I am working on a book about being chosen last in sports and need your submissions

I have been talking and writing about the concept of being chosen last in sports for many years, and have spoken to most of you about this topic at one point or another. Here is a link to an article I wrote for the Advocate Online about this topic. (Please note: This blog has replaced reclaimsports.com as the online presence for this project.)

I am finally ready to write the book, and want to invite you to send me a written submission for possible inclusion in the book. It can be as long as you want, and about any aspect of the topic (although I will suggest a few approaches you may want to take). You can use your real first and/or last name or a pseudonym.

If you were a good athlete, and bullied or shamed others that were not as good, I would like to hear from you as well. There is healing on many sides of this issue, and I would like to include stories (similar to my own) of learning to understand other people's experiences in a more compassionate way.

Here are some possible things to write about:

• what happened around sports in your childhood: what did it feel like, what kind of response did you get from adults in your life, did you have any allies, etc.
• how did your childhood experiences play themselves out in your adult life: did/do you have to deal with addictions, compulsions, hatred of sports; did you seek revenge or become a bully in your work life, etc.
• what actions or decisions have you made as an adult to help you heal from your childhood experiences? (examples: joining a recreational sports league, becoming a sports fan, getting therapy, joining a 12-step program, yoga, etc.)

True stories are what I am looking for, but feel free to write in a creative nonfiction style, using fiction techniques to bring your story to life. Poetry or cartoons, if done exceptionally well, will also be considered. If you prefer recording your story and sending me a digital audio clip, that would be cool, too.

At some point, I may want to interview people for this project, so please indicate if you are willing to be interviewed, either in person or via email.

There is no deadline at this time. Please send your submissions whenever you feel moved to do so. I will be working on this project for a long time, and there are several books I'd like to write on related topics.

Thanks for your support!

Please email your submissions to chosenlastinsports at gmail dot com.

© Judy Kamilhor 2011