Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Writing, As Compared To Volleyball

So I'd had a great post planned for today, about how last Saturday was warm and sunny with a breeze, perfect for the company picnic we hosted for my husband's work. And I was going to tell you about how, along with grilling and other fun, we played sand volleyball, barefoot with wide grins.

And then I was going to get all fancy-schmancy and compare volleyball to writing, making grandiose analogies, especially about how I took a hit to the face and spent near five minutes flat in the sand, and about how sometimes we get "knocked out" over our writing, when we're rejected or receive harsh criticism or self-doubt creeps in, but how if we get back up - like I did - we can go on to win the game - like my team did - or get published. And yada yada.

But it just wasn't coming together. Not in a smart, I've-really-thought-this-out sort of way.

So instead, tell me how you would compare an aspect of volleyball (or any sport, for that matter) to writing.

Your thoughts?

24 comments:

Jessica Nelson said...

LOL! A hit to the face... that just made me laugh and feel really bad for you. Sounds like a pretty good analogy to me. We get knocked flat on our backs, wait for the dizziness to pass then get back up again.
LOL

Rebecca Nazar said...

I have a hard time serving, which could be analogous to starting a story: a clumsy first attempt.

Kristen Painter said...

I think writing is more like golf. You may play with other people, but you're still the only one on your team and a hole in one (sale) is such a rare thing that few achieve it.

Joanne said...

I'd pick baseball, thinking that we step up to the plate every time we sit down to write, with a stadium of support behind us, and while facing our share of fouls and strike-outs, make our way around the bases with each published piece, until we hit a home-run with a book!

Terri Tiffany said...

I don't play sports so I can view writing from the stands. You can choose to sit around like a spectator and never get around to writing and submitting or you can get into the game!

Jody Hedlund said...

Great analogy, Janna! Sounds like you just had loads of fun! ;) My analogy today on my blog is the high jump! The writing standards seem to be getting higher for wannabes. As the bar gets higher, it gets harder for new writers to make it over.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Oh my gosh Janna! I hope you're okay.

My comparison between writing and volleyball is both make my wrists hurt a lot. I played a lot before moving to Mexico and silly me would always forget that I can't stop spikes with one hand and inevitably my hand would flop backwards. I spent half the season in a brace. Now, it's writing. Really it's mousing, but same difference.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Oh, and I took a spike to the face six weeks before our wedding and from that point on stopped playing so aggressively. I still played but I made sure my team knew that my face came before a victory. :P They were okay with that.

WendyCinNYC said...

I've been running lately, trudging along at a slow speed, trying to ignore cramps and pains. I get a little farther each time in tiny, tiny increments before I can't take it any longer and go home.

Yep, pretty much how I write.

Melissa Amateis said...

I think you did pretty good with the volleyball analogy about getting hit in the face.

I like the ace serve - when you write a query that gets you a full manuscript request right off the bat. :-)

Tess said...

I'm always scared the ball will peg me and HURT. I guess it's not too different w/ writing :)

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Oh, no! Is your face okay? Writing is clearly like volleyball in the sense that you must practice to improve. The best writers are ones that take advice, learn, and grow.

JLC said...

Volleyball is like writing because I rarely knock the ball within the lines. (My wild imagination takes the story to unexpected places.)

Janna Leadbetter said...

Jessica - Yeah, fortunately I've been able to laugh at it, too. Though not at first - it hurt! :P

Rebecca - Me too. Great one!

Kristen - I can certainly see that!

Joanne - Excellent! I think you definitely have a talent with analogies.

Terri - Very good! And so true.

Jody - How cool our posts fit so well together!

Janna Leadbetter said...

Melanie - My bruising (not quite as bad as a black eye, but just underneath) is almost gone! And it's not sore anymore. :) I wish I could be aggressive like you. I get so timid during sports (which is probably why I get hurt so easily).

Wendy - I think that's brilliant analogy.

Melissa - Yes, who doesn't want an ace serve? ;)

Tess - That's me!

Cindy - I'm doing much better, thanks. :) And you're right! That's one point I would have shared.

Turk - I can see that about you. ;)

Woman in a Window said...

Ever watch cage wrestling?

Angie Ledbetter said...

Can't win if ya don't play?

(Send me your contest entry!) LOL

Janna Leadbetter said...

Woman - *snort* You funneh!

Angie - Simple, yet effective. And I'm workin' on it!

Anonymous said...

I thought the golf is like writing idea made sense.

Woman in a Window cracked me up.

Glad you had fun playing. Sorry about the hit to the face.
-FringeGirl

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Janna, I think my aggressiveness comes from being so small. I was always a tomboy but much smaller than everyone else, so I always felt like I had to prove myself. I can take hits with the best of them. :)

Jenni James said...

LOL! Poor girl! You're usually more eloquent--let's blame that ball! LOL! And I think you did a great job BTW! LOL! It is like totally laying flat on your back in front of an audience when you recieve a rejection. Jenni

Janna Leadbetter said...

FringeGirl - I should stick to cheerleading.

Melanie - Teach me your ways!

Jenni - It was actually my husband's arm (or elbow or something) that got me, when we went for the same ball. So I blame him. ;)

scarlethue said...

Janna, I chalk it up to kittenhood. I mean it's not really her fault. No disciplining would work on a cat. As for declawing, I think it's kind of cruel-- they actually remove the last joint in a cat's "finger" when they do that. And if she ever got out of the house she'd be done for, no way to protect herself. So I just laugh at myself and at life, that's all I can do. And duck and cover next time she's running around like that!

Kathy said...

Hmm. How would I compare volleyball to writing?

Well, maybe hitting the ball over the net is similar to writing a winning story or getting the words right. Many times the ball goes someplace other than where we want it to go. Words don't always hit the mark either.