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?"

Join The Fountain Community

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January 11 - April 20, 2026

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Weekly accountability groups
100-day targeted daily curriculum
14 custom Craft Clearings (guided audio experiences)
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Perfect if you:

Have carried a story for years that needs to be written
Want to finally type "The End"
Seek a neuroscience-based approach to creativity
Write fiction or memoir

Early bird pricing available now at thefountainpractice.com

Self-Paced Courses

Supercharge Your First 30 Pages
Build opening pages that power your entire manuscript

42 days of strategic daily prompts
6 original craft Clearings
Two pathways: for new projects or existing drafts
Lifetime access

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
Monthly deep-dive classes exclusively for members
Community of writers creating from trust rather than doubt
Desktop and mobile access

Join at thefountainpractice.com

Connect With The Fountain

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!

Your Writing Career is a Marathon Not a Sprint