Why Writing is Like Running

I haven’t posted in a while because my site was down and I wasn’t sure how to fix it (thank you DreamHost for coming to my rescue). I have been writing in my head, though, so look out for a slew of posts to come, hopefully, more regularly. Yesterday, as I was driving, I had an epiphany as to why I haven’t written a novel yet. Writing a novel is like running a marathon – it takes a good chunk of time to get from the start to the finish. I doubt I’m the first person to come up with this analogy but it was an a-ha moment for me. I have no desire to run a marathon but, if I did, I would train. Training builds strength and endurance and requires discipline. So maybe I should apply that same concept to writing. What if I adapted a marathon training schedule to writing? I could replace miles with minutes. Over the course of several weeks, I’d dedicate a few days to writing, gradually increasing the amount of time spent until I produce a novel. Here’s the Novel Writing Training Schedule I … [Read more...]

National Writing Day

Apparently, October 20 is National Writing Day. Who knew? You’d think I would. So, in honor of this day, here’s a post I wrote awhile ago about why I write. Still holds true. Enjoy. What have you written today? … [Read more...]

My Food Network Magazine Debut

I’m so so excited that I can finally share this news! Earlier this year, I was asked by Food Network Magazine – FOOD NETWORK MAGAZINE people! – to nominate three Maryland pizzas for a travel article they were planning about pizzas from every state. They selected one of my nominees and asked me to do a write up for the article. If you look closely at the end of the article, you’ll find my name listed under Pizza Scouts. Guess I can now add “Food Network Pizza Scout” to my resume. : ) Check out 50 States 50 Pizzas here. Click on thumbnail 20 to see the Flag Pizza from Baltimore’s Joe Squared and read what I wrote. To read more about my dining experience, check out my blog post for Maryland Life magazine. … [Read more...]

Revised Resolutions

I’ve been a blog slacker this week. Well, at my own blog, at least. I’ve been busy with the Maryland Life blog. Check out my latest post here. Vacation is my excuse, even though it was a short one, and work, too. We just sent the magazine off to the printer yesterday. My blog slacking got me to thinking about my goals for this blog, which got me to thinking about my personal goals. I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions – I usually prefer to set yearly goals on my birthday – but this year I did. I made three New Year’s Resolutions and now I think it’s time to revisit them. Run a 5K I am not a runner. I’ve never been much of an athlete. But I signed up for Francie’s Family 5K in March anyway. I got three weeks into training and the blizzards hit. I ended up just walking that race. I tried again in April and, through a combination of running and walking, I completed the Cupcake 5K in just under 45 minutes. But I want to run a 5K in its entirety. I haven’t been running this summer … [Read more...]

Time to Get Serious

I can’t believe it’s been a week since I last posted! (What’s that, like a decade in Internet years?) Last week – when I was last working on my blog – I read over my About page and was reminded of my purpose in starting this blog: accountability. I wanted my blog to hold me accountable for the things I say I’m going to do so I actually do them. But a blog can’t hold me accountable. Only I can. So, it’s time to get serious… …about writing …about blogging …about getting my priorities straight …about finding balance between family and work …about training to actually run a 5K instead of walk it (there’s a 5K in two months that I’m planning to run – just downloaded the registration form) I’ve been serious in mind but not in action. It’s time to get serious about taking action! It’s time to get up early, write often, run regularly and manage my time according to my priorities. It’s a lot to tackle but its time. Who’s with me? What are you serious about? … [Read more...]