Writing a novel is often compared to running a marathon – the necessary training, tenacity, endurance, passion, and sheer will to finish are shared by both endeavors. I trained for a marathon but never ran the race. It took a long time for me to look at it not as a failure, but as an opportunity to learn a lesson or two and apply those to a fresh challenge. I also worked on my first novel for four years and finally put it aside, incomplete. For that, too, it was difficult to move past the failure mentality but I have and I’m hard at work applying lessons learned to my second novel.
The biggest challenge of my marathon training involved adequate fueling. It seemed like I got the concept of carb loading but I’d lose the energy mid-way through my runs and it was torturous to make it through the next mile. Unsurprisingly, I had the same challenge with my novel. There were moments of excitement and bursts of creativity but I found it difficult to carry that inspired, fueled-up feeling when I got into the thick of things.
The lesson learned in both instances is clear – understand the options and use them. There are a lot of ways to fuel for a run just as there are ways to remain inspired and plow forward during the writing process:
- Be prepared. Come armed with an outline if you’re a plotter or dig into your character motivations if you’re a pantser. Inspiration is less likely to run away from you if you you have the necessary energy shot in your back pocket.
- Nurture your creativity. There are ways to be creative as it relates to your novel be it from collaging, charting, or making soundtracks. Some writers use these techniques during the pre-writing process but why not use them to get over a writing hurdle?
- Keep writing. Just like there may be an unexpected water fountain around the corner on your run, there may be a burst of inspiration that comes to you as you plug along to the next chapter. The quickest way to become uninspired is to stop writing. Skip to a scene you’ve been dying to write or experiment with a new plot twist but keep that butt in the chair and those fingers moving.
- Surround yourself with friends. There’s nothing like a running partner to cheer you on and there’s nothing like a friend who writes and understands the every challenge you’re facing. They can often dispense that one tidbit of feedback that’s enough to get your fingers typing out that next scene that was giving you problems.
Despite your every preparation, and every fuel available to you, it’s still possible to hit the wall. And when that happens? Dig down deep. And cross that finish line.
What is your favorite way to nurture your inspiration during the novel process?
Bio:
A hard-working, shoe-loving insurance executive by day, Stephanie Janulis moonlights as a historical romance writer. She’s currently working on her second novel and blogging at Write Chic, a website that helps writers cope with the literary lifestyle. She also enjoys training for half-marathons, watching Texas A&M football, and eating her weight in Twinkies.
@WriteChicBlog
Thanks so much for your post today, Stephanie! I hope everyone has a chance to pop over to the Write Chic blog which has helpful tips and interesting articles for writers.
Elizabeth – Thanks so much for hosting Stephanie!
Stephanie – You make some important points about gearing up for the writing marathon, and that’s certainly what it is. I especially like your suggestion to nurture one’s own creativity. Writing isn’t an easy thing to do, so the more we do to take care of ourselves when we write, the strong we will be.
A great post- just for me. :) Writing, endurance, emotions. I give myself pep talks, don’t take critcism personally and know that I have to write even if I feel like a failure. Cuz I love writing.
Informative and helpful post. Enjoyed meeting Stephanie.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Good post. My daughter is a recent triathlete and coach — maybe I should see if she’ll coach me through my books.
Post came just at the right time — thanks, Stephanie.
Great holiday to you both.
Good post, Stephanie. Thanks for hosting her, Elizabet. I did the Dublin Marathon in 2003. In the fairness of disclosure I will tell you that I walked it but you need to know it is just as far to walk it as to run it! When I got to that difficult scary bit, where it is farther than you have walked before, I felt really exhausted and like I needed to just stop for awhile and drink a Guiness and perhaps never go home again because of all the people I’d be letting down – I marathoned for the Arthritis Society. Then I remembered I could sing. I must tell you that I’m a LOUSY singer but that doesn’t matter to babies, dogs and apparently people who are on the last third of their marathon. I sang every song I could remember and it gave me tonnes of extra juice. I finished in fine style! Sometimes when I’m working on a novel I will find something to keep me going – just a little thing maybe – a new character to love or a twist that comes to me in a dream. Novel writing is a long haul endurance sport!
Those are great ideas. I outline and it helps keep me on track when the writing train slows.
Nice post with some good advice. Thanks.
Good comparison. Getting together with friends who write always makes me want go home afterward and dive in my current project.
Thanks Elizabeth and Stephanie.
If I have music that makes me think of the book I’m working on, I can play that and get into the mood. Often, though, my best motivation is to go back and read what I’ve written.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Very useful guest post!
I hope my chances of writing a good book are larger than of running a marathon, though (unless they´d let me do it on a bike). But I agree that the beginning and the ending are fairly easy – the tricky part is keeping the reader´s attention in the middle part.
The moment I begin to fade, I skip ahead or go back and re-read (editing as I do so.) Thus, I never have writer’s block!
Wow. That’s a great analogy. Writing does feel a lot like a marathon, or even just running on a treadmill for half an hour. One foot in front of the other, keep going until you get that second/third/fourth wind.
Those are wonderful tips. Especially because I’m starting a new book and need all the help I can get.
CD
This is a fabulous metaphor, Stephanie! It may help explain why these WriMos work so well… there is the build up you need before the take-off, the camaraderie to keep you going when you feel like stopping (the pressure of the other runners at your heels–whether it is competitive or companionship)–all the needed elements to succeed.
Thanks for hosting, Elizabeth!
Wow, thank you for such a warm welcome today! I couldn’t have asked for a nicer group for my first-ever guest post.
Jan – great story. The spectators at the half-marathon I plan to run in August might have to deal with my voice too. ;)
Clarisa – good luck on your next book!
WT- I’ve tried the WriMo route and have yet to make it through but with this marathon outlook I’m employing, I might just make it through next time.
Thanks Elizabeth for sharing this.
Thanks Stephanie for some great advice. I think everyone can take something away from this post.
Great guest post. Thanks, Stephanie, and thanks Elizabeth for hosting her. Have a great holiday weekend!
Marvin D Wilson
Stephanie, thanks so much again for posting today and for such an informative post!