October 2021
Hello from Orlando! And Happy Halloween!
Well, this morning I finished the first draft of the next Blake Jordan thriller.
Before you get too excited, I still have a long way to go. I have to write a second draft, then I’ll print the manuscript and I’ll go through it again with a red pen marking it up, then I’ll hand it over to my wife, Missy, who is my first reader to give me her feedback.
Then the manuscript will go to my editor who will work her magic over the course of about a week. If all goes well, I’ll have Blake Jordan #8 to you to read by December.
Sometimes when I get to the end of the first draft of a new story, I feel like there is very little editing I’ll need to do for the second draft. Sometimes, like with this story, there’s so much I’ll need to change to make the story work, it can feel a little overwhelming…
But it’s important to finish what you start.
Because anyone can start. Many have. Starting is easy. But very few finish.
Why is that? I think it’s because many are afraid. Afraid it won’t be any good. Afraid nobody will like it. Afraid they will get burned out, tired, or get stuck and they’ll give up.
Or they’re afraid of putting something out into the world, something that will no longer belong to them, the creator. Something that can and will be judged by other people.
If you have a big dream, get started and keep going…
Don’t stop when you’re afraid.
Don’t stop when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
And don’t stop when you’re tired. Stop when you’re done. When you’ve given it your all.
If nothing else, don’t stop because, seeing something you’ve dreamed about become a reality teaches you that you can trust yourself to finish whatever it is you set out to do.
It teaches you that you’re not just a starter. You’re a finisher.
The theme of my new story is trust. It’s fitting, because the truth is, if you want to see your dreams come true, you have to trust in yourself. Because you’re braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you could ever imagine.
It’s been a long journey writing this one. It took longer than I wanted. But what’s important is I’m not giving up. I’ll get there. Because I always finish what I start. -Ken