Welcome back, Arrowheads!

If you’re new to Authoring Arrowheads, my name is Allyson Kennedy, and I am a Christian indie author of young adult fiction.

But, years and years ago, back when I was seven years old, the dream of becoming a full-time author first spurred in my heart.

Am I a full-time author now, over 20 years later? Not yet. But, it’s still one of my biggest dreams, one I pray God will allow me to live out at some point in my life.

So, how do I cope in the meantime, in this waiting period?

While our first resort in any waiting season should always be prayer (which I try to maintain as my first resort when I’m feeling frustrated with waiting), I also like to listen to my dream-chasing playlist on Spotify. What makes up my dream-chasing playlist, and why do I recommend making one of your own? Let’s find out…

What Makes Up a Dream-Chasing Playlist?

This can be different for everyone, but for me personally, I set out to create a playlist that not only inspires creativity, but also reminds me that God is the source of my talent and that He should always be honored in my craft. Therefore, I’ve included both clean, secular songs that inspire me, as well as Christian songs that focus on chasing our dreams in a way that honors God and focuses on Him.

For the clean, secular songs, I chose songs that remind me of my own journey as a writer over the years. While, obviously, there aren’t a lot of songs about writers out there, there are plenty about people chasing their dreams in general. Some of my favorites are:

• “The River” by Garth Brooks
• “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield
• “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” by Travis Tritt
• “Seasons Change” by Scotty McCreery
• “High Hopes” by Panic! At the Disco

For the Christian songs, I chose songs that focus on building God’s kingdom, having a godly mindset while dreaming, and songs about having faith while waiting. Some of my favorites are:

• “God Is In This Story” by Katy Nichole and Big Daddy Weave
• “Impossible” by Plumb
• “He Knows My Name” by Francesca Battistelli
• “Write Your Story” by Francesca Battistelli
• “Dream For You” by Casting Crowns

Why Do I Recommend Making a Dream-Chasing Playlist?

I made my dream-chasing playlist for two main reasons:

1) To listen to when I need to get pumped up for writing or publishing
2) To listen to when I’m feeling frustrated about my current circumstances

Sometimes, when I’m not feeling creative, I pull up the playlist and listen to it as a reminder why I like to write in the first place, and it helps me want to write. I also like to listen to it when I’m feeling very creative, because sometimes listening to it gives me more ideas, either on fixing current projects or ideas for future stories.

Then at other times, either when I’m having a bad day, am stuck on a writing project, or are feeling down about a negative review, I pull up the playlist and remind myself that God placed this dream on my heart for a reason, and that I need to continue to pursue it for His glory, not my own.

Does listening to this playlist always help me when I’m feeling down? No, and again, I don’t recommend listening to it as a first resort when you’re feeling down about your dreams. Always pray first. Talk to God about how you’re feeling, even including the most minute details. Then, if you’re up to it, listen to the playlist. Some days, if I’m already extremely discouraged, listening to it makes my mood even more sour and I have to turn it off. Most of the time, though, it reminds me that big things can be achieved if I maintain faith that God will use my talent for His glory. And the same goes for you, my friend.

Talk to Me, Arrowheads!

Do you have a dream-chasing playlist? What songs do you recommend?

Aim high, stay strong, and always hit your mark.

-Allyson 😀