5 Ways Writing is Like Exercise

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Obviously, I love to write. But as well as writing, I also enjoy getting out of the house occasionally and going for a run through the bush. Several mornings a week I heave myself out of bed, grab the dog and my running shoes and set off down the road, still half asleep. And it occurred to me that these two interests of mine actually have quite a lot in common. To prove it, I’ve made a list of five reasons why writing and running are very similar.

They both have to be done regularly. If I don’t go for a run for a couple of weeks, I lose some of my hard won fitness, and boy can’t I feel it. Climbing up all those steep hills is a nightmare. The same is true for my writing. If I don’t write regularly, I get out of the habit. The words don’t flow and it can be a struggle to slip into the writing zone. I need to do both regularly if I want to be good at them.

Not every day is going to be the best day ever. Most days I don’t run the furthest distance, the fastest speed, or beat any records whatsoever. Sometimes I even get a bit bored of running the same track over and over again. It’s the same with my writing. Most days I labour away for hours trying to get something that doesn’t look like it’s been written by a monkey. But that’s when the real work is getting done.

Sometimes you just need a great playlist. Not everyone likes to write to music it’s true. I am one of those people who like to listen to music pretty much all the time. And sometimes on those hard days when it feels like I’ve forgotten how to write, or when it seems like I’m going to die before I’ve run a hundred metres, a great playlist might give me just enough of a boost to keep going and achieve something.

You have to keep pushing yourself. It’s easy to get lazy while running. Some days I am very tempted to give up when I reach the minimum distance and just go home for breakfast. But if I don’t push myself to go further, run faster, and work harder, I won’t improve. It’s the same with writing. I have to keep pushing myself with my writing, keep writing in new areas, trying new things, exploring new genres, if I want to grow as a writer.

The good days are amazing. Not every day is going to be the best day ever. But when those good days come, they are amazing. On days like these, I feel like I could run through the bush forever, music pounding in my ears, wind in my hair, never getting tired. Or I feel like I have so much inspiration and enthusiasm that I could write for hours without getting tired or running out of inspiration. Those days are worth all the hard work and pain.


So there we have it. Five ways I’ve noticed that writing and exercise are the same. Can you think of any other similarities between them?

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18 comments

  1. I can totally relate to this! Beautiful post <3

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  2. This is so true! I love running, it's my life, but all too often it's hard work, it's the same with writing as well! I'm sure you know how much I adore my writing, but some days it's really hard. I don't feel like it and it's hard to get 'in the zone'! This post is great:)

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    1. I know exactly what you mean. Writing is one of those things that feel so good once you've finished it, or once you're actually in the zone, but it's oh so hard to get start on it. Some days, running's just like that too. I guess that's where the hard work and perseverance comes in.

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  3. This is gorgeous! I don't run often, but I can definitely relate to all these points, and this is beautifully written.

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    1. Thanks Aimee. Writing can be such a struggle sometimes, can't it? But oh, it's the best thing in the world at others.

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  4. This is so true! I really ought to exercise more, but even so, this definitely rings a bell in my mind! :)

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    1. I'm so glad to hear that you connected with this post. Thanks for visiting Heather!

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  5. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE RUNNING?!? It is my life, and this is such a good analogy. I've seen a lot of similarities between running and writing, and I actually have a post in my drafts about this. Mine is more about the process and the learning curve, though. I agree with all of these things, but especially doing both regularly and pushing yourself, because that's the only way you'll get better.

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    1. Ooh, that sounds like an interesting post. I hope you'll post it sometime. I'd love to see your perspective on this comparison. Thanks for stopping by Ana.

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  6. I adore this list. Exercise is so like that for me. I have to push myself to get started with exercise too, and it's the same with my writing right now because I reached a touch bit in my novel. Fantastic post!! Thanks for sharing this.

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    1. I know. It's hard sometimes isn't it? I never feel like exercising when I know I should, but I always l love it once I've started, and I think it's the same with writing. I'm envious of the people who sounds like they love writing every day, instead of having a hard day here or there like the rest of us. But I think that on those hard days we do more for our writing than on the days when it's easy because we have to work so hard just to get started.

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  7. I have a question about your process. When you write a first draft do you start on paper, or do you hash out ideas on a computer document? I personally love writing things down the old-fashioned way, but it's getting hard to keep track of all my notebooks!! I was just wondering which you find to be better, or if you do something completely different.

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  8. I'm glad you asked. When I'm hashing out ideas, I like to get away from the computer and work in notebooks. Pretty much all of my planing is done in notebooks. Then when I get to actually writing the draft, I write it on the computer. But once I get to brainstorming solutions to plot holes in the editing stages, I use the notebook again. It can be very hard to keep track of all the notebooks I agree. I used to have hundreds of notebooks with various ideas and plans in them. But then I solved that by starting one notebook for each major idea I knew I was going to work on and only writing in those. Then I can keep all my ideas for that book in one notebook and keep all the notebooks in one place. It works fairly well actually. I just find that it's easier to think of creative ideas and solutions away from the screen. It's funny how freeing working with simple paper and pen is, isn't it? I hope this helps you a little bit. Thanks for asking!

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  9. Oh my gosh. YES. I go running every day, but gah, once you stop it's incredibly hard to get back into routine, right? (My lungs like to insist that can't remember how to function. -_-) I totally think that running is like writing. The comparisons are spot-on. x)

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    1. It totally is. The Christmas holidays have played havoc with all my routines, especially with writing and running. It's going to be so hard to get back to normal. Thanks for stopping by Cait! It's always a good day when I get a comment from you.

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  10. What a great list! I agree with all of these, particularly #3. Because you can always use a good excuse to listen to music :)

    New follower!

    Chloe | Curious Ramblings

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    1. Thanks for you comment and for following Chloe. You just made my day. Yep, a good excuse to listen to music is always good. I listen to music a lot actually; while I'm studying, writing, running, blogging, pretty much all the time really. An epic playlist is the best thing ever for a great day/run/writing session.

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