Recently, in a fit of ambition, I decided the time had come to do a very Colorado thing I had yet to accomplish. I made my son wake up early, jumped in the car, drove to Alma, and climbed a 14er, Mount Democrat. Two big lessons came from that excursion: one, climbing ten flights of stairs in the building where I work is no kind of preparation for climbing a mountain. And, two, the one that's relevant here: there are a lot of parallels between getting up the mountain and writing a book. Let me explain.

One Step at a Time
First, let's get the obvious comparison out of the way. Writing a book is hard. In fact, as a now-expert mountain climber, I would say writing a book is harder than climbing a 14er. Think about all the people you know who say they want to write a book. Now, think about how many people you know who have actually followed through and written one. If you're battling your way through a manuscript now, whether a short story, novella, novel, or mega-epic, cheers to you! You get credit for being on the trail and seeking the summit.

You don't climb a mountain in a single bound, and you don't complete a manuscript in a single writing session. It is a step-by-step process, and with each step, you're making progress. The pace of that progress isn't important. Plenty of people blew past me on the way up Mount Democrat. They tended to be more experienced hikers or people who were, you know, in shape and not worried that each breath was going to be their last. Their pace was not my pace. You might know writers who breeze through drafting and editing while you struggle to meet a daily word count. Their pace is not your pace. The important thing is that you stay on the trail and keep taking steps.

Don't (Only) Look Up
The pictures at the top of this blog show the views from the bottom of Mount Democrat and from the top. There were numerous times where I'd look up to see how much mountain was left to climb. Invariably, I'd be discouraged. All the work, all the small steps, and we still had a long way to the top. I feel the same way with writing sometimes. I'll have a target word count for my manuscript. I'll feel like I've made good progress. And then I'll check to see how much I've actually written. Invariably, I'll feel like I'll never make it to the end.

That's why it's important to measure progress in both directions. Don't just look at what you have left. Look at what you've already covered, and celebrate the little victories. They will keep you going until the end. Hit your writing goals more days than you didn't in a given week? Celebrate it - you're closer to the top! Reached a certain point you've been striving for in the manuscript? Party on - that wasn't easy to do! Yes, there's lots of hard work ahead of you, but there's less of it than when you started, and that should encourage you to keep going.

Travel With a Partner
I mentioned bringing my son up the mountain with me. He's an experienced climber, and he loves being outdoors. He's also an EMT and strong enough to carry me down a mountain if it comes to it. In other words, I chose my climbing partner wisely! In writing, it's equally important to have a partner. That partnership can take many forms. I know plenty of writers who live and die by critique groups. Others use beta readers. I know writers who employ a coach to hold them accountable for making progress and talk them through the tricky parts of their story.

Whichever method you choose, it's important to have someone who can encourage you, mentor you, or just keep you from giving up and getting off the trail. For me, writing is a solitary activity, but I do have trusted readers I can check in with as I'm working through a project, so that I stay accountable for finishing. I don't recommend telling everyone in the world that you're working on a novel (or novella or short story) because you'll start getting the "you haven't finished yet" statements, which are the opposite of encouraging. Find someone you trust, though, and let them help you see the project through.

It's Worth It!
Take another look at the "after" photo above. The views from 14,000 feet are amazing, and looking down at the rest of world gave me an unbelievable sense of accomplishment. Finishing a manuscript feels the same way. (Well, minus the gasping for air...usually.) It's hard work, but when you get to a finished product that's ready for other people to read, when you can enrich someone else's life with words you crafted...there's nothing else like it.

So, yeah, writing is hard. But don't give up. The summit is waiting for you, and the payoff is worth it!

Photos by Travis Tougaw

Travis Tougaw grew up in a military family. As a perpetual "new kid," he quickly learned the value of sharing stories to connect with others. Having settled down after his own stint in the Air Force, Travis stopped relocating, but he's never stopped telling stories. He's always on the lookout for characters and storylines that will grab readers' attention and keep them turning pages. Travis lives in Colorado with his wife and children. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, outdoor activities, playing musical instruments, and trivia competitions. All four books in his Marcotte/Collins investigative thriller series (Foxholes, Captives, Last Call, and Death Grip) are now available. Learn more about Travis and his books at https://travistougaw.com.