The Only Way You Fail Is If You Quit.

I remember the first time I heard, “the only way you fail is if you quit.” It sounds like such a simple recipe for life, doesn’t it? The fact is, many times in life we are tempted to quit when we are on the brink of success. Steeped in darkness, we can’t see that dawn is waiting just over the horizon.

In writing “I Knew Men,” and all that has happened since – there have been dozens of times when I’ve been tempted to say, “Give up, you have more important things to do than this. Your author dream is crazy!”

BATTLING THE DEMONS OF DESTRUCTION

When the quitting temptation happens, I need to examine what is really going on. Somewhere inside, there’s a little voice that is trying desperately to be heard, like the little Who voices shouting “We are here!” in Dr. Suess’ “Horton Hears A Who.” Mine is shouting, “You can do this! Don’t give up! You’ll be glad that you didn’t stop!” I picture groups of demons attempting to drown out the encouraging little voice with loud raucous music, a la Frank Zappa or Ozzy Osbourne. A battle rages within.

My latest go round of quit-itus happened in February, when I came down with pneumonia. My poor body was weakened to a state where I was just a coughing, feverish lump. I felt completely useless while I waited for the antibiotics to kill the germs that made it hard to breathe. Sickness laid out a welcome mat for the demons of destruction to come in and have a field day.

I received my third review draft of my novel when pneumonia took up residence. I tried to read the review and the latest edits while I was following doctor’s orders to rest, to find anything new that needed to be tweaked. “Think, brain, think!” It was nothing but foggy inside my head. In my weakened state I was filled with self-doubt about my novel and everything in general.

ANNA IS NO QUITTER

Then, I contemplated my main character, Anna. Talk about facing demons! So much is thrown at Anna over the course of “I Knew Men.” Does Anna quit? Does she give in to the forces that try to tear her life apart? No. She perseveres through several very dark valleys.

Like Anna, I couldn’t give in to defeat. Quitting wasn’t an option. I placed the pneumonia where it belonged, in God’s hands, and all of my cares with it. Better days were surely coming.

And so they have. I’m back – and the third review is now safely in my editor’s hands at Newman Springs Publishing. I think we’re almost there, soon to be ready for typesetting and page design.

That little voice is no longer fighting to be heard – it’s singing again. Onward!