Writing and Running

Writing is a lot like running. Both require stamina and vision, and a wealth of patience. When people compare writing a novel to giving birth, it gives me pause. They're so different. Perhaps if a couple is battling infertility and has to hold on to hope and patience in order to have a baby, then it is similar, but for most couples, it involves the initial action, followed by nine months of waiting. Now before you start throwing things at the blog, I'm not saying it isn't difficult to carry a baby. I have the utmost respect for mothers, however, you don't have to continually work at it. You take care of yourself, visit the doctor regularly, and make sure to follow a set of guidelines.

In my opinion, writing a novel is more like running a marathon. You put in months--sometimes even years--of training, wake up early on weekend mornings to run for hours, run in the evening after work or during lunch breaks in an effort to get in the miles. Your diet and sleep schedule revolve around your runs. (Trust me, you don't want to eat or drink the wrong thing before a long run!) You have little time for friends, other than running buddies. And when the big race day finally arrives, you fight not only a physical battle to reach the finish line, but more importantly, you fight a mental battle to convince yourself that you can indeed keep running, even though it's already been 20 miles and your knee hurts and your feet are swelling and you're not entirely convinced that you can even lift your feet on your own accord to run 6.2 more! That is how writing a novel feels to me at times. I spent two years researching and writing the first draft, and at the end felt such a rush of accomplishment, until I realized I had only completed the first 20 miles; I still had editing and revisions, and major plot holes, and could I really do this what the heck was I thinking?!

I feel like I'm on mile 25.2 right now. Only one mile to go...but what a long mile it seems!

Shaping Up

This blog needs a good exercise plan. Perhaps Jillian Michaels could put it on the 30-Day Shred and give it a nice kick in the bum? It sits here, gathering dust, with only the occasional post, but no longer--it's time for a shape up!

The past year I've worked hard to get back into running shape. I struggled for a few years to get my thyroid under control, and during that time I couldn't maintain the energy to run, but now I'm energized and more grateful than ever that I'm able to hit the pavement. I run every other day, and I've worked up my mileage to train for a half marathon in June. It's been almost five years (!) since I ran the marathon, and it's about time I did another long race. However, when I manage to improve one part of my life, I seem to lag in another...

In my last post--way, way back, over a month ago--I mentioned my bout of homesickness. The truth is I started writing that post three weeks before I published it. I couldn't find the right words. Ironically, I finally managed to communicate my thoughts on the subject while home on a visit. I caved and went home for a week to spend time with my family; I also used it as a personal/writing retreat. I took a 'break' from running over the holidays, which extended a bit further than I meant it to, and I was finding the final novel revisions excruciating. The trip home worked: I managed to get in some refreshing runs by my lovely Deschutes River, and I spent time reading my manuscript and making progress on changes. (I also visited my favorite restaurants and coffeeshops, which may have counteracted the running, but it was well worth it!)

I'm still battling the revision demons, so by the time I start to write a post, all my energy is used up. I have ideas, but when I sit down at the laptop - POOF - all gone. Last week I received a wonderful award from the lovely JJ at Tea Stains, which made me feel particularly undeserving because it is The Prolific Blogger Award. I hung my head in shame for a moment at how unprolific my blog has become of late, but then I decided to buck up and get to work. I've been writing this blog for over four years--and I'm nearing the 400 post mark!--so it's only natural for my motivation to come and go. However, I can't let that stop me. When I write, run, and blog regularly, I feel in balance. My life has been out of balance for ages, and it's time I began a training plan, like I did with running. Baby steps for now, but expect to see me around more often. Besides, an Angie training plan can't be nearly as painful as the 30-Day Shred, right?

Christmas Countdown...

It's that time of year again. Only 15 days until Christmas! *SQUEEEE* (Ahem, I get a bit overexcited this time of year.) I cannot believe this will be our sixth Christmas living in California. I still can't get used to the differences in climate. On my daily run I pass the typical Northern California mix of palm, pine, and deciduous trees, but it always catches my breath when I see roses, lemons, and oranges in full winter bloom!

This year we traveled to our hometown for Thanksgiving, where we received a chilly greeting and gorgeous fluffy wet flakes. I participated in a 5k fun run on Thanksgiving morning with my bestie, and it was the first time in years I've had to wear gloves while running. We're staying here for Christmas, so we'll have to forgo a white one. It doesn't snow here. Occasionally it snows in the foothills, but never here, though apparently it did once. Before I was born. And yet, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. (Always hopeful!) It's bound to happen again and this year is our best chance so far since the temperature dipped below freezing at night this week--a very rare occurrence! However, my Oregon-girl-self is ashamed to admit how cold I've been this week, especially since the cold snap at home has left my mom with ice inside her windows--the highs only reached the single digits and the lows went down to about -13F!

Anyway, Christmas preparations are in full swing. We did the decorating last weekend, and now we're finishing our homemade gifts and preparing to wrap and ship! Our place looks like a cross between Santa's workshop and a publishing office what with Christmas crafts covering the table and encroaching my desk along with my scattered books and manuscript pages covering the remainder of the desk and coffee table! Festive and depressing all at once.

Motivation

Although my motivation for running is still strong, I cannot seem to garner the same motivation for my writing lately. With running you have instant satisfaction. You see results relatively quickly. It is always satisfying to finish a run, no matter how painful--not to mention the endorphins!

Writing doesn't produce the same results. The work is slow and arduous, and even at the end you don't know if it's any good. There is satisfaction in finishing a writing project, to be sure, but there is also anxiety. I've taken a lot longer than I expected to finish my last bits of work: writing new scenes, cutting scenes that were slowing down the story or unnecessary to its progress, and performing a last read-through.

I am suffering major anxiety as I near the next step. I'm excited to have others read my work, but terrified as well. What if, after all this time and effort, the readers find my novel--as I suspect they will--not quite up to snuff? In reality, it merely means more work, more edits, another revision. I'm more than capable to do that, though I'm sick to death of this novel and ready to move on, no matter how much I love the story. On the other hand--and this is really silly--what if they like it? What if it's ready to go out into the big, wide, scary agent world. Am I ready for that?

Ahh!
(p.s. Thanks for listening to my whinging.)

Goal

I have officially begun running again.

(Yay!)

The last few years have been very on again/off again. I wanted to run more, I started multiple times, but each time I tried, I couldn't maintain my energy and didn't have the motivation to push forward.

It's been nearly four years since I ran the marathon, and I'm eager to be a runner again. My thyroid has stabilized (finally!), and I feel energized and motivated. I'm making a goal to train for a race--not a marathon this time--but a half-marathon sounds like a good goal. I haven't decided on a date or a particular race yet--I'm taking the new venture slowly--but I'm shooting for winter or early spring. I think this time it's sticking.

Back to the Swing

Thank you all for your lovely comments, I'll try to reply to them over the next few days, but I'm just getting back into the swing of things after our lovely holiday.

I went on my first run today in ages. I quit running sometime last summer when I started feeling sick, and I didn't get diagnosed with hypothyroidism until April, so it's been a long break. Drew and I went for a short 15 minute run and it was lovely to be out there again. I figured if I could walk all weekend touring DC, I was feeling well enough to try running again. An added benefit was that Drew passed out in his bed afterward and was not at all bothered that I sat working and not playing with him. It took me awhile to clear my desk of traveling debris and to sort through my emails, but once I finally got writing, I had a productive day. And there are only two more days left in this week!

Words Written Today: 1052