Hello, SE Readers. Today is Columbus Day in the United States. Christopher Columbus first set foot in the new world on October 12, 1492, but the holiday was changed to the second Monday in October so that people could enjoy a three-day weekend.
I’ve always been interested in history. As a child, the story of Columbus’s first voyage in the Santa Maria, along with the Nina and Pinta, fascinated me. I envisioned large schooners sailing the high seas.
In the summer of 2017, my husband and I were able to see a replica of the Nina in Corpus Christi, Texas. Far from being a large ship, the Nina was tiny—only about fifty feet long on the deck. History tells us the Pinta was about the same size, with the Santa Maria being slightly larger.
Suddenly, the idea of a voyage into the uncharted waters of a vast ocean during a time when there were no modern methods of communication seemed frightening. The odds were against Columbus, but he dared to make the journey.
“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” Vincent van Gogh
Writing is a lot like sailing into unknown territory. We equip ourselves for the journey—a computer, writing software, how to books, pens, paper, etc. We plan our destination by choosing a genre, outlining a story idea. And we set sail.
It’s inevitable that unexpected twists and turns will happen. We can quickly become discouraged. At times we may want to give up.
No doubt Columbus faced adversities on his journey, but he continued. What would have happened had he given up? Yes, someone else would have eventually sailed to the new world, but the course of history would have changed.
Feel like giving up? The journey may be hard at times but remember these words:
“To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep stepping on.” Chinese Proverb
Don’t quit.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill
Story Empire 
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What a beautiful uplifting and encouraging post, Joan! Thank you!
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Thanks, Jan. I love to encourage other writers.
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Reblogged this on Archer's Aim and commented:
The voyage writing shared by Joan Hall today on Story Empire. My own voyage has been on of un expected twists.
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Thanks for the reblog, P. H.
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You’re welcome!
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Great post, Joan. Happy Columbus Day
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Happy Columbus Day to you too!
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Love this post, Joan. Great analogy between his voyage and a writer’s. Happy Columbus Day!
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The writing journey is often like navigating uncharted waters. But reaching our destination is worth it.
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So true.
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Happy Columbus Day, Joan! My husband and I got to see a replica of the Nina in Norfolk, VA, many years ago. It was quite enlightening.
Great inspirational message today. Happy writing to all. Stick with the journey! 🙂
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I couldn’t believe how small those ships were. Brave men to navigate the Atlantic in something that small.
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Inspirational stuff. Thanks for that today.
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You’re welcome, Craig. We can all use a little bit of inspiration now and then.
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Great analogy. Didn’t realize those ships were so small either. No wonder people might have been so scared to travel far away from land.
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I don’t think I could have done it.
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Me neither.
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It truly is the keeping going that is most important. Thanks for a lovely post, Joan 🙂
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Is easy to want to quit. I’ve faced that many times while writing my WIP. But I’ll push on. Thanks, Harmony.
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