Seven small steps

[Steve]

Most think I believe in nothing
They all think that true
That is not quite right
For I believe in you

Too smart to fail
Too dumb to quit
Or is that the other way round?
I can never remember it.

Another puzzle to solve
What the Mountaineers do
Now get on with it
And see my story through

The final phrase is out there
Seven small steps is all it takes
I’ve put them in the air
Seven short trips the tortoise makes

I’ll even supply you with the rules this time:

Initially you will need to find the answers
Secondarily you must figure out where to look within the answers
Tertiarily you will need to find the phrase I seek

Once more into the breach?

[cheyyyme]

The message I received was, “The art of writing implement dude boat (10) 2 five”

[Ashburn]

I received “Mr and Mrs Atric collectively dramatic behavior (9) 1 one”

[Rimor]

dear friends, once more
Or close the wall up with our English dead!

[Ashburn]

Ooh, Billy Shakes! (had to look it up for what it was from)

[Deyavi]

Here’s the message I received

“a mountaineer hanging off a roof (5) 3 three”

[Tinker]

I’m glad someone else got the reference!

[Ashburn]

Mr and Mrs Atric collectively dramatic behavior (9) 1 one
theatric

[Cj_Heighton]

[Ashburn]

extoll!

Explanation: bells toll, and ex- would denote the former-ness.

[Cj_Heighton]

these numbers… maybe we need to match the message to the numbers?
4 to four
3 to three, etc

[Tinker]

Okay, so Ash is killing it on figuring out the words…and it looks like the number in parentheses is the number of letters in said word…but there are also two more numbers on each…

[Rimor]

The game’s afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George!’

[Tinker]

For ease of reading: here’s the clues so far

11-29 Clues

Edit: progress so far is two guesses down, potentially missing 3 messages

[Nimueh]

I would have said “Caligraphy” as the art of writing, but then the “boat” part doesn’t make sense (but I know nothing so please feel free to correct me).

[Tinker]

@Ashburn came up with manuscript…art of writing: script, dude: man, boat: u(-boat)

[Ravenwing]

Hem?

[Ashburn]

I thought that initially, but hemming’s 7 letters…

[Nimueh]

Why not just sewing? That’s a hobby (and nearly my mother’s profession lol). The only other word I can think of is seamstress, but that’s why too long…

[Ashburn]

I’d say it seemed too obvious, but then again, mine had “atrics” right in it…