I've recently taken up running. It seemed like a good idea for a variety of reasons... fitness, weight-loss, and it's cheaper than a gym membership. For all of it's benefits, running is definitely hard, which is why it reminds me so much of writing. I have a real love/hate relationship with my writing, but it's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.

I dread getting started on a run. If it’s raining or I’m tired, I’ll try to talk myself out of going. But, once I get moving enough to fall into a rhythm, I really enjoy it. Writing is the same way. When I think about sitting down to write, I'm great at finding a million excuses to do something else. This is when my bills get paid or I call friends I haven’t spoken to in a while. But, once I actually allow myself to start typing, I fall into a rhythm, and I actually begin to enjoy it. So for me, the hard part isn't writing... it's sitting down to write.

Running is self-motivating. Once you start doing it regularly, you begin to see the results right away. Within a matter of days you see improvements in endurance and muscle strength. Seeing these results motivates you to continue. Writing can be that way, too. When you start writing regularly, you begin to accumulate pages. Seeing the pages grow makes you want to write more. When you sit down to write, the ideas flow a lot faster... it doesn't take as long to jump into the work.

The best and most indescribable feeling I get from running is euphoria. There's a point during a run, after I've been going for a while, when my body gets a second wind. I feel like I could run forever and never get tired. I feel powerful. I feel a part of nature and world around me. It's an amazing psychological rush. Writing can yield a similar feeling... just not as often. And, it usually doesn't come until I sell the book. But, there's nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a book. You know you've done something special. You've created something from nothing. It's powerful feeling that no one can take from you.