CONNECTED

Your Writing Career is a Marathon Not a Sprint

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Connected: A Podcast for the Whole Writer
Ep #4: Why Your Writing Career is a Marathon Not a Sprint

Hosted by authors Chelsea Bieker & Kimberly King Parsons

Episode Highlights

Chelsea and Kim explore the long game of writing careers, sharing insights from their own publishing journeys and discussing why patience and persistence matter more than speed. 

Key Topics Discussed:

The Marathon Metaphor

  • Why writing a book involves multiple marathons—from first draft to final publication
  • Finding your sustainable minimum: the smallest amount of daily creative work that feels satisfying
  • How reading while writing maintains perspective and patience
  • Blind spots in your work

    • Publishing Realities

    • Why publication won't "fix" you or fill the void you think it will
    • The 1-2 year gap between finishing a manuscript and seeing it published
    • How to cultivate joy in the process rather than fixating on outcomes

      • The Truth About Craft

      • Why your first draft probably isn't ready (and that's okay)
      • The value of reading 1,000 books before writing one
      • How editors often read only the first 10-30 pages of submissions
        • Fountain Community Q&A

        Q1: "I'm 45 and just starting my first novel. How do I deal with feeling decades behind?"

        Q2: "I've been querying for 3 years with no agent while friends get book deals. Should I keep going?"

        Q3: "How do I balance learning craft with actually writing?"

         

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          • Perfect if you:

          • Have carried a story for years that needs to be written
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            • 42 days of strategic daily prompts
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              • 10 Steps to Your Dream Agent
              Find your agent through alignment, not anxiety

              • Comprehensive querying strategy
              • 2 confidence-building Clearings
              • Real query letter examples
              • Templates and exercises
                • The Fountain Membership

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                Access everything you need for a sustainable writing practice:

                • Full library of Clearings and Channels
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                • Community of writers creating from trust rather than doubt
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                  • Join at thefountainpractice.com

                  Connect With The Fountain
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                  • Instagram: @thefountainpractice
                  • Questions: [email protected]
                    • Episode Takeaway

                    You're not behind. You're not too late. You're exactly where you need to be in your unique creative marathon. The next 100 days will pass regardless—how will you use them?

                    If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share with a writer who needs to hear it. Your creative practice is worth investing in. Welcome to your practice!

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                    CONNECTEDBy Chelsea Bieker and Kimberly King Parsons