The VERB - May '09 - Page 8

WHAT IS YOUR WRITING SPEED LIMIT?

A story's pace is determined by the author. An author's pace is determined by the brain. Some travel fast. Some travel slow. Some are capable of a little of both. But all will crash if forced to run beyond their capacity.

Do your writings cruise at your natural speed? Complete the scenes below to determine where your excellence lies.

1. You have pressing news for your boss. But when you step into his office, you find him gazing pensively out the window. What do you do?

     a) Stand quietly, survey the room, wait to be noticed.
    b) Clear throat, softly address him.
    c) Walk in, slam the door behind you, launch into the news.

2. As you drive down the road, you hear an explosion. A fire rages in your rearview mirror. What do you do?

     a) Compare the flames to the passion in your heart.
    b) Step out, look around for suspicious people as you call 911.
    c) Leap from your car, run toward the flames.

3. You take a ferry to a cozy island. The trip will take thirty minutes. How do you fill the time?

     a) Analyze the water, the clouds, the ferry itself.
    b) Walk about, strike up conversations with others.
    c) Leap off the ferry, swim to the island.

4. You’ve been attracted to your neighbor for some time. This morning, she/he finally waves from the drive. How do you respond?

     a) Stop to take note of the surroundings on this momentous occasion.
    b) Wave, smile, call out a compliment.
    c) Race across the street, kiss her/him on the lips.

5. You hear loud sounds from your uncle's garage. Peeking through a window, you see he’s hosting a cock fight. What do you do?

     a) Assess the smell, sounds and bloody damage to the garage.
    b) Step inside, ask for a word with your uncle.
    c) Kick in the door, start punching the animal abusers.

A - You like to crawl into your stories, convinced no scene can be fully appreciated without a good setup. Details excite you, and you don’t miss a thing. You possess the ability to turn a simple act into a profound experience. You excel in character-driven literary works.

B - You like to walk into your stories. You're flexible, perfectly willing to slow down for a bit of description or speed up for a bit of action. Balance is your forte. You excel in all the classic genres.

C - You like to jump into your stories, convinced the majority of content should be blown up, not explained. You have a limitless supply of nervous energy and little patience for extended narrative. You excel in action-packed works that move at breakneck speed.