“Smart Brevity” by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz

Written by

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  • “I didn’t have time to write you a short letter. So, I wrote you a long one.” Mark Twain
  • Short, not shallow
  • Core Four
    • Muscular tease (6 or fewer words)
    • One strong sentence or lead (tell me something I don’t know or want to know)
    • Context (explain why this matters)
    • Choice to learn more (on their time)
  • Listen to the readers and the data
  • “All you can do is the next right thing.”
  • What we want to say vs what they need to hear
  • Write to someone in particular
  • Say what you want to get across. Then stop.
  • Guide
    • 6 words tops for the subject line
    • 10 words or less for the reason you are writing
    • Active verbs always
    • Trumpet one big thing
  • Answer the question: What is this? Is it worth my time?
  • Tips
    • “Why it matters?”
    • “It’s hot, I’m going inside”
    • “Who doing what”

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