[TWR] That thing on the back of a roller skate.

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Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

“There is no greater threat to the critics and cynics and fearmongers than those of us who are willing to fall because we have learned how to rise.” ~ Brené Brown

Elisa’s Thought for the Week:

Earlier this year I was watching the US television game show To Tell The Truth.

The premise is well-known in one form or another — get a group of people together, and the players try to guess if someone is telling the truth about a fact or story. In this game show, the twist is that three people are all trying to convince the players that they are the one telling the truth, even though only one of them is.

Are we all on the same page now? Good. Moving on …

For this particular segment, the players were trying to guess which of the 3 contestants was the World Roller Skating Champion.

They are allowed to ask the contestants questions, to try to trip them up or to get a feeling for how knowledgeable the “expert” might be.

So they asked questions like “What is your signature move” and “What kind of costume do you wear?”

For one particular storyteller, they rained down the questions after he was unable to answer “What is the rubber thing on the back of a skate called?”

The storyteller looked confused and answered that he actually didn’t know, but it was for certain costumes, so you can attach your pant leg to the skate and it doesn’t come loose or ride up.

Ha! Caught!! The rubber thing is on the front of the skate, liar liar, and it is called a stopper.

Eliminated.

But wait.

Darius Sanders, the man who didn’t know what the rubber thing on the back of a roller skate is called, was indeed the World Roller Skating Champion.

And everyone had guessed incorrectly, assuming that they were obviously so much more knowledgeable about the parts of a roller skate than a world champion would be.

You know what I love about this little anecdote?

You can be the World Roller Skating Champion, and not know what the rubber thing on the back of a roller skate is called.

Heck, after 45 minutes of Google sleuthing even I can’t find the name of that damn piece on the back of a skate that holds down a pair of pants, and I’m a Google sleuthing savant at this point in my career!

So the next time you are feeling like you aren’t an expert or aren’t a great writer because you don’t know the proper grammar or can’t remember the exact word, remember that you might be the World Roller Writing Champion of your niche; regardless of whether others are trying to trip you up on such silly details.

PS - If you want to see what a World Roller Skating Champion routine looks like, you can check out Darius’ YouTube channel here.

What You Missed on Craft Your Content …

Our articles have the same mission we do — to help you to make your own words even better!

• From Albus Dumbledore to Iron Man, writing history is full of iconic characters. Fictional or no, we know and love (or hate) them and are always eager to witness their lives play out. In this article by writer Jamian Smalls, find some powerful tips on creating characters who make your readers care.

• (From the Archives: March 2021) Storytelling is wildy popular, and for good reason. In this article by writer Patricia Allen, learn everything you need to know to use marketing storytelling to foster an authentic connection with your audience.

In Other Reading This Week …

Need more insights and inspiration for your writing and mindset?

• Writing is a lot of things, including extremely cathartic. Ever filled a piece of paper to document (and declutter) your thoughts? Writer Yi Shun Li shares her notes from a emergency room, deciphering her feelings and realizations after an accident—and recalling the importance of a place to note them.

• If you’re a writer (or practise any similar artistic expression) you’ve no doubt questioned your skills before. It’s more than likely that you’ve thought the words “I’m not very good at this” in one form or another. In this article, writer and CYC Senior Content Editor Chris Angelis shares on his own site why it’s OK to suck at writing (or anything).

• Looking for a way to make your marketing copy stand out? Try introducing a villain. In this SparkToro piece, learn (with both B2C and B2B examples) how introducing a bad guy in your marketing will create the exact sort of memorable, conversation-starting story your brand needs.

• Searching for your unique style? Trying to discover an original concept for your next project? Looking to grow your mastery of a skill? In this article, Writer David Perell shares a study of one of his guiding principles on originality and inspiration, “Imitate, then Innovate.”

• For some, it’s exercise. For others it’s meditation, but many people can point to one transformative habit that has a profound influence on their lives and sense of self. Here’s a rehash on the lifetime benefits of a diary and topic journals by Writer Derek Sivers, who has been journaling daily for over 20 years.

Weekly Writing Tip …

A quick chance to learn from the masters.

“Every few weeks she would shut herself up in her room, put on her scribbling suit, and fall into a vortex, as she expressed it, writing away at her novel with all her heart and soul, for till that was finished she could find no peace.” ― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

For the Upcoming Week …

Because we all need a good chuckle to start things off right!

Okay, but now I really have to go check if it’s “seatbelt” or “seat belt.”

Till next time!