Technical Writing and Tennis
As one of your technical writing colleagues I was proud to be representing Israel in the recent Maccabiah games, competing against British, Australian, Canadian, Argentinean and other Israeli players.
Barbara Sher after trophy presentation July 15, 2009
I started playing tennis in 1999 as a complete beginner during the hi-tech boom time. Remember that, before the dot bombs! This was when technical writing was the place to be, jobs were abundant and work hours were very long. I had to do something else besides work. I just walked into the tennis center and asked for private lessons.I find that technical writing and tennis give life a nice contrast and actually contribute beneficially to each other.The following is a table that compares the characteristics of technical writing vs. tennis. It shows how they are the opposite of each other and thus compliment each other. I find that more tennis means more energy to do technical writing.
Table 1: Technical Wring / Tennis Comparison
|
Technical Writing Characteristics |
Tennis Characteristics |
|
All brain activity. |
Almost no brain, mostly instincts. |
|
No physical activity. |
All physical activity and strategy. |
|
Performed in a confined space (even if it is called open space sometimes). |
Performed in a real open space. |
|
Subdued environment. |
Yelling, moaning and screaming are par for the course. |
|
Need to please customers and employees. |
Just please yourself and make your social tennis partners want to come back for another beating. |
|
Narrow and specific guidelines for each task. |
Wild Abandon! Just achieve the results. |
|
Success is subjective, based on someone’s opinion. |
Success is objective, based on a score. |
|
Get compliments. |
Get compliments. |
|
Fun. |
Fun. |
|
Make money. |
No money (not for me anyway |
By the way, I won two Bronze medals in the Maccabiah games this year (one in singles and one in doubles) in my age group.
Getting Started in Tennis
Here's how I did it. If it worked for me, it can work for you.
To get started in tennis:
1 Go to you local tennis center and start with some private or group lessons for beginners (or at whatever level you are at).
2 Go to lessons 2 or 3 times a week and play with the other players in the group once or twice a week. If you are taking private lessons, then ask the tennis teacher or court manager to match you up with someone on your level. Otherwise, write a notice on the board asking if anyone wants to play.
3 Keep it up because you enjoy it.
4 Have fun!
Barbara Sher
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