Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Writing about the NOTS

Did you ever keep going when you wanted to quit?

I have been discouraged many times, and even when I vow never to write again, I always return to writing. As I search markets, I discover more and more they are genre, gender, and geographically specific, or they have entry fees, all of which can be discouraging. 

I have been racking my brain to come up with a true story for Chicken Soup for the Soul for Runners book. The only time I have ever deliberately run was towards kids when they were heading for danger. 

I hated running in school as much as I despised throwing. That's another story.

My brother-in-law Bill runs marathons, and he is in his 70s. I admire his tenacity. But I just don't have what it takes to be a competitive runner. 

I have run to and away from things, but not for long distances, not for love, not for prize money, not for blue ribbons. Oh wait, a memory! And I just arrived at it by thinking in reverse... I'll be back. 

I began to write a stream of consciousness piece about NOT running. That sparked a memory from a running event that happened to a family member ten years ago... and I have now developed a true story about me NOT being a runner and what stemmed from that. I have woven my success into this story. Sound confusing? I'll share it with you privately or if and when it is accepted and published.

Sometimes writing reverse (con not pro) on topic can lead to a publishable essay. I will submit my story after my critique group gives it the once over. We are the WWWPs, Wild Women Wielding Pens. 


5 comments:

Connie said...

Writing in reverse--that's an interesting way to approach it. I like it. It gives you a new perspective to focus on.

Pat Wahler said...

I've heard CS modified this call-out to include walking, if that helps.

Val said...

Kudos to you, for the ingenuity to tie NOTS into the running theme!

Cathy C. Hall said...

Yeah, me and running don't mix but I do a lot of walking. On a good day, I don't walk into anything. :-)

(Love that writing technique, btw. Good luck!)

Sioux Roslawski said...

Linda--I can't wait to read your story tomorrow.