In between talks about 4000s by 40, I’ve started work on my next book. The writing process feels different this time, but some things are surprisingly the same.
One thing I didn’t expect? Recording audio notes again. Since 4000s by 40 was an active adventure about hiking, I recorded a lot of notes while climbing to capture the experience. It made sense there. But even though this next book isn’t about hiking, hiking is still an integral part of my writing process because it gives me time to think and tease out what I want to say. And along the trail, I’m still recording notes. It’s an invaluable tool for not forgetting ideas. I’ve been accused of being a Luddite in the past, but I guess I found one reason to like smartphones!
It’s funny how certain habits stick around. When I started recording notes for 4000s by 40, it was purely functional—I needed to capture details in real-time before I forgot them. Trail conditions, weather, emotions, little moments that I wouldn’t remember clearly later. I didn’t think of it as part of my writing process, just a necessary way to document the experience. But looking back, those notes weren’t just for reference. They helped me process what I was doing, turn thoughts over in my mind, and refine them before I ever put them down on paper.
Now, even though I’m writing something completely different, I find myself doing it again. A thought comes to me while hiking, and instead of letting it drift away, I pull out my phone and speak it into existence. Words come easier when I’m on a hike. Maybe it’s the solitude, or perhaps, simply being away from a screen that allows ideas to take shape. Whatever the reason, I’ve realized that hiking isn’t just something I do—it’s part of how I write.
4000s by 40 nestled in among the hiking books at The Mountain Wanderer Bookstore in Lincoln, NH