The Surprising Writing Wisdom of The Inner Game of Tennis
What a 50-Year-Old Book Taught Me About Writing
I love to read, not just for work, but also for pleasure. I try to read widely — fiction, literary and commercial; nonfiction, everything from business to sports; and even some poetry, from time to time. You can keep up with what I’m reading on Goodreads.
Recently, I stumbled across an old book being shared by Steve Kerr and Daniel Pink... and it made me think of you, dear writers.
What can a 50-year-old book about tennis teach us about writing?
Actually, quite a bit.
(Don’t worry, I won’t make you pick up a racket).
W. Timothy Gallwey’s The Inner Game of Tennis isn’t a craft book; it’s a mindset book. Its lessons fit perfectly with the creative process. Gallwey argues that the biggest opponent isn’t across the net... it’s in your head.
The same is true for writers.
Here are three takeaways to help you with your writing.
#1 Silence your inner critic.
Overthinking kills flow. When you start judging your sentences mid-draft, you stop creating and begin performing. Write first, edit later.
In all honesty, I’m not great at this one. Good one for me, too.
#2 Observe without judgment.
Instead of labeling your work as “good” or “bad,” simply notice it. Pay attention to what’s happening on the page, how your words sound, and how your ideas develop. Awareness, not anxiety, makes you better.
One of my favorite writers, George Saunders, preaches this often.
#3 Follow what excites you.
The best writing doesn’t come from discipline alone. It comes from curiosity. The things that light you up are often the ones that will connect with readers most deeply.
Curiosity often helps me when I’m in a slump. Get curious, get going.
Fifty years later, The Inner Game of Tennis still holds up because it’s not really about tennis; it’s about learning to trust yourself.
And that, more than anything, is the inner game of writing.
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