The Writing Olympics

The Summer Olympics got me thinking. In a way, writing has its own Olympic events. That’s right, there are different skills a writer endures that are at such a high level of difficulty, toying with them is certainly not for the faint of heart. Yet, while the Olympics choose its participants, writing indiscriminately offers obstacles for its writers. Before you long jump back into the game, prepare yourself for what lies ahead:

Writing Marathon: This is not a sprint. Your goal is not to rush through this event at breakneck speeds but rather take it at your own pace. Strengthen your endurance and stamina so you’re prepared for the long haul.

Plot Judo: Characters, settings, twists, and other elements need to work cohesively but they don’t always want to. Wrestling your story together takes finesse.

Editing Hurdles: On your first editing pass, you’ll have to clear the hurdles in your writing and make the story flow smoother. You might stumble, but no one’s first round is perfect.

Synchronized Co-Writing: When writing a book with another person, its best to meld your styles and mirror each others best skills to be successful.

Weightlifting Betas: At some point we all need to know if the story holds its weight. Let a beta give it a lift. Returning the favor, you’ll have to hold up a manuscript and determine its strengths and weaknesses.

CP Relays: Give yourself a strong start and pass off your work to critique partners so they can build you up for the next round.

Query Targets: Whether you’re taking a shot at agents, or simply trying your best at a blurb, the rounds expended on making a winning pitch rarely hit the bull’s-eye. But when they do, its sweet success.

Dream-Doubles: Whether you’re holed up inside over a keyboard or scribbling in a notebook on the beach, make sure you’ve got the best doubles partner (aka- agent) in your corner. Together you can attack the submission round with elegance and ferocity.

Emotional Gymnastics: The journey of writer will throw you through so many surprises and set-backs, you’re sure to experience a triple-twist of emotions.

High-Diving into the Public: At the end of your Olympic writing journey, you’ll climb the high-dive and take a leap of faith. Your hopes and dreams are riding on making a big splash with readers.

Train yourself to have a thick skin and a creative mind. Practice as often as you can. Flash fiction, short stories, new wips, whatever it takes. Bring that polished manuscript to the Olympics of writing and let it shine. This is your dream, your time. Take home the gold, writers!