Do You Dream Of Writing?

I can remember when I was in high school and I told people I wanted to be a writer — a sports journalist — and I received reactions of caution.

“Writing doesn’t pay,” I would hear.

“Getting a job at a newspaper in New York City is really hard,” some would warn. “You have to move to a small town.

“Write in your spare time, but get a real job,” would also be a common reaction.

I thought those people were dream-killers who didn’t know shit, that I was a great writer and would find a way to earn a living at what I love and do best. I would prove those losers wrong. Screw them!

But they were right. Writing pays little, news media jobs are hard to come by in the biggest media market, and writing is something you can dedicate the weekend or late nights to do.

But they also were cowards.

These people gave up on their dreams, if they ever had any in the first place, or so I thought, not really knowing what their story was. I am not them, I would tell myself. Their fate does not have to be mine. I won’t stop until I succeed. I am my writing. Words make up my world. I have a lot to say and believe my writings can make others think, feel, and act differently.

Or, so I thought.

But I did not do all that was possible to get my work published and discovered. I fell into the trap of working to make money and to survive. Then I needed money to start my own family. Now I save for retirement while traveling and going out more. But my writings just antagonize me.

Dreams are what make us get out of bed with some pep in out step. They ground us with hope and a laser focus on what we want to do. Everything gets filtered and defined by whether we are doing something that helps us realize that vision to fulfill our mission. Our sense of identity and purpose are enmeshed in our every thought and action.

Why can’t some of us break through and live our dream?

Too many don’t dare try and fail at the very moment they turn away from their craft.

Too many do try — and make it hard for each other. The world has no shortage of great writers.

Some just too consumed by other things and demands on their time.

But, where there is a will, there is a way. Keep at it. I know plenty of debut authors in their 70s and 80s. It is never too late to live your writing dream! 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 4.4 million pageviews. With 5,300+ posts over the past 14 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs  by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum