Wednesday 26 January 2011

RATE YOUR WRITING SKILLS THE US FIGURE SKATING WAY

My vote of thanks goes to the US Figure Skating Starting Skills Criterion but it hasn't taken much to make it slide over into Writing: How Goes IT?

RATE THE FLOW OF YOUR WRITING IN
 7 SLIPPERY CRITERIA:

Balance -  with precision in sentence construction and especially through accurate comma placement, the rhythmic nature of writing should be broken regularly

Flow and effortless glide – avoid anything intrusive that makes for a choppy read (to avoid this, read aloud and listen to how the work sounds)

Cleanness and sureness of plot twists, edge of seat moments contrived in controlled steps and stages, turns (particularly in terms of character development , should be well signalled)

Power/energy and acceleration :)

Mastery of (multi-directional) time

Mastery of emotional content

One footed/ handed writing is not a required or transferable skill ;)

Transitions/Linking between paragraphs and chapters – showing brisk movement

Basically, Figure Skating's advice to writers seems to be avoid the stodge, keep it fast and controlled. Seems like wise advice.

I learned about brine solutions, the effects of temperature inside and outside the stadium, the surface of ice and the thickness of protective glass too - the things I learn for Blogposts!

13 comments:

  1. Not a required or transferable skill? Aww... ;)

    Great post! =)

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  2. LOL I'm still holding on to the rail hoping I don't fall. Great post

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  3. Ha! I loved it! Very creative Elaine ;)

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  4. Does transfer well, doesn't it? :D

    So your next MC is going to be a figure skating champion?!

    Thanks for entering my blogfest ... just a reminder that it starts this Friday and runs through the weekend. :)

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  6. Hi Amanda
    With three websites, as many books, notes in my card file and typing I often have no more than two fingers on the typing - but I figured that was just me ;)

    Hi LA
    I think keeping one hand on the rail is a great plan. I'm in the foreward motion only when watching the feet stage :)

    Hi Ali
    Cheers Ali. I think it is a sign of a vivid imagination and very little time ;)

    Hi Dom
    Looking forward to the your NO FEAR Blogfest.
    One agent was actively seeking a dance ms; maybe she has an opening for my Icescpades :)

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  7. That's a creative way of evaluating your writing. I like it!

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  8. Hi Heather
    Thank you - it is good to find a way to look at old news from a new perspective :)

    Hi Lindsay
    Wow! Unique is a great compliment. As a teacher, I know "interesting" tends to mean something very different. ;)

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  9. Skating is a great metaphor for writing. Thanks for sharing your discoveries. :D

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  10. um, yeah. I can tell I've got some work to do!

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  11. Yes great analogy.
    I have noticed some published novels could benefit from this advice. I just read one that made me so disappointed. I'd seen the film trailer 'Never Let Me Go' and I rushed to read the book...oh dear! :O)

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