Keeping the Dream Alive

In day-to-day life, it can be difficult to stay focused on your dreams. Between work, family commitments, and those little things that come up along the way, you can lose track of time and before you know it you’re looking back over the past day, month or year, and wondering – Where did the time go?

As a person with two pretty large dreams (finishing my novel and moving to France), it’s very important to do something daily to stay focused.

I try to write something daily, whether it be a chapter, a paragraph or just some ideas to enhance my characters’ personalities. But on those days when things come up, i.e., migraine, unexpected visit from an out-of-town friend or relative, or just pure exhaustion, I have come up with a few things that keep the project in mind.

As far as the move to France goes (now just over a year away), I can’t necessarily do something every day to move me closer, but I can do something daily to keep it on the top of my mind.

The new Vision board – Pinterest
For my novel, a historical fiction piece taking place in 1889 Paris, I find and “pin” pictures from that time period (clothing, hairstyles, furniture, etc.), or even pictures of people who look like my characters, then I refer to these pictures as I’m writing. With Pinterest.com, this is now very easy and there’s always something that keeps me inspired.

Music
I love music, so for both my novel and my goal of living in France, I have made iPod playlists I can listen to while driving, doing house work or just relaxing. I have about a few hundred French songs from many different era’s and listening to them immediately get’s me dreaming of Paris.

Movie Night
When I am just exhausted and don’t have the energy to do much else, I watch French films or period pieces (sometimes both in one film). I love listening to the language and I learn a few new words each time. The period pieces are great because they usually have great costumes and they remind me of the way people spoke and interacted back in those days.

Reading
The other thing I have been doing a lot of is reading books that were written in the 1880’s and by French authors. This immediately transports me to the time period I am trying to keep at the forefront of my mind.

For my move, I read books written by people who have already done what I want to do. It’s inspiring to learn what it took for these authors to make the move, and read about the adventures they had (or are having) living in a foreign country.

Do you have a big dream? What do you do to keep yourself inspired and focused?

I have been remiss!

I have been remiss.

Neglectful even.

I’d like to say that the reason is that I have been so busy that I just haven’t had the time to write. But truth be told, I just haven’t felt inspired. Well, at least not until recently.

I suppose I need to catch you up on what’s happened since my last post. Many months ago…

I did go to France. “Lived” in a charming, 1 Bedroom apartment, located on rue de Moscou in the 8th arrondissement. (If you are interested in this or another apartment, please contact www.parisattitude.com)

My Apartment while in Paris

I flâneured (strolled) around the city everyday. Took my afternoon meals in cafés and then sat for hours delightfully watching the world go by as I sketched my surroundings or scribbled notes in my pad.

I met new people, caught up with my Parisian friend Catherine (who I hadn’t seen in over a decade), and visited with some American writers who are currently living in Paris. These authors shared information on getting work published, life in Paris, how they made the International move, and what I might need to do to accomplished it myself.

The main purpose for my trip to Paris was research. Research for my book. A Novel set in 1889 Paris.

This wasn’t my first visit to Paris, but this time I was seeing the city in a whole new light. I felt so inspired by everything I saw and places I visited, I even came up with some interesting new plot ideas. I wrote (by hand) as I sat in cafés, parks and on trains.

I spent a lot of time roaming the butte Montmartre. I completely engrossed myself at the Musée de Montmartre, a museum of cultural history, learning even more about the artists who lived there during the time period that my novel is set.

Montmartre

I took a day trip to Monet’s Garden in Giverny – which is absolutely incredible!

Monet's Garden - Lily pond

I visited Cite’ du Train in the city of Mulhouse – which really helped me understand the trains of the late nineteenth century, which play a huge role in my novel.

Cite' du Train

Overall, it was an amazing journey. Coming back to reality since I’ve been home hasn’t been all that easy.

In the coming weeks, I will be posting some photos and information about the places I visited; I’ll also keep you up with my progress towards moving to France, and what’s happening with my novel.