Third and Long

I'm writing this post on Sunday night. In the other room, Live-In Handyman is watching the football game. I enjoy watching football for a little while if I like at least one of the teams playing.

Even so, I think football is an odd game. Grown men running around trying to catch a funny-looking ball. Or running around trying to keep someone else from catching a funny-looking ball. And once someone does catch the pointy ball, football becomes a foot race.

The other weird thing is this. Every time the teams line up for the snap, almost every player knows they're going to get hit. Think about that for a moment.

You're either going to hit somebody or somebody is going to hit you. Or both. However it happens, it's going to hurt. And for showing the world this example of ungentlemanly force and bad behavior, someone is going to pay you a lot of money. A. Lot. Of. Money.

I have yet to make sense of this.

Yet as writers, don't we do much the same thing?

We don't get banged up physically - usually - but we take plenty of lumps from critique partners, agents, editors, reviewers, and readers. Yet we come back day after day and write all over again.

Hmmm. Maybe football isn't so odd after all.

What do you think?

Comments

Joanne said…
I think you're on to something ... We're in it to win it!
Slamdunk said…
Interesting comparison Carol--I have not thought of it that way.

Taking the idea a bit farther, in football you want to be the one delivering the bigger blow as then the pain is forgotten after being overcome by the thrill.
Anonymous said…
Maybe we just like pain, sick bunch that we are. At least we don't make our attempts in shiny tight pants (or do we).
Linda G. said…
Excellent analogy. Guess the thrill of the score makes it worth the pain, both in football and in writing.
I think we're normal and football is weird. :) Ha!
Ciara said…
You are so right! I never thought of it that way. :) I'm glad I'm not alone in this. With my debut novel book launch, I feel like the quarter back relying on my offensive guards (writer friends) before the ball snaps.
Talking of football(soccer over here) my youngest son was obessed with the game even became a pro. player until a smashed ankle ended his dream....now one of my grandsons is showing the sam interest.
Enjoyed your post, I find them so interesting to read and they are always well penned.

Yvonne.
Hannah said…
I find that true for Jobs I haven't done...hell, I've felt that way about jobs I have done! I can't believe the stuff I've been paid to do.

...that sounds wrong.
Anne Gallagher said…
I never liked football, all that smashing around, for what, a billion dollars a year and maybe an ugly ring?

But, you're right. We writers do get banged up a lot. Too bad we didn't make the billions. And I could use a nice ring.
Janet, said…
We are in it to win, too. Practice makes perfect and the more we write the better we get. Now, if we just made as much money as football players make.
Jan Morrison said…
excellent analogy. also that others do not get why we put ourselves in such a predicament. ah well. can't be helped!
I think you've made a great comparison. Football players and writers seem to share a passion for doing what they love no matter what. Now, what would be the Super Bowl for writers?
Elspeth Futcher said…
When my kids were little and football was on, I'd explain it to them by saying, "Running, running, running...fall down." They thought it was funny and it was (usually) accurate!

Great analogy, Carol.
LR said…
Yes this is so true.

I played basketball in high school and it was normal to win some, lose some... There were bang ups and bruises, sometimes tears. All part of the game. And it's the same with writing.
I think it's amazing how well you are able to take just about anything from life and relate it to writing. It's a great analogy - I can now picture writers everywhere squeezing their eyes shut and brace their bodies as they lick the envelope with their query inside, fully expecting to be pummeled with blows of rejection. And then, they lick another envelope! Writers are very brave people.Masochistic, but brave. :-)
Football isn't weird! American's favorite sport.
Have you visited today? You are my big winner, Carol.
Elana Johnson said…
I have a football-playing husband. The thrill is IN the hit. It's FUN for them to hit each other! They like it!

Writing is the same. We must like getting trashed and pulling things apart and putting them back together. Otherwise, we'd stop.
Carol Kilgore said…
Joanne - Absolutely.

Slamdunk - The thrill of pain. What a concept.

Delores - Is there a reason to watch football besides those shiny tight pants?

Linda G - I'm glad writing pain is not quite so physical as football pain.

Elizabeth - Yes!
Liza said…
Football players also fall down a lot. And they keep getting up. We can too! Somewhere, in an alternative universe though, I hope the writers are making the big bucks!
Carol Kilgore said…
Ciara - That's right. You don't want to get sacked!

Yvonne - Sorry to learn of your son's injury. I'm glad you enjoy visiting the Tiki Hut :)

Hannah! It's so good to see you again.

"I can't believe the stuff I've been paid to do." This sounds like the first line of a great novel.

Anne - Yeah, who needs $$$ and bling. Highly overrated. Where's the signup table?

Janet - That would be pretty cool, huh :)
Anonymous said…
I love sports analogies. At the end of the game the players may be muddied and bloodied. That's how I feel sometimes. But its a good kind of hurt, one you can be proud because you gave it your all.
Carol Kilgore said…
Jan - It is what it is.

Cynthia - Not sure. Maybe someone has an idea?

Elspeth - That is funny!

LR - Who knew writing was a contact sport?

Melissa - We just never quit.
Carol Kilgore said…
Alex - I have visited. Yea me! Thanks again.

Elana - Something's not right about liking to get hit. Shaking head.

Liza - So true about getting up and going for the next play. Maybe those big bucks will come our way one day.

Stephen - Very true.
Unknown said…
I've never thought of it that way but we sign up for abuse and most of us don't make big bucks! Playing football makes more sense than writing. Great post.
Carol Kilgore said…
Clarissa - I know. Is that crazy or what?
Nicole Zoltack said…
I love watching football but I've never thought of it quite like that. Paid to catch a ball and get hit? Yeah, not my idea of a good time.
My husband and our boys love football. Our older son played in high school and our younger son also wanted to play. Since he was small for his age, we told him to go out for another sport where he was less likely to get hurt. He chose wrestling. Like football, we wrestle with our writing everyday and get pretty "banged up" in the process. Great analogy Carol! Julie
Carol Kilgore said…
Nicole - Maybe it's more a gender thing.

Julie - Wrestling :) Love it.
Margo Kelly said…
Oh my gosh! GREAT analogy!! :) And, what good is a critique partner who never hits us? Hmm? We need the hits in order to up our game.
Carol Kilgore said…
Margo - There are days that KA-POW! comes right through the screen :)

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