What can you learn from the Obama campaign? According to
marketing expert Al Reiss, writing in adage.com, there are three qualities of his campaign that gave him victory:
- simplicity
- consistency
- relevance
These are three key points that also can help when you’re pitching a book or article, or even when you’re writing a script. Here are three examples:
Simple: if it’s a non-fiction book, what’s the main thing readers will take away from reading it? If it's a script, what will be the log line on the poster that states the central conflict or idea?
Consistent: it’s a screenplay or a play, does the tone stay within an acceptable range? (I saw a musical recently set in a Jewish ghetto during Nazi times, and once in a while some scenes obviously intended as comic relief would pop up, disturbingly out of synch with the rest.)
Relevant: In your cover or query letter, is the information you’ve included relevant to the project? If you're pitching a script, are you sticking to the one thing they care about initially: the story (not all the merchandizing possibilities, or who you see in the roles, etc.).
For more tips and an innovative right-brain approach to writing, see my book, YOUR WRITING COACH, published by Nicholas Brealey. And if you'd like free monthly tips on how to be more creative and productive, sign up for my Brainstorm e-bulletin--just send an email request to [email protected].