I’m a runner. But I wasn’t
always. I ran my first 5K a couple of decades ago before I knew anything about
training or strategy. That race was the beginning of a journey that taught me
significant life lessons, many of which apply to writing. Here are a few:
Enjoy the challenge: After that first race, I jumped
into running with both Nikes. But there was a lot to learn about the sport that
I didn’t know. Doesn’t that sound a lot like those of us who decided to write a
book? We may lack the experience, confidence, and tools to succeed, but we have
the desire to accomplish the dream. It’s a good place to start.
Train for success: I acquired all the equipment and
knowledge I could, but it isn’t enough to have the right shoes and show up on
race day. For every 5K I ran, I must have put in a hundred miles of training.
It was hard work but I was getting stronger and faster. Isn’t that the same
with writing? Few people can sit down and whip out 80,000 words of first-rate
fiction. Even experienced writers have to train by forcing themselves to tone
their writing muscles every day.
Anticipate Disappointments: My training runs didn’t
always go well. Some days I felt tired and didn’t meet my training goals. There
were aches and pains and some injuries along the way. But all runners know that
improvement isn’t easy, and it doesn’t come all at once. You pay for it one
mile at a time. You accept that there will be setbacks, but you don’t give up. The
only failure is if you don’t try. Anybody see the similarities to writing?
Work on Endurance: Training eventually leads to
racing, and racing requires even more stamina and determination. Good runners
learn to pace themselves through a marathon one mile at a time. Negative
thoughts, frustration and discouragement are always close at hand, ready to
sabotage your efforts, but you know the real reward is in finishing the race. It’s
all about slow and steady progress. Sound familiar?
Find a Good Coach: When I began my novel several
years ago, I assumed it would be easy. But like my novice runner self, I soon
learned that there was a world of information I didn’t know. And a sophisticated
skill set I didn’t have. But just like running, there are plenty of resources
for novice writers: books, podcasts, online courses, conferences, and blogs.
Professional editors can help an author turn a mediocre manuscript into a
polished deliverable.
Never Give Up: I learned that writing strength
comes slowly and steadily, through consistent practice and attention to the
experts. Like a seasoned runner, the writer keeps her eye on the finish line
while carefully navigating the next chapter. And she deals with disappointment
and rejection as part of the learning process, but hard work and persistence
are bound to pay off.
My novel, The
Watch on the Fencepost, will be entering its own race when it’s
released on February 22, 2019. I don’t know how it will do when matched up
against all the other books out there, but I know all the writing, revising,
attending conferences, scouring books on the craft, and working with
professionals has made it a much stronger product than it was at the beginning.
And a strong finish is better than a strong start. Now it’s time to start
training for the next one.
“let us run with endurance the race that
is set before us…” -- Hebrews 12:1b
~~~~~~
Kay DiBianca holds an MS degree in computer
science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has worked in
the IT departments of several major corporations, including IBM, International
Paper, and FedEx.
Kay is an avid runner and can often be found at
a nearby track, on the treadmill, or at a large park near her home. She's
completed four marathons, fifteen or so half-marathons, and an unknown number
of shorter races. She and her husband, Frank, both compete in Senior Olympics
track-and-field events.
Kay and Frank are US representatives for
Bridges for Peace, an international Christian organization whose mission is to
serve the people of Israel.
Kay and Frank are
retired and live in Memphis, Tennessee. "The Watch on the Fencepost"
is Kay's first novel. You can contact Kay at https://kaydibianca.com.
