Most readers of this blog dream of becoming a published author. Those of you who don’t probably already are, but many look to take your book writing and marketing success to the next level.

It seemed only fitting that, as the dream party approaches, we share our dreams about our writing–who we reach, what our books do for our readers and the world, and how our books affect our own lives and work.

At the Dream Party on October 2, we’ll be sharing our dreams as if they’ve already happened. Imagine yourself five years from now. Your dream has come true. What’s that look like?

Here’s the contest. In the comments section of this blog post, share your dream and your vision for your book. Give us some juicy details about a day in your life 5 years from now. On September 29, Tara and I will choose the dreams that most inspire us. One lucky local winner will win a free ticket to the dream party. And we have a prize for the long-distance winner, too–a copy of Tara’s book and my book and workbook.

Contest rules: 3 paragraph maximum. Have fun. Write your entry below as a comment.

Winners: Local winner receives one free ticket to The Dream Party. The long-distance winner will receive a copy of Tara Sage Steeves’ (founder of the Dream Party) book Are You Pregnant with a Dream and the e-kit (by me and Jen Senecal), The Insider’s Guide to Writing Your Best Book in 60 Days.

Share your entry as a comment below and buy your tickets now if you plan to join us–the first 50 tickets get VIP tickets and get to come early for a special event and meeting with the dream team. See the Dream Party website for details.

It’s not hard for everyone to write a book, but I’d say in most cases it’s not exactly a walk on the beach. Yet, even conservative polls seem to indicate that more than half the population wants to write a book.

So, we don’t they? I think there are, of course, many reasons, but one reason I find so interesting is that, in my experience, writing a book  transforms your world. You’re just not the same person you were when you move from aspiring author to published author.

To write a book and reach your vision of playing big in the world, making an impact, sharing your light, letting it shine forth radiantly–that’s radical. And you need to expand as a person in many ways to make that happen.

You find yourself claiming your power, admitting you do know something, sharing your gifts, showing yourself as the expert or creative person you are.

And that can be a bit scary. For some people, it requires going against everything their parents and society taught them. It may not even feel safe to play so big. And so they retreat to a corner and their book remains unwritten, or half written, or written but unpublished.

On the other hand, I’ve seen people come to me who couldn’t write very well–and they knew it–who had a burning passion. They soaked up the rules of good writing and their writing flourished. Once they published their book they had to actually market it. Another hurdle.

Yet, I’ve seen reluctant marketers surprised by how much they enjoy the process of getting the word out. They meet new people; they feel inspired; they get turned on to new ideas and become even more creative.

In short, their world changes.

So, how do you start changing your world? I’d like to invite you to a free teleseminar I’m teaching tonight: Write Your Book: The First 5 Steps. It will get you started so you can shine forth as the radiant person and author  you are meant to be.