Dwelling on Dreams at Christmas?

 

I’m watching the Harry Potter movies with my kids this week. In The Sorcerer’s Stone, Dumbledore tells Harry, “It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live.”

This line really resonates with me. Writing is a bit like looking into the Magic Mirror. Dumbledore tells us that “it shows us nothing more than the deepest and most desperate desires of our hearts”. When I write, I’m diving into a fantasy world of my own creation and if that isn’t a desperate desire, I don’t know what is!

When I’m in this fantasy world, the real world fades away. I know it’s hard for people who love me, especially during the holidays. I get a lot of “what’s wrong, Mom?” Nothing’s wrong. I’m just not really present. I’m in my fantasy world, building characters or pulling at plot threads, trying to make a novel work.

I’d hoped to submit my YA novel before the end of 2013, but I’m feeling that this month, it doesn’t do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. My kids are growing up faster than I want them to. My husband has some time off. It’s the holidays. I guess it’s time to stay in the real world for a couple of days!

Yes, I’ll probably sneak a bit of writing in at night, but during the day I want to dwell on those around me and revel in the joy that is Christmas! I hope you all do the same!