Writing is Like Running

Until recently, I participated in the Midsummer Relay Note.

Also, I am currently participating in a collaborative magazine called the 66-Day Writing Running, where I am taking on the challenge of posting every day for 66 days.

What they both have in common is that the metaphor of "running" is used for the act of "writing."

The novel I am currently writing is also titled Runners, using the metaphor of running toward the goal of the 66-Day Writing × Running challenge.

Because of that, writing every day feels close to the sensation of running every day.

I think "writing" and "running" have the following points in common.

・Both are done alone.
・Both have a start and a finish.
・By repeatedly applying load, you acquire a sense for it.

I believe the act of "writing" is fundamentally a solitary one. While collaborative writing is possible, it is generally a style where one person writes something and other contributors make revisions. The fact that the act of "writing" is "ultimately solitary" remains unchanged.

I think one of the features that distinguishes running from other sports is that it has a starting point and a finishing point. "Writing" also has a beginning and an end.

In other words, basically, you proceed from start to finish alone. Fundamentally, there is your own pace. While writing, you are in dialogue with yourself. When running, too, you are basically the only one you are in dialogue with.

Also, I feel that as you repeat it, you develop the muscles for it. It seems that a runner's muscles are shaped to suit the activity by making it a habit and continuing it.
To acquire a sense for it, it becomes necessary to apply a certain amount of load.
Writing every day might be just right in terms of applying that load.

The author Haruki Murakami also seems to have marathon running as a hobby.

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I haven't read many of Haruki Murakami's novels, but this essay was interesting.
My impression is that he writes novels in a very physical way. It seems he trains by running to prevent the energy required to write long novels from drying up as he gets older. You cannot write novels without physical stamina.

By the way, he also wrote about the story of how he started writing novels. I had heard the episode about Dave Hilton hitting a double at Jingu Stadium around 1:30 PM on April 1, 1978, from an important person before reading this book.

At that time, I honestly told the important person, "I don't really get it," and I remember panicking about whether I would get scolded, but I also remember feeling relieved that I wasn't scolded and that we were able to break the ice.

The story in this episode was also in this book.

The act of writing a novel seems to be a very physical one. Certainly, writing a novel is incredibly exhausting.
For a novelist, the most important thing seems to be "talent," but what comes next is "concentration" and "endurance." While "talent" is in a sense something you cannot help, the latter two can be acquired later through training.

When you try to build a story using text, something like a toxin at the root of human existence is inevitably brought to the surface. Writing a novel is fundamentally an unhealthy task. It seems that in order to continue being a novelist for a long time, one must build their own immune system capable of countering the toxins within the body.

I really resonated with the expression "toxin" after trying to write a novel for the first time this time. While there is the difficulty of creating a story, I also had to face my own toxins, which was extremely tough.

Especially in this episode.

In Haruki Murakami's case, the answer to that might be running as a foundation of physical strength. Writing is, in a sense, manual labor.

One more thing I realized.

That is, while writing may fundamentally be a solitary act, it is "actually not solitary."
When a writer realizes this, I think they are truly encouraged.
When running, a runner is encouraged when there is someone running alongside them or people cheering them on from the sidelines. This might also be a commonality between "writing" and "running."

I felt this especially when I was under pressure during the midsummer relay note. I feel like I learned from this midsummer relay note and the 66-day writing run that "writing is something you have to do alone, but you are encouraged when you realize that you are 'actually not alone.'"

Finally, one more thing I realized.

"Running" means moving forward.

By running, we can move forward. It may be one step at a time, but we can surely move ourselves forward with our own power.
If that is the case, couldn't "writing" also be a way to move ourselves forward with our own power, even if it is little by little?

"Writing" is also, in fact, moving yourself forward with your own power. And you are "not alone" in that.

Thinking that, I think I will try my best to update every day until August 31st for now. That is how I feel today.

So, while moving forward little by little and surely, "make today the best day ever".