Wallowing in the dreamland of a writer.

Since childhood I wanted to be a famous writer. At that time the money to be made from writing was more attractive than the fame to be enjoyed or even the quality of writing( I must be honest.). I could see myself like Faulkner or Hemingway or Capote. See myself travelling the world, staying at the best hotels, sampling the array of international dishes available, giving readings of my published works as well as works-in-progress, see myself so sophiscated surrounded by like-minded sophisticates.

Oh, it was a GLORIOUS feeling every time I left the launching pad to soar in dreamland, never wanting to return to earth. I'm quite positive today that had I been able to make the dreams come true , the reality would have fallen far short of the colors, atmospheres, tastes, smells and excitement so overwhelming and limitless in this dreamland. All this, however, is what was merely dreamt. Most of it never occurred. I am maturer now and, of course, have different eyes and ears.

Sure, I like to see myself in print as much as the next person, but I also am concerned now with making what I write available to younger readers. You see, I was a young reader, too, and I remember vividly the pleasure of learning more and more from knowledgeable writers who'd read a lot and researched all kinds of topics for so many years. It was a thirst I had not easily quenched. Of course, I like a hundred dollars for something I produce as much as any one of you readers out there, but, amazingly perhaps, I find that now I really care about having the maximum degree of quality present in my writings. I do, however, know fully that I have my limitations. I don't get mad at someone who points out an error of whatever type. Why should I? I'm actually happy for the chance to learn from such a notice.

At present, I'd particularly like to be more productive in writing and to be able to spend more time working at home. One tires of running all over a large city due to this job or that one. I want to be a genuine teleworker. More important, I'd like to be able to work(writing) with a large degree of geographic flexibility, a minimal degree of confinement. That way, I could be in NYC one month, Kingston another, a place in Europe maybe several months running--you name it.

Am I soaring somewhere in dreamland again? Who can say for sure? A L Williams knows a few things about dreams. He knows about dreams becoming reality because he has lived these experiences. He's from Georgia same as I. Mark Twain, Maupaussant, Wouk, Maugham and others probably spent part of their lives living the way I describe since each one in his time was a highly successful author(economically and otherwise). We don't know how long we'll be around, though. Maugham lived one of the longest lives of a writer whereas the Frenchman's was rather short. Biography is, to me, high on my interests and I can't recommend it too often. Harry Truman was an avid reader of biography.

Take Agatha Christie. Wow, she and Max must have really had some fantastic trips and experiences. He was her second husband. Christie was not only a great author who provided pleasurable hours for millions of readers, she also lived a life that could pale that of practically any of her famous characters. She probably gives us a wee taste of this life through the character of Miss Marple. We think of comfort and creature comforts, don't we?

Couldn't I go on and on? Yes, because I like talking writing and writers. In another essay I'm going to talk about how I live on top of a high mountain with millions of others. There is a year-round October climate. And in another I'm going to talk about some of the joys of reading. Yes, it's a chaotic and troubled world, but there are still little joys to be had while we live in it. Little joys whose continuity we have to safeguard. Ciao.