From Edie: Lynn shares how writing is a journey best shared. See how lessons from Canyonlands reveal the importance of choosing supportive companions along the trail.
Adventuring in Utah Gave Me Insight Into Important Writing Truths Part 4: Choose Your Trail Companions Wisely
by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn
Canyonlands National Park was the fourth park we visited on our tour of Utah’s Mighty 5. By the time we reached it, we had already seen a lot of beauty. So you might think that we would have been a bit jaded at this point.
Nope. Canyonlands was shockingly overwhelming in its otherness.
Canyonlands has four distinct regions, but due to time restraints and accessibility, we stayed in the Islands in the Sky area. The Island in the Sky mesa is situated on sandstone cliffs that tower 1,000 feet above the surrounding area. Everywhere you look, there’s something a little bit different to see. More mesas, rivers carved through rock, and the Shafer trail - a road used first by settlers and later by the US military to access the canyon floor.
And no matter how many pictures we took, none of them could capture the vastness of the view.
As I thought about Canyonlands in relation to the writing life, I was struck by the way this generous landscape could accommodate countless perspectives. It was the perfect metaphor for the writing community. There's room for everyone and every opinion, but the people we choose to travel with can make or break our journey.
There's Room for Everyone
I know I’ve already used the word “vast” but it’s the best way to describe Canyonlands. The pictures don’t do it justice. Unless you’ve seen it for yourself, your mind simply can’t process how wide open and, okay, I’m going to say it again, vast, the space is.
In the same way, there’s room for everyone in the writing world. Every voice, every genre, every style.
When writers start thinking they’re in a competition with other authors, they’ve fallen into a scarcity mindset. The writing landscape is abundant. There is plenty of space for all of us!
Gracious Trail Companions vs. The View Blockers
Throughout our time in Utah, almost everyone we met was generous and accommodating. People offered to take photos, made room on the path for others to pass, and shared encouragement with those struggling on the trails.
In the same way, most of the writers I’ve encountered have been gracious companions. They’ve freely offered advice, encouragement, and perspective. They’ve prayed for me, laughed with me, and sometimes cried with me. I have a few friends who will light a candle in solidarity with me when I have to “burn” a few chapters, and I’m mourning their loss. There are also authors who don’t know me personally, but who share my work with their readers with no sense of competition or jealousy. It’s pure joy to journey with them!
Unfortunately, we did run into a few “view blockers” during our trip. Some people hogged the best viewpoints, took excessive numbers of photos, and seemed oblivious to the people around them. The rudeness was astonishing. Especially because it came as such a contrast to the kindness of the majority of our fellow park visitors.
Similarly, there will be view blockers in the writing life as well. I wish I could say they don’t exist, but they do. You’ll encounter people who have the scarcity mindset we discussed earlier, and it’ll influence their interactions. When you encounter these individuals, take note of who they are, guard your heart, pray for them, and then move on. If you let their hostility and rudeness sour you to the writing community, you’ll miss out on so much joy. Take the high road and let them be their own selfish selves.
Some Trails Require Different Companions
As we made our way through Utah’s beautiful parks, one thing became clear to us almost immediately. There were hikes our family could enjoy together, and hikes where we had to split up. You’ll find the same thing is true in your writing life.
You’ll need different companions at different stages.
Initially, you’ll need other beginners to share the learning curve with. I’m still friends with many people from the 2010 newbie class at my first writing conference! They’ve been a gift!
As you progress in your journey, you’ll hit the point where you can’t claim beginner status, but there’s still so much to learn. When you get there, you’ll need people at a similar skill level to brainstorm with and who can give you honest feedback.
And when you’re published, you’ll still need help! I leaned heavily on authors who’d been published for years to give me insight and help me understand the publication process. Ten years past my first release, and I still ask for advice from others who have more knowledge than I do.
The bottom line is that it’s okay if your writing community morphs as you grow as a writer. It should change. That’s normal!
Embrace the Vastness Ahead!
Just as Canyonlands revealed new vistas with every turn, your writing journey will continue to surprise you with beauty - often when you least expect it. And while the trail ahead may be uncertain, with the right companions, you'll discover that the writing life is every bit as vast and full of possibility as that breathtaking Utah landscape. Choose your trail companions wisely and remember that there's always room for one more voice in this magnificent writing community we’re blessed to call ours.
Grace and peace,
Lynn
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Adventuring in Utah Gave Me Insight into Important Writing Truths
