The AUTHOR Marathon: Hone Your Craft Like an Athlete

Throughout my years of writing, I’ve learned that developing a novel is like running a marathon. It doesn’t even have to be a manuscript. If you’re creating a book of any kind, there’s a lot of work involved in making it spectacular. First things first, you have to come up with the idea. What will your book be about?

Becoming an author isn’t for those with the faint of heart. Making a book into a bestseller is definitely for those writers in the race for the long run. Even after you finish writing your novel, down to the last period, the revision process is like jumping over hurdles. It’s a killer, if you haven’t trained for it. It’s like you have to get a taste of what to expect before you can really call yourself an author.

Yes, your author career can happen in a variety of different ways. You can be independent, which people like to call ‘vanity publishing’, but I don’t like that terminology. It’s pure mockery. You can work with a small press, hybrid publisher, or traditional publisher. Today there’s so much to choose from, which is great!

Yet, all of your drafts, revisions, and edits still have to be done. Trust me! The work that you give your heart to still needs to be fixed, to include that one little comma that’s superficial, but grammatically correct. All of the proofreads, alpha/beta reads and brutally honest reviews still have to happen, regardless of how good an author you are. Then there’s the marketing… well, that’s a whole other project that I’d rather save for a different post. That’s more like another job—part two (if you’re an independent or author entrepreneur).

Think of writing like a track meet. You don’t just “run a marathon” out of nowhere. Athletes train for the marathon. Think of yourself as that athlete and steal a play from their book:

•  Warm-up sprint – Start every session with a five minute free-write. No editing, no pressure. Just get the blood flowing—like stretching before a race. For me, writing short stories is like my warm-up for writing a novel. Writing short is fun! It’s a way of brainstorming something quick, sweet, and to the point. It avoids that saggy middle that sometimes people have a hard time getting through. Short fiction is a complete story that I know I can finish, quickly. So, this was a good start for me.

•  Interval drills – Take twenty-five minutes to focus on your writing project. Then take ten minutes to relax. Call it “writer’s reps.” During the break, stand up, and stretch. Make your hands into two balled fists. Then open them, as wide as you can, stretching your fingers apart to keep them from cramping. Taking breaks is important. So you don’t burn out, and you maintain balance throughout your day. Short periods of not looking at a computer screen or paper refreshers your mind.

•  Cool-down lap – Read over your work with an opened mind. Check for clarity and comprehension. Consider “what worked?” Notice the good qualities of your writing and what needs to be improved. Athletes are coached. Of course, you can hire a writing coach or you can follow my advice and be your own boss.

•  Repetition – Athletes have trainers. You have a planner: yourself, a schedule, and a device that provides the time. Make writing a part of your everyday life, like eating food and drinking water. Do it regularly, so it becomes easier. The most common writing practice is keeping a self-reflection journal. This type of routine journaling is amazing for therapy and memorabilia (especially when traveling to new places).

Pro tip: Document your progress on a scoreboard—mark every session with a red X on your calendar. After seven X’s, reward yourself. Not with junk—something dumb-fun, like buying a new pen or the latest bestseller written by your favorite author.

“You got this!”

Morning Muse vs. Midnight Mind

Morning Bird

You’re up before the sun, brain sharp, coffee steaming. Steal from early-risers like marathoners: do your hardest sprint first—twenty-five minutes before breakfast. No distractions yet, no inbox, just you and the page. Pro: you finish before life gets loud. Con: if you crash by noon, you’ve got zero left for editing. Fix it—save the cool-down lap for lunch. Reward? A walk in daylight. Feels like winning.

Night Owls

You hit peak flow when the world’s asleep—perfect for interval drills. Start at nine PM: twenty-five on, five off, till midnight. Dim lights, headphones, maybe a candle for drama. Pro: zero interruptions, pure silence. Con: morning brain feels like sludge. Hack it—keep a “warm-up” ritual (tea, stretch) to ease into the day without forcing words. Reward? Sleep in, no guilt.

Either way: don’t fight your wiring. Test both for a week—track your energy, word count, mood. One’ll click and remember you’re in it for the long haul—for the push! You want to write something that nobody has ever read. You want to do something different. Spill your guts! Make people feel what you write. You have all the time in the world. Create the best story ever!

Thank you for reading K.B. Krissy’s blog. Feel free to tap the like 👍🏾 or repost 🔁.