Permission is given to reprint the following articles, provided that the following contact information is provided in its entirety. 

© by Bonnie Budzowski, President of InCredible Messages, LP. 
Visit  www.IncredibleMessages.com or contact Bonnie at info@IncredibleMessages.com. 

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That First Draft Is for You! Don’t Send It!

By Bonnie Budzowski
President, InCredible Messages, LP

Speaking to an audience of aspiring presenters, radio personality Jack Bogut said, “The story gets shorter in the telling.”

Bogut was reminding his audience of the benefits of rehearsing out loud. If you run through a story out loud before a presentation, you’ll stumble over details that are relevant to you but not to the listener. You’ll hear “clutter” that will distract the listener and dilute the impact of your story. Once you remove the clutter, the story will become shorter and more powerful.

A similar principle works in written communication. The first draft of an e-mail, letter, or report reflects the perspective of the writer. It also reflects the investment of the writer in the subject. The message naturally starts at the beginning of the issue and carries on to the end, including details about a project’s background or evolution.

A percentage of the information in any first draft is irrelevant to the reader. The first draft serves the purpose of getting the story out of the writer’s head and onto paper or a screen. The first draft is for you, the writer, to help you organize your thoughts.

Often, the reader doesn’t need the beginning or even the middle of a story. The reader needs to know the conclusions, the benefits (from a reader’s perspective), actions requested, and deadlines. Most everything else is clutter.

The information overload in your mail is exacerbated by the clutter that comes when people send their first drafts. Improve your communication by making a commitment to avoid sending your own first drafts. Keep that first draft for yourself. Send the second or third draft—the one that’s shorter and more powerful.
 

Permission is granted to reprint this article when the following contact information is included: © 2010 by Bonnie Budzowski, President of InCredible Messages, LP. For more free articles, go to www.IncredibleMessages.com or contact Bonnie at info@IncredibleMessages.com.

Bonnie Budzowski, President of inCredible Messages, is a recognized expert—helping people to use influence and persuasion to sell their ideas and move business forward. Bonnie is a professional speaker, author and coach. She recently launched a new coaching project to help her clients "Write the Book of Their Dreams."

Clients appreciate Bonnie’s practical, humorous and high-energy approach. She holds an MA in Communication and has been called upon to work with corporations, entrepreneurs, universities, and associations.

If you’d like to sell your ideas, boost your influence, or advance your career through a book or presentation, call Bonnie at 412-828-1629, bonnie@inCredibleMessages.com or visit her website at www.inCredibleMessages.com. 

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