.Still--my own crippling self-doubt (something I've fought all my life)
Oh how I identify with that statement. It is debilitating, soul wrenching and so hard to overcome. And yet others look at our writing, the mask that we have so strongly learnt to portray and don't believe we really struggle as we do. Well, that's my story anyway. Now, enough of that.
I don't believe that the problem is in the lesson difficulty or in fact anything to do with the lessons or you. The simple truth is that people are not as active at this as much as they used to be; even reading and writing is not what it once was. The advent of email (where nearly everybody writes at grade 1 level) and text messages (where no attempt is made to even write a sentence -- btw c u morrow, I'll watch 4u) has made everybody as lazy as can be and grammar doesn't even rate.
I also have complained many times about a willingness on this site for people to actually open themselves to constructive criticism. The forums are often very slow, except for the niche's already established, and the critique circle has been the biggest disappointment since I joined. I posted something in the poetry section several days ago and have had no critiques at all. Look through the circle and see how unused it is; I think that is a real shame because it should be the busiest part of this site.
The overall picture is that you personally are doing a great job and those of us that appreciate it do so with very thankful hearts; but I am not sure attendance in class is going to increase.
I will let my challenge buddy know about these classes and encourage him to participate. I will also put a link on my website when I overcome my own crippling self-doubt and get it launched.
Let me end by saying this. If you teach just one of us to write better, and that one person writes something that you inspired, and it leads someone deeper into the Father, then you are a major part of that miracle.
I remember the story I heard about a man's confession as he died. He felt guilty because in his whole life he only ever led on person to the Lord. But that one person was a man named Billy Graham.
Bless you and thank you, Graham.