By Dame Kaz
Do you want it?
I’m talking about writing, of course. 
Dame Devon’s excellent post yesterday about success got me thinking about this.
WANT. It’s almost a dirty word, to some people. It’s about expressing our desires and whether we’re talking about writing fiction or events in our ‘real lives,’ desire is a powerful force.
If you’re stuck in your writing, as I was during my late twenties and early thirties, one way through the swamp is to figure out what you really want. Our ‘wants’ show us the way out, because they express who we truly are and what we really desire. Nobody gets unstuck without first making a commitment to wanting. Even if that commitment is nothing more complicated than: I want to feel better. Or: I want to write. I want to be published.
In January 2007 I made a commitment of my own. I expressed a desire and so far I have taken one step after another towards that desire in the past two years. I’m not talking about goals here. I think wanting is different. You need to define the ‘want’ before you can set goals. At the beginning of 2007 I said: I’m miserable. I’m not writing and I should be. What happened to that teenager who wrote every day? What happened to that young woman in her early twenties who wrote short stories and even began submitting them?
Somebody asked me: What do you want?
And I knew immediately: I want to write and I want to be published. I even want to make this work for me as a career, one day.
Too many people I know never actually say what it is that they want. It can be scary, putting it out there and maybe thinking that you’ll be laughed at. Or accused of being selfish. Or patronized. But it’s so important to say what you want – if only to yourself – in order to move forwards and stop feeling stuck.
Once I openly stated the desire, only then came the task of setting goals. But that’s a whole other story! Wanting comes with two important and distinct parts – expressing the desire, then putting it into action. Affirmations can be helpful in supporting our desires, but they’re not enough on their own.
In celebration of us stating what we want from our writing lives, I’m giving away two books to one winner. I have signed copies of the first two books in Rachel Caine’s Weather Wardens series, Ill Wind and Heat Stroke. I met Rachel at an event last week, and she’s an amazing lady – so down-to-earth and fun and kind. Yes, I am officially a fan! 
If you’d like to win both books, just leave a comment on this entry by the end of the day Saturday May 30th 2009. I’ll announce the winner here on Sunday 31st. If you want to openly share something you really want in your comment, that’s cool. Um… but keep it clean, okay? *g* Writing ‘wants’ especially welcome! But you don’t have to – any comment saying you’d like to be entered is fine.
The giveaway is open to all.
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Tags: Contests, Karen Mahoney, writing
I WANT to win the lottery, but I’ll be happy to accept books instead! Unless you have some pull with the lottery…
I want not to be made redundant I love my job, fingers crossed should know by the end of the week.
Either way winning some books would make me feel better.
Just got up to date with the Morganville series and would love to read these.
I think I’m with Zita about the Lotto. But barring that, what I would really want as an artist is to create a piece of artwork thats remembered long after I’m gone.
I met Rachel on Saturday, and I tell you what, I wanted to take her home with me because she’s absolutely lovely! lol
Anyways, I’ll settle for wanting those two books, because I doubt she’d find my place very inspiring to continue writing those fab Morganville books!
Yeah, I have her Morganville series as well. And I have to agree, wining the lottery would be like a dream come true – knowing me though, I’d spend it all on books, and maybe a holiday.
Don’t put me in for this since I have Rachel’s books! You’re in for a treat reading this series! I wanted to reply to this post anyways
When I was in HS, I remember while working in the library (I lived in there my mom said, LOL) I was told there was people there from the local colleges if I wanted to speak with anyone. I had thought about going but didn’t know how I was going to go about that since I couldn’t hear nor knew any sign language then. They told me one counselor wanted to talk to me so I gave in and went there. Asked me what I was going to do after college and I was vague. Then said ‘What do you WANT to do?” and he emphasized it and told me not what others or what I should do but what I WANTED to do. I talked of helping others with all I wanted to do. They told me I could. It was the first time I really was asked. Yep I went all the way to getting my Masters and loved working in this area until I had to leave due to health but I’m so glad someone asked what I wanted 
I want to pass Statistics class. SO bad. And I such at math, but I’m trying!
Oh, and talking about the blasted class? Time to get ready for it!
Hi
I can relate to that blog. It’s akin to my own life. I am now doing what you have done, putting all my energy behind achieving my “Want”, for I “Want” to be a published author: not self-published but by a real Publisher. Thank you for the blog. And the contest.
My main want is to finish college and quickly! Then I want while I’m teaching I want to focus on my writing more.
I also want a million dollars!
I love Rachel Caine and would be so happy to own signed copies of her books.
I want to be a writer. My goal is to work immensely hard on my current “hope-to-be-a-novel-someday-soon”. As soon as I can get to where I like it, I need to find some sort of critique group or whatever and then on to the harder steps of getting towards being published. It looks like a long and enduring road, but I am willing to take it. I have had this goal, to be a writer, ever since I was in seventh grade and I have not changed my dream career yet and I don’t plan too. Now finding a “job” to make ends meet until I get to my dream is another story.
Please enter me in the contest too. I LOVE Rachel Caine’s Weather Wardens series. I really love her new on too with the Djinn. It was so awwwwesome!
Thirties? You can’t be in your thirties – you look so youthful! You’re totally a twenty-something
Ah, Tez. You’re very kind. I will be 36 next month. *checks date of birth* Yes, it’s true.
*sigh*
When people meet me, I want them to think I am a pretty cool chick.
I want to walk into Barnes & Noble and see my book all glossy and new on the shelf.
I want to pay my credit card off! I’d love to be included.
Dame Kaz, you are just a puppy. *g*
I want to win the lottery, too. The chances of my getting my other wants are much higher. I want an agent. I want both of my series (the paranormal and my romantic suspense with paranormal elements) tp sell. But most of all, I want to write every day with fresh insight and imagination and continue to grow in my craft. I want to be a better writer.
Yeah, yeah. I’m greedy. What can I say?
I want to have a wonderful summer!
I’d love to be entered.
As far as wants go, today my biggest want is Richelle Mead’s book Succubus Heat… but no neighborhood Borders or B&Ns have them!!!! Grrr!
My big “want” is to get off my butt and start querying again. : ) Total lazy bum, I am!
I want to have a guilt-free existence, but since that’s as likely to happen as the Moon exploding tomorrow I’ll settle for wanting to have a future I can look forward to.
I want to go to Hawaii for vacation and to Europe someday too.
I want to pay off my credit cards and i would love to win these books.
I WANT to land an agent and a publisher for my manuscript, to see my writing dream come true, too!
I want to win those books!
Thanks for the contest…
I’ve only recently admitted to myself that I want to make money writing fiction. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but never dared to “want” a career as a writer. Now I do. I also want the courage to admit that to those around me, which is harder than it should be, I think…
I WANT…to be a published writer. I want writing to be my career. I’ve wanted it for so long and have only been admitting it to those I love recently, within the last…maybe five months or so. It wasn’t until I had my first novel finished that it really hit me. I WANT TO WRITE. I’d been looking for something to do with my life and this is it.
Thanks Dame Kaz for making me say it out loud *sorta*
Thanks for reaffirming that it’s ok to discuss what one wants! I want to get out of retail and make my living writing and shooting photos!
I want to be published. I will be published. A lot
Good luck Kaz!
I would love to get my thought down, I want to be able to write, but it’s such hard work. I’d also taking winning the lottery, but such I don’t play, no pay. lol.
I’d also love to win these books!
Dottie
I want my second-grader to feel confident about himself as a student member of his class, and trust in his ability to pick up new things. I want my toddler to make the transition to preschool without trauma. And I REALLY want my first round of submissions to have a response – any response at all – beyond form rejections!
I want to have a satisfying journalism career as well as become a published author within the next 5 years.
I’d like to be included for the giveaway. I have the morganville books but not the weather warden ones.
I want to get a better job,nothings worse than hating what you do for a living. Maybe that lottery ticket will help.lol.
Don’t enter me, because I already have all of Rachel’s book and am hungering for her upcoming Morganville release.
My want? Easy. Matt Damon, dipped in chocolate.
I want more time in a day so I can fit in some writing around all my other craziness. I don’t necessarily need to be published (although it would be awesome) but I’ve got this plot dancing around my brain and I’d really like the extra time to sit down and see where this goes.
I want to find a new job…or win the lottery.
I could also do with a giant coke or grape & orange slushie right about now.
I WANT it. I want to be a published author. I want to see my book sitting among the shelves of the big book stores right next to all writers whom I admire. I want to look down at my book and then look at the person next to me ,and say, “I wrote that.”
I want my grandchildren to be healthy and happy. And, of course, I want chocolate…lots and lots of chocolate. (Thanks for the contest.)
I want these books!
I want cheesecake. MMMM cheesecake.
I adore Rachel Caine’s YA series and would love to try her adult books! Awesome giveaway!!
I have a one year old and a three year old, all I want right now is to be able to go to the loo by myself
I so badly want a miracle and to have my horse PowerCut heal so is sound for racing again. In lieu of that I would accept the lottery or books would be good lol
I want to win books that are mailed from outside the US
I have started to write again after a very long dry spell. So what I really want right now is to be able to finish an idea.
I want my family to respect my writing time as work and not lazing about.
What I ‘want’ is a combination of related things: I want to write (and someday make a decent living at it) and I want to have steady, somewhat (how’s that for an understatement) work as a proofreader/editor.
To that end, I do have some work as a proofer and am working on finding some more and have also started submitting the shorter stuff (as well as working on the longer) to various places.
There’s plenty of things I should want over this, but…
I want Adam Lambert to come sing to me.
Straight or not, he still had a voice that makes me *melt*
I want to get at least some nibbles from my query when I send it out next month. *crosses fingers and goes to revise the query again*
First and foremost, I want to be the best mom for my children that I can be, and the best wife I can be for my husband. Family first. Second, I want to be able to write books and be paid for it, enough that I can quite my day job, be a stay at home mom and see my children more. Be there for them in the morning when they get up, see them off to school, be there in the afternoon when they get home, write a little more after they go to bed at night. Most of all, I want to have fun with all of it and treasure every moment.
First and foremost, I want to be the best mom for my children that I can be, and the best wife I can be for my husband. Family first. Second, I want to be able to write books and be paid for it, enough that I can quite my day job. Most of all, I want to have fun with all of it and treasure every moment.
I want to be able to make enough money with my at-home illustration business that I can continue to stay home with my girls. That’s my small term goal.. As for larger goal – I want to make enough money from my illustrations to put my daughter in a great learning preschool (she is so darned smart!!) a few hours a week.
I want…..
Well, I want to have a better body or at least lose 35 lbs.
I want to have all my debt paid off and a brand new house. Oh and all my housework done for me each day.
I want to be back in my 20s again..LOL!!
I want everyone in my life happy and healthy!!
Goodness I could go on and on.
Great giveaway!!! Oh and I want those books..LOL!
I want to finish my novel, and continue writing, get better, and be published.
But in the short term? I want to finally win one of these give-aways!!
I have a simple request, I’d love to win the powerball so i can spend my free time visiting family and friends….and reading of course.
Right now…all I want is for my family to be healthy. We have just come off a long weekend filled with lots of not good news. So, I just want a healthy family.
Great picture and as always you look great and I love Rachel Caine…how cool to have actually meet her.
i want gerald butler
I want a fan club, or a following, if you prefer. First I have to get something published, of course!
I also want to finish my PhD—which involves writing as well.
I want something I can never have again (at least in this lifetime) my hearing back. Seeing as I’m destined to forever be deaf…the next real to heart want would be getting published. I’m on the precipice (crossing fingers).
Thanks for the opportunity! Indigo
What do I want? You know I get asked that a lot actually. My problem is that I want so many things.
I WANT to be a good mother to my 3 kids.
I WANT to be a great wife to my husband.
I WANT to be someone that my friends and family can depend on.
I have to say that I feel that I have reached these wants, and am continuing to do those things.
As far as professionalism goes, I think I want to be a writer. Let me rephrase that..please. I think I want to be a PUBLISHED writer. I am alreay a writer, I write as often as I feel I can, and constantly have stories running through my head. But to be a PUBLISHED writer I would have to put my work out there for others to critique, and I’m not sure that I’m ready for someone to tell me how horrible my writing is. Does that make sense?
I was at a friends new house over this past weekend and saw this little office that I thought would be perfect for me as a writer to hide myself in and complete manuscripts. I even said something to my hubby about it, and our friend turned to me and said “you write?” my hubby rolled his eyes, and said “she writes all the time, it’s getting her to finish a story that is the problem.”
Our friend then turned back to me and said that if I ever did finish a story an dwanted someone to read it I could give it to her. When she said that I had the gut clenching fear of “what if she doesn’t like it.” I have just recently reached a point in my writing where I didn’t care what people thought about my writing, I could write anything and it didn’t matter because no one HAD to read it, it gave me a sense of freedom…but when she offered I got scared again. Since think I’ve been really thinking about it and have come to the conclusion that I AM a writer, but I’m not ready to be a published writer yet. Maybe someday.
I want to be a stay-at-home mom/full-time writer. I will be published, but the other part is up in the air. (isn’t that somehow backward? only me.)
I want to own a bookstore/cafe in a beautiful older brick building.
And to win the lottery/travel.
I want to publish something. Wait, let’s start over. I want to finish something…without quitting because I think it stinks. That and an ebook reader. I want one.
I would love to read the series for I am excited for these book sound really really good. I’d also like to win the lottery but books are much better.
Hello there soul sister,
I, too, want to write and be published someday and make it a career. Right now, my first important goal is to finish that first draft!!
I want to get good grades in college and get my dream job.
I too have noticed a difference between WANTING and GOALS. I want to make a career of writing, and have my first goal of submitting a story for publication by the end of the year.
I’m still teaching myself to BICHOK. Sigh.
Maybe I should be wanting more discipline?
Or maybe more willpower to put the book down and write, not read.
My wants in writing is the same as I want in reading. An escape from real life. Sure, I blog about pet care on the local newspapers website occasionally but that only happens when I get frustrated with work. I’d be a happy girl if I didn’t have to revise and get the details straight. It the actions of writing – the imagining of characters, setting, mood, making the lives of the characters more complicated, all of it that I love.
Would I like another book or two? Of course I would. That and a few more bookshelves would be nice too. So would a clone so I wouldn’t have to type with a cat purring on my left hand as I’m doing right now. At least she didn’t sleep on my pillow last night.
Want… man, there is so much to want. I want to make it through graduate school!
In the distant future I want to be a YA author. But to get there I have to accomplish my current want, which is to spend time writing every day. To get there I may need to switch to a part time job instead of a full time one, but that’s being silly. I just need to carve out time to write every day. I want to make progress and to practice!
Also, I want to win those books!
(Linked to yacontests.blogspot.com.)
I want a new house, and I want to win these books!
I want to win the lottery and win these books for my daughter!
I want to write a story people will want to read. I want to be published. I want to ride my mustangs along new trails. I want to ride Tevis. I want to be a good mom. I want to win these books!
*Sigh*
I want to write at least one novel and publish it before I die. Very happy thoughts, right?
I would like a lot of things, but I’ll start with asking you to count me in for the giveaway.
Enter me please!
My want is the same as your, to be a published author when I grow up.
I want a million dollars but that’s not happening so please enter me in the giveaway.
thanks
Jennifer