“There’s Power in Brevity” Says Book Publicist Scott Lorenz

February 26 19:11 2021

Detroit, MI, USA – February 26, 2021 – Most authors know the famous adage, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” “Ironically,” comments book publicist Scott Lorenz, “this saying is from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and is delivered by Polonius, who is extremely longwinded.”

“Brevity,” according to the Merriam Webster dictionary, “is shortness or conciseness of expression.” Lorenz, President of Westwind Communications says, “While brevity is often an essential part of wit or humor, it is also a necessary tool which writers must master. In an age where attention spans are under siege from competing information streams, skillful and brief communication can cut through the noise and capture the attention of the listener.”

“Like Shakespeare’s Polonius,” Lorenz continues, “many authors recognize the importance of brevity, while struggling to actually be brief.”

“I think this happens because authors are conditioned early on with the idea that longer, more complex sentences and words are better. As people who enjoy the act of writing and are immersed in a world of words, it is easy for writers to become longwinded,” states Lorenz.

“As a book publicist, I bridge the gap between authors, who can be longwinded, and the media who have no time to listen or talk!” notes Lorenz. “So it’s imperative that I condense everything down to the ‘elevator pitch’ answering these questions: Who is the author? What is their topic? Why should we interview them NOW?”

William Zinsser, famous American writer, literary critic, and teacher once said, “There are four basic premises of writing: clarity, brevity, simplicity, and humanity.” Lorenz adds, “Words carry power, but length does not equal strength.”

Some of the most powerful and most memorable works in human history are only a few dozen words:

The Lord’s Prayer: 66 words
The Ten Commandments: 79 words
The Gettysburg Address: 272 words
Declaration of Independence: 1,322 words
Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech: 1,667 words

Thomas Jefferson once said, “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” With this sage advice in mind, Lorenz shares three important practices for writers.

“It’s important to know the purpose of your communication,” asserts Lorenz. “An elevator pitch or logline will be shorter than a synopsis or an excerpt. Whether writing a pitch or working on your novel, keep in mind the purpose of the writing and consider how brevity can help meet that goal.”

“Don’t forget to remove unnecessary words,” says Lorenz. “Even Jefferson’s famous quote about brevity can be reduced to the following statement, without changing the meaning. ‘The most valuable talent is never using two words when one will do.'”

“Also,” suggests Lorenz, “You can change the sentence structure. Revising the structure of the sentence may eliminate words and possibly even express your idea more powerfully.” Author Dennis Roth says, “If it takes a lot of words to say what you have in mind, give it more thought.”

“One excellent exercise in practicing brevity,” states Lorenz, “is crafting elevator pitches and loglines.” Pitches and loglines are a marketing tool to help sell your idea or work, and attract the interest of publishers, editors, or producers. “Having a refined pitch or logline can also help authors maintain focus during the writing process,” suggests Lorenz, “becoming a tool which keeps the author from getting tangled in the weeds of extraneous details that can detract from the story.”

An elevator pitch or logline succinctly answers the question: “What is your book about?” and provides a tease or a taste of the story. Loglines encapsulate the story arc and themes in one to two well-crafted sentences. “Your pitch should evoke the curiosity of the listener, help them understand what sets your work apart, and compel them to want to hear more,” says Lorenz.

“Loglines and elevator pitches should SELL the story,” declares Lorenz, “not tell the story. As a writer, brevity is your friend. Brief, simple, and concise communication shows respect for the listener and their time.”

The Bottom Line: “Be brief. Master the art of brevity to make your writing more powerful and effective,” concludes Lorenz.

About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.

Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at http://www.Book-Marketing-Expert.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or by phone at 734-667-2090.

Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist.

Is there a strategy in naming your book? YES! Check out Scott’s new award winning book for authors called BOOK TITLE GENERATOR at http://www.BookTitleGenerator.org.

Media Contact
Company Name: Westwind Communications Book Marketing
Contact Person: Scott Lorenz
Email: Send Email
Phone: 734-667-2090
Country: United States
Website: http://www.book-marketing-expert.com