I hear it over and over again: If only I had time, I’d finish that novel. Except you do have time. You just don’t realize it. I wrote Dolls Behaving Badly as a single mother working two jobs.
How did I manage? I followed Hal Higdon’s marathon plan. But what, exactly, does marathon training have to do with writing? Long distance running and novel writing both demand discipline and focus, and require months, if not years, of solitary hard work.
(Learn how to start your novel.)
GIVEAWAY: Cinthia is excited to give away a free copy of her novel to a random commenter. Comment within 2 weeks; winners must live in Canada/US to receive the book by mail. You can win a blog contest even if you’ve won before. (Please note that comments may take a little while to appear; this is normal).
Guest column by Cinthia Ritchie, former journalist who lives and runs
mountains and marathons in Alaska. Her work can be found at New York
Times Magazine, Sport Literate, Water-Stone Review, Under the Sun,
Memoir, damselfly press, Slow Trains, 42opus and over 45 literary magazines.
Her first novel, DOLLS BEHAVING BADLY, releases Feb. 5 from Grand
Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group. The novel, billed as “a story for
every woman who’s earned a little fun,” was called “a fun read” by Publishers
Weekly and “a compelling debut novel” by Booklist. Find Cinthia on Facebook
or Twitter. Find the book on Amazon, B&N, or IndieBound.
Base Training
Before you can write book, you need a base. This could be an MFA program, workshops, online classes or hours and hours of reading well-written books.
Slowly move up to the book planning stage. Outline chapters, compose character sketches, conduct research and stock up on printer paper and chocolate.
Let’s Start Training
The bulk of marathon training consists of longer runs interspersed with rest and recovery days.
Your writing schedule should follow the same premise: A few short writing stints, followed with a longer write on Saturday or Sunday (your Long Writing Day, or LWD). A good beginning might be 30 minutes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and two hours on your LWD.
Use this time to refine your voice and familiarize yourself with characters and motives. You may feel “sore” after these sessions, but no matter: You’re building up your writing muscles.
(Look over our growing list of literary fiction agents.)
Speed It Up
Gradually increase your writing sessions until you’re up to two hours three times a week and three to four hours on your LWD. If time restraints intrude, substitute with “speedwork,” shorter, more frequent writing bouts (i.e., five minutes as you wait to pick up a child from soccer practice, 10 minutes between work projects, three minutes while waiting in line at the grocery store).
Hitting the Wall
Sooner or later, it’s going to get rough. Every marathoner knows this, which is why most fear the dreaded 20 mile training runs that crop up midway through the training cycle.
Likewise, the central phase of your writing plan will feel equally imposing. You’re now writing for eight hours a week plus an additional eight hours on the weekends (which basically pans out to two additional work days). You have no life. Your wrists ache, your head hurts. Everything you write sounds like dribble; you want to quit more than anything.
This is where you hit the wall. It’s inevitable, and the only way through is to keep writing. Work your full eight hours, no matter how you stumble or stutter. Take frequent breaks but do not stop. Believe it or not, a good part of what you produce will prove salvageable.
Tapering
The majority of marathon plans highlight 14 weeks of increased mileage, followed by a two week taper.
In order to avoid writer’s burnout, do the same. Periodically reduce your writing to the bare minimum, and then take it easy. Watch trashy TV. Eat a lot of junk food. Rest up and recover.
The Finish
Most of us can’t finish a novel in 16 weeks, of course, but we can complete a few solid chapters or even a quick rough-draft.
Repeat the marathon writing plan until you’ve completed your book. And remember what marathoners say after each race: If it were easy, everyone would do it.
GIVEAWAY: Cinthia is excited to give away a free copy of her novel to a random commenter. Comment within 2 weeks; winners must live in Canada/US to receive the book by mail. You can win a blog contest even if you’ve won before. (Please note that comments may take a little while to appear; this is normal).
The 90 Days to Your Novel 2-Pack is an inspiring
kit that will be your push, your deadline, and your
spark to finally, in three short months, nail that
first draft of your novel. The two items are
bundled together in our shop for a discount.
Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:
- How to Write a Male Point of View.
- 6 Things Writing a Second Novel Taught Me.
- NEW Agent Seeking Clients: Thao Le of Sandra Dijkstra Literary.
- The Characters Must Come First — Here’s Why.
- How to Work With a Freelance Editor.
- Sell More Books by Building Your Writer Platform.
- Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.
Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.
Chuck Sambuchino: Reading this blog post was confusing. If this is a guest blog post by Cinthia, that should have been noted at the beginning of this blog post. Otherwise, how do you explain the fact that you wrote a book as a single mother? Thank you for highlighting Cinthia. I have begun following her on Twitter. Her cover includes a blatant grammatical mistake. I cannot get past that to read the book itself.
I have created a different model of marathon training for nonfiction writers. We are preparing for 10 months of the year in order to complete a month-long challenge to write nonfiction in November. This is Nina Amir’s nonfiction alternative to the popular NaNoWriMo: http://www.wnfin.com
As a fellow marathoner, I really appreciated your perspective on the discipline required to write. It was spot on. Looking forward to reading your maiden novel, just as soon as I finish this set of CECs. Good luck with your writing career and hope to see you on the trails.
As an erstwhile marathon runner, I love your use of Hal Higdon’s marathon running plan as a metaphor for your plan of attack for your writing. Each requires a certain discuipline, and committment, whilst starting with a firm base. A snack of dark chocolate at the end of each foray is definitely helpful, too!
I’m very new to the world of writing and I’m finding that articles like this, while pointing out that writing is hard work and not necessarily for the faint of heart, also point out that writing is rewarding and can be lots of fun too. I’m not the most self-disciplined person or the most focused, but this gives me an idea of where to start with my writing and what it takes to be a great writer, regardless of what other may think. Thanks for the encouragement!
Drivel not dribble. Your writing may be drivel, but unless you’re a basketball player, it isn’t dribble.
This was a great example. I could really related to it, and somehow it makes more sense. Thank you for sharing it.
Very true about ‘finding’ time you didn’t think you had–and writing with it. Every minute you put into your writing is a self-investment. Important to remember that reading-time is part and parcel of it!
I enjoy your perspective on writing and analogy regarding how to overcome writing obstacles and motivate yourself to great levels of determination! Thanks for all the advice! Greatly appreciated, and congratulations on your own success. Enjoy
I also think that a lot of novel-writing could be done on planes. Or while waiting for delayed planes.
I’m picturing people in line at the customer service desk, furiously tapping away on their tablets vs. sighing and shifting their feet. “Sprints,” indeed!
@Amanda: I am the same way! If I think I don’t have a set period of time when it’s absolutely quiet and no one is going to bother me, then I can’t (don’t) write.
I like the idea of using a training method, though. It can be a great focusing tool!
Thank you for the analogy! I’ve been struggling with trying to figure out ways to fit writing in on my busy days. I need to get over my “must have at least a full half-hour in order for anything worthwhile to come out of it” mentality. It’s helpful to remember that sprints have their uses in training.
This is so true!! I’m training for a half, which is almost here, then “training” to write the book. I have figured out both take a plan, a routine and discipline. Good article!
It certainly does feel like a marathon
What a terrific metaphor! Having trained for a marathon in the (sadly distant) past, I identify with the comparison. Developing a solid base is key – I read many books on running and getting a few 5Ks under my belt before starting my long distance training, and had I not invested the time in that, my training would have suffered. Likewise, a solid understanding of writing fundamentals is incredibly helpful when working on a novel. There are many ways to achieve a solid base, but it’s not an optional step, else we run the risk of building our house upon sand.