Silhouetted Rock Climber —Greg Epperson

Rock Climbing: A Metaphor for My Writing

Rock climbing is one of the most dangerous and adrenaline-filled forms of recreation. One of the most important aspects of this sport is to always have a firm base. This entails at least three points of contact between your body and a rock face. For most, the fear of heights alone is enough to keep them away from experiencing the thrill of rock climbing. To me, writing can sometimes be just as daunting of a task as rock climbing. I can stare at a computer screen or a piece of paper for hours before I begin to conjure up something to write.

It’s not about how fast or how far you have to go.

It’s about digging deep and pushing yourself to

keep moving forward.

In terms of rock climbing, patience is key. Each step must be methodically thought out with precision in order to ensure your overall safety. When I write, my patience helps guide my thoughts and contributes to my writing success. Once I get myself on the right track with a firm base the words come pouring out of me naturally. Before long I am writing with ease and can look back at all that I have written with a sense of accomplishment. The same sense of accomplishment that a rock climber feels at the top of a summit.