I recently read a book by the Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. WHAT I TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT RUNNING is a memoir about the twin forces in his life that matter most to him - writing and running. For Murakami, running and writing share much in common, and to do either, he feels, one needs the same qualities - endurance and focus. I agree. And although Murakami is a prize-winning, internationally acclaimed novelist, and a marathon runner who logs in over 60 miles a week, and I am not an internationally acclaimed author (yet) and I log in around 15 miles a week (and that will likely never go up), I found great inspiration from his book.
I love the idea that the very things that keep me going on a run - will, endurance, mind over matter - can and should keep me going at the computer. I tend to give up on my writing a little too easily, but if I were to treat writing as I do running - not giving up even when I feel like I can't breathe, or my stomach hurts, or I'm beating myself up about how weak I am - I'd get a lot more writing done. I'd log in the number of pages a week that I aspire to, instead of quitting early, when I don't like what I'm doing.
Murakami stresses that while good writing usually doesn't happen without a certain amount of talent, it's really these other qualities that get one to the finish line. I guess Woody Allen said it all a long time ago - success is 1% talent, 99% perspiration. Or was it 99% showing up? In any case, it was refreshing to hear Murakami discuss how hard it is for him to write, and run, despite his tremendous success.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
One Foot in Front of the Other
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I really like this comparison between writing and running! I've never been great on speed but endurance has always been a personal strength.
ReplyDelete(Right now though, I'm using my third trimester as an excuse for a bit less endurance than usual. I'm proud to be walking 2 miles on the treadmill most days-- but my ability to concentrate on my writing is nowhere near normal. After I get through the first few sleep deprived newborn weeks, I'm going to have to read this again for inspiration. :o) )
I am not a runner, I have little endurance, and I do not like to sweat. Lately I have been giving up on my work too quickly, almost as if I've developed writer's ADD. I am quickly bored by my WIPs (notice the plural) and move on.
ReplyDeleteI do, however, have strength (both physical and emotional) that gets me through the tough times. I write because I love it. I have fun doing research and learning new facts that no one else cares about. I like imagining different worlds where these facts matter in a life or death sort of way.
So while I am never going to run a marathon (or even a 5K) I am in my writing for the long haul. Where I finish doesn't matter (i.e. getting published would be nice, but I'm not counting on it) but I do have to finish.
On the other hand, unlike with running, with writing you have no idea when or where you'll cross the finish line...if ever!
ReplyDeleteMeg: Not sure why you say you're not counting on getting published. You have a pb coming out, remember? You're just between gigs. :-)
Something else, in addition to endurance, that runners and writers share is habit.
ReplyDeleteThe runners I know can be grumpy if their daily running routine is interrupted.
I guess writers are lucky because even if they don't have time to sit and put words to paper, they can be happy thinking about writing . . . planning that perfect paragraph in their picture book or novel.
Janice, I mean beyond the PB...
ReplyDeleteNot a Negative Nancy but a Realistic Rebecca.
Meg: I know that's what you meant. There's only one way to guarantee that you will not get published beyond your pb--stop trying. This you cannot do. You cannot do this. Cannot do you this. Signed, Positive Polyanna, aka PP :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm not stopping.
ReplyDeleteI'm putting one foot in front of the other, but I'm no longer anticipating the finish line to include lunch boxes!
That's it -- I'm getting one of those computer stations attached to a treadmill. Two habits for the price of one!
ReplyDeleteI'm big on endurance too, though I'm lousy at speed. I hope it will get me through my own WIPs (also in the plural; I may be big on endurance, but I'm also a little flighty when it comes to sustained effort on ONE WIP at a time. Ahem.)
ReplyDeleteAnd hang in there, Brianna; getting through a third trimester takes incredible endurance!
Thanks for the encouragement, Mary! I like thinking of it like that. With the pregnancy pushing me to the limits of my endurance, no wonder it's challenging to find much energy left to focus on writing! : o )
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