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Are You a Marathon Writer?

October 23, 2012

cricklade20half20marathon20start202Writing students, those I critique, and people in my writing workshops will sometimes question whether it is ethical to encourage fledgling writers.

Why?

Because the path to publication isn’t easy, and they will experience a lot of rejection along the way, and the “odds” are stacked against them. That’s all true.

So why encourage new writers to persevere?

I do it because they all honestly have a chance. Of course, some students turn out to be sprinters only. They write a bit, give it their all, get tired, and quit. Some, though, turn out to be marathon runners, in it for the long haul. They experience the pain of rejection and the exhaustion of the uphill climb as well–but they don’t quit. That is often the deciding factor.

Separating the Men from the Boys

Can writing teachers and workshop leaders predict who will eventually cross the finish line? I used to think so, but experience has taught me otherwise.

I am saddened by the talented writers who quit easily. I am even more often encouraged by the medium-talented writers who hang in there and get published. And even though students ask, I can’t predict, based on someone’s early writing, if they have that necessary stick-to-it-iveness to succeed in the writing life. Mostly it’s a character issue–not a talent issue.

False Encouragement?

As Ralph Keys says in The Writer’s Book of Hope: Getting from Frustration to Publication, I try to encourage all new writers, but that is not the same as praising mediocre work.

Those of you who have been my students or have paid for a critique know that I critique thoroughly. But you can give tough critiques–showing ways to improve the work–without being discouraging. You give “honest reassurance,” says John Gardner in On Becoming a Novelist.

The Biggest Writer Hurdle

The major difference I see between those who quit and those who are persistent is their “acceptance of rejection.” That may sound like a contradiction of terms, but it’s critical to your survival as a writer.

Accept the fact that you’ll get rejected. Often. All during your writing career. I’ve sold 42 books at this point, but I still get rejections. Rejected proposals, rejected books, rejections from people I’ve sold to before. It happens to all published writers. It’s part of the writing life AND IT’S NOT PERSONAL.

In Unstoppable Women: Achieve Any Breakthrough Goal in 30 Days, Cynthia Kersey talks about this rejection. (And it doesn’t just happen to writers.) She says, “Rejection comes with the territory when we’re selling anything, whether it’s a project, a product, an idea, or ourselves. Everyone isn’t going to ‘get it’ or be interested in what we’re offering. So what! When we accept that ‘no’ is a natural part of the process, we can easily move past each rejection until someone does say yes.”

Your Decision

Marathoner or sprinter–which one are you? Do your writing habits support your choice? If not, what changes do you need to make in your training in order to carry your writing over the finish line?

Make a list–and make one tiny change today.

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16 Comments »

  1. Great post, Kristi.

    I’d like to add this fun contest the late Mel Boring gave to us — have rejection contests. You’ll find that the person with the most Rs will most often have the most acceptances too.

    Comment by Vijaya — October 23, 2012 @ 11:06 am

  2. Vijaya, that sounds exactly like something Mel would say. :-) And he was so right: the writer with the most rejections probably has the most acceptances too. I recall Jane Yolen saying something similar at a retreat once. Good way to “frame” those rejections!

    Comment by Kristi Holl — October 23, 2012 @ 11:31 am

  3. I think I’m a marathoner. I am keeping at it mostly through contests right now. I do have a couple of small projects in the works and am preparing for NaNoWriMo 2012.

    Comment by AllyM — October 23, 2012 @ 12:42 pm

  4. Ally, what a great idea to keep going through contests and challenges like NaNoWriMo. I’m preparing for that right now too so that I’ll be able to persevere during the Thanksgiving week when we’ll be traveling. Let’s encourage each other in November! 8-)

    Comment by Kristi Holl — October 23, 2012 @ 6:17 pm

  5. Hi, Kristi! I LOVE this post! I’m a runner too, and a marathon (and half-marathon) runner at that. I’d say I’m DEFINITELY a marathon writer. Yeah, rejection hurts, but who cares, so do sore shins, legs, feet, toenails, etc. after a race, but I keep going back for more. The thrill of writing definitely outweighs the sting of rejection. It just makes me that much more determined to find the right place that DOES “get it.”

    Doing a little at a time and just knowing that I’m still moving forward keeps me going. With writing AND running…

    Comment by Christie Wright Wild — October 24, 2012 @ 2:35 pm

  6. Christie, I’m a runner too, and I am intrigued by the parallels between running and writing. It’s funny how you can really like something, and yet have to push yourself out the door or push yourself to the keyboard to get it done! You are so right–and wise–when you said, “Doing a little at a time and just knowing that I’m still moving forward keeps me going.” You and me both! :-)

    Comment by Kristi Holl — October 24, 2012 @ 5:03 pm

  7. I think another big difference between the ones who quit and the ones who persist is acceptance of the amount of work involved. So many can’t believe it’s THAT hard, and when they find out it is, they’re not interested in changing their life to accommodate it. Sometimes they quit in the face of rejection because they think it means they’re not good enough, or they just don’t have luck, or the system is corrupt, when what it really means is they haven’t revised anywhere near deeply enough. I hawk Sandy Asher’s WRITING IT RIGHT whenever I get the chance.

    Comment by Marcia — October 25, 2012 @ 10:49 am

  8. Marcia, that is certainly a big factor when writers quit. Reading a children’s book makes it look so easy, and it’s a shock to discover how many revisions (and complete do-overs) it can take to get it that way.

    Yes, Sandy’s WRITING IT RIGHT is a gold mine! :-)

    Comment by Kristi Holl — October 25, 2012 @ 3:07 pm

  9. Marathoner here! But it wasn’t easy and it can be terribly discouraging and even debilitating at times. I came to the realization during the nearly two decades of writing and submitting that I didn’t have a ton of natural talent, but what I did have was DESIRE and PATIENCE and I made a decision to never give up – well, that and the fact that I couldn’t stop writing, even if I wanted to. Because I tried that too! :-)

    Now I have 5 books published with New York publishers and 5 more under contract with Scholastic and Harpercollins.

    So it *can* happen! I’ve seen many very talented writers fall by the wayside, which is very sad.

    Comment by Kimberley Griffiths Little — October 26, 2012 @ 9:50 am

  10. Kimberley, yours is such a success story!!! Congratulations, both on the published books (which I see are on many best books and award lists) and your upcoming books. I loved what you said about DESIRE and PATIENCE. Those are both highly under-rated in this day of “hurry, hurry, publish, publish!” Thanks so much for chiming in here. I know you have given other readers a real boost. :-) (Love your website, by the way.)

    Comment by Kristi Holl — October 26, 2012 @ 11:07 am

  11. Kristi,
    how timely for me. I’m looking back at goals I set for the year as we near 12/30/12, and there are half of them not nearly done. So, I was a little discouraged…
    but this puts me back on course.
    My wife has started training for the marathon in Little Rock in March, and so it’s relevant that you helped me see my writing as a marathon too. (My physical knees won’t suffer a real marathon–5K’s for me.)
    I do have the desire and do have the patience, but like a runner on the course I really need those sideline shouters and clappers and encouragers like you and the writing community around me.

    Comment by Damon Dean — October 26, 2012 @ 2:03 pm

  12. I am revving up to finish strong this year too, Damon, and hopefully meet two more goals on my list that had nearly slipped off. November and December, despite the holidays, will need to feel a big push from me–and apparently from you too. :-) Glad you’re still in here for the long haul. Cheer, cheer!

    Comment by Kristi Holl — October 26, 2012 @ 4:51 pm

  13. GREAT article Kristi from another marathoner. I love all the comments people have posted – I can so relate. I often tell people this is a tough business, but they don’t really get it. After all, there are few other businesses that have to deal with rejection like we do – sometimes on a daily basis. I’ve learned to live with it, but sometimes they get under your skin and can really get you down. But, like you, I can’t give up. Not that I’d want to, but I truly don’t think I could. Once stories start pouring out of you, it’s nearly impossible to put a cork in ‘em. And some do make it through to being published – I have 15. But for every ONE that’s been published, I have so many in the drawer that never made it.

    Comment by Elizabeth Dulemba — October 30, 2012 @ 7:29 am

  14. Elizabeth, thanks so much for chiming in here. Yours is another voice of true experience! Congratulations on all your publishing credits! I looked at your website, and I absolutely LOVE what you’re doing to publicize Lula’s Brew!! What a variety! (Am listening to the song video right now…ah, memories!) :-)

    Comment by Kristi Holl — October 30, 2012 @ 10:06 am

  15. Thank you, Elizabeth for sharing this on your blog so that I could find it – and thank you Kristi for posting it! I LOVE THIS! I was trying to lose a few pounds this past spring and was talking to my husband about how I wish the weight would come off faster. He told me then, that it was a marathon, not a sprint! You have taught me that this same philosophy applies to my writing!! Thank you for that! :)

    Comment by Kim Taylor-DiLeva — November 5, 2012 @ 6:09 pm

  16. Kim, I do believe as I get older that EVERYTHING worth having is a marathon: writing, fitness, marriage, raising kids… Nothing worth having seems to be “quick to acquire.” :-)

    Comment by Kristi Holl — November 6, 2012 @ 4:50 am

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