Why Writers, Like Athletes, Should Cross-Train

by Lucia Tang with @Reedsy

Cross-training is exercise gospel. Gung-ho gym-goers gush over its benefits, from speeding up recovery time to improving overall fitness. Best of all, switching up a fitness routine can stop overtaxed muscles from getting so tired of moving they collectively riot, forcing the unwilling athlete to take up permanent residence on the couch.

No wonder you’ll see gymnasts run, runners cycle, and cyclists swim. But for those of us whose primary form of exercise is flexing our fingers at the keyboard, specialization is the name of the game — often not even on a single genre, but on a single work.

How am I supposed to finish this novel if I keep starting new ones? I should just sit down and force myself to slog through it. You’ve probably told yourself something like this before. That is how the conventional wisdom goes, and it really might help you finally churn out a finished manuscript.

But what if you’re thinking on a larger scale — beyond this one manuscript, to your long-term future as a writer? In that case, this kind of literary single-mindedness can do more harm than good, inviting boredom and burnout.

Like cross-training athletes, writers can and should move between projects — not guiltily, but with intention, as part of a well-organized plan for artistic development. Here are three reasons why.

1. You’ll gain versatility, making everything you write more well-rounded

We all tend to write what we’re good at, gravitating towards projects — and genres — that play to our strengths and paper over our weaknesses. Say you’re often at a loss when it comes to plot, but you’re a lyrical wordsmith who strings gorgeous sentences together on instinct. Then, you probably spend your time writing lit fic instead of thrillers, prioritizing elegant style over tantalizing inciting incidents and satisfying resolutions.

It makes sense to keep doing what works. But if you want to push yourself and expand your range as a writer, it’s a good idea to work against the grain of your own inclinations from time to time.

If you’re more a stylist than a storyteller, try your hand at a genre like crime fiction, where you can’t hide behind your natural lyricism. On the other hand, if you build up intricate storylines as easily as breathing, but have trouble peopling them with a complex, realistic cast, experiment with some quiet, character-driven slices of life. If you normally shy away from dialogue, go all in on it: write a scene from a screenplay. And you tend to rely on stoic, analytical protagonists because you struggle to depict intense emotion, try to build a piece around a real drama queen.

Chances are, the writing you produce in this experimental mode won’t be as polished as what you normally put out, but that’s just the way it should be. After all, even a world-class runner won’t be able to out-swim Michael Phelps when he cross-trains in the pool. The important thing is, you’re developing your overall fitness as a writer, shoring up your weaknesses instead of boxing yourself in.

2. You’ll need less recovery time between work sessions

Writing is exhausting, even if it doesn’t tax your lungs as much as running a marathon. There’s no denying that it takes something out of you to turn the images in your head into well-formed paragraphs. No wonder it feels like you need two hours of Netflix, Candy Crush, or online “research” for every hour you spend plugging away at that novel.

And often, the siren call of the internet and its myriad attractions aren’t the only things making you lose focus. So many of us get chased down by a dozen new plot bunnies as soon as we make any headway in an existing project. You can try to swat them away. But what if these new potential stories keep hopping circles around your head, making it hard to resist starting a whole new novel?

Stop resisting. Toggling between two projects at once — if not three or four — might sound like the perfect way to court writerly disaster. But some judicious multi-tasking can actually help you finish each project faster than working on them one by one.

Feeling trapped by a particularly thorny plot problem? Having trouble getting into your villain’s head? Tired of spending time in the world you’ve built? Start a new story, and you’ll be able to switch gears whenever you get stuck — and then return to the problem feeling refreshed.

Think of it this way: an athlete who hits a plateau will often switch up their training. You’re doing the same thing. And this way, you’ll still be writing instead of eking out another level of Candy Crush.

3. You’ll be able to keep the writing process fun

When you’re knee-deep in a dreaded revision, eyes glazing over and mind moving like a rusted gear, it can be hard to remember why you even started writing in the first place. That’s the perfect time to put your manuscript away and work on something else: not a second project, but something just for fun, like an epic poem dedicated to your cat or a self-indulgent fanfic about your favorite pop star going to Hogwarts.

Don’t worry about whether your words will ever see the light of day. Just write with abandon — try to rediscover the joy of seeing your ideas in motion, no matter how ridiculous they are. It’s like taking the day off from jogging your usual trail to drop in on a swing dance class. You may not come back every week, but isn’t it exhilarating to try something new?

Remember, writing is something you do for you. Don’t let it turn into a chore! After all, boredom and suffering aren’t signs of artistic progress: they’re harbingers of burnout. And you can hone your craft while still having fun.

Lucia Tang is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects self-publishing authors with the world’s best editors, designers, and marketers. Reedsy also provides tools to help authors write and format their books, as well as free courses and webinars on publishing. In Lucia’s spare time, she enjoys drinking cold brew and planning her historical fantasy novel.

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