Fitting your story into a few hundred words

By Lois Tuffin

You have great news to share! You’ve nailed the grant you applied for or the guest column you’ve been lobbying to write. You’re so excited.

Except now the guidelines have come in and you’re limited to 400 to 700 words of what you really want to communicate. You have SO much more to say and you’re breaking into a sweat as you try to imagine what you can leave out.

We need to talk.

Most people write what they want to say then discover it’s far too long. Next, they begin to pare things down and leave people out. The guilt and the frustration build as you feel the deadline looming.

Breathe. It’s easier than you think.

The trick is to know your story before you begin tapping on your keyboard. Usually, you’re so close to it that you cannot see what is key and how to say the necessary things succinctly.

Stay calm and call me. I have crafted so many media releases and hosted so many press conferences over the years that I have lost count. I’ve seen good ones that deliver a solid punch of information and others that ramble on and on.

Not only will you hit your word count, but your granting organization or government agency will also be happy with the result. And newsrooms will be more likely to pick up your press release since I know what they need too.

Accuracy matters so nothing crucial will get omitted. It all begins with a conversation about what you need to communicate clearly. After a few quick questions, you get on with your day and I turn to the templates that specific organizations use and make you look GOOD.

You’re an expert at what you do. And I specialize in assembling the right words to make sure everyone knows it.