Monday, February 15, 2010
It's Not Always About The Medal
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am thoroughly engrossed in the Olympics. Every day there’s another athlete to admire. Another amazing triumph. And unfortunately, in these games, there has also been tragedy.All of this means there is no shortage of stories and inspiration. From the pairs skaters who have been a couple for more than five years, yet compete against each other, to the speed skater who less than six months ago nearly ended his career at the Olympic trials when his own skate sliced his left thigh open.
There’s the Japanese figure skater who had to defect TO Russia to pursue her Olympic dream. Though many of her countrymen consider her a traitor, she poured her heart onto the ice and fulfilled her dream, proving she made the right choice. Maybe the only choice. And we can’t forget the Georgian Olympians, making the difficult decision to go forward and compete, while mourning the loss of one of their own.The writing material is endless. Love on the ice. Love on the slopes. Love across borders or even in the stands. How could you not find an abundance of HEAs in a place where dreams are coming true every day?
But there’s more than writing material to be found. Many of these athletes know they will not be leaving Vancouver with a medal. For these athletes, it’s not about accumulating gold, silver or bronze. It’s about competing. It’s about saying “I was there.” It’s about doing something they love at the highest level, and making the memories that will last a lifetime.
When I think about getting published, I never think of best seller lists or even awards. I know I’m not in contention for any of these things. But I do want to be able to say “I was there.” I will know I wrote a book, made it the best I could, and someone thought enough of it to publish it. Or not, I was still there.
Olympic athletes can teach us a great deal about work, dedication, and dreaming. Everyone who competes is a winner. And all of us who write are winners too. So you never see your name on the NYT list. Or maybe you don’t even see your name on a book cover. It doesn’t matter. You’re writing a book, telling a story, and chasing your dreams.
You’ll always be able to say, “I was there.”
Anyone else watching the games? Any stories brewing that involve flying downhill on a set of skis, straight into the waiting arms of their soul mate? Or maybe a reunion story in which two athletes fell in love four years ago and haven’t seen each other since? Let’s throw around some ideas.
PS: I believe KD Lang’s version of Hallelujah plays on a loop at the Pearly Gates. Absolutely amazing.
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55 comments:
Great point, Terrio. I do think it's about the writing and the doing. Publishing is only once destination... And...wait for it, Hel...
The joy is in the journey!
Sorry, don't write athletes! ;-)
Just pirates.
Lovely idealistic sentiment Terri, and I love you for it.
I know that it can be true in amateur sport or 'friendly' games.
For example when I played tennis with that gorgeous creature from neuro-science, the score was about the last thing on my mind! *grin*
And I've spent many happy hours in the bar after enjoying cricket or soccer. Its very competitive while on the field of play but pure friendship and camaraderie after the game.
I think that professionals and Olympians are a different breed though. Winning is the goal and many will do almost anything to achieve victory. They don't go through all that daily training, for literally years on end, just in order to lose.
For me, the romance of athletics is closely bound up with records. To run a mile faster than any human before. To be first to the summit of an unclimbed peak. To run a marathon faster than any other living person.
The buzz from breaking records translates nicely into science. To discover one of nature's secrets and for a while to be the only person on the planet with that knowledge can be a thrill beyond belief.
Not sure how all of this translates to writing fiction though. Every writer sees themselves as unique with their own voice and ideas.
Only a few resonate with the mass of readers and hit the big time but who cares. What you write may be very personal, revealing lovely secrets about you alone, or exploring ideas that are fascinating to you. If others like reading it thats great but if it doesn't resonate with the masses, thats hard luck on the masses.... unless you need the money!
I'm now reading these blogs with renewed interest after Helli's revelations yesterday about secrets.
The whole world needs to learn more of your secrets Terri.
Don't ever stop your writing luv! :D
Chance, athletic pirates often race each other to find the hidden treasure .... winners keepers. :lol:
I'm not really watching the games. I don't really watch much in general and I never know what's on when so I am not a good watcher.
Though I do love the idea of a couple that had a one night stand at the past Olympics and is now going to reunite.
There's all kinds of stuff you could do with that. Maybe one is looking forward to reignite their flame, have another fling. Maybe the other has changed a lot since their past tryst and wants nothing to do with something temporary. '
All kinds of fun to be had there. Or maybe one has been through some sort of health emergency in the past 4 years, something that changed their life somehow.
And I love the parallel, that at least we're there. At least we're following that dream. That is sooo true.
I guess it's pretty obvious I've been drinking the Olympics kool aid. LOL! This turned out a bit over the top. Huh.
Chance - Not every pirate could be the captain, but they can still say they were there. :) I guess I was getting at the taking part is the important thing. I might have been leading to "Don't give up!", but who knows.
Q - I agree there is a definite distinction between Olympians and professional athletes. Even though those two lines cross quite often. But there are many in these winter games who have ordinary jobs and take part for the love of the sport.
And I thought of you this weekend when I watched Ireland take on France in Rugby. I've never watched Rugby before, and as an American, found so many aspects fascinating. Mostly, how polite they are. Those men were beating the crap out of each other, but being polite about it, if that makes sense. And the Ref kept apologizing and said please and thank you constantly. It was so civilized!
Marn - You should turn them on. It doesn't even matter what sport is running at the time, and they are running ALL the time, it's all pretty interesting. And maybe the Li'l Pirate will get some ideas for things he'd like to try. Snowboarding looks really cool, though I'd never be able to do it.
Yep, just to say we showed up for the game is an accomplishment. Well, for those of you who have finished an MS. LOL! Not me...yet. But I'll get there!
I don't think you were over the top. I LOVE the comparison - probably cause you're speaking directly to me on this. I really don't feel the need to get published, but I do feel the need to finish my dang book... and I guess have the people whose opinion I respect read it and say "Hey, this isn't bad!" That in and of itself would be such a HUGE accomplishment that I can completely relate to the "I was there" mentality.
I actually haven't been watching the Olympics. The DH had them on yesterday but I didn't get hooked into it. I do however love a good Olympic success story. We rented Miracle a couple of months ago and watched it with the kids. Those types of movies are always very inspiring. I could definitely see a romance set among all the other dramas unfolding.
OMG I'm flashing back on a made for TV skating movie I watched when I was a teen. UGH I can't remember the name of it. My teenage angsty self just LOVED it. Did it have Robby Benson in it? or was that a different one. Okay off to IMdb to figure this out...
I don't think I want to the lil pirate thinking about snowboarding just yet. He's got his mama's agility. Read: he can barely stay upright when he walks without falling down. Not conducive to sports where a person travels so fast.
Irish - That's it exactly! It's the experience. It's being a part of something, even if you're a minor part. Not everything has to be go big or go home. Sometimes, it's just about going.
Okay, I need to stop now. My metaphors aren't even making sense anymore. LOL!
And the only skating movie I can think of is Cutting Edge with DB Sweeney. Such a cutie. But ABC Family keeps remaking the story over and over and the latest stars the dude who plays Booth's brother on Bones. They practically use the same script!
If the TODAY show features them, I know about them. So the Lindsey Vonn seems cool--I hope she scores a medal despite the injury; I love the girl who is going to marry Mr. Happy on 10/10/10 (hilarious!)--and she is the perkiest happiest girl you've seen, you can't help but be happy for her; and many more.
Bode Miller was featured today. I can't say I really "like" him, but to an extent I admire him because he isn't going to mouth platitudes at you and say the politically correct thing. He doesn't give a shit; and he knows the media loves to paint him with the bad boy brush just as often as they like to paint him a hero of the Olympics. (Granted, he looks like a frat boy on skis, so if it walks like a duck....) Still, I do admire telling it like it is.
I fell in love with the Chinese couple ice dancers. Their short program was FLAWLESS; I couldn't tear my eyes from the TV and I wanted to cry at the end for them because I knew they'd nailed it. I haven't watched their long program--but I heard they won--is that true? I hope so. This is like their fourth Olympics and I'd love it if they won this time. They've worked on their weaknesses and haven't given up--that's very admirable.
On the whole, I won't watch it--unless they're on the TODAY show. And I can't imagine writing a book (or books) about them. I'm not SEP; and I don't like sports as a whole.
However, one of my favorite romantic movies is The Cutting Edge, which I suppose was about the Olympics. So to speak. That would be fun. An ice princess and a blue collar hockey player? Nice.
Okay, the movie was Ice Castles and now I can't remember if she goes to the Olympics or just makes it to the skating competitions. I know it had a real "rip your heart out" song from Melissa Manchester in it - I think it was called "Looking Through the Eyes of Love."
When the DH and I went on our trek across Canada we stopped in Calgary and toured the Olympic park there. We stood inside the luge track thingy. That was pretty awesome.
Yeah, I remember catching bits of "Cutting Edge" while my daughter was watching it.
Ice Castles is the movie Irish is remembering, and Robby Benson is in it--a real tearjerker. My favorite ice skating story is a book by Kathleen Gilles Seidel--Summer's End. Maybe it's time for a reread.
Terri, I like your analogy too, and I also am an Olympics junkie. I've watched more TV in the past four days than I usually watch in a month. One of the phrases I keep hearing is "personal best." Isn't that what we all aim for as writers? The analogy works for me.
Marn - It could improve his agility! (Not buying it, are you?)
Irish - I think I remember that one, though the memory is faint. But angst on ice of any kind works for me. I don't even need the ice. :)
Hellie - I'm sure the TODAY show is eating up all the human interest stuff. And Bode certainly has enough attitude for the entire team. Though it's nothing compared to the Beggs-Smith dude from Canada who skis for Australia. (Dual citizenship)
He's some internet billionaire who owns a spamming company. He hates dealing with the media and won't play their silly games, so they rarely have anything nice to say about him. He's like the skiing version of Sin, they call him an International Man of Mystery. LOL!
Isn't the Ice Castles one where the skater is blind?
Oh, the blind skater. I remember that now. That IS a tearjerker!
Janga - I so should have titles this blog "Personal Best". Gah! That is perfect. And aren't they addicting? Writing a story about these athletes wouldn't really be like the SEP Stars books, because you could easily write about people who return to obscurity after the games are over. It's more about the setting and atmosphere that would make for a fun, heartwarming story.
Despite the scoffers and the mockers, I love the human interest stories--the Chinese pair that's already been mentioned, the Canadian kid who draws inspiration from his diasabled brother, Seth Wescott, who came from a miserable trials to literally soar to the gold (his second) in Snowboard Cross . . . And then there's Dick Button, who is 80+ and still passionate about the sport he helped to make so popular. I love the emotional appeal. And did you see the face of Tamara Moskvina when her skaters ended out of the medals, ending the Russian dynasty in pairs figure skating. Talk about emotion!
The Pairs finished up close to midnight last night so I taped it to watch the performances tonight. I've been watching the Chinese couple for years, so happy to hear they took the gold.
I watched Seth win last night and some of those races were close. And he came from the back to win, which was even cooler. I'll look for Tamara when I watch tonight. Talk about power in a tiny package. She can't even see over the wall without help. LOL! But she's created many champions over the years.
I think the human interest is what makes it myself. I don't know how many times my husband is watching a football game that I just pass by until he starts talking about a player's disabled child, or cheating wife, or father who died while he was playing the game. The emotional tug always, always draws me in.
It is just like character in books becoming more three dimensional and therefore causing the reader to want to know more about them and continue reading.
When you think about it, some of these human interest stories are just like our romances. These kids face major conflict to reach their own Olympic HEA. From leaving their families to upwards of a dozen knee surgeries to holding down three or four jobs to pay for their training. You have to believe it's worth all the sacrifices they make. Kind of like our couples sacrificing to find love.
I'm not a Winter games fan. I love snow and cold weather, but skiing and ice skating and snowboarding and all that jazz just doesn't float my boat.
I love the stories about the Olympics...to realize those 'kids' aren't just autons. The guy with the disabled big brother, the Chinese couple, the Japanese girl who became a Russian to skate for them... It makes them real.
I think that is what we all strive to do with our fiction. To make our characters real, not just athletes pursuing a goal every four years and then turned off, shut into a closet until needed again.
Ha. I just figured out why I'm not a huge fan of the HEA! I want to know what goes on between the Olympics! ;)
I also like all the flipside to all the "sacrifice, et al" buzzwords. It takes a certain amount of selfishness too, to achieve this sort of greatness. A bit of arrogance--or confidence--to believe you could compete with the best of the best and win. A lack of being satisfied or content with what you have--that you always have to compete to be worthwhile. A need to be acknowledged as the best. You might be playing for Team America, but YOU'RE the one who did it.
Most of these athletes are young--and don't necessarily have the emotional maturity, even if they do have the necessary discipline--for success.
And sometimes you hear about families that sold houses or cars...or worked 6 jobs so the kid could get there, which I think is nuts. And usually it's not just a one-kid home. There's usually a couple other siblings--and there the family is killing themselves to help Golden Boy/Girl get to the Olympics, but the other kids are forgotten. Sacrificed for the "greater good"--for a chance to 15 minutes of fame.
I'm not as intrigued by the person who went to the Olympics. I'm much more intrigued by the people in his shadow and how they're dealing with it.
Chance - You're just never satisfied. :)
I don't know what stories they're featuring on the TODAY show, but this isn't the kind of thing I see. There is sacrifice involved for the entire family I'm sure, but there are siblings who compete in the same sport and in different sports. I have a hard time believing there are hoards of neglected siblings resentful of their athlete brothers and sisters.
And it's not even about winning and being the best in the world for all of them. For many, it's about the experience. To say they did it. To achieve, as Janga mentions, their personal best. There are kids who want to be doctors and their parents struggle to get them the education they need to achieve the dream. Chasing a dream is chasing a dream.
Hmmmm. Is Missouri under a pall of bitterness this morning? The clouds seeded with super cynicism vapor...?
Of course some families gave it all. And most felt it well worth it.
No way are these kids emotional immature. They'd fall apart if they were emotionally immature. I think a lot of them are immature...sure.
But that doesn't lesson their accomplishment in even making it to the Olympics.
Don't view the Olympics through the peep the Today show gives. That is such a small part of the story! Like judging a book by one word, randomly chosen.
Hee, hee. I hope I'm never satisfied.
But yup, don't you think the real stories aren't on the ice, or the slopes, the arena...but in the years between the Olympics. The Olympics is the HEA or the HFN...or the tragic ending. Just one climax, dark moment, triumph...
What happens when they go home is the real story. How that Olympic competitiveness serves then, or hinders them, back in the RW. Like how your Nate deals with injury cutting his baseball career short...
Those are the stories I want to know!
No, I doubt there are hoards. But to me, the potential for family conflict is more interesting.
It's the interesting thing about writers. They can be given the same theme to work with and come up with very different ideas.
2nd, I think you should adopt the HFRN ending. I think that's more your speed. Though I think if you hone your literary edge (since that's your voice per that meeting and you seemed cool with that), you won't have to worry about the HFRN either.
Don’t view the Olympics through the peep the Today show gives.
I assure you the TODAY show is showing the puppies and fluffy bunnies stories. Not a resentful sibling to be found in the stories. Even their perception of Bode Miller is brushed with "He's his own man! He says what he thinks!"
NBC wants us to watch the Olympics. They're not going to give negative press about the sports.
OK, I'm sure they are showing the fluffy bunnies, but there is so much more depth to the entire experience than those snapshots.
HFRN? Hee, hee. At least I'm not going for the NQM. (Not Quite Miserable)
Sorry for the typos, tied up with about five things going on here at work.
I don't that the kind of ending is what hangs Chance up, so much as ending anything at all. LOL! The story always goes on!
At some point, let them ride off in the sunset. :)
Ya got it, Terrio! The never ending story is my cup of tea. Not that I necessarily want to read all of it, but I want to know it goes on and on and on and on. Up and Down!
2nd, do you happen to like the show LOST?
There are plenty of writers who just keep going and going on a particular series. The JD Robb series; the Dark Hunters series; and I heard about one that sounded funny by Elizabeth someone, about digging in Egypt? (she had like 20 books or something, same people)...
Each book has a sort of resolution for the small story arc of the problem at the time, but the potential for more human misery is always there.
HA! I watched Lost for two season, when they killed of Hurley's girlfriend I dumped it.
I like neverending, but I want some closure per episode, not something that spins complications until the entire thread is lost and you don't remember what you wondered about in the beginning anymore.
Elizabeth Peters. And very episodic. Which I know is my balliwick!
And hey, not just he potential for human misery! I also want the triumphs in there. In fact, I insist on the triumphs. I am a great believer in the human ability to overcome hardships!
And keep saving the world. Which is constantly in danger!
I'm sorry. EPISODIC. Yes, that would be the word. See, plenty of people do well in it. Plenty of people read it.
Mysteries often lend to the episodic, right? Miss Marple. Poirot (sp?). Holmes. And the Robb books are sort of mysteries, right? I haven't read them, so I'm not sure.
And I was watching The Holiday again this weekend. When you think about it, that didn't really have a HEA. That was very much a HFN. But I love it all the same.
I think all romances are more HFN than HEA. Working at a marriage never stops.
Clearly because every time Sin tells a Matty story, I marvel that she doesn't stab him.
Mysteries usually are very episodic. And adventures! Like Tarzan...
I'd like to think the Olympics, to get back on that, is one episode in an amazing adventure story.
And now, I'm off to tend ta me Mum. Later!
LMAO. I love the face you make when I do tell you a Matty story.
It's because I feel like Madeline Khan from CLUE.
"Yes. Yes, I did it. I killed Matty. I hated him, so much... it-it- the f - it -flam - flames. Flames, on the side of my face, breathing-breathl- heaving breaths. Heaving breath..."
LMAO, sounds like a wicked orgasm.
That would be all you, babe, not me. *LOL*
I intended to recommend Seidel's book to Chance, but I had to pick myself up first. I fell on the floor laughing when I read Hellie's description of Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels as "Elizabeth someone" and her much-admired books about Egyptologist Amelia Peabody as "about digging in Egypt." LOL!
Chance, Seidel's book Summer's End is about two families, but a major part of the plot concerns Amy Legend, who won an Olympic figure skating gold medal and the attendant fame and glory at 19. The story takes place seven years later when she is still a misfit within her family--an athlete amid intellectuals. Kathy Seidel is one of the few authors who could make me care about a character who dislikes reading. :) I highly recommend Summer's End--or anything else by Seidel, for that matter.
I fell on the floor laughing when I read Hellie’s description of Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels as “Elizabeth someone” and her much-admired books about Egyptologist Amelia Peabody as “about digging in Egypt.” LOL!
Sorry about that Janga. I meant it in a good way. I'd honestly not heard of these books before. Someone recommended them because they featured kids who were kinda obnoxious--and I figure if you're going to stick kids in your books, you might as well make them realistic. I put one down on my library list to see if I would enjoy reading them.
This is probably like saying, "I don't know. Some Rawlings woman wrote a series of books about a kid who does magic tricks in a castle and gets in trouble a lot." I'd have a heart attack.
Or: Some Laura Bengels(?) Wilder lady, who wrote about cowboy era kid's books, where they rode around in a wagon and settled the west.
Doesn't really put a scope on the whole thing, I realize.
Terri said: But there are many in these winter games who have ordinary jobs and take part for the love of the sport.
And I thought of you this weekend when I watched Ireland take on France in Rugby. I’ve never watched Rugby before, and as an American, found so many aspects fascinating. Mostly, how polite they are. Those men were beating the crap out of each other, but being polite about it, if that makes sense. And the Ref kept apologising and said please and thank you constantly. It was so civilised!
Absolutely, but I think most Olympic athletes nowadays are heavily sponsored. Of course, taking part must be a fantastic experience, but any athlete with a chance of a medal will have sweated blood to get super fit for the event, so will be bitterly disappointed not to make it to the rostrum.
Afraid I haven't watched as yet.The highlights are televised in the afternoon here (8 hr time diff) which is very inconvenient for me. I'll have to get myself a new video recorder with a timer that works!
Glad you enjoyed the rugby! It can be a fantastic spectacle!
Rugger started in the English public schools where it was considered a gentleman's game. Soccer on the other hand was once considered a game for the 'rougher' elements of society. Bit different nowadays! Ungentlemanly conduct can be a sending off offence so of course everyone behaves like a gent! Inside the scrum where its difficult to see though, life can be rather different! *grin*
Hellie, I love her Barbara Michaels books best, and I like the Vicky Bliss books and the Jacqueline Kirby (librarian turned romance novelist) books better than the Amelia Peabody books. It's just that I have all these academic friends who sneer at romance but speak of Peters and Peabody in hushed tones of reverence. The contrast with your Elizabeth who? just struck me as hilarious.
Terri, I read your blog early this morning, but I didn't get a chance to post until now . What This was a wonderfully inspirational blog. I thought about it all day! Thanks
Doncha hate when that happens?
HEY! Forget the word "what" . I was deleting it when it posted itself?! WTH? Yesterday my posts wouldn't post. Today? Premature Post-mutation!
Thanks, Julie! Glad it stuck with you (hopefully in a good way. *g*)
Q - For some reason, I never think of large, burly Frenchmen. Had no idea! And I did see where it could get dicey in that scrum. (I actually know what that is now.) It looked brutal with an edge of civility, I liked it.
There's so much about Europeans I like, I really need to make it over there.
Yah, The Leave-A-Repy won't let me be serious!
Janga, I always love that you're adding to my booklist. I have picking up one of the "digging in Egypt" books; and have put a Kirby book on hold too.
Right now I'm reading LLM's McKendrick book and enjoying it immensely, even though it features both kids AND dogs (though they are big goofy dogs and I do enjoy big goofy dogs).
It's good to read outside one's norm (though Star Trek fiction is not making any of my lists), but I have picked up a variety of YA fiction lately. Can't stop reading it. It's weird.
Just got done watching some of the games. (Okay, well, I read while it plays in the background, same thing.) I got excited when they interviewed the Shaun White guy. I was like, "I remember that guy! He's crazy!" And I'm sorry but they are. Strapping a thin little board to your feet and flying down a hill as fast as you can go? You left your brains behind at the top of the hill.
Still, it was nice to recognize a name. Meant I wasn't totally asleep the last time the Olympics were held.
Terri,
I know I'm a day late and a lot of comments short, but I had to tell you I love this blog. Being the queen of inspiration that I am, I love the analogy. I don't have the will or determination I used to have. My job has sucked the creativity from my mind. I often dog myself for having no imagination. I look at news every day, on TV and in the newspaper, and often forget that in each story lies a potential plot, or spin off for a story. Thank you for the reminder.
Never too late, Lisa. Life is filled with ups and downs. Thankfully, the ups always come back around eventually. Keep your eyes open for the next "up".
And since your hours probably don't allow much basking in sunlight, try vitamin D. It's working wonders for me (when I remember to take it.)
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