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By Katherine Lowry Logan
No matter how prepared I am,
whether I’m wearing my writer’s hat or my runner’s hat, something often goes
wrong.
Several years ago, I made a research trip along the Oregon Trail
to see firsthand what I was writing about in THE RUBY BROOCH. To get there from
Lexington, KY, you take I-64 and head west. That’s exactly the direction I
was going when I realized I needed to first go to Cincinnati to pick up my
daughter who was traveling part of the way with me. To get to Cincinnati from
Lexington you take I-75 and head north. Hmm. If I couldn’t get to the trail's
jumping off point in Independence, MO, how in the world was I going to make it
2000 miles to Oregon? I wasn’t real sure. As a recent widow, this was a huge
step for me, but my desire to see the trail that I had spent so many hours
writing about far outweighed my fear and insecurity.
Instead of berating myself for my stupidity in getting lost so
soon after leaving home, I shrugged it off and found the right road. Part of being
prepared is having a contingency plan. I didn’t have one, so I made one up on
the spot. “I’ve never done this before. Whatever happens—happens.” The mantra
served me well over the next nineteen days, even when I became snowbound in
Cheyenne, Wyoming on the way home.
These days, whether it’s age
or sensibility, my contingency plans are real plans. I have two 5-mile running
courses mapped out. One’s flat, the other is hilly. Looking at the elevations,
it doesn't look like either course is flat. Maybe I should say one is flatter
than the other. I run the hilly course more often because it’s better training
and preparation for races. Both courses bring me back to the corner that
leads home. In the event something should happen during the first five miles,
I’m close to my house. Several weeks ago, when I set out on a 10-mile run
with my fuel belt loaded with water and energy gels, something happened.
Within the first mile, my
stomach started cramping and made running all but impossible. Cramps from the
left side are usually digestive issues. Cramps from the right side are usually
breathing and posture issues, or so I've been told. Mine were right smack in
the middle, maybe due to dehydration. Anyway, I circled back to “the
corner” and called it quits after 5 miles. If I’d been on a 10-mile loop, I
would have had to call for a ride home.
I suppose some would argue
that having two separate courses made it easier to quit. There are some runners
who would have gone the distance, sick as a dog. I’m not one of them. Well,
after the last few weeks getting ready for the Air Force Marathon, maybe I am.
When it comes to writing, I have contingency plans, too. Some are
good and some are not so good, but quitting and going home because I don’t feel
well, is not one of them. On those days, I read. I study other writers.
Different authors do different things well. Some write descriptions that bring
settings to life. Some write snappy dialogue that makes you laugh. Some write
great love scenes that give you that “fly on the wall” experience. By studying
another writer’s style you can draw on what you learn and apply it to your
own writing, which in a way becomes a blend of all you’ve learned as a
reader.
There are only two ways to become a better writer: write a lot and
read a lot. I did a lot of both during the fifteen years it took to write,
rewrite and publish THE RUBY BROOCH. And there’s only one way to become a
better runner—run! And always have a contingency plan.
What's your contingency plan? Share it with us.
Happy writing and running,
Kathy
BIO: Katherine Lowry Logan
Katherine was born the second of five children
to a Presbyterian Pastor and a stay-at-home mom. She came of age in Louisville,
Kentucky, during the tumultuous 1960s. Sit-in's, bra burnings, the sexual
revolution, pot, campus unrest, and the Vietnam War were brought vividly to
life by Walter Cronkite on the CBS Evening News. While the rest of the world
seemed to spin out of control, Katherine spun stories in her head.
College, marriage, and two daughters kept the muse simmering on the back
burner. She worked as a real estate and tax paralegal in a law firm in central
Kentucky, and was actively involved in the life of her community. It wasn't until the nest was empty that she
sat down to write full-time. Life, as it often does, brought tragedy and a
screeching halt to her writing. Her husband, best friend, and lover died unexpectedly.
Healing was a slow process, but two weddings and five grandchildren have a way
of putting life into perspective. Following the birth of her second grandchild,
she found her writer's voice again.
Katherine is a long distance runner and lives in
Lexington, Kentucky. She is blessed with a wonderful and supportive family and
circle of friends who have encouraged her and celebrated each and every step of
her journey.
Contact information for Kathy:
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Buy her book The Ruby Brooch at Amazon
3 comments:
For years I didn't have a backup plan for saving my WIP. Then one day my computer crashed and I lost everything. I now have an external hard drive. Sometimes, it takes something like that to open your eyes. Thanks for a great post and for visiting our blog.
Nice post. I have always admired people who could run. I worked with a man who ran everyday for 5-10 miles and if he didn't get to run he was mean as a snake. Guess he didn't have that backup plan!
Laine, that cracked me up. No, he certainly didn't have a back up plan. I didn't start running until September 22, 2011 at age 61! In a year, I've run several 5Ks, three 10Ks, 1 half marathon, and 1 full marathon. I decided it was time to stop sitting at my desk writing for long hours every day and get up and exercise so I would live to see my grandchildren go up. I've felt better in the past year than I have felt in years.
Like Ruby, I have also lost all my data from a computer crashes (several). In July, I thought I had everything backed up, but I didn't. My writing was safe but I lost my tax return and other financial information and had to spend three full days on the phone with Dell. Yikes! It will all work out.
Thank you both for stopping by and leaving comments.
Kathy
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