by Sandy Kirby Quandt @SandyKQuandt

As writers, when the writing way is steep in front of us and the challenge hard, do we concentrate on the incline of creating, believing it insurmountable, or do we keep putting one foot in front of the other, conquering the mountain one step at a time?

During a hike my husband and I took last year at the end of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, the climb was STEEP. He was familiar with the trail and led the way. Because the trail wound through the trees, it was difficult for me to tell just how steep the climb was until we were already on it. The higher we climbed, the steeper the incline. Every time we reached what I assumed must surely be the end, I discovered it was only a plateau with yet more mountain to climb.

At one point, as a flatlander who lives at sea level in eastern Texas, I stopped to catch my breath and gazed upward. The path seemed insurmountable to my exhausted legs. And lungs. I told my husband I didn’t know if I could make it. He said to take it one step at a time.

Well, the higher the climb, the closer together I placed my feet, until they were barely one in front of the other. The climb was daunting. It was arduous. I doubted I would make it. But I did.

When I arrived huffing and puffing at the top of the trail, face redder than red, I looked back. I’d conquered the climb I thought insurmountable.

The life of a writer can be a lot like that climb, don’t you think? The way is steep. At times it can look insurmountable. We doubt we can possible take one more step forward. We’re weary. We’re tired. The trail winds through the trees and switches back on itself, obscuring just how steep the climb truly is until we’re already on it. This is the point in our journey where those of us familiar with the trial, encourage others to keep putting one foot in front of the other. This is also where those of us unfamiliar with the trail, reach out to those who’ve climbed the mountain before. 

During our climb as writers, there may be times we need to place our hands on our knees, bend forward, take deep breaths, and rest. Set our writing aside for a while until we can push our self up the incline again. Once we renew our hike, we may only be able to take a few baby steps, put a few words on a page, but no matter the size of the steps, we’re moving forward. 

We cry out to God. He tells us to keep our eyes on him, not on the steepness of the incline. He’s familiar with the trail. He’ll lead the way. He tells us to keep putting one foot in front of the other. After we reach the summit and look back, we’ll realize, with God’s help, we conquered the writing climb we thought insurmountable.

When the climb we’ve embarked upon seems insurmountable, with inclines which leave us gasping for air, let’s keep our eyes on God and put one foot, one word, one line, one page, one poem, one devotion, one article, one book, in front of the other.

Give strength to hands that are tired and to knees that tremble with weakness. Tell everyone who is discouraged, “Be strong and don’t be afraid! God is coming to your rescue…” Isaiah 35:3-4a (GNT)

I wish you well.

Sandy Kirby Quandt is a former elementary school educator and full-time writer with a passion for God, history, and travel; passions that often weave their way into her stories and articles. She has written numerous articles, devotions, and stories for adult and children publications. Her devotions appear in two Worthy Publishing compilation books; So God Made a Dog, and Let the Earth Rejoice. She has won several awards for writing including the 85th and 86th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition in the Young Adult category, First Place in the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Children’s Literature 2016 Foundation Awards, First Place in the 2017 Foundation Awards in the Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Flash Fiction categories. Looking for words of encouragement or gluten-free recipes? Then check out Sandy’s blog, Woven and Spun.