I love teeing off. Who doesn’t? Giving that ball a solid thwack and watching it sail over the green is the most satisfying feeling. Maybe I should be playing baseball or whack-a-mole instead considering how much I like to hit. But the rest of the game? That’s when it gets hard. Hitting out of the rough. Ricocheting off trees. Digging your club into the turf without even hitting the ball. Trying to move forward and making lame little strokes that only earn a few yards. Finally reaching the green, putting and overshooting. Putting and undershooting. Putting and teetering right on the edge of the cup.
It’s all so frustrating and none of it matches the glory of that first, beautiful, perfect drive. Whoosh! This is what writing is like to me. The idea dawns, fully formed, perfect, rife with possibilities. I type, type, type, page after page. I can do no wrong. Everything is clear, and then suddenly—boom! The ball lands and the hard work begins. Am I doing this right? Am I using the right club, the right technique. I need a golf pro to guide me. I’m starting to lose momentum and interest. Does it even matter anymore if I reach the green and the stupid hole? Can I go back to the clubhouse and have a drink instead?
Sound familiar? I think all writers reach a point in their story where they’re afraid maybe they’ve taken their characters down a path from which there is no exit. Or a point where the entire journey seems stupid and meaningless. What happened to that beautiful, perfect drive, that pristine moment when you could do no wrong?
As any good golfer will tell you, the key to improving your game is never to give up. Keep hitting that damn ball even when you don’t know why you do it. One day you’ll have the perfect game. Every stroke will be a master work. The ball will fly straight and true. You may even make an astounding hole-in-one. The surge of joy in your heart will assure you it was all worth it. Meanwhile, try to enjoy the gorgeous summer day as you stroll over the green. Tell yourself over and over, “It’s only a game. I’m here to have fun. It’s not the end of the world if I flounder or fail—the point is to take pleasure in the game.”
Bonnie, what a great post. I totally agree with that going back to the clubhouse and having a drink part. Sometimes I come to a point in the book and I wonder if I’ve missed the golf cart. Is anything working? Where did I go wrong? I’m afraid I’m about to land in the lake. But you’re right… all you can do is keep writing. Revise. Edit. Delete. Rewrite. And keep at it.