Wow
One night, about a year ago, I decided to quit dreaming.
Every day, every night, for 20 years, the dream was exactly the same – same props, same characters, same outcome. I could picture all of it with vivid clarity, but the fantasy never survived the transition from sleep to the real here and now. It burned up on re-entry. It lived only in the ether of my mind.
In the dream, I was an author. I wrote books. I spent my days on safari in my own imagination. I was satisfied. I was doing what I loved for a living, and that contentment permeated every hard, dark corner of my existence. Then suddenly I was awake again, and the reality that I was NOT the person in my dream washed over me like rain cloud.
So one night, about a year ago, I decided to quit dreaming. I sat down at my keyboard and began to write. I began to create the trappings of my dream in real life.
It has been the hardest year of my writing life. Rejection has reigned. Every small victory has been countered by enormous disappointment and despair. I have neglected friendships, responsibilities, family obligations. Phone calls and emails have gone unreturned. I have opened my soul to criticism, and I have convinced myself that this is my last best chance to accomplish something for myself – to escape the rut of cubicle jobs, financial desperation and career aimlessness.
Thursday morning, my agent called from New York.
“You have a book deal,” she said.
Just like that, the dream became real.
Just like that, my life changed direction.
It has taken me three days to come to terms with what has happened. I have shared the news with family and friends, and although their expressions of pride and joy have filled my spirit, the accomplishment didn’t seem real to me. This isn’t the kind of thing that happens to me. I’m just a copywriter. I’m not accustomed to achievement or satisfaction or…winning.
I did it. I actually fucking did it.
I wonder what I'll dream about next.
Congratulations!!!!!I found your website a couple of months ago. I went back as far as I could in your archives and read Every single one! I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed them and how frequently they made me laugh until my stomach hurt! I will eagerly look forward to your book. Thank you for writing so that many can enjoy it! Good Luck!
Congratulations!! Funny how good things happen to great people. Keep us posted on the book launch.
Keep up the great work!
Wow!! This is absolutely amazing and I am delighted for you!! I have become an avid reader of your blog (and your tweets) for a few months now and I truly enjoy it! Be sure to share all the details of your book as they come about and I call dibs on a signed copy =)
Best of Luck!!
Kate
Here's to dreams coming true, DGM.
YEAH!
YES! I am so happy for you, Danny!
YAYYYYY! So thrilled for you! Your future editor is one lucky person -- to get to read your stuff for work!
Jesus H Christ, I hope you're me, posting from the future, because that's pretty much word for word what I want to write. In a year. Or, you know, two. Ish.
Congratulations.
Congratulations.
Now you can dream about flying, like a normal person.
That's fucking awesome man. Congratulations!
Most heartfelt congrats to you, DGM.
Things happen for a reason. Clearly you are about to be elevated to an even higher ROCK STAR status and to important and speshul to be a cube rat. :)
Good for you for following your dream.
Ok. That is AWESOME. Congratulations. Wishing you the best!!
Thats fucking awesome! Congratulations, and keep up with the hard work.
You'll always have tons of support from your readers.
*high five!*
Looking forward to reading you! More!
Congratulations - are you now going by Dad Gone Glad?
www.swirlgirlspearls.blogspot.com
Woo Hoo!!!! Congratulations Danny! I know so few people who can live their dreams. You are lucky, you are special, and you deserve it!
Congratulations!
Jolly good.
What are you going to write about?
I could do with a good tome on the causes of the dissolution of the monasteries.
Congrat-u-fucking-lations!! (I trust that's proper DMG-speak)
As a novelist chasing my own first book deal, I know how hard it can be to get the attention of agents and publishers, and what a great accomplishment it is to finally land a deal.
Good work. All best,
David
What wonderful news! Isn't it good to be king?
Oops, I meant "DGM-speak". Maybe that's why I don't have a book deal yet, I keep f***-ing up on this site. (grin)
Can't wait to read it!
Congratufeckinlations.
Send me your address and I'll post you a cassette you can play in your sleep.
It's me getting my wife knocked up.
And Bossy is so happy for you that she is poking her own eyes out in fits of jealousy. How come Bossy has to get like that? XO
I have to delurk to say congratulations!!! I'm so glad that your month has taken a MAJOR turn for the better!!
This can be one entry in the newest book:When good things happen to good people. Just think about how many books will be sold by those who have been praising your writing for so many years. You are a great person Danny and your next dream will be about your accepting the praise that all of us give to you freely. Mazel Tov
This can be one entry in the newest book:When good things happen to good people. Just think about how many books will be sold by those who have been praising your writing for so many years. You are a great person Danny and your next dream will be about your accepting the praise that all of us give to you freely. Mazel Tov
Right on, man! That's awesome.
Go back to dreaming about sex.
Just followed your tweet to this blog post, now gonna go back and read the rest of it. Congratulations on the book deal and keep us posted :o}
I have to delurk to say CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
That's so incredibly awesome! Congrats!
Congratulations!! Caught your tweet. What a great story!
Congratulations Danny!!! We are SO happy for you!!!
That is fabulous news. I am thrilled for you.
Woo hoo! Can't wait to read it. Good for you.
Congratulations and enjoy the moment!
I had seriously wondered why you weren't pursuing writing as a career...lol
You obviously have the gift of words...
I don't know what you'll dream next but, by all means, follow that dream. Congrats and keep us posted.
I am so excited for you!
Fucking-A! That's all I can say...
OF COURSE you did it. :)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Caps lock is totally in order! That is freakin' awesome.
Congratulations!! All the best to you and your book. I often refer to my book as my third child. I can wait to get this one of the house.
Congratulations!! Double thumbs up!!
Let us know when the book launch is and whether it'll be available for international shipping. Can't wait to curl up and read THE 1st (there will be more, right?) book by DGM.
HELL YES! You deserve it!
Yipeeee for you!!! I love you, with or without the book tour. You're the very best!
xo,
your sis
Mazel Tov! Sometimes we have to be forced into our dreams. Now your soul-sucking day job won't hold you back.
Good on ya, man, that's awesome! Congratulations!
I dream that my teeth are falling out, but not in an aspirational way.
Well done, indeed.
This is all kinds of incredible awesome!! Congratulations!!!
Nice work! When is it slated to hit the shelves?
That's wonderful news. Congratulations!
OH my goodness CONGRATULATIONS!! I am so happy for you! What timing huh? Really I am so happy for you!!!