There’s Always Another Way

The Wheel of Time is arguably one of the most influential epic fantasy series. It inspired authors like Brandon Sanderson (who finished the series when Robert Jordan died) and George R. R. Martin, spawned a TV adaptation, and helped young people all over the world believe that they, too, could be the “chosen one” in their own lives.

It’s a sprawling series I first began as a teenager, and which I’ve repeatedly picked up and put down over the years, each time stalling midway through the saga. After a few thousand pages, my mind would itch for something different to read and, like the wheel itself, the cycle would turn again.

Over time, life got busier, and my time for reading shrank significantly. Completing a dense, complex fantasy series spanning fourteen books seemed increasingly impossible. Eventually, I asked the pivotal question: “Is there another way to experience this story?”

The answer stared me right in the face: audiobooks. I had long been a fan of listening to non-fiction audiobooks and decided to give fiction a shot. This shift transformed an intimidating commitment into an enjoyable companion during my daily routines. Gym sessions, chores, and my daily commute turned into an epic adventure. Listening to Michael Kramer and Kate Reading bring the story to life felt like cinema for my ears, and I found myself eager to return to the story.

In the end, a series that I had been reading on and off for years took me less than one year to complete. Upon reaching the saga’s conclusion, I felt a mix of emotions. Satisfaction mingled with nostalgia. The bittersweet finality of an ending sat alongside the quiet anticipation of a new beginning.

To me, finally reaching the end of the Wheel of Time symbolises not just the end of a story, but the closing of a personal chapter spanning two decades. I began the series as an idealistic teenager, and today I see its nuance and complexity through the lens of adulthood. As an aspiring fantasy writer myself, I appreciate more deeply the time, craftsmanship, and dedication authors like Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson poured into their work, and have come to terms with the fact that my own story may take years to complete.

Though this shift from literally reading to listening to audiobooks was a small one, it underscores an invaluable lesson: sometimes the key to overcoming a seemingly insurmountable challenge is not simply perseverance, but reimagining our path forward. We often trap ourselves in rigid methods and expectations, unwilling or unable to consider alternatives. Yet, the act of stepping back and asking whether there’s a different route we haven’t considered holds immense power. Embracing flexibility can be transformative. Progress often requires openness to new tools, inventiveness in how we proceed, and the courage to shift direction.

So, dear reader, as you face your own long-standing goals or unfinished projects, I encourage you to reflect on this question: Could there be another way? Is there a simpler, more enjoyable, or entirely different path to completion that you haven’t yet explored?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Until next week,
Ric