Too Far Still to Go?

So I'm in Week 4 of my Britain's Next Bestseller Campaign for Futurespan, and I am approaching halfway to my target! 9 more to go and I'll be at 125, 50%! For anyone yet to order, there's now a chance to win exclusive, signed bookmarks!! (as you can see!)

One of my favourite quotes is: 'Often people give up quickly because they look at how far they have got to go... and forget how far they have come.' It is so true, as humans I think we tend to look at what we still have to do. We look at people who are successful and get dismayed that we haven't achieved that but we don't see all of the hours of effort and hard work it took those people to get there. One of my favourite ever series of books is The Dark Tower by Stephen King. I look at those books, as I'm sure many people have, and think I could never achieve that - forgetting that it took Mr King over two decades to write those books. If I gave myself two decades (and turned off the TV - see On Writing for King's opinion about this infernal, quacking box!) what could I achieve?

I am definitley guilty of looking how far I have got to go. In terms of my book too. I have 114 pre-orders which is fantastic! It really is. But all I seem to find myself doing is waiting for more, hoping people will pre-order and panicking that I'm not doing enough! And of course I do, it's my biggest, hugest dream ever and it is so so close. Of course I worry.

But remembering the point of the quote:

Firstly I have actually finished my novel, which was just a dream a few years ago. I have spent countless hours thinking about it, writing it, editing it - and it's done! It's on the page. It exists outside of my own head. I have already achieved a lot here. I talk to a lot of writers who are still where I was, trying to get the first novel done.

And on top of that publisher Britain's Next Bestseller have accepted Futurespan (thankyou!). And now I have a chance to get my novel published - which is an amazing achievement and opportunity. I'm 4 weeks in, I have over 10 weeks to go, and I'm 46% of the way there, not bad going huh?

That's just some of what I have already achieved, and I must remember it!

Feeling like you have too far still to go? Don't dismiss your achievements in search of new ones... if you keep doing that will you ever really appreciate anything you have achieved? Yes, strive for new things, a cliche I know but aim for the stars, CHASE YOUR DREAMS! But remember to never forget how far you have already come...