Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Go for the Gold!



“We know that we’re competing in a dying sport.”

- Leshinda Demus


       I’ve been watching the Olympics nearly every night.  Sometimes I like the stories about specific athletes, while other times I just want to see the events.  But one story made a light bulb go off in my head.  I made a connection between Olympic hopefuls and writers. While few of us writers can boast the physical strength and killer-bodies (I want those abs) of these athletes, we do have a few things in common:


Inner-strength

Patience

No guarantees


         These athletes work most of their lives for the long shot of winning gold—or at least a bronze medal.  They put off normal jobs, salaries, and lives. 

        And what do they get if they win? How many wind up with small compensation and a shiny medal to admire?  They know the odds.  But many of them keep on going.

Isn’t that what’s in store for us? 

Competition is fierce.


We can toil for years and never “qualify” (unagented)*. 

We can qualify (agent), but not receive a medal (publishing contract).

There might be rumors of steroid use (bad reviews) or false starts (plagiarism).

We can receive a medal (publishing contract), but it’s only bronze (small advance, which we don’t make back).

Receiving a silver medal (midlist author) isn’t too shabby.

But receiving GOLD (big advance, which we make back, and appearing on the New York Times Bestseller List) is the ultimate achievement!


Then what?


Do they appear on CNN as commentators (radio/TV interviews)?

Do they get to be in commercials (film adaptation)?

Do their names get placed on products (character action figures)?

Do they compete in the next Olympics (second book)?

Do they coach future Olympian-hopefuls (teach creative writing at a local college)?



Bottom line: few talented people make a big living off their talent.



Here’s my Olympian example for hard work with no guarantee of payoff:


Leshinda Demus

This profile doesn’t tell you anything:



This is more revealing:



        When she was nine years old, she told her teacher she’d be in the Olympics someday.  She still holds the record for Hurdles at her high school.  She continued to run in college and won championships.

        Leshinda Demus qualified for the 2004 Olympics, but didn’t advance to the final.

        She got pregnant.  She was upset her pregnancy could derail her dream and guilty she felt derailed by her pregnancy. She had twins.  She struggled to lose 50 lbs. She didn’t qualify for the 2008 Olympics. 

          She’s made a comeback since then, winning more championships.  On 08/06, I watched Leshinda as her four-year-old twin boys cheered her on in the stands.

Leshinda Demus qualified...



What drives her?

Will she succeed on 08/08?

What will she do next?



Writers, what keeps you writing against all odds? 
Keep going for the gold.




* And let’s acknowledge those families who sacrificed everything for the Olympic Hopeful (packaged mac ‘n cheese or takeout, dirty laundry…)


58 comments:

  1. What keeps me going is love and faith in my art.
    Some Dark Romantic

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aww, nice post. I watch a ton of Olympics and love the "people" stories. Love the ones that include Moms!!

    I don't sacrifice everything, but I do work dang hard. And you know I wish you a ton of success - maybe even a gold!!
    erica

    ReplyDelete
  3. I write because I love it, I would do it even if I knew there would never be a medal because it soothes my soul. I think the best athletes would participate in their sport even if there was no reward. The game itself is enough. Great post.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So, so true! I love this comparison. I just have to remember to keep striving for the gold (or the bronze) no matter what.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Texas is way marked and it got marked by Marc.
    And then there's Chainel 5 and Chanes with Geologie and " Hure".
    And Rosen.
    Heintz is being tied to Risa and Caron.
    Which brings us to Angie and Brad and Sly - Depp.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Excellent post! I don't really have anything that keeps me going other than my desperate love for writing. I'm sure there should be a more complicated answer, but honestly, it's just what I love to do! :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. I wanted to cheer reading this post. It's a great reminder for patience and keeping our eye on the goal. Words I need quite a bit at the moment.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great inspiring post Theresa. It's a reminder of the realities of trying to become a published author. There has to be a love of writing to keep it up. At least that's true for me.

    ReplyDelete
  9. She sounds totally fabulous - what an inspiration!!

    I've gotten to that age where I'd settle for qualifying in the heats! LOL!

    Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love her story. She doesn't give up and I admire that trait more than any other.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Terrific post. I heard her story on CNN and was so impressed and inspired by her willpower and motivation. Just goes to show us that no matter what our goal or circumstances, we can get there with hard work.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a great comparison! I heard another comparison recently too, that these athletes must give it their all on their own. Yes, they have supportive family and amazing coaches, but only THEY can "get in the pool" so to speak. Great stuff, Theresa.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Faith and family keep me going. What an inspirational post. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love what I do and this is what keeps me going. And the hope one day I'll hit it big and Steven Spielberg will come knocking on my front door with a wheel barrel full of money.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love this! I love watching the Olympics - so many inspiring stories and people. To vie to be in the top 3 in the world at anything is incredble! I'll be sad when it's over.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a terrific story. Yes, passion is what drives all of us. Thankfully there are many levels of success for athletes and writers than just gold, silver and bronze.

    I love that her twins were watching and she didn't let a family derail her dreams. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. For me to know one reader is enjoying my book is like wearing a gold medal! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Awesome post, T! I agree with you so much about how hard it is and how much there are similarities between Olympiads and writers. Maybe that's why we all tear up when they get so close and miss?

    And then dust themselves off and keep going. :o)

    Yes. Those abs~ <3

    ReplyDelete
  19. A very inspirational post. I like how you compared it to writing.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm not a writer or an athlete, although I do work out religiously, but what keeps me going at any hard task is that innate knowledge that somehow it's just the right thing to do. Very good comparisons here~

    ReplyDelete
  21. I try to watch the olympics whenever I can, too. What an awesome analogy, Theresa--and very inspiring. Let's all go for the gold!

    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. You've got it girl! I'm not a writer but some day I will be...

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm happy with silver!
    What drives me now are my fans. They expect big things and I don't want to let them down.

    ReplyDelete
  24. That's the great thing about writing, you can take just about any discipline and use it as an analogy. It's just seeing the similarities.

    I love the Olympic stories. I may buzz the competitions, but I stop and watch the backstories.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wonderfully inspiring post! Oh, to make it to the gold, but just to get to bronze these days is awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  26. What keeps me going is my passion to write... I love telling tales. Loved your inspirational post.

    ReplyDelete
  27. A beautiful and inspiring post, Teresa. Everyone who made it to the Olympics brought golden smiles and a feeling of pride that so much was sacrificed for our country. There have been so many books/stories throughout the years that have slept on dusty shelves until Fate intervened. So, if not a medal for a writer now, perhaps down the road.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great comparison. If you get those abs, can you share the secret with me? Okay, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love this comparison. Thanks, Theresa!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Love this post, Thesesa. What keeps me going is the love of literature. Although I would love to "qualify and medal" I will always be a writer even if I don't... I'm sure most writers would say the same. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I see lots of parallels between the Olympics and writing - the most important is determination and sacrifice.

    I love listening to the stories of the athletes - each and every one deserves their place representing their country.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Love your analogy! It's pretty funny when I think about it like that. Am I really chasing the vague hope to be a gold medalist some day? Or am I writing for the one reason that I just have to write with or without the gold?

    In the conference, Gary Schmidt said: somewhere there is a kid whose life will be changed because of your writing.

    That is the only gold medal I could ever want. As long as this kid's life is changed for the better, of course :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. I was able to see some Olympics. I like the athletes' stories. They're often very inspiring. We do what we do because something drives us, being in the competition is what it's about. Getting accolades is icing on the cake.

    ReplyDelete
  34. What a wonderful post! Very inspiring. Whatever leg of our journey, we must keep writing! Thanks, Theresa.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great post, Theresa. I saw that story too. For me...I just have stories inside me that I have to share.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Nice. I love hearing those inspiring stories and the drive that people have to attain their goals.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Love this post, Theresa! So inspiring! I've been watching the Olympics every night as well. I'm loving it, but I'll be glad when it's over so I can finally get some sleep ;)

    ReplyDelete
  38. I've been seeing a few posts comparing writers and olympians. I didn't realize we had so much in common. I wish I had their abs in common :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. I haven't been watching the Olympics, but I catch the news later on. It is inspiring.

    I can't stop writing and as I grow and improve, I hope to reach bigger heights.

    ReplyDelete
  40. A lot of people have been complaining about how they Olympics is becoming less about the sports and more about the personal lives of the athletes, but I can't help it: I love learning about their lives. It's so inspirational.

    ReplyDelete
  41. That's a great analogy, Theresa. I love the idea of striving as if for a gold medal - and coming back to compete (second book). Wish I could pick up a sponsor/patron :-)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Oh yes! Receiving Gold would be AWESOME!

    ReplyDelete
  43. So true. Like the athletes at the Olympics, the best we can do is try to do our utmost best. Maybe it will be enough. Maybe it won't...

    ReplyDelete
  44. Everyone has a unique road to success with their talent. I love hearing the stories behind the journeys.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hilary Melton-Butcher has left a new comment on your post "Go for the Gold!":

    Hi Theresa .. great thoughts - I can't remember how she did - but the Americans did quite well in athletics ...

    It's having the vision beyond that one goal .. so the what next is sorted ...

    Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  46. I've been watching the olympics almost every night too and was touched by her story. I like the comparisons you made between writers and athletes. We follow our dreams and hope for success that may or may not come, but we have to try because we love it and if we don't we'll never know. Sometimes the journey and the effort and the things we learn and achieve along the way make it worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I enjoyed watching the Olympics also and thrill to watch the best of the best athletes compete. And I agree. I would like to have flat abs, too!

    Writers are very much like athletes. Perhaps we use our minds as much as they use their bodies. No. There is never assurance that I will get anywhere. But what else can I do. I was born to write, and write I will. A Great post, Theresa! ~Victoria Marie Lees

    ReplyDelete
  48. Theresa, I LOVE you short story in The Vine Leaves Literary Journal, Left Behind. Beautiful writing. It gave me chills. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Victoria Marie, thank you so much. Your compliment means a lot to me.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Great story and great comparison between Olympics and writing. Super job, Theresa!

    ReplyDelete
  51. I think that close up shot of the olympic gold medal is way cool! Wish they had some kind of olympics for writers. haha.

    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

    ReplyDelete
  52. What a great post! It's so true! Thinking of the "gold" does keep me going, but also my love for writing, my writing friends, and my family.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Good comparison. It's definitely inspiring to read about an athlete who kept trying even though life events like pregnancy temporarily took her off course.
    What keeps me going is the fact that I enjoy writing, and it's a way for me to escape into a new and different world that I created. It's a way for me to take a break from reality and just focus on something that I want to do, rather than something that other people want me to do.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Well said, Theresa. Many of us definitely won't make the big time, but it's important to keep doing the best we can and still aim for the stars.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Such great points! I knew a girl with a similar story in swimming. After kids, she went back to win a silver and a gold in Australia. The world is full of unsung heroes--especially when it comes to good mothers. Thanks for sharing! I'm so happy to have a moment to comment on your blog. I've missed you!!!!

    ReplyDelete