[JD Mader is taking a break today to enjoy some time with the his family. Enjoy this Encore Presentation until his return next week. – The Editors]
Writing is a lot like fishing, both of which I enjoy very much. Both are hard work. And a lot of times you get skunked. But if you keep trying, eventually you catch something. I have always been drawn to activities that require far more effort than they offer reward. I don’t know why this is. Masochism? Low self esteem? Perhaps I’m a bit of a simpleton.
I know people who golf. I kind of think they are idiots, but someone who is willing to stand in the freezing rain with a fishing rod shouldn’t judge. I have played golf twice. The second time, I hit a hole in one. I still finished like 300 over par. I will never forget it. I hit the ball (straight for once). We went to go find it and couldn’t (my Dad and my sister were there, too). Then we hear shouting and look up on the hill and there are these old guys jumping up and down and hollering. I got my name on a plaque. I’m a member of the Drambuie ‘Hole in One Club’. I got a duffel bag. And then I quit golfing. What would be the point? Writing and fishing are also activities I like to do alone…usually. I like doing them with other people, too, but it is a totally different experience. I have collaborated with other writers, and it is really fun. But it loses some of the Zen. Same with fishing. I don’t like fishing on a boat with other people for the most part. I like fishing with my Dad or a friend, from the bank, where we can spread out and find our own place to not catch fish, then meet up later to share stories.
I like a challenge. Sure, golfing would still be a challenge because I totally suck at it, but the ultimate goal has already been reached. It would be boring to spend years doing worse than I did the second time I played.
Motorcycles. I like motorcycles, too. I have thought often about what motorcycles, fishing, and writing have in common. Solitary pursuits for the most part? But I also ride with a club, fish with my Dad, and love to write (especially music) with my friends. So, I enjoy it both ways. Hard to do? That’s part of it. But they are also impossible to conquer. As good as you get at writing, fishing, or biking, you can always do better. And, while some might find that frustrating, I find it inspiring. No matter what happens, I’ve got something to work on.
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If writing is like fishing, and you catch your thoughts from a stream that has a finite amount of metaphorical fish in it – then I would think the trick is not to fish downstream from JD Mader. You’d be lucky to get a nibble and if you land something, it is likely too small to keep. Meanwhile, Mader will be happily filling his creel with fresh caught beauties.
Thanks Ed. Most eloquent compliment ever. 😉 Much obliged.
You are most welcome, Fisherman. Or is that Biker? Dad? Whatever hat you’re wearing at the moment.
Definitely the Dad hat. For the foreseeable future. 😉 (although I am trying to convince everyone that fishing would be good for baby development)
I’ll just keep hanging on to the thought that I’ll eventually ‘catch something’ (hopefully buyers). Been writing for many, many, many years and still waiting – thank goodness for the self-publishing outlet or all my stories would still be in the drawer! I love to write and believe in my work, so all I can do is…what I’m doing. 🙂
Fishing is all about patience. Fishing IS patience. 😉
Nice post, JD, and I can sort of relate, except I don’t fish, I don’t play golf either mind you; I’m not much for games. I’m pretty much a loner with my writing, and my pastimes are pretty solitary too. I did take part in a collaborative writing venture, not so long ago, doing a children’s storybook and it was quite successful, but the project was conducted in a fairly remote way, five authors doing there own thing with practically no parameters. I’ve still only ever met one of the authors.
I write and hope to constantly improve; I chill out with my pastime, my martial arts, which for the most part is an insular affair with a constant quest for perfection. I can write or train collaboratively also, but when I do, in either pursuit, I like to have the final say. I somehow think that you do too, JD.
You are entirely correct. Writer have this thing with control, eh?
(s) – and are haunted by typos.