January Jump Start
“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” Stephen King, On Writing
I don’t do New Years Resolutions, however in 2013 I have decided that I want to write more. As a high school basketball coach, between November and February, it’s hard to find time to write, but this January I am setting a writing goal to help increase my writing time. My “January Jump Start” will be 10 minutes of writing practice, to a writing prompt, everyday of January.
I will put myself to work practicing writing, just like I have the girls that I coach practice ball handling, or shooting, or defense, and then I know I will be one step closer to being a better writer (and finishing my new book).
If your are a writer, a blogger, or someone who simply enjoys the written word, on January 1st, I invite you to come with me on this writing journey and each day jump-start your writing with a writing prompt.
In January I will post the writing prompt that I use for my writing practice. If you want to join in, follow these simple steps. Grab something to write on (I use composition books), set your time, read the prompt (or look at the prompt photo) and write. Follow the first image that comes to mind into a story, or poetry, or a character or wherever your pen takes you. Some rules for writing practice from A Writer’s Book of Days by Judy Reeves are: keep writing (don’t edit or reread), trust your pen, don’t judge your writing, don’t worry about the rules and let go of expectations.
And as Natalie Goldberg says…just GO.
Write On!!!
There When It Matters
My new magazine article “There When It Matters: A once-a-week (maybe) practitioner reflects on yoga’s restorative powers” just hit the stands, and especially since basketball season arrived and I have been up to my ears in the craziness of the first few weeks of the season, the article is a good reminder to me to pull out my yoga mat and breathe.
EWU Book signing
EWU Book signing and Basketball Alumni Event with former teammate Kris
Teams and Friendship
“When all is said and done, it’s not the shots that won the championship that you remember, but the friendships you made along the way.” – unknown
I gave this quote to the high school girls interested in playing basketball this year. Not because I don’t think winning is important, it is the end goal when you are on the court, but it’s the time throughout the season, when players work and grow as a team, that really counts.
In college our team beat the University of Montana to win the conference championship where we advanced and played in the first round of the NCAA tournament. I can never remember what team we played, Oregon or Oregon State, because you know what? It doesn’t matter who we played. What does matter, are all the lessons I learned, and all the friendships I gained along the way. I have teammates that even after 20+ years have gone by, would have my back in any situation.
A former teammate was in my wedding, another, a massage therapist, helped bring me back to life after my body was broken in an accident years ago, and just last week, I road-tripped with an old teammate from that college championship team. We went to an Alumni basketball event and a book signing for my memoir, Back on the Court. And even though we have a history together, we hardly talked of the past, instead our years of bonding as teammates allowed us to enjoy one another on a deeper level, and to share our hopes and dreams for the future.
Being a part of a team is not always easy, but the rewards are priceless.
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
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PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Game Plan
The basketball team I coach had a big game last Friday. I scouted the opponent and watched last season’s game film. Then my assistants and I put together a game plan that we felt, if implemented well, would give us a win and another step in the direction toward our season goals.
We adjusted our defense, informed our team of the opponents individual strengths and how to stop them, and emphasized offensive priorities. The plan worked to perfection.
We celebrated in the moment and then as coaches, started working on our next game plan, tweaking and adjusting for the road ahead.
Life is like basketball in so many ways. We set goals, find what it takes to reach those goals and then work on our game plan, growing and changing as we go.
Take a minute to go over your game plan. What adjustments do you […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: A Lucky Save
Yesterday there was a little yelling at our house. We are remodeling the basement and had to move some extremely heavy items out of the way, one is a foosball table that hasn’t been pried through the narrow doorway it somehow entered almost 20 years ago. After fighting several large pieces of furniture through the tiny opening, and letting a few choice words slip during our frustration, it was time for the main event, the foosball table. We removed the table legs, but this still left us with a cumbersome and very heavy table top with metal rods sliding and protruding from both sides.
Needless to say, by the time we finished and made it to the dinner table my son and daughter and husband were cranky. I thought food would help. It wasn’t enough. The kids asked to be excused. “No.” […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Peaceful Chaos
It’s a new year! I don’t know about you, but although I had a great holiday season, I am ready to get back to some semblance of a schedule. 4 people and 2 dogs in the house 24/7 means a lot of laundry and dishes and mess to keep up with and no “me” time to do it.
This morning the house is empty (Well except for Bruno and Sassy-and they are quietly waiting for a walk-and myself. ) So I feel light. Like I can breathe. That’s the way I’m built. I enjoy people, especially my family, but I need to spend some time alone or I wind up like a top, ready to spin out of control. I rarely do…spin out of control, but I feel it on the inside.
I have a quote in my room that I do my best […]
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