#AmWriting and Running: 6 #Writing Lessons Learned from Jogging #NWHFD #fitnessday #Writelife

In March of 2011 I startedjogging. Despite the occasional illness, injury, and ‘I don’t wanna,’ I’m stillgetting out regularly (at least when it's not too hot). On one long and rather tedious solo run, I startedmaking connections between jogging and writing and life. I'm sharing them in honor of National Women's Health & Fitness Week (the last week in September). See some interesting facts here. 
Get Some Running BuddiesIt helps to have inspiration. I started jogging with a Couch to 5K group that met twice a week.Having the regular schedule kept us on track. The program helped us paceourselves, starting with short runs and frequent walks, and working up to a 45minute run. We also had an experienced leader to offer advice.
Several of us continued running together after the programended. I wouldn’t get out there as often if people weren’t waiting for me. I’dbe tempted to stop early, if I didn’t have the encouragement of the group. Hey,peer pressure is powerful! You might as well make it work for you. Plus, it’smore fun to run with other people.
For writers, it’s important to find the right peer group foryour needs. For many, this is a critique group. They may be large or small,meet in person or online, have open or closed membership, get together weeklyor monthly or as needed. Finding a group that suits your needs is invaluable.
Other writers share goals and deadlines, checking in with afriend daily or weekly to report progress. There’s that peer pressure again!Even a non-writing friend can help hold you accountable. (But choose carefully.You don't need someone pressuring you to finish your novel in six months or runa seven-minute mile.)
Finally, social groups can provide camaraderie andnetworking. I live in a small town with a science and engineering college; Iknow far more computer geeks than writers. But by making monthly trips toAlbuquerque to attend a writing meeting, I’ve made many friends who understandwhat I do. I’ve also made connections by teaching workshops and guest speakingfor groups like Sisters in Crime. 

For those who can’t attend in person (or all of us during the pandemic), onlinediscussion boards, listserves, and online classes offer information and a senseof connection. The New Mexico SCBWI group of children's book writers and illustrators has a weekly online "coffee chat" which has been fantastic for keeping in touch. Another writing friend started inviting people to occasional evening chats – "the folks I would grab at a conference to go out for drinks."
Jog - and Write - for Distance, Not Speed It really is about the journey, not how fast you get there.Pace yourself, and enjoy the journey, or you might burn out along the way. Ifyou can see the end, or at least imagine the cheering crowds and free food, itmight give you the extra boost you need to keep going. But take time to enjoythe sights, and the experience will be a lot more fun.
As a writer, don’t focus so much on the response to yourquery letters. Sure, celebrate successes, and try to learn fromdisappointments, but put most of your energy into enjoying the journey. (Thatworks for the rest of life, too.)
But Keep Moving Your Feet (or Fingers) A slow pace may get you there, but if you have a long way togo, you might as well do it running. A marathon will take a lot longer at astroll than at a jog, even a slow jog. Run when you can, walk when you need arest, but keep moving. That’s the only way to reach the end.
Take the time you need to learn and practice your writingcraft. Do as many drafts as you need to polish your novel. Don’t rush, but dokeep working. Write a page a day, and you’ll have a complete draft in a year.It may not be perfect, but it will be more than what you started with.
Practice Makes Perfect, or AtLeast Lessens the PainIf you’re training, you need to get out regularly. Runningonce a month will just leave you sore and frustrated each time, and you won’tsee any progress in your fitness.
It’s the same with writing. Establishing habits and stickingto them will keep your mind fit. Writing several times a week will hone yourskills and make it easier to get started next time.
Beware of ShortcutsIf I map out a 5K run, but take every shortcut, that couldcut the distance down to 3 ½K. Easier, sure, but that won’t prepare me forrunning a 10K. It’s the same with life. Whether you’re trying to switchcareers, meet the right partner, or finish a novel, some shortcuts may help,but others may do more harm than good.

See Chris’s websitefor info on classes:
Advanced Plotting;Educational Publishing;
and You Can Write for Children, plus
developmental editing rates/recs.

I work with a lot of writing students. The beginners want toknow if they’ll get published after taking one course. Nobody wants to spend 10years learning how to write, but you need to do the work in order to earn thereward at the end. If you beg your friend to send your rough draft to hereditor, you’ll blow your chance to make the best use of that connection. If youself publish your work before it’s ready, you’ll waste time that could bebetter spent working on your craft.
Sometimes the long, hard path is the only one that gets youwhere you want to go.
Whether Running or Writing, Push Yourself SometimesWith enough practice, you should get better. When I startedjogging, it was a struggle to go for 10 minutes without a break. Six months later,I could make it through 45 minutes without stopping.Learnmore about theAccidental Detective
humorous mystery series .
And then I plateaued. Jogging had become comfortable, if noteasy. Why cause more pain by trying to go farther or faster?
Because that’s the only way to get better. And most likely,it’s the only way to stay interested. Fortunately, one of my jogging partners was great about coming up with new workouts. We added in some sprints one day, did hills another day. We chose different routes on different terrains. Varietykeeps it interesting, which makes it easier to work hard.
With my writing, I find that I get bored if I become toocomfortable with something. After publishing a dozen children’s books as Chris Eboch, I wanted a change. I startedwriting romantic suspense for adults, using thename Kris Bock. This brought newchallenges – writing books two or three times as long as what I was used to,exploring romantic subplots, delving deeper into character. I didn’t always getthings right the first time, but I became a better writer – and I renewed myinterest in writing.
Are you a writer who runs? Join the Writers Who Run FacebookGroup to meet up with like-minded folks and learn about events.
Kris Bockwrites romance, mystery, and suspense. In the Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. 
Kris’s Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, which causes as many problems as it solves. Learn more at her  website or visit Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.)
Kris writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie.  Visit the Amazon US series page  or  the B&N page  for Felony Melanie: Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novels or find the books at  other E-book retailers .

Kris also writesromantic suspense set in the Southwestern U.S. If you love Mary Stewart orBarbara Michaels, try Kris Bock’s stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, andintrigue in the Southwest. Learnmore at www.krisbock.com or visit Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page.(Forother countries click here.)