The Writer's Life: Walking along the edge of a mile-high cliff
Author: Susan Peck
Original Publication Date in Love Notes: January 2002

A few years ago, I had an opportunity to live out a life-long dream: visiting the Grand Canyon as part of a six-day hiking adventure. For months, I anticipated the trip with unrestrained glee. It wasn't until the last moment that a sobering fact hit me — the Canyon is over 5,000 feet deep, and I am terrified of heights. Not the ideal combination to be sure, but being the trooper I am (read: afraid of losing my deposit), I went anyway. 

The first few days passed without a hitch — majestic vistas, beautiful weather, and most importantly, glimpses into the yawning chasm from relatively safe distances. By the third day, my confidence level was soaring — just in time for the Hermit Trail. Before I knew it, I was on an 18-inch wide path covered with slippery shale, a sheer cliff rising on one side, and sharply dropping thousands of feet on the other. Heart racing like an Indy car, mouth drier than the Sahara, I inched along, even stopping at one point to cling to a scrawny bush that made the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree look as sturdy as a redwood. The single thought that kept me moving was the realization that a rescue helicopter couldn't reach me. The only way out was forward — on my own two feet. 

Needless to say, I survived the ordeal, and once my feet were planted safely on solid ground, I discovered I had learned some valuable life lessons, several of which can be applied to the challenges we face as writers. 

The path of creativity is much like that Hermit Trail. The road to publication is narrow. The whims of the marketplace are constantly shifting beneath our feet: the book written to capitalize on this year's trend is outdated before the query is even in the mail. The abyss of disappointment, disillusionment and shattered dreams looms constantly at our side. And at the end of the trail, whether that be completion of a manuscript, publication or awards, there awaits a sense of accomplishment and a boost in self-confidence that come from meeting a worthy challenge. So how do we get there? 

Don't look down. Staring into the abyss can be paralyzing, and reminders of the astronomical odds against success surround us. Shrinking markets. Capricious editors. Towering slush piles. It's enough to bring on a permanent case of writer's block. However, we do have a choice. We can choose which voices we listen to, and if we are going to make any progress on the trail, we must choose to tune the doomsayers out. Of course, deciding not to think about the negatives is like deciding not to think of a pink elephant. The only way to avoid it is to actively think about something else. So what should we focus on instead? 

Follow in the footsteps of the person in front of you. The strategy that helped the most on the trail was to stare at the feet of the hiker in front of me. This works on several levels. First, I learned where to step, and where not to step. I learned where the potential pitfalls were, and how to avoid them. Second, this strategy acts on a subconscious level, reassuring us that the path can be navigated, if we take it one step at a time. 

For writers, this translates into learning from other writers, especially those just ahead on the path. While the life stories of best-selling authors like Nora Roberts are inspirational, and their advice valuable, sometimes the panoramic view of our most lofty, long-range goals can be overwhelming — producing the "Oh my gosh, I'll never be able to all that!" syndrome. 

Often it is the writers who have just traveled the part of the trail we are embarking on who can offer the most concrete advice, and who can offer it in small, manageable chunks. Still acutely aware of the pitfalls you face, they can guide you on where to step safely. For the newbie, look for writers who have just finished their first manuscript, and discover the tricks they used to persevere. For the unpublished writer, talk to those who have just made their first sale or landed an agent. For those breaking in with their first books, find mid-list authors to share info on marketing and career development. (And of course, if Nora DOES leave the campfire to traipse back down the trail to offer guidance, by all means, LISTEN…seasoned guides are bottomless wells of wisdom!) 

Encourage the people behind you. It's a fact. It is impossible to worry about falling into the abyss when you are focused on helping someone else stay on the trail. In some cosmically intangible way, you become stronger by holding out your hand of support to a less-experienced writer or offering to share your knowledge in a particular area of expertise. Take time to make a new chapter member feel welcome. Search for the strengths in a contest entry, and offer criticism in an encouraging manner. Lead a workshop. Write a newsletter article. Learn by teaching. 

When you come to a sheltered ledge, take a moment to enjoy the view. There were some spectacular vistas along the Hermit Trail: layers of history revealed through canyon walls painted in hues of gold and scarlet, a wild, wooly bighorn sheep, and a side canyon untouched by hordes of tourists. I discovered that rewards are usually proportional to effort, if we only take the time to reap them. 

We love to write. We chose this path. Remember that, and relish the good times. Savor the moments: sitting on the porch on a gorgeous autumn day editing your latest chapter, racing to type quickly enough to capture the scene that is translating itself so effortlessly into words, losing yourself in the research of a magical location or time, or sharing your inspirations and ideas with fellow writers at a conference. Reaching the end of the trail is important, but don't get so caught up in the struggle that you overlook the beauty along the way.

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