REMINDER: My second mystery/thriller book giveaway is open until February 20th.
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I watched the film Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond for the first time this weekend. I saw a road performance of the stage play in Muncie, Indiana (a long time ago) and liked the music, but I’d never paid much attention to the title or lyrics of Joseph’s signature song, “Any Dream Will Do.”
For some reason, maybe because I’m always looking for a new blog topic, those words caught my attention yesterday, and I began making connections to goal-setting, reaching for the stars, and living the dream.
There are all kinds of rules for goal-setting if you’re into rules. The goal should be attainable, for instance. If you can’t carry a tune and you have a six-note voice range, aspiring to be an opera singer does not constitute an attainable goal.
Establishing what is an achievable goal for a writer, however, is not so easy. If your knowledge of grammar and punctuation is good, if you’re a reader, and if you have an idea for a unique story, why shouldn’t you aspire to The New York Times Bestseller List or the Pulitzer Prize for Literature? Who’s to say you can’t do it?
There’s another song about dreams, of course. This one is from Man of La Mancha — “The Impossible Dream.”
Do you dream the big impossible dream, or do you choose realistic and attainable goals, taking joy in small accomplishments? I went for what seemed the big impossible dream: getting published. It took a long time, but it finally happened.
“Any Dream Will Do.” Does that work for you? Or do you go for “The Impossible Dream”?
I do go for those Impossible Dreams–why not? It makes life exciting (and sometimes a little crazy)
But, Any Dream Will Do–Donny Osmond–need I say more?
Both. Any old dream (except nightmares) will do, but I still shoot for the impossible. Hey – it could happen.
Marvin D Wilson
I love the idea of following our dreams, no matter what they are. We’ll know soon enough if they are attainable. Something can be gained just from pursuing, even if we don’t make the goal.
Karen
I’m more of an “Any Dream Will Do,” but I do allow myself an occasional daydream that one of my books will one day make a best-seller list or will be made into a movie.
I think it’s good to have a mix of both. You have to keep it realistic, but it still must be a dream! A bestseller list is pretty far out there to me right now, but within my achievement range on a grander scale.
Maturity also does a lot to your dreams. In college, Picasso’s Don Quixote hung on my wall. It doesn’t any more and maybe I should get it back out. This post made me realize that those impossible dreams got me through some tough times, and reality can be a bit of a downer. 🙂
BTW, I posted your book giveaway today.
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
Both.
I like dreams that can be actualised with a bit of stretch. Because they give us something to aspire to, and it is always fun to achieve them.
But, those impossible dreams are necessary too. To give us something to dream about!
“A unique idea for a story”. There’s the rub. I think I take joy in small accomplishments, but I also think achieving a dream comes from one small accomplishment after another. Good for you for putting in the effort to make your dream come true.
I think I’m more an Any Dream Will Do kind of gal. I actually don’t focus on the future much – just take my writing (and the rest of my life) one day, one moment at a time. I figure if I just keep doing the next thing, it will all work out eventually.
Dreams? A lot of things in life would be nice accomplishments, but I think those have to be worked for.
Well said, Carolyn and Jan. I like the idea of having both. Maybe it’s not a matter of “any dream will do,” but “the more dreams, the better.”
Both! I choose both. I have lots of attainable ‘smart’ goals and I have plenty of so-called impossible dreams. Whose to say which is better – I need both!
I guess you could say I go from my dream. Is it impossible – maybe, maybe not, but I won’t know unless I try.