Friends Make Hard Climbs (and Writing Books) Easier.

Friends Make Hard Climbs (and Writing Books) Easier

I am working my way through every trail in the Great Smoky Mountains. My preference is to step off early on Saturdays, but when I scanned the week ahead, Wednesday was my only option. My hiking buddy Sara was willing to meet after work, so we drove out to the Rich Mountain Trail trailhead at 3 PM and went for it.

Wednesday is not my hiking day. The routine was different, the timing was off, and my outfit was not exactly designed for 4.6 miles of elevation gain. None of that mattered. We went anyway, and going anyway is what progress looks like most of the time.

If you are still waiting for the perfect Saturday to write your book, this post is for you.

 Imperfect Progress Still Counts

Writers wait for the perfect conditions all the time, the right season of life, the right block of time, the right level of confidence. Meanwhile, the book sits unwritten.

Half of a chapter written in thirty stolen minutes is half a chapter, written. A rough draft that embarrasses you is still a draft that exists, and a draft that exists can be shaped into something you love. The trail you hike on a Wednesday afternoon still counts toward your goal, even when the weather is muggy and your shoes are all wrong.

The writers who finish their books are not the ones who waited until everything was perfect. They are the ones who kept going on the Wednesdays.

The Secret Ingredient That Makes Any Climb More Manageable

The other thing that made our Wednesday hike so good was Sara.

Having a person beside you changes the experience entirely. The climb is harder to quit when someone is right there climbing with you. The views and discoveries along the way are more fun when you can share them with a friend. Sara and I saw no bears and no other humans on that trail, but we spotted tiny creatures in the woods, and those small moments were better because we were in them together.

Writing can feel that lonely. Most writers work in isolation, which means that when the draft gets hard or the chapter stalls, there is no one there to say, “Keep going, you are closer than you think.” The isolation makes it easy to stop, and to keep stopping, until the book never gets finished.

Writing Does Not Have to Be a Solo Sport

That is exactly why Crippled Beagle Publishing built the Book Development Cohort.

When you are in a community of writers who are all working toward their own finish lines, the process stops feeling like a slog and starts feeling like a trail you are taking together. People ask questions you did not think to ask. They celebrate your milestones. They show up on the Wednesday afternoons of your writing life and get you moving again.

The July Book Development Cohort has spots open right now. If you have been waiting for a perfect Saturday to start or finish your book, the Cohort is your invitation to go on a Wednesday instead.

Not Sure Where to Start? Get Your Bearings First.

Start with the Publishing Map, a free resource from Crippled Beagle Publishing that gives you a clear, honest overview of the entire book development and publishing process, from first idea to finished, published book. The Publishing Map shows you exactly where you are in the journey and what your next step looks like.

Click here to grab your free Publishing Map: Where Am I in the Publishing Process?

Ready to Talk About the Trail Ahead?

Once you have the map in hand and you are ready to take your next step, schedule a Publishing Pathway Call with our team. We will walk through your writing journey together and figure out exactly how the Book Development Cohort can help you get to the summit.

Schedule your Publishing Pathway Call here: Schedule Here

Whenever you are ready to make imperfect progress, the Crippled Beagle Publishing team is here on the trail, ready to walk with you.

Books live forever!

Jody Dyer

Crippled Beagle Publishing

P.S. Sara and I saw no bears and no other humans on our 4.6-mile walk, but we did spot some tiny creatures along the way. Enjoy the photos below.