Writing a Novel is like Training for a Marathon

    The other day, I was lacing up my shoes to go for a jog. As usual, my mind wonders to writing and that is when it hit me, writing a novel is a lot like training for a marathon.

    First, you get an idea in your head that just won't go away. It sparks a whole train of thoughts. You begin to think 'Yes I can write a Novel. My character's are awesome!' 'Yes I can run a marathon! Everyone should do it in their lifetime.'

     You research it. You look at the genre you want to write in. You look at the topics that your book will cover. You begin to look at different running shoes. You look at different training programs to prepare your for a marathon.

     You come up with a game plan. You sit down and outline your story. You find a running program. (I personally used Hal Higdon's and recommend it to any runner.)

     You begin. You sit down to your computer (or pin and paper) and begin writing. You lace up those new running shoes and set up your gps for a run.

    You realize your out of shape. Writing is tough. It takes jut as much practice and training as running. Speaking of which, your running is lacking.

     You push on. Stubbornness sometimes is a person's best friend. In my case, I am very stubborn so I write and I run through the pain.

     You get better. You go longer. You write more. Writing sessions begin to span over hours and not just minutes. You begin to get the equivalent of a "runner's high" but for writing as words spill out of your thoughts and onto paper as smoothly as if you said them out loud. Speaking of which, you are getting those for running! You are running longer and farther. You don't get out of breath as easily any more.

     You are at the end. You have one more chapter to write. You have spent hours equaling days and weeks pouring your thoughts onto paper creating a world and characters. Now you see the end. It's one week away from race day. You are skinnier than you have ever been because you have trained so much and put in those long distance runs on the weekend.

     Last, there comes the day you finish. You type the last paragraph in the book. You make one more exerted push of energy to that finish line in front of you. You're done! You finish. The race is over and you look back reflecting on the marathon. your book is done. You think about all the pages and pages you have written and you celebrate.

    Now here is the difference between the marathon and the novel. You can look for another race to run, but you are done this one. You can look back thinking about how you could have got a better time, but that is all. What has occurred is over and you put all your best into that one race.
      When you are finished your novel, you should absolutely take a break, but you are nowhere near done. You need to go back and edit. You need to read is again and again making it better. Then when you think you are done, you hand it to someone you trust. So they can read and edit for you. Then you take their edits and edit. Then give it to another friend. You continue until you think the story is the best it can be. Then you are done.
      Sure you can argue there are huge differences between the two, but I have done both. To me, the processes are very similar and it all sums up to one saying:

sweat + perseverance = success

You put in the time and energy. You continue to put in the time and energy until one day you succeed. It's as simple (and complicated) as that.

Lot of Love,
E.M.