Quoteskimming

[kellyrfineman]

Quoteskimming: my new word for ganking quotes about writing from here and there.

From "An Essay on Criticism", by Alexander Pope:

Words are like Leaves; and where they most abound

Comments

[ex_kmessner]

I love your quotes and the word you coined to describe your selection of them...

Where I live, the ski areas hold "pond-skimming" competitions when the snow is all melty and slushy in April. The goal is to ski very fast down a hill -- so fast that when you reach the pond of cold water and slush at the bottom, you skim right across and continue skiing on the snow on the other side. This doesn't often work out for people, and they sink.

So I got to thinking...does this happen to you sometimes when you're quoteskimming? Do you open a book or go to a website intending to grab a quick quote and skim along, only to be pulled under into deep, murky waters of text? Skimming has its hazards...and those of us who enjoy your quotes appreciate you braving the dangers on our behalf. :^)

[kellyrfineman]

It certainly happened with the Pope. I'd intended on giving the second quote only, which was excerpted in a book I own on writing metrical poetry called, appropriately enough Writing Metrical Poetry. But when I looked it up online to add a link, I got sucked into reading the whole thing. Decidedly worth it and satisfying, but (as you guessed), a bit of a time suck.

I won't even go into how much time I've spent with Issue Number 1 of The Loiterer, which is a subject of one of my Jane poems. More than 24 hours, at any rate. And far less time than that with Northanger Abbey, which is not yet a poem, but was a wonderful way to spend several hours of reading time.

[sruble]

Good quotes Kelly! My favorite is, "Of all chymical mixtures, ink is the most dangerous."

[kellyrfineman]

Isn't that awesometastic?

[sruble]

It is awesometastic! And I think one of my new favorite words is awesometastic!

[linbinwriter]

This Pope is difficult for me. But I love the chemical mixture and Emily's trinket. Sorry I was absent for that class. I'll try not to be sick again this semester.

I do wonder what trinket you chose to put on...

[kellyrfineman]

Yesterday, it was one of my favorite necklaces, which I might have worn anyhow. But tomorrow, it may be a pin in the shape of a leaf.

[juliewinkler]

Not only do I like the quoteskimming word, but I like the "ganking" one, too. I think it has a ring of grapping and yanking- with more moxie.

[kellyrfineman]

Quoteskimming is, I believe thus far, my own creation. Ganking is, however, in common use in the blogosphere.