For most of us, finishing a marathon is more important than winning the race. For me this is only a metaphor of sorts. In real life I probably couldn't even run a hundred feet, but I guess it would be possible for me to finish a marathon just by walking. It might take a couple days, but I think I could finish a walking marathon. Maybe.
Insecure Writer's Support Group
The question for June is:
Did you ever say “I quit”? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?
I never quite think in terms of quitting, but I might take a break. At various times in my life I've just stopped doing something for a while. Like writing for example. I've never completely stopped writing, but sometimes mostly reserved writing for mundane record keeping or notes to self.
For me, blogging has been a bit of writing salvation. I've got so much other stuff that I intend to write, but find myself distracted by life. But then, that's the way it's always been for me. The nice thing is that I always have plenty to look forward to and every day is another adventure. And now I can blog. That's something at least.
Battle of the Bands Results
Originally in my previous Battle I was thinking of using a version of "Begin the Beguine" by Artie Shaw, Tony Martin, or Ray Coniff. My mother used to have a Ray Coniff album with that song on it so I heard it plenty. She loved Ray Coniff and I enjoyed hearing his music too. I haven't been able to find many of those recordings of Ray Coniff's older stuff from the fifties or sixties on YouTube, but then I haven't looked for them in a while.
Then in my search for versions of the song I ran across Pete Townshend's rather surprising recording. I knew that I had found my first competitor for Battle. As I looked for a worthy competitor I came to Sheryl Crow's fine rendition. That left me with my own voting dilemma. Both versions are so different and so good that I could have voted either way.
In my analysis Sheryl Crow's performance has everything I usually look for in a recording--slick arrangement, polished delivery, and intelligent instrumentation to back up well sung vocals. This is my kind of music.
On the other hand, Pete Townshend's recording was like sitting late in the evening with a small audience in an intimate setting with the famed Who guitarist serenading us with a private concert. It's all a bit roughshod, but it's genuine. And he stays with the original melody. This is why my vote goes to Townshend. It's real, honest, and I like hearing it.
In the end though, Sheryl Crow delivers the most votes for a healthy win. Her version left Townshend's in the dust right out of the starting gate. I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised. But that's okay. Sheryl's take is excellent.
Final Results
Pete Townshend 5
Sheryl Crow 18
Next Battle on Thursday June 15th
There might be another post before the fifteenth of the month. I'm taking summer as it comes and going wherever it takes me.
Have you ever run a marathon? What do you do when you lose interest in a project or a passion? At what point do you realize that you can't go home again?
Wonderful post Lee, I don't think I could run a marahton either. As for quiting I have thought about it but would be lost without my blog.
ReplyDeleteI voted for Pete Townshed but it was a difficult choice.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, best to keep on trying up until we breathe our last breath. Never give up.
DeleteLee
Blogging does keep us writing, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteAlex, keeps me writing.
DeleteLee
Great post, Lee. Writing is my marathon and I'll keep going until I drop :) Have a super week.
ReplyDeleteNicola, life is a marathon.
DeleteLee
I'm not marathon material either, yet somehow I keep inching forward. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Emaginette, an inch gained is better than just standing still.
DeleteLee
A never ending spiral we keep from going out of control.Good music helps.
ReplyDeleteEve, slow and steady as life goes is the way I like to take things. Music is my heartbeat.
DeleteLee
For the past couple of decades, I've tended to cycle through interests. I might lay off of one for a while, but I'll eventually come back to it.
ReplyDeleteThe exception is writing. I haven't gone more than a week and a half without blogging (under various and assorted names) in about 10 years.
Harry, even when I set an interest aside it's somewhere in my mind to where it can be revived at any time. Blogging has also been a consistent part of my life for the past eight years.
DeleteLee
My really long to-do list ensures that I write every day.
ReplyDeleteL.Diane, I write something every day and it all adds up to something meaningful even if I don't remember all that I've written. I guess it's like an athlete in training.
DeleteLee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI've quit a thousand times but usually find I pick back up again. Blogging is my way of keeping up with writing and sharing with others. It fills a void in my life. I'm not a runner. I've never liked running. It's too hard on the body. I enjoy walking and biking more. I can't go home again literally or figuratively speaking? I literally can't go home again or at least to the home I grew up in because my folks don't live in that house anymore. They moved a year after I got married. The place they live was to be my future home growing up because my folks bought land from my great grandparents with plans to build but that didn't come until after I was out of the house, so I never quite felt like it was home. Emotionally speaking I felt like I can't go home for years. Things are just not the same in so many ways and there's this disconnect, the differences between family members,... It's always nice to go home but I'm glad the stay is short.
Oh, yeah I forgot to mention my pick won this round. Yay! :)
DeleteCathy, I've visited the houses I've lived in but was only able to view them from the street since people I don't know now live in them. I still enjoy visiting my family, but there are some old friends that I no longer feel compelled to visit. Still there are some good friends who I would like to spend more time with if I could.
DeleteLee
Lee,
DeleteWe did visit my childhood home once many years ago. I know the people who bought my folks house but we haven't been back since that time. I know what you mean, I'm like that too. I don't feel any burning desire to see most old friends and then there are some friends who I not only love visiting but hate to leave their company. Of course we don't want to wear out our welcome so we try to not over extend our visits. :) Have a good day!
~Cathy
I could never quit writing, let alone speak the words. But I was ever so glad to discover blogging as a way to stay inspired when life would have me stop.
ReplyDeleteA marathon? Nah. But I'd make a great cheerleader ;-)
Diedre, I'm a good cheerleader as long as I don't have to jump around and do gymnastics.
DeleteLee
Hi Lee - I certainly couldn't quit now ... nor can you! Just so glad you connected all the blogging dots for us .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary, glad some of us have hung on to blogging. A lot of the bloggers who were there when I started seem to have drifted away from the medium.
DeleteLee
I do think blogging is a vent for writers. We get to do what we love, we have readers (if we're at all good at this blogging business) and we can say, "I wrote today" without stretching the truth. Have a great #IWSG day!
ReplyDeleteC.Lee, blogging is an easy and convenient way to whip some written word out with the possibility that someone might actually read it. Beats a handwritten notebook in my opinion.
DeleteLee
Breaks are a must. But sometimes coming back after a break is even harder. lol
ReplyDeleteChrys, that's true. My extended vacations have been part of the blame for my blogging cutbacks. Even though I don't ever actually allow my blog to become inactive during my vacation times, I slow down and it's never been easy for me to come back to blogging full force like I once did.
DeleteLee
I'm glad you never gave up, Arlee! Everyone needs a break from time to time.
ReplyDeleteJH, more people have probably given up on me than I've given up on myself, but I think that's often the case in life.
DeleteLee
Blogging is important. It shows the world that we still have thoughts and opinions and interests. Life does get in the way of writing sometimes, as you say. So it helps to write about those interruptions. At least it gets us writing again. All best to you, Lee.
ReplyDeleteVictoria, thank you. Even if the world doesn't see what we have to say in our blogs, our blog writing is a reaffirmation to ourselves to some extent that we are continuing forward.
DeleteLee
I'm a break-taker as well. It's almost necessary for me to recharge my creative juices!
ReplyDeleteLoni, sometimes it's a good idea to do something different in order to reinvigorate our minds and bodies. It's like taking a different way home just for the change of scenery in order to see what else is out there.
DeleteLee
Life often gets in the way of other things, but isn't it great to have so many options?
ReplyDeleteBack in the 1970s, I submitted many articles and short stories to various publications, including Reader's Digest, only to be rebuffed at every turn. This depressed me, so I did quit, concentrating on what was the beginning of a corporate career. It was only after getting serious about blogging (~2011) that writing became attractive again.
As for BOTB, Sheryl Crow's win was no surprise. I really wanted to love Pete Townsend's recording, but found it a bit thin.
Debbie D, I submitted several things back in the seventies as well with no acceptances. I hated typing stuff too--it was such a chore for me and I didn't often have access to a typewriter. What a hassle it was. My pursuits also turned to business. Blogging is fun and writing on the computer is such a breeze.
DeleteLee
Lots to think about but no, I've never run a marathon and doubt I ever will. And if I ever quit fiction writing, I will probably continue blogging.
ReplyDeleteDonna, blogging can be used for more purposes than just promoting ones writing career so I can see always blogging to some extent.
DeleteLee
Thankfully blogging keeps one writing for the most part. Great thoughts and greetings!
ReplyDeleteBlogoratti, yes, if one commits to maintaining a blog then the writing is usually a part of that. Often people will start a blog with good intent and then stop writing on it.
DeleteLee
I don't write professionally. I write because I love it and because I want to help others. When that no longer applies, then I guess I can say, "I quit!"
ReplyDeleteElsie
Elsie, it would be nice to write professionally in the sense of getting paid for doing it, but if the passion for the writing is gone then it all becomes somewhat empty and tedious to some extent.
DeleteLee
You are so correct: "...blogging has been a bit of writing salvation."
ReplyDeleteI knew Sheryl Crow had to win. No questions.
Susan K, I probably wouldn't be writing to the extent that I do now had it not been for blogging.
DeleteLee
I'm glad you haven't quit. Where would so many of us be without the anticipated April A to Z Challenge?
ReplyDeleteTrisha Faye
Writer’s Zen: www.writerszenblog.wordpress.com
Trisha, sometimes I hate to think that I live for A to Z, but in reality I don't and I always enjoy A to Z when it comes around again. It's just become a part of me and my life schedule.
DeleteLee
I really need to get back into blogging more. That's why I'm here. I'm trying! And Sheryl Crow is one of my favorites :)
ReplyDeletewww.jessicatherrien.com
Jessica, good for you and stop in anytime. I fear that if I were to stop blogging for a month or more that the blog break would become much longer than anticipated.
DeleteLee
I'm not surprised that Sheryl Crowe won. I like your interpretation of Pete Townsend's version.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy the weekend!
Michele at Angels Bark
Michele, Sheryl's appeal had more immediacy to the listener I think because her version had the slicker sound to it.
DeleteLee
Haven't quit as it related to writing...there was time that I had to find ways to sneak it into a life where other things took over ...but sneak it in, I did.
ReplyDeleteLiza, we often do what needs to be done or what is right for us at any particular time.
DeleteLee
That was quite a blowout, LEE, although I did like both recordings.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned Ray Conniff -- I love The Conniff Singers. I'm naturally a fan choral groups.
I did quit writing many years ago. What happened to make me come back to writing? Nuttin'. I never did return to writing. ...That is unless one counts blogging and product reviews as writing, which I don't -- not really. When I think of "writing" I think of characters, dialogue, plots and plot twists.
See ya on the 15th, Buddy!
~ D-FensDogG
[Link:) Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
STMcC, if you consider writing as fiction, then I'm on hiatus. I still think about it though. I'm fine with considering blogging (including comment correspondence) and reviews writing in the sense that it is practicing the art. It is writing in my view, but I'd rather be writing for pay. Writing for love is just fine, but I'd rather be a writing whore if someone offered me money to do it.
DeleteI heard to much Ray Coniff and Perez Prado when I was growing up that they've set up separate compartments in my memories.
Lee