Writing is a Ball

Great writing is like a dance. When you take those first steps, it's awkward and muddled. There is that burst of energy, inspiration and the aspiration for perfection.

It takes a lot of perspiration and development of technique to produce something amazing.

Dance and writing are alike because there are so many styles, themes and techniques and in the end, it all comes down to execution.

I don't think dance is as much a good metaphor for writing as it is inspiration.

What does a good dance have that your writing needs?

Tension

Your muscles tighten in ways you don't even recognise when you're captivated. Your eyes are transfixed, watching and judging. Something that is "tight" in the sense that it is pulled together, not strained, is noticeable. There is a reason you can hear the word "tension" in "attention."

Character Dynamics

Partnered or group dancing is fantastic because you can observe the interactions between characters. The best stories have impressionable and memorable characters. When they come up against one another, you can see the conflict and relationship development.

Story

Dancing is art, acting, musical. It uses music for mood, lyrics for dialogue. It is "show don't tell," subtext and plenty of action. It can accomplish everything you can in words, with none. We take so much from what we see and bring it into our art - whatever the medium - to tell a story. This is the kind of powerful core you need to have in your fiction.

Rhythm

When you are captivated by something, it stirs inside you. There is as much a beat in writing as there is in music or dance. If you hear a song or see a spectacle that grabs you, you may feel inclined to move. Readers feel the same when they are hooked into a story. They don't just sit in one place because they are eager to find out where the story leads, they want to dance where they are lead. Rhythm is the pacing, the steps, the dance underlining your story, breaking out onto the page for the reader to feel the vibrations.

Fluidity

All the quick stepping and the rush of the music can lead to a stumble. Jerky or clunky movements subtract from the magic and leave the audience braced for a disaster. A dance where the two characters are locked in combat or struggling to be free can hold just as much tension without losing fluidity. It takes a skilled dancer but it is possible and the outcome is mind-blowing. The same can be done with writing. Re-reading (sometimes aloud), re-writing and editing, allows you to concentrate on mastering the finesse that will conquer your readers.

I'm not suggesting that anyone take dance classes or force themselves to watch ballet or ballroom. I think that dance is like music and the creativity and diversity of styles that goes into it can be appealing and inspirational to many.

Treat your writing like a dance and I know that with a lot of hard work, you'll succeed.