In Search of Dreams: WIP & Irish Soccer

Aloha,

Writing is much like the pain, the happiness, the anguish and the love that happens when I support the Irish national soccer squad as I have since Euro 1988.

I did not know this before today (because Ireland hadn’t played in a major tournament for ten years), but read for yourself… there are too many weird coincidences for this not to be true, like.

Look, Ma, I'm on the Telly :)

I’ve worked on WIP for about two years, and during the same time, the Irish played about a dozen games in their hopes to qualify for the 2012 European Cup.


Ireland clinched a tournament spot in November 2011.

I finished my non-fiction book proposal about the same time.

As the New Year came and went, I submitted a few queries, while the Irish subbed a few players in several “friendly” games.

As the Irish prepared to play their three (guaranteed) group matches in early June, I thought back to a recent writer’s conference where three agents asked for more material.

I’d love Ireland to win one game in order to advance.

I’d love one publisher in order to get an advance.

Ireland lost its first game.

I got a reject letter.

Ireland played its second game – they got a whuppin’ via a four - zero score.

I got a second reject – and a whuppin’ via a form - Xerox letter.


With two losses, Ireland could not advance – but there’s still hope – to win for national pride.

With two rejects, I wouldn’t earn an advance – but there’s still hope – to write for personal pride.

Courtesy: Sportsfile

Ireland’s third and final chance was this past Monday.

The anticipation as I watched the game unfold was unbearable.

At half-time, I walked to the mailbox.

The anticipation, as I reached in and saw a strange, white envelope was (somewhat) unbearable.




Ireland lost its third game.

Inside the envelope was a (forwarded by the USPS) offer to extend the warranty on a car I sold two years ago.

Ireland’s latest hopes and dreams were squished – but the next round of qualifiers begins in three months. My hopes and dreams remain alive.

I plan to finish WIP soon, and expect edits and revisions to begin in three months. My hopes and dreams remain alive.

(See the video bar on the upper right hand side.) Ireland’s fans are the greatest. They will never quit in their dream of seeing the squad one day hold a Cup aloft in the air.

I’m not the greatest, but I’ll never quit on my dream to one day hold published WIP aloft in my grubby little hands. 

And, as for you, yes, you with that dream of yours.

Don’t you lose hold of that dream, neither, like.










*I’m not Dave, but I’m just sayin’.

(*Used with kind permission of DPK other world productions.)