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Today I welcome Luke Murphy, retired hockey player turned published author. I wanted to know what the difference was between hockey and writing and his answer was a bit surprising.
As a child, I never
dreamed of writing a best-seller, never aspired to write the next classic
novel, I wanted to be an NHL superstar…period.
With the death of my
mother in 1992, losing a battle to cancer, I sensed it was time to get serious
about reaching my dreams, and moved away to pursue hockey.
From 1992-1995 I noticed
a shift in the game of hockey and realized that the odds of making it to the
NHL were unfavorable for a kid who stood 5’9’’ and weighed 160 pounds. So, my
goals shifted. I accepted a hockey scholarship to Rochester Institute of
Technology.
In the winter of 2000,
after sustaining a season ending eye injury while playing in Oklahoma City, I
found myself with a lot of time on my hands, and a new hobby emerged. From a family of avid readers, even as a
child, I always had a passion for books.
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One day, with an idea in
mind, I sat down in front of a computer and began writing. I wrote a little
every day, around my intense rehabilitation schedule and before I knew it, I
had completed my first manuscript.
I didn't write with the
intention of being published. I wrote for the love of writing, as a hobby. I
continued to “hobby” write through the years, honing my craft, making time
between work and family obligations.
Then I made a decision –
I enjoyed writing so much, I decided I wanted to take my interest one step
further – write a story with the intention of being published.
I've never been one to
take things lightly or jump in half way. I took a full year off from writing to
study the craft. I constantly read, from novels in my favorite genres to books
written by experts in the writing field. I continually researched on the
internet, reading up on the industry and process. I attended writing
conferences and made friends (published and unpublished authors), bombarding
them with questions and learning what it took to become successful.
Feeling that I was
finally prepared, in the winter of 2007, with an idea in mind and an outline on
paper, I started to write DEAD MAN`S HAND. It took me two years (working around
full time jobs) to complete the first draft of my novel.
I then worked with
editors and joined a critique group, doing anything I could to learn, to
improve my writing and my novel to point where I could create the best possible
novel.
I sent out hundreds of
query letters to agents. After months of rejections, I pulled my manuscript
back and worked on it again. Then in my next round of proposals, I was offered
representation by Ms. Jennifer Lyons of the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency.
After months of work
with Jennifer, my dream was finally realized in April, 2012, when I signed a
publishing contract with Imajin Books.
So, exactly how smooth
was my transition from playing hockey to writing books?
Many people might not
see a connection between writing and hockey, but there are many similarities in
not only your preparation, but “musts” once you’re there.
In both hockey and
writing, you need three things: patience, persistence and thick skin.
For
both, it takes hard work and practice. There are many critics, and you need to
be able to take criticism with a grain of salt. In order to find success, in
both you need to be persistent and confident. It’s all about taking a chance, putting yourself
out there to be evaluated by your peers. That’s the scariest part.
My one piece of advice
for all aspiring hockey players and writers…you’ll get a lot of “no’s” along
the way and people trying to bring you down. But remember, it only takes one
“yes”.
