SHOE TIE
Is it your ambition to become a writer?
There are so-called “aptitude” tests to show how talented you seem to be - usually bordering on genius levels, as a rule, but you need the writing course they're selling to clinch it all.
There are other ways of determining if you are a “born” writer or that you can learn to become a reasonably good facsimile of one. Try some simple “tellings”. Explain, for instance, how to tie a shoe.
Describe each step in order and with such clarity that children, having your words read to them, can tie a decent bow knot.
No cheating, now! No test runs, to start with!. Tell how it is done straight off the top of your head, then, edit and, you probably will have to untie a shoe and do a trial run to be sure how it is done.
Try it. It may not be as easy as you think. If you do such informational writing quickly, that's a good sign and a good omen favoring a successful writing career - possibly as Technical Writer in a large manufacturing plant.
Another such test. Describe in detail how a man's fore-and-hand necktie is best tied to achieve specific results. Or ,a bow tie from a strip of velvet-like material. For graduate work: lean how to do an authentic turban headdress from a long strip of cloth, one that will fit and stay on securely.
Seek opportunities to write descriptive passages with accuracy and terseness. It one of those things you learn, then discard once the ability to do so becomes second nature with you.
One learns organizational techniques, as well.
Take the end of each shoe string in your right and left hand, holding them loosely between the thumb and forefinger. The plastic tips on each lace are uppermost as you cross one string over the other pull them into a reasonably tight half-knot on top of the shoe. Take the end of one of the strings and make a look by taking the tip down to the half knot. Hold it there and take the other string one full circle around the upright loop. Pull it through and tighten down to the shoe top. Viola!!
Test time. Take a shoe off and have at it. My wife will give it a try and I'm probably going to be back at the drawing board for another try. For one thing, I see it as being too long. It can be done with half that number of words. And - it can always be better, too.
A.L.M. July 13, 2003 [c404wds]
