figure skaters vs. books
I’ve been watching the Nancy Kerrigan story unfold on National and local news this week (I live about 10 minutes from the house where it all happened). I won’t get into how I feel the media handles these types of things, but I am struck by something.
I was a competitive figure skater for many years, then involved through my parents after I quit the sport. My time happened to be around Nancy’s hey day. I keep seeing Nancy’s friends on TV discussing her tragedy and thinking how different skating is when you’re heavily involved in it. Nationals were this past weekend. Since I’m not involved in the sport, I don’t know any of the up & comers. I’m not invested. I “know” Paul Wylie, Kristy Yamaguchi, Nancy Kerrigan, etc. When I’d watch Nationals or Olympics back then, I had insider information. I had comments about the skaters in addition to their skating. I wonder (KNOW) I judged the performances differently because of this knowledge (so did the official judges, FYI).
Here’s where the writing link comes in (finally). I’m obviously invested in the children’s lit world. I view (& read) books differently because of it. I wonder if this is a detriment to the books I read as well as my own work. Do I judge books differently because of this knowledge? Is one “good” or “not so good” because of back stories I know? Sometimes I’d like to read a book from an outsider’s perspective (especially my own MSs). I won’t be quitting anytime soon to get that POV, however. I can’t.
I was a competitive figure skater for many years, then involved through my parents after I quit the sport. My time happened to be around Nancy’s hey day. I keep seeing Nancy’s friends on TV discussing her tragedy and thinking how different skating is when you’re heavily involved in it. Nationals were this past weekend. Since I’m not involved in the sport, I don’t know any of the up & comers. I’m not invested. I “know” Paul Wylie, Kristy Yamaguchi, Nancy Kerrigan, etc. When I’d watch Nationals or Olympics back then, I had insider information. I had comments about the skaters in addition to their skating. I wonder (KNOW) I judged the performances differently because of this knowledge (so did the official judges, FYI).
Here’s where the writing link comes in (finally). I’m obviously invested in the children’s lit world. I view (& read) books differently because of it. I wonder if this is a detriment to the books I read as well as my own work. Do I judge books differently because of this knowledge? Is one “good” or “not so good” because of back stories I know? Sometimes I’d like to read a book from an outsider’s perspective (especially my own MSs). I won’t be quitting anytime soon to get that POV, however. I can’t.