The write stuff - handwriting analyses of six editors - Word One

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, August 1, 1993

Editors are conscious of the words they write, but not how they write them. Yet, handwriting is "a mental and emotional EKG," says Bloomfield Hills, Michigan-based graphologist Ruth Holmes, whose consulting firm, Pentec, Inc., advises corporate, legal and individual clients. We asked her to scrutinize the scratchings of six (brave) editors. Here's what she found.

1. James Truman Details

Proud, analytical and direct, James knows how to get what he wants. While keeping a safe emotional distance, he enjoys being in control. His wit and far-reaching goals suggest few ideas or experiences will escape him.

2. Patricia Poore Garbage and Old-House Journal

Active, intelligent and private, Patricia is a perfectionist by nature. Discriminating in the company she keeps and cautious to avoid making mistakes, Patricia knows how to get things done efficiently.

3. Anne Russell FOLIO:

Bright, intuitive and protective, Anne uses her gift for words with diplomacy, sensitivity and competency. Cautious in relationships, Anne is intellectually insatiable, tenacious, independent and loves a good challenge.

4. Basia Hellwig Executive Female

Original, creative and sophisticated, Basia uses her intuition and insight to solve problems in an innovative manner. Basia is articulate with both the written and spoken word. She is able to rationalize or justify most events in her life.

5. George Curry Emerge

Ambitious, non-conforming and determined, George has learned to compensate for the lessons of his childhood with sheer wits. Although unorthodox in style and single-minded in nature, he is also sensitive to criticism.

6. Mike McGrath Organic Gardening

A natural salesman, Mike thrives on sharing his energy and enthusiasm for whatever he is promoting. With his effervescent style, he may find himself overextended and in need of a good right-hand person.

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest) how would you rate Holmes' accuracy?

1. 10

2. 7

3. 9. What's not to like? And even if I thought it terribly inaccurate, my gift for diplomacy would preclude my saying so.

4. 7. My mother would say a 10 because it's a flattering account. It is hard to say what I would rate it. It's pretty accurate, I guess.

5. 9

6. 8 or 9. A 10 if she could locate the right-hand person.

Comments

1. Not available.

2. "Active," yes. "Intelligent," yes--high IQ. "Private," yes, very much, sometimes isolationist. "Perfectionist," yes, tempered now by the realities of running a business. "Cautious to avoid making mistakes" is way off! My work is clean and neat, but in the larger picture, I am very nearly reckless: about growing the business, romantic relationships--you name it.

3. Having gone through management-skills assessment with a team of industrial psychologists a while ago, I'm surprised by how closely Ruth's analysis matches theirs.

4. "Original, creative and sophisticated." Who doesn't want to be original, creative and sophisticated? "Basia is articulate with both the written and spoken word." This is a group of editors; I would hope we all would be articulate.

5. I am surprised by her findings. She was pretty accurate, but it doesn't mean I would use her. A journalist, after all, is a professional skeptic.

6. I've never read a horoscope or a fortune cookie that wasn't on the money. I'm obvious whether you examine my handwriting, my voice, or meet me in person.