Harry Potter-like phenomenon), I don't think I'd let it become a film unless I have very heavy involvement in EVERYTHING regarding it (from casting to director to producer to distributor to gaffer, right down to who cooks the food).

I'm just satisfied with imagining myself holding a published copy of my book in my hands, with my name right on the cover. I imagine showing it to my future kids, too. "Look what Daddy wrote!"

Nothing wrong with dreams and craving the big time. Changing it from a dream to the real world is the problem, as for me i,m still at first base trying to write the first novel so you guys are way ahead of me.

Congrats and enjoy chasing the dream.

It,s not reaching the goal that is key, it,s the journey that will make you better and make you stronger. Dream on

The film thing about " right down to who cooks the food" had me laughing. I have to add another: the actors are ecstatic and honored when asked to play the part. We all know that in reality if there were a film we'd be lucky if they asked us to even clarify something in the book let alone give us a pass to hang around on the set.

Truly, I agree with the I'd be satisfied with the simple: with ONE person having read a published book of mine and given it a good review. Having it published and on the shelf is not enough for me. One of my greatest fears is having a published book that is unnoticeable.

I think my natural desire to head to the top in anything that I do causes me to dream in this manner. (if you met me, I don't come across as cocky . . .I don't think.) But as a novice not familiar with this whole process, I really did think that the "rejection thing" wouldn't apply to me. The agent would be blown away with my writing. She had already loved my story idea when we met at a conference. But I got my first rejection (hers) last month and that pulled my head out of those clouds real fast. I felt so "unplugged" it was like when the weather turns off the power in your house all of a sudden.

When you get rejected, do what Ted Dekker told me once: think that the agent is about as smart as a bag of hammers.

When I was younger, I used to constantly dream about being heralded on TV shows and in magazines, and not just for being an amazing writer, but for my witticisms, my inimitable style and my general awesomeness. Now seeing young people grow up in front of the camera and having their lives and ill-founded opinions broadcast to the world, I'm really glad that never happened. When I was younger I wasn't an amazing writer (still don't think I am), I wasn't witty at all and I dressed like a first-class twit.

Everything happens when it is meant to and how it is meant to to make us the people we need to be. And I agree with you Jae D, if there is one accolade for my writing I would love to get, it would be just one person (a hundred is better, but let's start with one) telling me that they really liked my writing, that it made them feel something and that it inspired them. I think that, next to learning how to pick out a pair of trousers that actually fit, that's the dream that keeps me going.

Yeah. As a writer, if I ever became that well-known, I would take on a persona with such a style of dress that the real me would be barely recognizeable. I think that it is ingenious that Lady Gaga disguises herself the way she does. Most people would never recognize her on the street. Now I wouldn't go anywhere near as outlandish as she.

By the way, Baba that is quite an interesting picture in your profile. What does it describe?
I found myself glancing back and forth at it cockeyed while I read your post.