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

Winter Intensive: 100 Days to Your Full Draft

January 11 - April 20, 2026

Transform your book from dream to reality with:

• 14 Live Zoom Coaching Sessions (Wednesdays 9-11am PT)


• Weekly accountability groups


• 100-day targeted daily curriculum


• 14 custom Craft Clearings (guided audio experiences)


• Lifetime access to all materials

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

$33/month

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

• Website: thefountainpractice.com


• Instagram: @thefountainpractice


• Questions: connect@fountainpractice.com

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!