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Tuesday, January 25, 2011
5 Things I Learned About Writing by Watching Football
When I was younger, I used to watch football on TV every Sunday. We planned "the game" into our schedule like it was a holy ritual, with chips and soda our sacrament. When the season was over, we didn't know what to do with that extra day in the week. It was like being released from a religious vow.
Last month, I had the opportunity to watch the New England Patriots kick some football butt on TV. It was the first time in a long while since I'd done that, and it filled me with nostalgia, making me realize how much I miss the whole Sunday ritual.
However, it didn't take long before I noticed some interesting parallels between a game of football and writing.
1. You get more than one try to reach your goal
The game starts with a kickoff. The ball sails through the air, and everyone watches breathlessly to see how far it will go before it's caught. It would be amazing if it went right through the goal posts, but where's the sport in that? It's actually the start of the game, a long march to the goal line, and nobody expects that it'll be reached on the first attempt. That's why each team gets four downs, four chances to make progress towards the goal.
The same with writing, and getting published. It's rare for a bestseller to be written the first time out. It does happen, but it's the exception, because that's not how the game is designed. It's slow, and steady, one foot in front of the other until the goal is reached. It may not be your first book that gets published, so you just keep writing, and writing, and writing, until you make it to the goal.
2. Just when you think someone is down for the count, they're not
I couldn't believe how many times during that game a player was stopped, by someone bigger and heftier, and everyone just kind of let their breath out, saying, "Well, that was still pretty good." And then all of a sudden, the runner took one or two steps and they were free, flying towards the goal again. Everyone had misjudged that situation. Everyone. The other team, the announcers, the fans. Everyone except the player. He was determined, and wasn't ready to get knocked down. He actually ended up with the longest punt return in the team's history when everyone else was positive he would get knocked on his ass the second he caught the ball.
A writer is going to hit situations like that all the time. But a determined writer keeps going when it looks like there is no hope. No one would blame the writer for saying, "Well, that was still pretty good". A bad rejection, a cruel contest judge, or even the slimy tentacles of self-doubt can derail a writer, or they can strengthen the writer's will to succeed.
3. If you can't go through, go around
In the above example, the player could have just gotten knocked down, and said, "Hey, there's still more downs". And that would have been perfectly acceptable. But sometimes the answer is to try something different. If what you're doing isn't working the way it always has before, it's time to fall back a couple paces and look to see what's open somewhere else. Obstacles can stop you, or they can give you a chance to see things in a different way, maybe even show you possibilities you didn't know existed.
4. It's not over when you reach the goal
I love all the celebrating and high-fiving and ass-slapping that goes on in a football game. Each small achievement is part of the bigger one, and they're definitely worth acknowledging. However, as soon as the touchdown is on the scoreboard, and the dancing is done, everybody goes back to work. It's time to go for another goal, and another one, until the game is won.
We should celebrate each achievement too, from hitting our word count goals to writing "The End". You got a request for a full? High five. You finaled in a contest? Shake that booty. Everything we accomplish is worthy of our happiness and joy and strutting around with pride. But then it's time to write another book. And another one after that.
5. There are people around to help you out
When the player is running his heart out, trying to get to the goal, he's not doing it alone. He has teammates blocking those who are trying to keep him from moving forward. He has coaches helping him learn new skills to develop his natural talent. He has devoted fans who believe he can do anything.
Writers are in a similar situation. Their team can consist of an agent, editor, beta readers, crit partners, or devoted friends and family. Some of them are there to cheer and some of them are there to increase the skills and abilities. But they all have the same role: helping us become our best so we can attain our goals.
Rah rah sis boom bah! I know there must be other football analogies to add. Let's hear them! Or use another sport if you'd like. Let's get inspired!
Last month, I had the opportunity to watch the New England Patriots kick some football butt on TV. It was the first time in a long while since I'd done that, and it filled me with nostalgia, making me realize how much I miss the whole Sunday ritual.
However, it didn't take long before I noticed some interesting parallels between a game of football and writing.
1. You get more than one try to reach your goal
The game starts with a kickoff. The ball sails through the air, and everyone watches breathlessly to see how far it will go before it's caught. It would be amazing if it went right through the goal posts, but where's the sport in that? It's actually the start of the game, a long march to the goal line, and nobody expects that it'll be reached on the first attempt. That's why each team gets four downs, four chances to make progress towards the goal.
The same with writing, and getting published. It's rare for a bestseller to be written the first time out. It does happen, but it's the exception, because that's not how the game is designed. It's slow, and steady, one foot in front of the other until the goal is reached. It may not be your first book that gets published, so you just keep writing, and writing, and writing, until you make it to the goal.
2. Just when you think someone is down for the count, they're not
I couldn't believe how many times during that game a player was stopped, by someone bigger and heftier, and everyone just kind of let their breath out, saying, "Well, that was still pretty good." And then all of a sudden, the runner took one or two steps and they were free, flying towards the goal again. Everyone had misjudged that situation. Everyone. The other team, the announcers, the fans. Everyone except the player. He was determined, and wasn't ready to get knocked down. He actually ended up with the longest punt return in the team's history when everyone else was positive he would get knocked on his ass the second he caught the ball.
A writer is going to hit situations like that all the time. But a determined writer keeps going when it looks like there is no hope. No one would blame the writer for saying, "Well, that was still pretty good". A bad rejection, a cruel contest judge, or even the slimy tentacles of self-doubt can derail a writer, or they can strengthen the writer's will to succeed.
3. If you can't go through, go around
In the above example, the player could have just gotten knocked down, and said, "Hey, there's still more downs". And that would have been perfectly acceptable. But sometimes the answer is to try something different. If what you're doing isn't working the way it always has before, it's time to fall back a couple paces and look to see what's open somewhere else. Obstacles can stop you, or they can give you a chance to see things in a different way, maybe even show you possibilities you didn't know existed.
4. It's not over when you reach the goal
I love all the celebrating and high-fiving and ass-slapping that goes on in a football game. Each small achievement is part of the bigger one, and they're definitely worth acknowledging. However, as soon as the touchdown is on the scoreboard, and the dancing is done, everybody goes back to work. It's time to go for another goal, and another one, until the game is won.
We should celebrate each achievement too, from hitting our word count goals to writing "The End". You got a request for a full? High five. You finaled in a contest? Shake that booty. Everything we accomplish is worthy of our happiness and joy and strutting around with pride. But then it's time to write another book. And another one after that.
5. There are people around to help you out
When the player is running his heart out, trying to get to the goal, he's not doing it alone. He has teammates blocking those who are trying to keep him from moving forward. He has coaches helping him learn new skills to develop his natural talent. He has devoted fans who believe he can do anything.
Writers are in a similar situation. Their team can consist of an agent, editor, beta readers, crit partners, or devoted friends and family. Some of them are there to cheer and some of them are there to increase the skills and abilities. But they all have the same role: helping us become our best so we can attain our goals.
Rah rah sis boom bah! I know there must be other football analogies to add. Let's hear them! Or use another sport if you'd like. Let's get inspired!
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60 comments:
I got nothing. My brain is fried.
Wait, there's the dumping of gatorade on the coach, or spraying the winner with champaign...yeah, I could see that as the celebration when the game is over...the book is done and in the history books.
Football is not my sport, mate. (Baseball is about the limit of sport I'm willing to embrace, but that's neither here nor there. This is a great blog and some nice correlations. Let me think.)
Don't forget your defense. (I seem to hear a lot of complaints along those lines. "Those guys didn't seem to know they were even playing today." So they got flattened.) You can't keep yourself necessarily from being flattened, but I think you can stop self-sabotaging yourself or prepare for somethings that trip you up. If you have a writing goal, don't keep your email open and lie to yourself and say, "I'll only check it once today." Turn off your internet. Don't check Facebook. Leave the email alone. Put the phone on silent, put it in another room. Run your defense and don't let yourself get distracted from winning the game.
Rah rah sis boom bah!
That game is pure American! Typical pantser. All action. All up front. No subtlety. AND NO PLOT.
At least no plot that I can discern, other than bashing the opponents and kicking for goal!
No Donna luv, it don't suit you. It just won't do.
I have only read snippets of your work but I think that your novel will sparkle with elegance and humor. It will exude mystery. There will be an exotic heroine hiding a dark secret (shut up Hellie!).
AND above all, there will be a plot to end all plots. A story that will keep me reading through the night, blearily groping for the scotch bottle to stave off sleep.
Yes of course, I'm talking about cricket.
Blimey! I got carried away there. gotta go. Will try and finish the analogy tonight! :lol:
Chance, I'll go for the champagne. I always hated the thought of dumping the Gatorade, especially when it was already cold outside!
Hope your brain gets some rest soon. :)
Hellion, baseball is actually my sport, but I was tackled with inspiration that day, so I went with it. LOL I get all hopeful that spring will actually happen when the pitchers and catchers show up at training camp in February (they're the first ones to arrive, a few weeks before the rest of the team).
I agree that a good defense is always a great idea. It keeps you looking out for all the troublesome things that might try to flatten you, so that you have a chance to get out of the way or outsmart them. And the things you KNOW will derail you, as you mentioned? Yes, definitely find a way to keep from being sabotaged.
Ah, Q, you are such a delight. :) I don't think of football as a pantser sport, because supposedly there is so much strategy going on, but it does kind of look that way, doesn't it?
And even with my extensive British ancestry, I cannot comprehend cricket. LOL I have tried but it is truly incomprehensible--and I believe it is designed to be that way!
I hope and pray my books will keep you awake at night, but I have to dash your hopes about an exotic heroine. I think they are sassy and funny but exotic? Not so much. LOL Neurotic is more like it.
My husband is a huge football fan. He's the king of the football analogy. Me, I'm not so good.
I do like what you've got going on here though. You're right; writing can be a team sport. We cheer each other, we learn our craft and get better, learn from one another. At least, we can, if we reach out.
Great blog, Donna!
First off, a note to Q. There is a ton of plotting in American Football. Lots of finess and strategy, as Donna mentions. Don't be knocking our sport. *shoots a warning shot over the pond*
LOL!
I love football, always have. For a girl who loves betas, I don't know what it is about them crashing into each other, but it works for me. These are all perfect analogies. I think I got another first down last night and I totally plan on doing a funky, butt-shaking TD dance this weekend when I finish this damn book!
Since the hero of my book is a baseball player, I'm sure it's clear I love that sport too. :)
That game is pure American! Typical pantser. All action. All up front. No subtlety. AND NO PLOT.
This is why I love the Brits. *LOL*
Come now, Q, be fair. All that lack of planning worked so well for us in the American Revolution, we've just kept doing it ever since.
Ooohhhhh burn.
Q, if it makes you feel any better, I don't think I would have been a revolutionary. They got up too early, remember? I'm not a morning person.
Oh, and I drink coffee, not tea. So there ya go. LOL
Marn, I like the idea of writing being a team sport, because it really is so solitary most days. And we definitely need cheerleaders, along with other writers who know what we're going through. Especially on those days when it feels like we're trying to knock down burly linebackers.
Terri, thank goodness there's another football fan. Of course, if this blog falls flat today, it gives everyone a chance to spend time on their writing instead. LOL
So it's a win-win either way. :)
And take pics of the funky butt-shaking TD dance! So we can celebrate with you!
Hellie, maybe it's not "lack of planning" but "being ready at a moment's notice".
For good or for bad, they were called "minutemen". LOL
Kiddo is studying the revolution (AGAIN!) in Social Studies. (Living in VA that seems to be all they study.) Last week I had to explain why they were called minutemen. It took a while for her to get it. Sometimes she's so blonde is scares me...
Ok - I'm going for a different "sport" - although I'm not sure I would really call it a sport.
I'm thinking Marathons. And specifially how I worked up to completing one.
You start training with shorter bursts that you work up to lasting longer as your skills(endurance) increases.
You train with both long runs and sprints. Sometimes you run for endurance and sometimes for speed. Sounds like writing to me!
It's a solitary sport, but you always have cheerleaders and support all around you running the same race or cheering from the sidelines. BUT IT'S STILL ALL UP TO YOU.
It's literally one foot in front of the other. One step at a time = one word, one page, one chapter at a time.
The biggie for me: It's all about the end goal. Who the hell cares how you got there or how long it took. You crossed the F**cking finish line and deserve that medal just as much as someone who did it 3 times faster. The same goes for writing a book.
Moral of the story - work at your own pace, train yourself and all that matters is that finish line.
:) (Can you tell my the cursing how insanely happy I was to cross that finish line and how I REALLY felt about it by the time I did?)
Terri, you're too funny!
BLONDES RULE! LOL
Scapey! I love that analogy! I also love the cursing. I would have been doing it the entire marathon actually. LOL Heck, it happens while I'm writing my WIP.
You're right about it being one foot in front of the other, over and over, until you get to the end. We don't need to see what the first draft looked like or how long it took to get there.
It's the "getting there" that's important. :)
Thanks for adding that. I admire anyone who can do a marathon. I used to work at this one place that was on the route of the Boston Marathon. Since it's in April it can be cold, and I was always in awe of those people running in miserable conditions. Awe-inspiring.
Donna - Ironically, her hair gets darker brown the older she gets, but the blonde brain is totally intact.
I too admire anyone who runs a marathon. There are certain things one just knows they'll never do and I will never do that. I get squirmy just thinking about it.
But that's a great analogy to writing. Right now I'm totally running on momentum and my guess is that's really important in a marathon. The trick is to keep that forward motion going.
Terri, I have to have "natural blonde" put into my hair as I get older, because it definitely got darker. Not being out in the sun as much probably makes a difference too.
I could maybe run a marathon if Richard Armitage was in front of me, just out of my grasp. LOL
But yeah, it's a great analogy for writing. I like overcoming that "Heartbreak Hill" part at the end, where you're tired and you think you can't go any further, but somehow you do. Even though you think it's gonna kill ya in the process. LOL
Oh that Heartbreak Hill is such a real place!
Hellie, maybe it’s not “lack of planning” but “being ready at a moment’s notice”.
A willingness to be spontaneous. Something I always love about my heroes.
I'm sure George Washington would appreciate me saying he wasn't a planner. *LOL*
*LOL* That's pretty much how I'd run a marathon. Johnny Depp just ahead of me, just out of reach but I can almost touch him. Or Alan Rickman dressed as Snape, whichever.
Scapey, that is a kickass analogy!
At least if it were an Englishman ahead of you, you could simply swoon and they'd be honor bound to make sure you're alright. Race over. Trophy won.
I think if you just offer Johnny a drink, you'd get the same effect.
I like Terri's marathon strategy. LOL Of course, I'd do it at the beginning where I'd get trampled by all those eager people starting the race.
Hellie, definitely need spontaneity. :) Although I'm not sure I can put that together with our founding fathers. Ack. LOL
Scape, yes, Heartbreak Hill is a real part of the marathon. I've READ about it. But haven't experienced it, thank goodness. (We're not talking about my love life. LOL)
Timing is everything, Donna. And as the saying goes, work smarter, not harder. LOL! I barely trot so running anywhere is not an option.
As a football fan myself, I'm loving the analogies, Donna. I love the idea of having blockers. Sometimes you need someone to clear you a path and hold back all the craziness coming at you. Very apt!
Hal, I'm glad you liked the analogies. I think the blockers are a necessity, aren't they? I just hope they don't get tired too soon!
You're right, Terri. Right now I might run to the kitchen to get more coffee. Oh, and there's cherry pie in the fridge! I nearly forgot!
*sets land speed record*
Now that's a motivator!
Oooh, the new Monica McCarty book arrived. This is definitely going to warm up this frozen afternoon!
Love the analogies!
Q, when I taught high school, the football coach taught in my classroom during my planning period. I couldn't leave student papers or my lesson plans on my desk because he "plotted" all over them when I did. I don't think he taught much, but he surely plotted his game strategy.
Stretching to extend the football analogy . . .
The ball carriers get the glory, but if it weren't for those offensive lineman blocking, the backs and receivers would never get anywhere. In writing, it's the finished product that "scores" with editors, reviewers, and readers, but if it wern't for the planning, research, drafting, revising, and editing, the goal of publication and sale would never be reached.
Janga, I think that is hilarious about the football coach. Hope he had some winning games after all that!
You're so right about all the steps that go into producing a publishable, sellable book. Every team member does their part, making it all look fun and effortless. Only WE know the truth. LOL
Interesting how coaches spend SOOOO much time plotting/strategizing/planning, yet it doesn't necessarily look like it on game day. Maybe that's another analogy -- that the best plotting isn't always visible in the end product, either because it was flexible enough to change during the game, or because it worked so well it was invisible *g*
Hal, that's so true! You want to make it seem like you ran from goal line to goal line, without taking a breath, as if you hadn't thought about any of it ahead of time.
The more invisible the better. :)
And that "game day face" the coaches have, as if they aren't even watching the game--LOL---that would come in handy when people start critiquing and reviewing the book.
If....scratch that...when I sell, I better not get a bucket of Glittery Hooha down my back. We do NOT waste good liquor on this boat. LOL!
That is an excellent connection, Hal. The proverbial "drop back and punt" scenario. Or perhaps, know when to improvise and throw the Hail Mary. LOL! Just make sure it looks like you meant to do that the whole time.
It sounds like we can throw the Glittery Hooha down your FRONT. Right, pirates? Isn't that how you read that for her celebration? :)
I always have that "make it look like you meant it" philosophy. Nobody needs to know differently. LOL
There are so many great analogies for this. You guys are making me proud. *sniff*
So I was telling the hubs about today's blog (he's a big football guy), and he made the interesting observation that he felt pro-football was becoming *too* planned/plotted/strategized, to the point that there was little to no room for instinct left. And in his mind, instinct is a key component once you're on the field with a defender bearing down on you.
Which also applies to writing. How often do our instincts tell us to do something other than what the writing books/agent blogs/industry marketing pros tell us to do?
Whether we're literally plotting a book or planning a marketing strategy or crafting long-term goals, always leave room for instincts.
My guess is Troy Pala.....(I'm not even going to try) is playing with a ton of instinct. Some positions call for it more than others.
I'm all for instinct. I think that's where the "organic" writing comes in. Sometimes you find something in the story you didn't even plan, it just happened naturally. I love those bits.
Donna - Pour slowly!
Okay, I'm going stretch the analogy a bit (great blog, by the way, Donna!) and throw in that you should be wary of writing for the fans.
As someone who lives in a city where fans are paying exorbitant prices for tickets, supporting teams that continuously set the bar low and never meet it and (my personal favorite) sit out in below zero or heat indexes above 100 degrees weather to watch their teams lose again and again, it is pretty obvious that being a fan isn't quite logical!
Transferring that to writing - writing to please what the fans want (or trying to figure out what they want) wouldn't seem to be a very productive quest. So write what you know and what speaks to you whether it be dukes, vampires, football players or pirates, and your audience will find you!
irish - excellent point! there's a reason coaches don't poll their fans when making major decisions *g*
Excellent point, Irish! Chasing the "trends" is rarely a successful choice.
Hal, make sure you tell your husband he's brilliant. (I'm sure you already do, but, you know, we think so too. LOL)
I think we have a tendency to squelch our instincts to get that "sure win", like the professional teams do. And you lose so much of yourself in the process. I do so much better in life when I don't ignore my instincts.
oh he knows too *g*. At my baby shower, my MIL was sharing some cute story about Rob as a 4 or 5 year old, and ends with "Yeah, he was a know-it-all even back then." it was hilarious.
Dang, sorry I'm not playing along much. Just keeping an eye on Mom and everything... But, yeah...I'd prefer the champaign to the gatorade. Gatorade is so...yello! LOL!
Thanks, Irish -- and I love what you added. I was just thinking earlier while working on my WIP about trying to have more of a "hook" to my books, to make them more appealing to readers, etc. But that's not how I write. It might please a certain set of fans, but it might actually turn away the fans I'm trying to snag. :)
So I'm gonna keep doing things my way. LOL
Chance, no problems. We had a lull there for a while (I did some writing), and there may be another one, who knows? :)
How's your mom doing?
Gatorade cracks me up. No matter what "flavor" they say it is, it all tastes the same. However, I will say it is an excellent way to recover if you've been overserved. It replaces all the things your body desperately needs. :) My ex called it the "Gatorade Recovery Program". LOL
I thought gatorade was green?
It comes in blue too. And neon green. And "bladder infection yellow". LOL
I'm thinking 'bladder infection yellow' ... I always hated the taste of it, but it does do the job!
Mom is going to need me here for several days, so I'm going be a flake-case for the rest of the week... She's better, just going to take time to be strong enough to be on her own. I may draft a sibling to come this weekend so I can go home for a few days. We'll see!
Just take care of your mum and yourself and don't worry about us. We'll hold down the bar for you. :)
When I was a kid, my grandmother drank cases of Gatorade and back then, green was the only choice. I don't think I've tried the other colors, but I learned the hard way NOT to give the red one to my daughter. It's like putting her on speed.
Well, hand her a mop and a glass of red gatorade.
Hold down the bar? LOL More like try to hold onto it. :)
Take care of yourself, too, Chance. It's draining to be the caretaker. :)
She's 11. The speed high comes with giggling. It's not pretty.
Ouch. Thanks for the reminder. LOL
A mop, you with your i-pod going...and let her mop and giggle...
How about I give her a bottle and send her to your house? LOL!
Hey, if we lived close enough, I'd set her to weeding in my jungle!
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