Funny. I spent so many years writing about battles, struggles, quests, fighting to accomplish goals. I bled time into characters, trying to make them the best they can be. And now I find myself on my own quest, one full of uphill battles and struggles. Holding in my hand a novel felt strange and surreal, and now the arrows are flying at me. Fears of "What if no one likes it?" "Why does no one believe me? Is it that strange that a 21 year old student, studying to dedicate the rest of his life to youth ministry, would publish a fantasy novel?" Even the fear of "He did it himself, it's not an accomplishment."
Sweat and tears, sweat and tears. I have discovered it is more of a battle doing it all yourself. For better or worse, one must be all parts. Publicist, editor, formatter, graphic design artist, marketer. Some I completed successfully. Others, I nearly failed at. But the fear of failure is overcome by the desire to press on. If the Wright Brothers had given up, where would we be? If Edison had given up, where would we be? While I may not have achieved perfection on the first try, I know in my heart I have achieved something. My struggle is to press on now, through the mud and roaring winds which want to blow me over. How many times must Frodo wanted to give up? How many times do people say we can't rather than keep trying?
I pray that at least one person finds content to enjoy the story I have crafted. Perhaps it is not the greatest literary masterpiece. But I press on, knowing what I have poured into this story. What I will continue to pour in. I seek not only to finish but to continue despite what my fears may say, and as an example so none may say I can't, or I won't. Or that I gave up. And I urge everyone to continue to press on, never giving up. Don't let anyone tell you because you aren't perfect or what you are doing isn't perfect that you should give up. Or you can't do it. Press on. Continue on. Keep going.
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