The BOSS

If you hadn't guessed yet, for me, writing and tennis have a lot in common. What I learn at the computer many times translates to my "work" on the court and vice versa. Many times these 'lessons' are so simplistic, they might seem obvious to the outside observer, but to me they are like Messages From On High. So, what I learned the other day is this:
The ball is the boss.
My instructor noticed I seemed to be using the slice and the topspin groundstroke randomly, with no relation to how the ball was coming to me. This was true. Many times, I'd decide, before my opponent even returned the ball, that I was going to use a particular shot. If you're a seasoned tennis player, however, you see the fault in this - you have to wait and see where and how the ball is coming to you to determine how you should hit it. So my instructor gave me this simple rule: if the ball is rising, hit a slice. If it is dropping, hit a topspin.
This translates to: The Ball is the Boss. Wait and see what the ball is doing and then react accordingly.
It also translates to Get Out of Your Own Head, Stupid!
In writing, this rule is: The Character is The Boss.
No matter how I want a certain thing to happen in my story or how well I plot out the story ahead of time, the character is the boss. If I stay in the character's head (not in my own) I will write a truer story. My character will lead me to what would actually happen, not what I as the author think "should" happen.
It's about being flexible, not getting ahead of things or forcing things, letting the plot or the shot work out organically.
It's about shutting off your brain, trusting your instincts and letting go.
Now I'm off to try to put that into practice....