Counting anything—including words—has never been high on my list of favorite things to do. My current ‘least favorite’—ranked right at the bottom—is writing multiple revisions that require numerous recounts. The “Pitch Your Product” application to Country Living required “a description of the product or service in 50 words or less.” Since I have trouble describing anything in less than 50 words, especially without gestures, it was a daunting assignment.
Try highlighting the features and benefits of Cream of the West Roasted Wheat and Roasted 7-Grain for a panel of experts, in a competitive venue, in 50 words or less and you’ll understand the challenge. My initial strategy was this: start a list of benefits and descriptors; develop a draft; take the dogs for long walk and reflect on the draft; return and revise the draft; send it in. Fruitless strategy! I faithfully followed all of the steps but ended with less than stellar results. So, I got smart and called for help from my friends with marketing expertise. The suggestions for revisions flooded in via email and phone calls and I began the tedious process of edits and word recounts. After the edits hit double digits, I had to categorize them so we could say: “Do you like Version A better than D?” or “Steal ‘line 2 of Version B and replace line 3 of A.” Then my ‘Tools’ techno counter went on strike and began stubbornly reporting ‘50 words’ no matter how many “the’s” and “and’s” I added or deleted. Believe me…at that critical stage, every “or” is packed with meaning.
Four days, three country walks, nine interactive emails, innumerable phone calls and dozens of word counts later, I sent in the description. It’s in the judges’ hands now and all I have left to do is count—days this time. I’ll learn their verdict in 31 days. P.S. Let me know if you want to read my last, best and final description.