095: How to Work on Your Dream!
095: How to Work on Your Dream!
Wherein I tell you the secret to making YOUR dreams come true
Hey! It’s week 95 of the Draw or Die Newsletter for Visual Storytellers of all kinds. Hard to believe it’s almost to 100 weeks…
Apologies, I’ve been a bit radio silent on social media in the new year so far, I had a couple people reach out to ask if I was okay, that’s sweet. I’m better than I’ve ever been, literally drawing every day, and all day at the new job. 🤘🏻 That’s the dream. Well, MY dream at least. Today I want to talk a bit about YOUR dreams. .
Working on YOUR dream…
“someday I’m going to…” “next year I’ll”…. that’s how so many creators I know start off talking about their dream scenario. And then they give themselves excuses why they can’t start yet. Self-imposed BS, delays. Don’t forget… Don’t delay, start today.
Might not be a tomorrow. So here you are today.
How can you start? TODAY.
Well… I’m gonna show you the secret to how to make your DREAMS into reality. And how MANY MANY have done it, and how you could to.
#1 📝 🧠 💡 PENCIL, PAPER & YOUR IMAGINATION
Flesh out your “dream” a bit in writing. Figure out that WHY. Why is this even your dream in the first place? How do you declare your intentions? Think of a declaration as kind of a notice to the universe on what it is you intend or want to do.
Here’s a real quick example:
THE BIG IDEA / DREAM:
Open a Coffee & Comics Shop
Their first thought/declaration:
“Someday, I would love to open a coffee shop that also had comics and games for sale and mix the two!”
Okay there’s the first problem… they said SOMEDAY.
If you find yourself thinking about your dream and saying out loud, thinking, or writing down words like “someday” or “when I have this then I can do that”, throw out those statements.
Re-write your declaration and make it as if it’s already happened.
“I own and run a successful coffee & comics shop that helps build a positive and creative community”
Okay, now you’ve really DECLARED it. And it reads as if it’s already happening. Perfect.
“A dream is a wish your heart makes…” - Cinderella.
Bet you didn’t think I’d ever be quot’n a Disney Princess, huh!?
Well I just did. Deal with it!
#2 FUCK YOUR DOUBTS!
“But I don’t have any money!” - “But I’ll never have time” … Fuck all that. Throw those “buts” out the window. Okay?
The reality or situation you are in right now is not what will always be.
#3 GET TO WORK!
Yes, I understand, at this point in time you may not be in a position to fully achieve whatever the dream is.
However, you can start where you are right now.
What do you have? What do you usually ALWAYS have?
You have that pencil, paper and imagination.
Yeah, you’re not going to go and get a bank loan or start shopping for coffee shop equipment. Right now you’re going to WORK THE DREAM by sketching, thinking, dreaming more.
Ask yourself, what does the seating look like? Sketch it out!
Visualize the feeling of working there all day… what does that look like? Sketch it out in just a few panels!
Act as if it’s really happening. You’ve opened that coffee / comic shop up. You own it. It’s amazing. You can even tell people this! They may think you’re a little nuts. That’s okay. They ask where it’s located so they can visit….
The Plot Twist?
It’s a comic strip.
Yes, maybe you’ve put all of your dreams for your dreams, your visualizations right into little works of art.
Maybe it is just a comic strip for now.
It’s really amazing what can happen when you really BELIEVE in something.
There I go again… that old hidden agenda…
With my not-so-hidden agenda to get more NEW comic strips out into the world 😂. But seriously, whether you launch a comic about it or not, YOU CAN work out your dream in a sketchbook.
Think of it maybe like a “future self” sketchbook. It’s not just about launching a business, it can also be about self-improvement of any kind you wish to do.
Sketch it out!
On paper, you have UNLIMITED BUDGET and TIME! Put your imagination to the test, and remember that all the world’s BIGGEST ideas, products, all started in someone’s brain, and then to paper & pencil.
How are you working on your dream today??
🔥THE COMMUNITY COMIC!
OKay, last week we kicked off the story chain project. Wherein I make a panel, then YOU make a panel, then I make a panel… so on and so forth. You can take part over in our Discord. We had some fun panels in the first week… here’s just a quick look…
While I originally only planned to pick ONE panel, I saw a few that kinda worked together in a flow, so check out how the first strip wound up…
And here’s the NEW panel to work from…
What would you draw next? DRAW IT UP and post your panel to Discord!
There are some simple rules to follow, so make sure you read those and then post your weekly panel in this thread.
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Last week we went down the rabbit hole with a surprise Wonderland theme… here’s a few from the week…
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OKAY! Let’s get back to the drawing board! Next week we’ll talk about THE FUTURE!!!
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