I have a dreaded disease. I have writer’s ADHD. There is so much swirling around in my head on a regular basis that I go on sensory overload. I save as much I can, scribble down the ideas that flow through me, and feel defeated when I see only two of the thousands that are there have developed into something.
I visit my blog page, click on the “works in progress” tab. “Weathered” stares me in the eye. I hear Blair’s voice in my head. “You didn’t finish the art gallery yet. And I still don’t understand why everyone’s out to get me!” Then I feel guilty. I let her down. I berate myself because Kate’s calling, wanting me to end her torment already and finish that NaNoWriMo project. She wants her story on bookshelves and I’m standing in her way, because I waited too long to return and forgot where it was going. There’s In Time, to which I finally have the full plot line. I have unfinished short stories on my desktop; stories that could be submitted to one place or another, yet I don’t. I get distracted by the shiny new prompts before me.
I have dreams. I want my published books on the New York Times best-seller list. I want people all over the world reading my stories. I want mail piling in with demands for my writing. I want to win contests and earn money doing what I love the most- writing. I’m even considering pursuing a degree in creative writing.
I want more than my fifteen minutes. I want to be a household name. Now, if I could just finish a story.
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This week we gave you a little break from storytelling. We want to know what your goals and ambitions are for your writing, in 300 words or less.
What are your dreams and the obstacles standing in your way? Feel free to share your thoughts in a comment.
Thanks for stopping in!
10/03/2012 at 10:17 pm
You know, this totally fits your header about reality and imagination colliding. I’d say go with the one whose plot you have finished, schedule an hour a day for submitting (or one day with several hours set aside), and give the prompts a specific amount of time.
I’d say these things, but I’d be a total hypocrite ;P
10/04/2012 at 4:39 am
And this week is a classic week where reality collides with imagination. I’d like to switch to the slow lane, please.
09/29/2012 at 2:45 am
I so know what you mean by writer’s ADHD. It doesn’t help me that I probably could be diagnosed for real in real life too. But I’ve learned if you keep reminding yourself what you’re after, it does get easier. Keep going and you’ll do well!
09/29/2012 at 1:42 am
Ah, yes… Writers’ ADHD. That’s a good way to put it… “I want, I will, I can, maybe if I just do this and that and finish that and tweak this, then I can, then I might… and this character would….’ Blessings on your journey and your goals
09/28/2012 at 8:44 pm
Oh yes. I understand too well.
Last prompt created new characters. I can hear them rearranging the furniture and getting ready to take up residence. Sigh.
09/29/2012 at 2:11 am
Uh oh. You’re in trouble now!
09/28/2012 at 6:32 pm
I’m trying to channel the shiny ideas into groups, so I can queue them up. Give me another six months and ask me how I’m doing
Keep working at it. I’m excited to see where the future takes us all!
09/28/2012 at 5:01 pm
I hear you. It’s just overwhelming sometimes. I stopped doing prompts b/c I had too much unfinished already. Finishing is so hard. Starting is so much more fun.
09/29/2012 at 2:12 am
Oh yes, the starting is very fun!
09/28/2012 at 4:27 pm
Just reading that makes my head feel cluttered! Sometimes when I get overwhelmed with all the writing projects I want to get down, I make myself stop and pick one to focus on. It works for me.
09/28/2012 at 1:17 pm
Seems like you’ve got your long term and your short term goals lines up
We’ll all just keep plugging away… 
09/28/2012 at 11:55 am
So true! I think finishing the story is the hardest part!
09/28/2012 at 9:26 am
Yes, i think we can both just flip and your post will apply to me
I’m not so ambitious to wish for NYT bestseller….dammit, i just want my name on the cover of a book in a store. I’d go and take a picture of it in case it never sells lol
09/28/2012 at 9:20 am
I have the same problem! It’s really helped me to get some of my short stories finished. My focus is a LITTLE better . . . wait, what’s that shiny idea over there . . . ?