Thursday, March 18, 2010

Writing Is Like Losing Weight

As I jogged on the treadmill yesterday, it occurred to me that writing and losing weight are activities with certain similarities.

First, both tolerate few distractions and require family support. For example, when my husband brings home bakery boxes filled with goodies, it’s all over, just like when the kids come in the office and interrupt my train of thought while I’m writing. The deed cannot be undone.

Second, writing and losing weight take significant effort. Writing means hours chained to the desk until fingers cramp and legs don’t straighten and a nap is required. Losing weight means exercising and after fifty minutes on the treadmill plus a half hour of yoga and strength training, my muscles are exhausted and the couch calls. Then there are the mental demands.

Third, once begun, writing and weight loss are addictive. Characters demand attention at all hours of the day and night, and I’m absolutely driven to finish the story. Similarly, I now crave getting on the treadmill—and I’ve never like to jog before. It seems both exercise and writing fire endorphins.

Finally, “sticking to it” delivers the desired results: the feeling of accomplishing something worthwhile, either finishing a book or losing a few inches around the waist.

Of course, some days all the effort in the world doesn’t pay off: the weight clings, food calls, and/or the words are elusive, creating frustration and dissatisfaction. That’s what makes writing and weight loss so challenging.

I don’t know how many copies of my debut novel have sold, but I do know I’ve lost ten pounds since January. It’s too bad authors don’t receive monthly sales reports. Positive results can be very motivating.

So do you see any similarities between weight loss and writing, or am I just lightheaded from exercising and eating less?

11 comments:

Julia Buckley said...

Wow, Lisa! I'll have to ask you for some of your weight loss tips. I do see the correlation between writing and weight loss, and I plug away at both endeavors each day. But I haven't had your success!

Maybe I need to get a treadmill . . .

G.M. Malliet said...

Exercise for writers is so crucial, but I have yet to find an exercise regime that doesn't take up a lot of time - which is also in short supply. I like to walk but an hour plus away from the desk is hard to do some days. Ditto getting to the gym for weights or yoga. I justify it by hoping it fires up the brain somehow.

Alan Orloff said...

I'm still looking for a way to combine exercise and writing (and surfing the net and cleaning and and doing yardwork...).

Keith Raffel said...

Lisa, both Gin and Alan implicitly bring up the question I want to ask. Can you write and lose weight at the same time? Can you focus on two such endeavors at once?

Lisa Bork said...

Keith - I believe I could dictate into a recorder while jogging on a treadmill now that I've gotten my wind, but that's not the question you're asking, is it?

I have two workmen renovating our shower right now and a dog that barks everytime they go in and out the door. I'm lucky to gather my thoughts to produce this comment.

Sue Ann Jaffarian said...

As soon as I read this I thought - OMG, Lisa's right!

In the past 2 days I've had a "come to Jesus meeting" with myself over priorities and goal setting, with the end result being dumping one of my major goals. I had just finished posting about that on my own blog before popping over here.

G.M. Malliet said...

Keith - I would say it depends on if you snack when you're deadline stressed, or if you get so stressed you forget to eat. I've done both ;-)

Darrell James said...

I seem to find time for exercise. But on days when I'm stressed and in a hurry, I reach for the most convenient food I can find. Which usually means something bad for me. I'll try to do better, honest! Thanks, Lisa.

Cricket McRae said...

Way to go, Lisa! Fitting in exercise is a constant challenge, but worth it. For me it provides balance, and an hour walking generally results in progress on plot or character development. Churning away on the elliptical I can read books for research, review writing group submissions, or scribble nearly illegible notes about blog posts, interviews, etc.

Though sometimes I just watch the Food Network. ; - >

Beth Groundwater said...

You know, Lisa, I really didn't like reading this because I'm lousy at losing weight. I just hope I'm better at sticking to a writing schedule!

Clara said...

I agree with you 100%! Great comparison! =D