Welcome to NOVEL MARATHON, a 26-episode podcast aimed at helping you write the first draft of an 80,000 word novel in about a year. Weâre reading THE ONE YEAR NOVELIST by L. M. Lilly, STORY GENIUS by Lisa Cron and THIS YEAR YOU WRITE YOUR NOVEL by Walter Mosley. To join, simply listen, do the readings and complete the exercises in the assigned chapters listed in the show notes. You can expect a new episode about every two weeks. I hope youâll join us. Good luck with your novel-in-progress!
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Welcome to NOVEL MARATHON, a 26-episode podcast aimed at helping you write the first draft of an 80,000 word novel in about a year. Weâre reading THE ONE YEAR NOVELIST by L. M. Lilly, STORY GENIUS by Lisa Cron and THIS YEAR YOU WRITE YOUR NOVEL by Walter Mosley. To join, simply listen, do the readings and complete the exercises in the assigned chapters listed in the show notes. You can expect a new episode about every two weeks. I hope youâll join us. Good luck with your novel-in-progress!
Mile 7: Why do you want to write this book? Plus: Commit to 500 words, 5x per week
Novel Marathon
7 minutes 58 seconds
2 years ago
Mile 7: Why do you want to write this book? Plus: Commit to 500 words, 5x per week
đWelcome to Mile 7 of Novel Marathon â The 2023 Edition! đ
The last couple of weeks have been a wild ride at my job. As in I wasnât sure whether I still had a job!
Which led me to think about compartmentalization, and the value of art.
For me, compartmentalization is a way of separating different parts of who I am. There is the bringing-home-the-bacon part. Thereâs being a parent. And thereâs my writing.
Of course, compartmentalization has its limits. Especially when something really big happens. Trouble on the job front. Breaking up with someone. Getting broken up with. Iâm not even talking about getting bad health news, thatâs a whole ânother level.
What is one supposed to do when the world comes knocking, demanding our full attention? Just forget about that novel youâve been meaning to write? Snap back to reality? Kiss those childish dreams goodbye?
The trouble with letting the world into our innermost creative sanctum is that two parts of ourselves suffer: In addition to things going south in real life, our creative pursuits are also in danger of taking a hit, and all of a sudden, our whole being is threatened.
Iâm not suggesting that real life problems can be perfectly kept at bay. We arenât robots, after all, and whatever walls we attempt to erect between the different roles we play are ultimately as soft and porous as our skin.
I take a lot of pride and ownership in my work. But ultimately, itâs work for hire. Iâm as replaceable as any employee.
But art is different. Our writing belongs to us.
In case youâre wondering, it turns out I still DO have a job! But this experience has clarified a few things for me. When everything falls apart, my writing will still be there. I find that immensely comforting. Itâs constant, waiting for me, a refuge I can turn/return to at any time.
Protect your art. Itâs worth it, and so are you.
đRequired reading
Ch. 15 & 16 in The One Year Novelist
đExtra credit
Pgs. 22-24 in Refuse To Be Done
đStory spark
Write a paragraph about the moment you had the idea for your novel and what attracted you to it.
đMost importantly: WRITE!
~500 words, 5x per week.
For more writing prompts, go to:
https://novelmarathon.substack.com
Novel Marathon
Welcome to NOVEL MARATHON, a 26-episode podcast aimed at helping you write the first draft of an 80,000 word novel in about a year. Weâre reading THE ONE YEAR NOVELIST by L. M. Lilly, STORY GENIUS by Lisa Cron and THIS YEAR YOU WRITE YOUR NOVEL by Walter Mosley. To join, simply listen, do the readings and complete the exercises in the assigned chapters listed in the show notes. You can expect a new episode about every two weeks. I hope youâll join us. Good luck with your novel-in-progress!
