THE FIRST STEP - DESIRE

The most difficult step when taking any journey is the first one. Without it, nothing is possible.

          And so it begins, the decision to write a fictional book. Over several decades, I started and stopped the beginning of many stories. Some got as far as several chapters, more often than not, some only got as far as several pages. Unfortunately, too many never made it past several words.

          To myself, I was the epitome of the "frustrated writer." Convincing myself that unless it was a great book of fiction, destined for numerous accolades and awards, why bother. At least that is what the voices in my head told me.

          The first ones that I encountered said, "Don't try, you are not that good."

          If I got past them, and I started, then the next voice said, "This is absolute garbage, no one will read it, let alone buy it!"

          Next up, if I continued into the abyss, "Do you realize how many hours you've spent with this? What 50, 100, 300 hours, and still you're not finished? Stop already."

          One day, something happened, and I keep joking that my brain is about ready to explode. After all of these years, I sat down at the computer keyboard, and months later, I completed three novels. The first one, in its final draft, is 199 pages, and 74,000 words. The second one is about the same, while the third is closer to 250 pages, and 90,000 words.

           I realized after I completed the first draft of my first fictional book, that it is a lonely journey, which when completed reaps great personal rewards.

           The story I am about to tell, is one that resonates in all of us. We all have one thing in common, and that is for all of us, one morning, one sunrise, one breakfast, lunch, and dinner, will be our last.


          For me, I just want to make absolutely sure, that when the final moment in my life approaches, I do not look back and regret because I was afraid or I was convinced that I was not good enough. I do not know at what point one goes from hack, to writer, to author, to self publish, but I do know that every step of the way has been the greatest journey of my life.    



I begin...........