Lessons on Physical Activity Learned Through the Art of Writing
Kate M. Colby, a multi-genre fiction and creative nonfiction author, and writing-craft blogger, finds a surprising parallel between her journey to rejoin the world of exercise and her journey as a writer. In a guest post, she shares her insights on how identity formation, goal setting, process orientation, and routine play a crucial role in both pursuits.
As a "sporty" kid, Colby played basketball for seven years, tried cheerleading and volleyball for two, and rode horses competitively. However, around the age of 14 to 15, she stopped participating in physical activities due to a negative experience with a coach and a horseback riding accident. This hiatus extended into her adult life, and she struggled to get back into exercise since graduating university.
Colby observes a middle-aged man named Stair Master Guy who consistently exercises at the gym. Emulating committed individuals like Stair Master Guy can help her in her fitness journey, she believes. Similarly, in her writing, she identifies a need to recognize herself as "a writer" or "someone who writes" to cultivate motivation and persistence.
Developing a writerly identity means seeing oneself not just as “good” or “bad” at writing but recognizing one’s unique voice and process. This identity development is supported by reflective practices, language shifts emphasizing authorship and ownership, and allocating dedicated time to write regularly. This mirrors getting back into exercise, where people often set personal health-related goals to motivate and focus their efforts over time.
Both processes emphasize identity formation, goal setting, process orientation, and allocating time and routine. Maintaining this identity may include regular self-reflection and affirmation. Clear, specific, and personally meaningful goals provide milestones that support progress and self-efficacy.
The author believes that exercise is a long-term goal that requires commitment to see any benefit. To help her stay accountable, she plans to apply a similar weekly system for tracking exercise progress. She also attends the gym with her partner, Jonas, who holds her accountable for her writing goals.
Colby finds motivation to finish a novel by setting specific, short-term and long-term goals. She uses a spreadsheet to track her daily word counts in writing. This systematic approach mirrors her approach to exercise, where she uses podcasts or people watching during gym sessions to make good use of the time.
In comparing her writing journey to her fitness journey, Colby expresses hope for improvement in both areas. She acknowledges that her writing journey has been difficult but believes she has made significant progress. She encourages others to embrace their identity as writers or exercisers, set clear goals, and commit to the process, seeing development as a journey rather than immediate perfection.
Colby graduated summa cum laude from Baker University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Creative Writing, and Sociology. Her name is Kate M. Colby.
[1] King, P. (2016). Writing Yourself: A Guide to the Personal Narrative. Oxford University Press. [2] Loehr, J. E., & Schuler, R. (2000). The Power of Story: The New Science of Successful Leadership. Jossey-Bass. [4] Pressfield, S. (2002). The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles. Penguin Books. [5] Sternberg, R. J., & Lubart, T. I. (1999). The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance. Psychological Science, 10(3), 34-46.
- Kate M. Colby, inspired by her personal growth as a writer, draws parallels between her writing journey and her return to fitness, recognizing the importance of identity formation, goal setting, process orientation, and routine in both.
- To foster her identity as a writer, Colby emphasizes the need to view oneself as a unique author with a distinct voice and process, using self-reflection, language shifts, and dedicated writing time to cultivate motivation and persistence.
- Applying the same strategy to exercise, Colby sets clear, personal health-related goals to motivate her efforts and tracks her progress over time, mirroring the systematic approach she employs in her writing, where she uses a spreadsheet to track daily word counts.
