Boston, New York, Chicago, and writing a novel share one thing. They are all marathons. The thought is inspiring. You running strong and steady through the course, and then finishing with arms stretched up and out to thunderous applause. The reality, however, is often isolating and painful as your world shrinks to the few steps before you and your body battles blisters, cramps, and joints threatening to dislocate with your next step. You may wonder what in the hell you were thinking. You may wonder if you will ever finish. Then you do and remember why.
It's much the same with writing. You sit before a computer, drink coffee, and stare at the screen while considering a trip to the refrigerator. You type deliberately, thoughtfully, and sometimes in a flurry, only to shake your head in disapproval as you strike the backspace key and start again. You think of brilliant plot ideas while lying in bed, only to forget them by morning. You imagine hours of uninterrupted writing, only to find minutes. In fact, if it wasn’t for that pesky writing part, your novel already would be in the bookstores.
Writing a novel takes commitment, patience, and perseverance because it is a marathon. It will tease and taunt you as it swings between thrilling and grueling. It demands you make time every day, ignore your doubts, and listen to your inner voice as you share your story. But, most of all, it simply asks you to keep writing, researching, plotting, and editing, word after word after word. Don’t expect anything less.
They say the feeling at 26.2 miles is euphoric.
I couldn’t agree more.
It's much the same with writing. You sit before a computer, drink coffee, and stare at the screen while considering a trip to the refrigerator. You type deliberately, thoughtfully, and sometimes in a flurry, only to shake your head in disapproval as you strike the backspace key and start again. You think of brilliant plot ideas while lying in bed, only to forget them by morning. You imagine hours of uninterrupted writing, only to find minutes. In fact, if it wasn’t for that pesky writing part, your novel already would be in the bookstores.
Writing a novel takes commitment, patience, and perseverance because it is a marathon. It will tease and taunt you as it swings between thrilling and grueling. It demands you make time every day, ignore your doubts, and listen to your inner voice as you share your story. But, most of all, it simply asks you to keep writing, researching, plotting, and editing, word after word after word. Don’t expect anything less.
They say the feeling at 26.2 miles is euphoric.
I couldn’t agree more.
RSS Feed