Write with a runner’s mindset
7 tips to unleash the writer inside you
Writing and running have more in common than one might think. When I find myself stuck while writing, I look up running strategies for answers.
Get a push from the runner within you to become the best writer you can be:
Gearing up the night before
If it’s a morning run, you’d prep the running gear the night before.
You don’t want to be rummaging through the closet looking for your favorite running shorts in the morning. Standing at your doorsteps, you don’t want to be wondering whether to carry water or not.
You realize that leaving decisions to the last moment can delay you. It’s also taxing to the mind.
Just like you prep for your runs, gear up for your writing sessions the night before.
Pro-writers love to write first thing in the morning. They prepare their writing desk the night before. When you wake up, a clear desk is an invitation to get your creative juices flowing.
Warming up first thing
It’s a no-brainer for runners to warm up with dynamic stretching before each run. But, how do you warm-up for a writing session?
Just like you don’t start sprinting without warming up your muscles, you can’t start creating perfect stories without warming up your mind.
Morning pages is a great warm-up for writing. It’s writing without overthinking. Keep writing whatever comes to your mind. It’s like unclogging a tap. Once the impurities are out, clear thoughts will start to flow.
Not leaving ‘what’ to the last moment
One of the biggest hurdles I face while writing is not knowing what to write about. “Which one of the unfinished articles should I pick to complete?” Yes, I have quite a lot of them. “..or should I start writing a new one?”, “What topic should I write about?”, etc.
Indecisiveness is killing.
Runner mindset to rescue—Do you head out for a run not knowing what your run is going to be? Is it going to be a 5k or a 10k, an easy pace, or interval training? How many times do you make these decisions right before the run? My answer is never.
Most days, I follow a running plan. e.g., Mondays and Wednesdays are easy runs, Thursdays are speed training, and Saturdays are long, steady runs.
You can have flexibility in your plan but you can’t leave crucial decisions to the last moment.
The same holds true for writing. I’m still a work in progress at this. I realize that creating a content calendar can save a lot of time. So does having an idea pool of topics you can write about.
Great ideas strike us when we are not thinking about them, like while running, showering, reading, etc. Give your ideas home. Build up your own idea pool.
Moving forward, not backward
Going back while writing holds us back, literally.
Avoid using the delete (backspace) button while writing the first draft. It’s tempting to edit each sentence. But, it slows us down terribly.
Don’t edit while you write.
Editing is crucial to improving the quality of writing. But, the right time to edit is after you finish writing your first draft.
Editing is more like a cool down after a run. It provides closure to the writing and to our minds. Thanks to Anthony Cheung for this analogy.
Building the mileage
The more miles you run, the more you feel like a runner. Your weekly mileage is a piece of solid evidence in front of your mind.
If you don’t feel like a writer yet or if you want to become a better writer, you need to collect more evidence in your favor. The more you write, the more evidence builds up. Your brain creates a mental image of you as a pro writer.
Challenge yourself to build a writing streak for 30 days, 60 days, 1 year…The more you write, the better writer you’ll become.
Running with others
I enjoy running solo. I did that for years. Then I started training with pacers. It was a brief time before COVID struck. I learned so much from those sessions. I wouldn’t stop running solo but now I’m equally excited about running with others.
Once you build your writing mileage, it’s time to start sharing your work with others. Feedback from peers will help you better. Plus you’ll make friends with like-minded people.
Becoming a finisher
You always finish a run that you start. A runner never says, “I’m tired. I’ll finish the remaining 3k tomorrow.”
The measure of a run is usually distance. For writing, your measure can be the number of words or time. e.g., write 1000 words a day or write for 60 mins every day.
Whether you use time as a measure of your writing or the number of words, stick to it.
Become a finisher 🙌
