The ‘First Page’ Litmus Test, A Phone Call
By Michael StelznerWhen you are paid to write, you better get it right.
You have an approved direction, a clear outline and have discussed the project requirements. Yet, there still that chance you could miss your mark—a painful prospect.
How can you be certain you have headed off in the right direction before it is too late?
When it comes to white papers (or any other important writing project), there is no better Litmus test than simply picking up the phone.
Start by writing those important opening paragraphs and refining them so that they sound compelling.
Then call your customer or the person in your company who has tasked you to write the white paper.
Ask him or her to listen to what you have written and provide their immediate feedback, unfiltered.
Explain that this is by no means perfected, but you wanted to make sure you had the right ideas.
By running your opening paragraphs through this Litmus test, you:
- Get the client/boss involved (always a good idea)
- Can course correct problems very early in the project
- Can modify important concepts that will impact the rest of the paper (like how you reference the ideal reader or what the key problems are)
Have you ever ran into a situation where you totally missed the mark? Have you attempted to share your writing early (before it is fully refined)? What are your thoughts on this idea?
Receive email updates when new articles are posted.
