Competing: Publication Push (Part 2/2)

3 Nephi 12:16 - "Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Continued from yesterday's post.

So the real question is, why would I pursue self-publishing when I see it as such an inferior method?

While I was on my mission in Jamaica, I was reminded of a story I once heard about a man desiring to compete in the Winter Olympics. It is unfortunate the details of the story, including the man's name, are lost to me, but the lesson I learned nonetheless stuck out.

This man wanted to participate in the ski jump. He was, however, not good enough to be sponsored by his country. So, he set about raising the funds he needed to enter the competition as an independent athlete. He worked to get his own gear, he paid his own way to fly to the Olympics, and after much time and effort, eventually found himself alongside the best athletes in the world, competing in his desired event.

He lost horribly.

But that wasn't the point.

For the rest of his life, that man will be able to puff up his chest and proudly say, "I was an Olympic athlete. I competed against the best."

That was the key for me. Compete.

The thing about publishing is that, if I refuse to do anything but wait for someone else to tell me I'm good at what I love doing, then I might waste a lifetime. However, if I truly have something to offer to the world, then I shouldn't hold back. I may not get a gold medal, I may not be a blockbuster hit like J. K. Rowling, but at least I will be competing. At least I'll be able to say I was on the blocks.

So, I guess we'll see where I need to end up on that front once my submission saturation winds to a close.

The work moves on. Now let's get moving!

This was a picture taken beside the eastern bay in my last area, Port Antonio.