“I write while I run; music and my pounding feet lull me into a self-hypnosis, allowing my mind to wander and compose on its own. A good running route is scenic enough to inspire but not distract, and the music has to fit your mental labors.
For The Long Walk, I listened to a lot of jangly ’60s rock (The Doors, Creedence Clearwater Revival) and their modern equivalents (The Black Angels). The prep before the run is just as important: coffee, breakfast, and a truly good book the night before. I try to be very selective about what I read, and feed myself a steady diet of quality writing as creative food. I’ve started to avoid the newspaper, bad magazine copy, and throw-away novels during heavy writing bouts. I’m easily influenced, and I only want the best to percolate to the surface during my runs.”
—Brian Castner, author of The Long Walk (Doubleday, 2012)
Photo credit: Joey Campagna