If you want to get my attention and you really need something done, take a lesson from the micro-blogging world: Get your MAIN message across in under 140 characters.
If you want me to take action, don’t bury the action items at the bottom of a 3 page email. Put them at the top!!! Give me the W5 and THEN tell me your problems and woes about why you need my help.
There are many variations on this theme and it’s nothing new:
All methods that drive to one purpose: Effectively conveying a message and ensuring that OTHER PEOPLE understand the message.
Newspapers have been doing this for years with sensational headlines and an inverted pyramid writing style. Inverted Pyramid style starts with the ‘who,’ ‘when’, ‘where’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ in the first paragraph (the broad base of the pyramid) and then you delve into the detail from there.
Example:
“Boy Eats Own Face”
On October 28th, ten year old Jimmy Whosit of Weerallnuts, Arkansas became the first person to pull his bottom lip completely over his head after being informed that the sensation would simulate the pain of childbirth.
Now THAT is good writing! I’m hooked! Tell me more!
The bottom line is this…you want something from me? Make it clear at the outset and cover all the W5 elements in the first paragraph.
Now…here’s another excellent example of some great writing:
Clinton Deploys Very Special Forces To Iraq
Filed under: Collaboration, Life and Laughs, Social Computing
