Photo by SALAH PICTURES on Unsplash
Journey to the Olympics and to Publication: THE WORK OUT
“The greatest moments in sport don’t just happen. Athletes work their whole lives for them. In 2028, hard work meets the city of dreams. That’s what ‘Stars Align’ (the official slogan of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games) is about. This video is just the spark for what’s coming” said LA28 Chief Marketing Officer Alex Merchán. (Click on Slogan video on LA28.org )
Every host Olympic Committee creates a slogan that reflects its city and the country’s values. According to the Committee “Stars Align”, when dedication meets a generational moment.
However, a lot must happen well before that moment arrives…
The Workout: Pre-Season and Pre-publication
Olympic runners and coaches look for that magic workout to achieve world-class times. As writers, we’re looking for the magic answer to how to become published. Runners already know that it’s essential to run fast in practice and recover properly. While writers know that it’s not enough to just write well, they must hook the reader from the very first page and sustain that throughout the entire story.
All of that being said, both require a pre-planned regimen and workouts that will move both the runner and writer closer to their goals.
The Runner’s Workout schedule Monday -Saturday:
On the track, training for the 400m race focuses on building strength and developing multiple energy systems physiologically because the race requires both the anaerobic and aerobic energy systems.
Workout includes:
- Each day, running a combination of 100m, 200m, 300m, 400m with various numbers of repetitions and target times, along with specific recovery times and distances in between each. The runner must push past the pain and fatigue and hit those target times.
- Strength training follows track work with a medicine ball or light weights.
This Writer’s Workout schedule Monday- Saturday:
Much like runners who show up to the track for a daily workout, I show up via Zoom with a group of writers on Writing Dates sponsored by the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA). Prior to the start of our 90-minute session, each writer will state her goal as to what she plans to accomplish during that time. At the end of the session, writers reconvene on camera and state whether the goal was accomplished. To stay on track for publication, deadlines must be met. Outside of the Writing Dates, I write daily from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 pm.
My workout this week included:
- Deciding how Kellen, my main character, will respond when she faces a life-changing event that impacts whether she will make it to the Olympics.
- Revising chapters 29 through 31 of the second draft of my novel.
- Meeting with critique partners to receive feedback about how to improve my chapters and offering suggestions about their work.
- Writing 500 new words for my second novel.
LOOk out for next month’s edition of Journey to the Olympics and to Publication for a special glimpse into the life of an elite runner.
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Shellie
~Where the rhythm of the pavement meets the rhythm of the page~
For more information about track workouts
https://www.trackandfieldcoach.com/blog?tag=running
For more information about ways to become a published author
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