How Writing Your Book Is and Is Not Like Qualifying for the Olympics

Aug 7, 2024 | Writing A Book

“I could do that.”

The Olympic Games are on. All over the world, people sit on couches watching marvelous athletic performances on their screens and saying to themselves, “I could do that.”

That’s one way that qualifying for the Olympics and writing a book are similar. In both cases, the achievement begins with the statement, “I could do that.”

Most of my clients are part-time writers who usually earn their money some other way. Writing is not their day job. They also have family and social obligations. Thinking they could write a book is the first step to holding a book they can be proud of in their hands.

The journey to qualifying for the Olympics begins the same way. Sometimes, it starts as a child watching the Olympics on TV. Sometimes, it starts when a parent or coach offers encouragement. Writing a book and qualifying for the Olympics are similar, but there are a couple of key differences.

How Writing Your Book Is Not Like Qualifying for the Olympics

If you’re going to qualify for the Olympics, you need some natural talent. You can’t just effort your way to qualification. Writing a book is different. If you can read one, you can probably write one.

Writing a book is not a total commitment like qualifying for the Olympics. Simone Biles has tons of natural ability. She also trains six days a week (sometimes seven), putting in thirty-two hours or more every week. She’s done that for decades.

How Writing Your Book Is Like Qualifying for the Olympics

You won’t have to work like that to write a book you can be proud of, but it won’t be a walk in the park. There is a lot of hard work behind success. Others may see the victory, but they probably won’t see the dedication and discipline it took to get there.

There are many things that go into qualifying for the Olympics, and writing a book can be proud of. If you aspire to be an Olympian, you must pick the right sport for you, develop a practice routine, pay attention to your nutrition, and get enough sleep. If you’re writing a book, you must develop good writing habits, decide what kind of help you need, and do what you must to keep your body and relationships strong.

In both cases, consistency beats intensity. Motivation is great and powerful, but it’s also fickle. If you want to qualify for the Olympics or if you want to write a book you can be proud of, you have to work at it consistently. You can probably miss one writing session but don’t miss two. That’s the start of a slippery slope to abandoning the project.

The Reason It’s Worth the Effort

Why do it? If it takes so much effort for so long why even try?

If you qualify for the Olympics or write a book you can be proud of, there’s a big payoff. If you’re an Olympian, the payoff for qualifying is that you get to compete at the highest level in front of the whole world. If you write a book you can be proud of, you have the opportunity to change your life and the lives of your readers.

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