There are few things that would stand as an adversary to a writer as the enemy known as writer’s block. The towering wall of inability to muster words to advance ones story. The sheer frustration of being caught between two opinions, to find oneself standing in the proverbial desert looking across dunes of words that all look the same. Directionless in your journey. Observing nothing, but sand that silently echoes over more sand. Nothing.
But then you move. Lumbering, walking forward looking for any sign of direction, any hope that might advance you in your prose. It is then that you realize that war that rages within you. A war to produce meaningful prose. A war to combat fatigue, and procrastination. To move ever forward in a relentless march towards your goal.
Never stopping, plodding along basking in swelter as your head pounds refusing to be quieted by all the Tylenol in existence.
You are dueling the fates.
Wrestling with the Darth Mauls that every writer who wields a pen or PC must contend. Lost in the silent battle that is as ferocious as the sword saber slashing of any Jedi.
You — are dueling the fates.
Steadfastly you pound the keys swiping at any mirage that would serve as beacon towards your goal.
It is then that you discover and draw power and inspiration: you smash through the door and vault across the borders of silent muse. To land steadfast ready to run towards the sanctuary of an oasis of prose.
You bask in the stream of consciousness that invigorates you and from which you draw strength. You savor every succulent syllabic strung sentence that smoothly rolls from off your pen. Your muse has awakened. Yet you are not fooled. Although an oasis has found you but for a moment. You look over the horizon of desert that you must still cross. A desert that at whose end will yield to you a promised land of a first draft.
You are a writer–and you are dueling the fates.
D
DonovanDonovan M. Neal is the Amazon best-selling independently published author of the Third Heaven Series: a speculative Christian fantasy four book series that explores the captivating story about the fall of Lucifer. The book takes readers on an epic journey through the celestial realms, offering a unique perspective on the events surrounding Lucifer’s rebellion and his descent into darkness. In this imaginative tale, Donovan weaves together elements of Christian theology, angelic mythology, and fantastical world-building. The story delves into the cosmic conflict between good and evil, painting a vivid picture of the spiritual warfare that unfolded in the heavens. Donovan has published eleven books and is currently working on publishing five more in the year 2023 alone. His books have reached thirteen countries including India, Japan, the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil and across Europe, Canada and the US. He has sold over thirty thousand units of his books and generated over a quarter million in gross sales part time and without an agent. Donovan has produced fiction; non-fiction and most recently published a graphic novel. His genre of preference is fantasy and he has been named among such notable authors as Frank Perretti, Brian Godawa, and the late Dr. Michael S. Heiser. When he’s not writing or working, Donovan can be found gaming or enjoying various forms of media. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and a graduate degree in Non-profit Management from Walden University. Prior to his current career, Donovan served in ordained ministry from 1993-2011 and has extensive experience teaching the Bible. You can learn more about him professionally if you would like by clicking here. His favorite movie is the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. He also enjoys gaming and can be found on the Playstation5 deep in Destiny 2, He’s owned most gaming systems all the way back from Atari and Pong! and has made several friends from his beloved days on World of Warcraft. A lover of such classics as chess and backgammon he loves most games and the strategy behind them. When he is not imagining comic conflicts between good and evil he is helping to secure employment for housing insecure women as the Executive Director of a non-profit in the city of Detroit and also serves in the prayer and discipleship ministry of his local church.
