After the Mountaintop: Writing When the Glow Wears Off

by Jeffrey Friedel @JeffersonRiede

Who knew there were mountaintops in Springfield Missouri? I don’t know about you, but this year’s ACFW conference sure felt like one.

The worship. The keynotes. The laughter. The long talks with fellow writers who get you. There was clarity and calling and coffee (so much coffee). Some of us walked away with book contracts or agent interest. Others walked away with inspiration, direction, or a really great tote bag.

But now it’s October.

You’re back home. The dog needs walking, the laundry needs folding, and that amazing idea you had during the worship session on Saturday morning? It’s still staring at you from a blank page. The glow is gone. The calling hasn’t changed, but your motivation might have.

Let me remind you: this dip is normal. And it is holy.

1. The Mountaintop Was Never the Destination

Peter once stood on a mountain with Jesus and said, “Let us build three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Mark 9:5) In other words: “Let’s stay here. Let’s camp out in the glow.”

But Jesus didn’t stay. He came down the mountain and walked straight toward the cross.

Mountaintop experiences are meant to inspire us—but they’re not where the work happens. The work happens in the valleys, in the mundane moments where obedience looks like opening a Scrivener file when you’d rather scroll Instagram. Or rewriting that chapter again. Or querying that agent even though your confidence is wobbling.

The post-conference valley is where faith meets faithfulness.

2. You’re Still Called—Even When You Don’t Feel It

The calling didn’t end when the conference schedule wrapped up Saturday night.

It’s easy to believe we’re called when worship is swelling and bestselling authors are
proclaiming blessings over us in prayer. But the real test of our calling comes when we’re sitting alone in front of a blinking cursor.

Paul encouraged Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6). A flame needs
tending. It doesn’t stay hot on its own. And no one else can do that part for you.

So if you’re feeling flat or forgotten this month, take heart: you’re not off course. You’re just
being refined.

3. The Business Is Not the Mission

Maybe you pitched your book and didn’t get the interest you hoped for. Maybe your appointment went sideways. Maybe you didn’t get an appointment with the agent you wanted, or you left feeling more confused than called.

Let me gently remind you: publishing is not the mission. Writing in obedience is.

Jesus never said, “Go forth and secure a three-book contract.” He said, “Abide in Me… and you will bear much fruit.” (John 15:5)

Don’t let your value rise and fall with your inbox. Yes, we want to steward our gifts
professionally. But your worth as a writer is not measured in contracts, likes, or sales. It’s
measured by your obedience to the call.

Keep showing up. Keep abiding.

A Closing Word (and a Little Humor)

If you feel overwhelmed, try this: write a single paragraph. Edit a page. Pray before you open your document. Light a candle. Put on that playlist you loved in the car ride to Springfield. Laugh at yourself a little.

And if all else fails, remember this deeply theological truth:

Even God didn’t publish Genesis until He had the whole series outlined.

So be kind to yourself. Fan the flame. Come down from the mountain, pick up your pen, and write.

We’re with you in the valley—and the words are still worth it.

Jeffrey Friedel (writing as Jefferson Riede) is an Atlanta-based author with a passion for high-stakes, faith-infused storytelling. His debut novel, STRONGHOLD, was a semi-finalist in the 2024 ACFW Genesis Contest and is currently seeking representation. His second thriller, TWELVE WORDS (A Bitcoin Legacy), is set to be completed this fall.