THE AUTHOR AND HER SPORT
I think we writers need sports. We can sit at a computer just so long, building characters and plotting, crafting worlds and words for ourselves…and for readers who aren’t even in the room. The sport should pull us out of our chairs, get us outside, involve real people and provide a more tangible goal than writing does. I’m pretty pleased with my choice: golf. I play eighteen holes at least once a week and I’m active in my local women’s golf group. With my club, I’ll whack (with all my might) a small, dimpled ball, ninety to one hundred times in five hours. Note two more beneficial elements of golf…getting rid of pent-up aggressions and seeing a goal met immediately: getting the damn ball in the hole in the least strikes possible. (I didn’t say the sport you have to pick is easy, did I?)
Sure there are similarities between golf and writing. Both are challenging. I pick a club, align the ball and calibrate my swing as carefully as I choose words for my novels. I love playing with great golfers as much as I’m inspired when I read novels by fabulous writers. Practice? Vital to a golfer as it is to an author. Have I written a novel about golfing? Absolutely. And here’s the cool part…my heroine (in BAD LIES, a novel I haven’t released yet) plays great golf. Now you see the advantage of being a writer who also golfs…through my character, I can be the outstanding golfer I want to be!
6 comments:
My husband is a huge golfer, and I've tried a few times. I actually understand the game better then I play it. Like writing, it's a challenge. It can be fun, frustrating, with little rewards, but in the end, you're happy you played the game.
Hi Rolynn, welcome to the Voices blog. I think I remember your book, a great story about a golf tournament taking place in Italy, right? I never read the ending. I can't wait to read it.
Hi, L.A Lopez. Thanks for you comment. I'm pleased you gave golf a try! Like writing, it takes dedication and practice...I have many frustrating days on the links as well as on the written page!
Mona, you are a sweetheart to remember my golf book...yes, it did take place in Italy. What a memory you have! Thanks for your enthusiasm. Hope I'll find a publisher for BAD LIES. ROLYNN
I think we all put a bit of ourselves into our books. Sports and exercise are great for writes--wards off backside spread. I tried golf once; I thought it would be a good way to meet men. Golf and I didn't get along. All's good though. I tripped over my husband while hiking. One of these days, I'll write about that. Nice post, Rolynn.
Tripped over your husband? Now that's a story! Thanks for writing, Dawn! Rolynn
Rolynn,
It's fun to live through our characters. I am not a golfer, although I live on the 5th hole of a private golf course. Maybe someday...
At least my dh enjoys golf,though.
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