ChiWriting is a unique energy management approach to writing and the creative process based on the principles of endurance training.
Endurance training is about using a structured approach to developing and harnessing the physical and mental energy necessary to complete a long-distance event, such as a marathon or triathlon. Writers and prospective writers alike can adapt these same strategies and techniques to develop and harness the creative energy necessary to complete a book or other long-term creative project.
By using endurance training principles as a model for the writing life, ChiWriting reveals a practical and systematic way to put words on the page consistently and progressively. More than that, it shows readers how to integrate these principles into their daily lives to enhance overall energy and well-being, enabling them to continue meeting other important work and family responsibilities. Readers will learn:
• The parallels between physical and creative energy systems and how they support each other.
• The three basic workouts athletes use that writers can adapt to make consistent progress on their projects.
• Ten key endurance training and planning principles and how writers can adapt these to make consistent progress toward creative goals.
• Three habits of mind that all successful endurance athletes use and why they’re also essential for writers.
• Five daily energetic practices necessary to develop and harness energy and channel it to the page.
ChiWriting is structured in three parts:
• Part 1: “The ‘Chi’ in ChiWriting” looks at the concept of “chi,” or life force energy, from both scientific and spiritual perspectives to provide a foundational, philosophical understanding of the book’s energy management approach to achieving creative goals. Part 1 makes the case that energy is all there is and that progress towards creative goals requires both focused thought and action to enhance life energy and translate it to the page.
• Part 2: “The ChiWriting Principles” explains the physical and creative energy systems, basic workouts, and the training and planning principles endurance athletes use and how readers can apply these same principles to ensure systematic progress toward the completion of writing projects;
• Part 3: “Becoming a ChiWriter” covers essential strategies for implementing these training and planning principles and integrating them into readers’ busy lives, including: the three key habits of mind; how to develop greater levels of energy through five essential practices; and, how to plan and structure writing workouts for optimal productivity.
Praise for ChiWriting:
"ChiWriting will help you push through, like an athlete, and get your book finally written."
--Terry Price, Writer and Creative Coach
"...[ChiWriting] is a method of time and energy management that works surprisingly well..."
--Kirby Gann, Novelist
T.A. (Tom) Pierce has been writing professionally for businesses since 1989. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University and is a former USAT-certified Level I triathlon coach. ChiWriting is based on his experiences as a writer, MFA graduate, and triathlete, which includes training for and finishing a 140.6-mile Ironman race. In addition to ChiWriting, he has completed a collection of short stories, some of which have appeared in respected journals such as Quarterly West, American Literary Review, and Bellevue Literary Review. He is also the recipient of an Emerging Artist award (in literary arts) from the Kentucky Arts Council. He lives in Louisville with his family and is currently at work on a novel.
