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Tuesday, February 27, 2018

All Fun and Games



**I wrote this blog post six years ago, and the words are never truer! I hope you don't mind me
sharing an archived piece with you today. I hop back to the present at the end to update you on my life and thoughts today. But first... rewind to Joanne of 2012:

I found myself at a 6th grade basketball tournament last weekend.  It’s a place I’ve found myself a lot this time of year.  In our house, football season melts into basketball with only a two week hiatus, and hoop turns into baseball with even less down time.  With three boys playing sports, the cycle is familiar and sometimes exhausting.  Most of the time though, it’s fun.

Two of my sons from about the time I penned this piece.
As I cheered loud and long for my son—and for all his teammates who aren’t my sons—I thought about why we as a culture are so passionate about youth sports.  Sure, we all know the horror stories of the parents who yell all game and the coaches who take it all so seriously that practice turns into boot camp.  But that’s not the case in my town.  Youth sports are fun here, and every parent I know gets as hopped up about cheering on their kids’ successes as I do.  The losses… well, we might not cheer, but the lessons there are as valuable as the wins.  No doubt, we all tend to remember the times we failed more than the times we won. 

There are a million and one analogies between sports and life.  My husband wrote about a lot of them during his career as a sports editor, so they are often in the back of my mind as I put my time in at games.  But a new parallel occurred to me last weekend as I cheered on the boys and watched them grin when they made their shots.  Watching the kids play is fun because of the enthusiasm they bring to the game.  They’re not at the advanced level that puts so much social pressure on performance.  They’re at an age where they are allowed to simply enjoy the game.  And don’t we love that kind of innocent pleasure when the stakes aren’t so high and failure isn’t the end of the world?  At this level, you usually get your pizza party whether you win or lose.

I think that kind of fresh perspective and enthusiasm is what makes it exciting to be around new writers.  I get letters sometimes from writers new to the business who are looking for a little direction and those folks are usually pleased when I gab away about the writing life and the business.  I understand that they are getting something out of my conversation.  But I don’t think they necessarily realize what I’m getting out of theirs.  It’s that fervor and eagerness for writing that I remember with fondness.  Not that I mean to suggest I’m a cynical old crone at this point in the game.  Far from it!  I’ve got a Pollyanna streak a mile wide.  Still, my years in this business and my 30-odd manuscripts written (not all of them published) have definitely left me wiser and warier.  That’s a good thing.  And yet—I really miss those days where I’d stop at the end of a paragraph to admire what I’d written, kind of like those 6th graders smiling openly at a foul shot that swished cleanly through the net. 

There’s a joy associated with any new endeavor, a joy that quiets a bit as you become more of an expert and have been fortunate enough to turn a hobby into a profession.  The well-loved pursuit soon comes with deadlines and expectations of editors, agents and readers.  And the more successful you become, the higher the stakes of failure.  That success is a blessing, to be sure.  But there is always a bit of nostalgia involved in talking to a writer who still regularly takes time to savor the play of her words on paper or who is bursting with story ideas and can follow only her own direction about which idea to pursue next.  So don’t be surprised if you’re an aspiring writer and I quiz you about what you’re working on and how you manage your schedule and what you’ve got in mind for career goals.  I promise I’m not trying to steal ideas and I’m not just making small talk for the heck of it.  I’m just enjoying your journey along with you, and in doing so, I’m also remembering and enjoying my own.

**Present Day: I loved this piece because I just celebrated my youngest son's final season of high school basketball. I cried when it ended, probably more than I'll cry on his graduation day since sports have been such a defining element of my family and my life for the last twenty years. I will miss the tournaments, the young athletes and the fierceness of competing. But at the same time, I'm heartened to remember that this joy doesn't go away. Those memories will fill my books for many years to come.

And so funny to think that when I wrote this I had thirty some books. I just celebrated the release of my 80th novel for Harlequin. Have you read my February 2018 release, For the Sake of His Heir?

For today, I'll leave you with this thought / question- Have you ever acted as a mentor to someone in your business or personal life, or have you been on the receiving end of mentoring?  Did that experience bring similar emotional rewards to the ones I mention? Share with me this week and I'll give one random poster an advance copy of my April Harlequin Desire, Expecting a Scandal

14 comments:

onemused said...

I have definitely had some unique mentors over the years, and one that stands out was my undergraduate mentor who led me on my current career path (and whom I still seek out for advice 12+ years later). She is my role model, and I wouldn't be where I am today without her.

Kathleen O said...

I am lucky to have mentored a couple of young people on my lifetime and to have been mentored. Good lessons learned on both sides.

Sandra said...

I am a part of the big sister program. I love being a mentor for the program.

dstoutholcomb said...

I've been on the receiving end of mentoring and I cherish it

denise

Marcie R said...

I have been mentored a couple times by authors. Nothing long term, but the information I received will stay with me for a long time.
I think the pay-it-forward is very important and can make a positive impression on those involved.

LynnB said...

My Mom was my biggest mentor in life. She wasn't perfect, and she didn't have it easy, but she always had a smile on her face and a can do attitude to soldier on. She taught me what unconditional love meant. She taught me to be true to yourself no matter what. She taught me to never settle for less than I deserve. And most of all, she taught me how to find joy in the little things. <3

Mary Preston said...

A lovely post.

I have mentored some young team members at work. Certainly interesting given the different personalities.

Kimberlyindy said...

I have been lucky enough to have mentored others in my life and I am very lucky to have had some of the most amazing people mentor me. I cherish everything I have learned from others in both situations.

Anonymous said...

Vera Wilson,
Has someone help me with Algerba for a few weeks. Teacher had recommended me to take that in 9th grade. Nothing like expected.

Joanne Rock said...

onemused, how fortunate to find a mentor who led you to your current career! Right now, I'm very grateful my new-to-the-workforce son found someone to help him secure his job and give him insights along the way. What a generous gift that is!

Joanne Rock said...

Thank you, Mary!! And Lynn B, your mom sure sounds like she was a very special person.

Laney4 said...

About 25 years ago, the girl across the street kept hanging around my slightly older daughter. When she came to our home (often), I made a point of sitting on the floor with them to play, plus I put my arms around both when watching TV. I just felt like the other girl needed a little attention (especially as I could hear her mom hollering at her every day when a regular voice would have sufficed). Fast forward to about five years ago when her teenage sister was undergoing cancer treatments. The girl we had befriended came to me and thanked me for being there for her all those years ago; it was something she'll never forget, as she always felt happy when she visited. Well, you just know I teared up when she told me that. Goes to show that a little effort goes a LONG way....

Joanne Rock said...

Aw, Elaine, you must have been so touched. Those acts of kindness have huge ripples, don't they?

Joanne Rock said...

onemused, you are the winner!! All you need to do is message me at jrock008@gmail.com with a mailing address and I'll get your prize out to you ASAP. Thank you all so much for visiting with me and dropping by the blog! I'll be back next month on the 27th with another giveaway. Until then, happy reading!