Creating a Successful Basketball Franchise: A Metaphor For My Writing Life

A basketball organization starts with an owner and a general manager. The owner and general manager have a vision for the team they want to create. They plan out their picks and the players they want to draft. This is similar to me as an author. Before I get started writing and building my story, I think of my vision. I think of the outcome I want to see in my writing. Do they want a team with a high powered offense? Do they want a defensively aggressive team? Do I want a convincing paper that changes the viewpoints of my readers? Do I want to tell a story to entertain my readers?

The head coach of the Chicago Bulls (right) and the GM (left) hosting a press conference on their upcoming season. Image from http://pippenainteasy.com/2015/06/03/.

Then the general manager drafts the team. He begins to put the tools together to making a successful basketball team. This is similar to my rough drafts. Rough drafts are where I start to put all my ideas together and turn my visions into a smooth flowing paper. Obviously, it is not perfect quite yet.

The Chicago Bulls practice at the Berto Center. Image from http://www.nba.com/bulls/news.

Then I make my revisions. Coaches, owners, and the general manager make adjustments to turn their team into a championship team. I make adjustments to turn my paper from a decent paper to an excellent paper.

Michael Jordan and the rest of the 1997 Bulls celebrating their fifth world championship. Image from http://www.nba.com/bulls/news.