Nicole Murphy is an Australian author, living not very far from where I grew up to be specific and while that isn’t really relevant it does make her even more of an inspiration to me.
The Right Connection is Nicole’s latest novella, just released this week, and in this post Nicole tells us a little about the novella and spreads an inspiring message that I would never have thought of. And now, over to Nicole:
Whenever someone starts talking about what to do with your life, the conversation inevitably comes around to a variation of the idea ‘pursue your dream’.
It’s the right way to go. Beyond a doubt. Work out what your passion is, dream big, figure how to achieve it and then do it. It’s a terrific manner in which to approach life.
However, the conversation often fails to move onto what to do AFTER the dream is fulfilled.
On July 14 2009, my childhood dream came true when I sold my urban fantasy trilogy, Dream of Asarlai, to HarperCollins Publishers.
The next twelve months, until the first book “Secret Ones” appeared on the shelf, were bright and shiny and wonderful. It will forever count as among one of the best years of my life, regardless of what else happens.
Move forward another twelve months: with the second book “Power Unbound” also on the shelves and the third book “Rogue Gadda” about to be released, I had been hit hard with depression.
Why? Because I didn’t have a dream pushing me forward.
Achieving your dream is one of the greatest highs you’ll ever know. And it’s a high that continues for a long time. But like all highs, it won’t last forever. And unless you’ve taken the time to set a new ambition, something else to aim for to keep up your momentum, you’re going to fall.
The issue with re-setting a dream is that when you’ve clung to something you’ve wanted to achieve for so long, letting go is hard work. After all this time (in my case, it was close to thirty years), it seems wrong that within just a few months you need to wave it goodbye and set a new course in your life.
My child-hood dream was to have a book published, with my name on it. I achieved that, multiple times. I had the books sitting by my desk as I write. I promoted them, talked about them, spruiked them to all and sundry.
They had been my world, and yet I found I had to leave it behind.
There were a few options. I could have set a goal completely unrelated to writing, but I tossed that aside. My passion was still stories, my dream needed to relate to that. I didn’t want to just have a book with my name on it, I realised. What I wanted was a career.
I wanted to earn my living as a writer.
With that new dream established, I had to act as though this was a new thought, a new ambition, with nothing to back it but inspiration and determination.
I made a business plan. I decided the best things I could do for myself was to write more books, and write better books.
I set myself challenges, to work on my writing and to work on my creativity in general.
First thing I did was step sideways into a new genre. I’m not just an urban fantasy writer now. I’m a contemporary romance author too. I had to learn new skills, hone my storytelling and while time will tell in regards to publication, it’s been a fun experience.
The other thing I did was move into self-publishing. The more words I have out there for people to see, the wider my audience will grow and the greater the possibility I can make this work.
So far there’s been three short stories put out, and this week I’ve released my novella “The Right Connection”. Developing skills like typesetting and cover design is fuelling my creativity and giving me achievements along the road.
So once again, there is a dream. Bright, shining, drawing me forward, challenging and inspiring me. And this time I know that once that dream is achieved, it’s not going to make my life dazzling for the rest of time.
To make that happen, I’ll need to find a new dream. I wonder what that will be.
Nicole Murphy has been a primary school teacher, bookstore owner, journalist and checkout chick. She grew up reading Tolkien, Lewis and Le Guin; spent her twenties discovering Quick, Lindsey and Deveraux and lives her love of science fiction and fantasy through her involvement with the Conflux science fiction conventions. Her urban fantasy trilogy Dream of Asarlai is published in Australia/NZ by HarperVoyager. She’s just commenced a new venture, In fabula-divinos (http://thetaletellers.wordpress.com) which is aimed at mentoring up-and-coming writers. She lives with her husband in Queanbeyan, NSW. Visit her website http://nicolermurphy.com
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
Good on you for doing something about your depression, Nicole, taking the lead on it, and turning it around. I’m sure that your experience will come in useful for some story someday. In the meantime, keep – write – on!!