Every writer knows the feeling of elation when he or she finishes a book. “I did it. It’s done!” Then comes the moment of truth. I realize that although I am pleased and happy to have arrived, the book I wrote is not the book I intended to write. It falls short of my initial expectations.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean to be negative. I don’t mean to belittle what I have achieved. It is more than I ever dreamed of. But I am not there yet.
What keeps me going is the process of writing, the insights I gain, the joy and (sometimes) the despair I experience. It’s a journey and I may never get to the ultimate destination. But I will reach milestones and enjoy the vista from a mountain top, from where I can see the next, higher mountain. I rest and then go on …
