Dream: to indulge in daydreams or fantasies. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 1974) Everyone has dreams. I say “dreams” plural, because I honestly believe everyone has more than one. I have many but I’ve reached a point where I no longer care to fantasize about them, but to make them a reality. For example, I desire to become a successful writer and director. That isn’t a thought I want to keep hoping for, it’s a thought I’m working to make happen.
I attended the National Writers Workshop in Hartford, Connecticut this past weekend. This workshop is considered to be the best writer’s workshop in the nation. Over 800 writers from 18 different states attended. Since this was my first year attending, I didn’t know what to expect. There were so many different writers such as publishers, journalists, columnists, editors, fictionists, non-fictionists, hobbyists and a minimal amount of students. Being around so many older, experienced and paid writers made me feel out of my league.
The first Saturday workshop I attended was entitled, “Being in Command of your Story” presented by Liz Balmaseda. Liz is a two time Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the Miami Herald. As successful as Liz may be, she can’t give a presentation to save her life. Still, I have yet to win one Pulitzer Prize for Human Nature, so who am I to judge? At any rate, I needed to ask this columnist what she does when she gets “writer’s block.” After her presentation, I waited in line to ask her for advice. I overheard Liz speaking to an older woman. The woman asked, “Hi, what kind of advice would you have for a middle age woman trying to understand this new era? Where can I fit in?” Liz went on to say something along the lines of, “Well the such and such prize winner was 60. I’ve started writing a screenplay and that is definitely not just for the young writers. We can do it too.”
The “out of my league,” feeling kicked in hard as Liz turned to me. Liz’s middle age empowerment oozed off her as I asked my question about writer’s block. Her response was, “Well you need to move on and surround yourself with a new environment, oh and don’t watch so much TV.” She then brushed me away so she could get to her book signing. First of all, I don’t even have basic TV, let alone cable. Second, not only did her presentation flat out suck, she didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know! I suppose credentials don’t always necessarily qualify for knowledge. I started to re-evaluate myself and wonder if I should find another career choice, until I attended a Sunday workshop entitled, “The Column: Highs and Lows.”
The two speakers were columnists from the Hartford Courant. Susan Campbell won the Media Merit Award from the National Women’s Political Caucus. Helen Ubinas was a member of the Courant’s 1999 Pulitzer Prize team for breaking news. Since I had been dealing with ego driven writers all weekend, I assumed these women would be no different. When they began speaking, my impression was they were direct, blunt and had a great sense of humor I liked them instantly. I have never professionally fit in with a group of people as I did with them and the rest of the columnists in the room. These women were genuinely interested in sharing their ideas as well as listening to others in the crowd. They gave ways to find something to write about and cracked jokes only columnists could understand. All this made me remember why I wanted to write a column in the first place. At one point I mentioned that I had a column for three and a half years that ran every week. She asked me if I have ever submitted a column that was awful. “Most definitely!” I replied. Susan came back with, “Oh yeah? My last column was about spam but at least I hit my deadline!” Their speech inspired me and made me realize, I’m far from being out of my league, I’m experienced and coming into a prime.
It isn’t just me, it’s everyone in their twenties who is committed to the field(s) they desire to go into. If you are passionate, motivated and driven for what you want to do, now is the time to present yourself and hunt for the opportunities. Forget about who is already in the field you are getting into. Intimidation will immediately drive you out, which is what they want. The less young, educated, enthusiastic competition, the better. We are the ones in the hot spot who are up and coming. The trick is making you think you aren’t. I wish all the graduating seniors well in their careers. Go out there and give ‘em hell!