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The five most-watched events of the Winter Olympics are: Downhill Skiing, Figure Skating, Bobsledding, Hockey and the Luge. In the Whole Latte Life Short Program, pick an event that best parallels your art/craft/hobby, and tell us why. I'm the Judge and want to see many signature moves, from spirals to double axels. From schussing to snowplowing. From steering to timing. From faceoffs to wrist shots. As you race downhill, through creative labyrinths, over moguls of competition and across the slippery ice, give it your best.
At the end of the competition, I will issue the Top 3 Medals, Bronze, Silver and Gold, to the best-crafted answers comparing your passion to any Olympic sport.
Let the games begin, and Go for the Gold ...
~Joanne
42 comments:
My writing is like a Nordic ski event. Long and steady, with a few steep hills thrown in for added challenge and increased heart rate. You would never find me doing a short event though (i.e. no short stories and novellas). I love the longer distances.
I'm similar to Stina. My writing is like cross-country skiing. Trekking across large patches of snow. It has some tuns and cliffs and a goal.
I am so non-athletic I can't even think of how my writing is like an Olympic event, so I can only say it's like the training for any event - you keep on keeping on what you do best and work harder to overcome obstacles to finish.
Karen
I'm not blessed with grace of speed or beautifully executed moves, so my writing is probably most like a fight where a hockey game breaks out. :P
ooo... I'm going with figure skating. It starts with a beautiful, heart-pounding moment of anticipation, builds through a series of artfully choreographed, graceful moves - occasionally abbreviated with the slight stumble or misstep - and finishes with a breathtaking finale. aaah!
Stina - Well done, you've shussed down the trail with ease ...
Southpaw - Hm, you're coming down behind Stina on that trail, neck and neck for the medals.
Karen - You definitely have earned an A for effort, and are in the running for a medal.
L.G. - There's lots of action in those games, hope you score lots of writing goals :)
Ayda - The judges are applauding your comment, a very well executed routine!
My writing is like a Figure Skating Event. I am forever spinning tales that are synonymous with pirouettes seen on ice - full of twists, grace, and the occasional tumble. :)
My writing parallels with figure skating. I circle and circle a thought, an idea. I twirl and spin adding twists to the plot. I gather speed growing tension as the story rises to a climax. Will the hero rise to his occasion? I leap into the air with a double axel taking the final and most terrifying risk. I land safe at the other side and wait for the judges, my readers, score.
Catherine Denton
Blogger Valerie said...
As I sharpen my scissors before I cut the intricate curves of my pattern, I know I could be skating on thin ice. I must make sure that the figures I execute match the high expectations of the judges who will scrutinize my work. Too many fancy moves, or too few, I will be judged accordingly. The fine line between a good design and a bad design is as unforgiving as the narrow blade upon which my whole performance rests...
The music begins, and I take center ice.
Um, I think I'm like the person sitting inside by the fire with a cup of gourmet cocoa.
Cafe Fashionista - Sounds like a winning combination :)
Catherine - Wow. Looks like you've got a high score. The judges are smiling, and the competition is scared.
Valerie - Wow, standing ovation on that comment. You are a Gold Medal contender, and the Blogger to beat!
Donna - Enjoy the view, sorry you're not competing with us ...
I agree with Stina and southpaw. I'm like a biathalon, slow and steady with a few gun shots throw in.
My writing is like figure skating with plenty of plot twists and turns, intricate and complex characters, and a strong finish. I hope :)
Happy Weekend!
I'm soaring down the Luge in a marketing and pr whirlwhind. Who-eeeeee!
What an interesting idea to parallel writing with the olympics.
Having spent many a frosty cold afternoon with brothers & one of my sisters playing hockey on the pond down at the corner, I will choose hockey.
Not for all the fights in hockey headlines but the sheer challenge of crossing the ice, stick in hand with that little black circle cruising with you, aiming for the net and scoring a goal.
As a writer, those goals are all-important. They do meet obstacles along the way, almost like the opposing team on the ice.
Similar to hockey, as well, writers often change position in the play--centre ice one week with a publication, right or left wing with sharing some blog comments, maybe even defence with updating my own website.
Mainly, I see a similarity in the need to persist as a hockey player/poet writer. It is the only way to score a goal!
Seriously - - I'm going with LG's comment right now - - today's one of those "right in the middle of the fight" kind of days. Hopefully, I won't come out of it with a broken nose!
Fun post! :)
Patti - Slow and steady gets us there, too. And sometimes with less stumbles.
Carol - Keep practicing. The competition is heating up here.
Mary - I'm right behind you!
Michael - Thanks, glad you like it.
Patricia - CHEERS for you on the Hockey JumboTron! I think you need to do a metaphor-Monday one of these days :)
Margo - Hope it's getting your writing adrenaline going!
Not much of an athlete and since my brain is on overload this evening I'll just be a fan in the stands cheering everyone on. Have a great weekend.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
I'm not athletic either--well in my mind I am, but not in reality. But I wish I could ice skate.
I'll take figure skating because it includes music and choreography and teamwork. You have to be brave enough to take all those leaps and risk the falls.
Mason - Is that you doing the wave for some of our competitors?
JW - That's the beauty of a blog Olympics ... It's the mind that matters :)
Hi Joanne! I would compare my writing and the creation of my knitting and fiber art to an Olympic gymnastic event where I am about to walk the balance beam. As I prepare my project and gather the supplies, my heart is filled with anticipation.
There is also that wonderful moment of quiet and deep concentration, like an athlete who is chalking up their hands and waiting for the inevitable moment when their name is called and it is time to run and take their place on the floor.
The program begins. My project begins...all my years of practice and all the work that has led me to this moment, come together seamlessly, naturally, like second nature.
Then comes the moment of dismount. The athlete jumps from the beam with all her strength, she twists and tumbles in midair, everyone's breath is held as her feet touch safely to the floor and her hands raise to the sky with joy of triumph.
I too have bound off the yarn and have cut my last threat and I see before me something that had not existed before, and I feel a part of my mind and body come into harmony. And the sound of my own heart beating is louder than any applause. Delisa :)
Working with horses is much like figure skating with a partner; there are moments when it's slow and easy and moments when it can be dangerous. Buck Brannaman, the Horse Whisperer, calls it a "dance." You have to practice and get to know your partner. They have to give, you have to give, and you have to both be in sync with one another.
I'm cross country. Slow and whiny.
Hi Joanne!! I think I will go with non-competitive figure skating...a whole lot of fluff and prettines but with a non- competitive edge...never getting anywhere near any sort of goal. :) Yup that's me... Hope all is well with you!
Mary - There is so much choreography involved in creativity, isn't there. And those leaps? Love them!
Delisa - Beautiful. The judges are going to have a hard time deciding on the Gold medal today ...
How fun - I'll have to think about that. I think mine is more like figure skating, because sometimes I skate in a straight line, then sometimes I do a little spin, then, inspiration strikes and I launch a double-toe loop, straight into a triple axle - sheer exuberance!
Linda - I like that you have a partner in this event. It's fun to know that Beautiful Girl is a medal contender!
Margaret - But determined and focused, nonetheless.
Patti - Well you're a contender here for really having fun with your craft ... And sometimes, that's what's most important :)
Melissa - And is there any better feeling than nailing that triple axle!
I'll apply for the Olympic Judge since I'm a better spectator instead of athlete! :)
I'll compare my writing career to ice hockey. I achieved a hat trick when I published my third book just over a year ago. It took me years to write my first two books; they definitely went into overtime. But I wrote my third book comparatively quickly; you could say I scored on a breakaway. Luckily I didn't have a case of writer's block, which could have caused me to be charged with delay of game!
Jen - Okay, you've got an inside connection, so I'll give you the job :)
Beth - With those moves, you're definitely a contender for the writing medals ...
Well, my hubby says writing is like Curling becuase it takes a lot of work and is boring. I say it's like Curling because I slide an idea out into the world, try to create a plot arc for it to follow (sweeping with the brooms) and, if I've done it right, I hit the target.
I thought about this comparison all weekend and came up with curling, whether I'm writing or sewing or cooking. It may look to others like I am slow or over-thinking, while I plan each move and see the big picture. What matters is how it all comes together in the end. That is where I score.
Sometimes I think my writing is like ice skating. I keep going around in circles, but hopefully I will end in a flourish!
S.P. - Now that's a unique sport to parallel writing. From what I see, a lot of strategy goes into it, just like into plotting that story!
Sharon - Excellent. That's what matters, that the decisions and moves get us to where we need to be.
Janet - With your dash of optimism and determination, I'm sure you will!
Hmmm.... edits are kind of like pair skating, so that's what I'm going to say is my sport. Takes a lot of communication and work, but the finished project is FABULOUS.
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