During Christmas, I watched the gifts pile up under the tree. There were several there with my name on them (I must’ve been a good girl!), but one caught my attention. The wrapping paper was “Twisted Whiskah’s” - an adorable rendition of bug-eyed pets. I couldn’t wait to get my fingers on it.
Suckered again! It was something I’ll never wear, in the most putrid color of green I’ve ever seen, and definitely the wrong size – nothing like the quirky package I’d been eying.
As writers, we we’ve got to pay attention to the wrappings (you only three seconds to make a first impression), but what’s inside counts too. If you've got the package AND the contents, you're doing the job right.
#1
Know your target audience. Take the time to find out the facts about who will be reading your writing. Speak directly to them.
#2
Use the UFO formula. Open with a paragraph that is Useful, Fun, or Outlandish. Get the reader’s attention.
#3
Go ahead and wrap it well. Appropriate headings, subheadings, bullets, and graphics go a long way toward catching the reader’s interest before their mind ever wraps itself around your first word.
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