Legend has it when Earnest Hemingway was challenged to write a short story in six words, he picked up a cocktail napkin and wrote: “For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.”
At once, the mind races with questions.
Today, as part of revising their Bestselling Books, we asked our Eagles to do something similar. In six words or less, answer each of the following:
1. I promise my book will: _____________
2. You should believe me because: ______________
3. The main sub-points (chapters) of my book are:
- _________________________
- _________________________
- _________________________
- _________________________
- _________________________
4. The order in which they are arranged is ___________ because _______________________.
5. Each chapter is further subdivided into ________________, then ________________, then ________________, then ______________ because ______________.
Brainstorming is important. So is letting the words flow onto paper, as part of a rough draft. But eventually you must organize your thoughts so the real writing can begin.
For this, clarity is everything. (Five words.)
Brevity, a close second. (Four words.)