Monday, November 21, 2011

I'm a Sprinter. How About You?

Why yes, that is exactly how I look when I run, throbbing muscles and all :)


One of my least favorite things to do is run. I really hate it. With a passion. In fact, it's one of the primary reasons I decided not to extend my career in the military. I just couldn't stand the running portion of the PT tests. Situps? Pushups? Bring 'em on! I could do them all day. But run? My stomach is twisting just thinking about it.

Two miles of pure hell.

Except for the last hundred yards. I loved that stretch. Why? you ask. Because I'd sprint the rest of it. And I LOVE to sprint.

Ironic, I know. But I'm not a long distance runner. I'm a sprinter. I love the rush of wind against my heated cheeks, the way my body works like a perfect, well-oiled machine. When I'm sprinting, I have perfect form. When I'm running, I look like a flopping rag doll, and I'm usually gasping for air. 

And you know what else I loved about the last hundred yards? There were always a group of soldiers there to cheer me on. During the rest of it, I was always on my own with no one to push me forward but me. 

And believe it or not, I hate first draft writing. When I look at the sheer length of what is before me, I become overwhelmed and discouraged. This is why I have to break it up into manageable lengths. If I don't, I'll end up walking through it all, like I was often tempted to do during a PT run.

But just the other night, a friend of mine and I did a word sprint. And boy did I love it! One hour of writing abandon. And just like how my body performs when I sprint the last hundred yards, my brain pushed all those words out with precision. Over 1,600 of them!

At the end of the hour, my friend and I congratulated each other and joked around. It was fun! It was just like the encouragement I'd get at the end of my sprint in the military. 

So yes, I'm a sprinter. How about you?


You still have time to enter my 300 follower and Elemental has a sequel giveaway! There's swag and a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind locket that looks shockingly similar to a locket in Elemental!

Also, please help me out with the Goodreads debut authors of 2012 list. I was so close to hitting the top five last week, but plummeted to #10 in just a few short days. I'd really appreciate it if you guys could vote for me. Thanks in advance!


8 comments:

  1. I love sprinting, too--of both running and writing varieties. I'll go check out the Goodreads list!

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  2. The way I write, I'm more of a middle-distance runner. :)

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  3. I have been trying for the better part of 2011 to convince myself I like running to no avail. I"m so happy to know I'm not the only one.

    But what's funny is I do really well on long drawn out projects with moments of quickness in them. I'm loving my first draft right now. Strange, I know.

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  4. I'm not a runner either. But I can walk and walk and walk. And as for my writing, I'd have to say I'm a walker. I like to stroll along and look at things.

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  5. Drafting is terrifying and intimidating for me too. I'll be very glad to get to the editing stage. This seems like a good way to think about it, and make it much more manageable :)

    Sarah Allen
    (my creative writing blog)

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  6. I've worked out something similar that works for me. I write for 30 minutes. At the end of that, I can carry on and set the timer for another thirty minutes or I can take five minutes to go get a drink, check the mail box, return a call whatever. I just can't stop during the thirty :-)

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  7. YES! i'm in love with these writing sprints!
    not so sure about actual running though. :P

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  8. Interesting! I'm not a runner either--ugh! I'm with ya there. I used to like the 50-yard dash though (real short sprint). I know what you mean about getting potentially discouraged by looking at the whole of a novel; it sure can be! It's best to look at sections, chapters, scenes instead. :)

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