Fortunately, that has never happened yet, with either a friend or a client. It was a wonderful relief to dive into TB’s (not my friend’s real name or initials) proposal and be delighted and intrigued with what was there already, so much so that spending lots more time with it than planned or promised was no trouble at all.

The really interesting part of the experience for me, though, was getting to these four paragraphs in the middle that suddenly sounded exactly like a real person. The whole thing was well put together and well written — but those paragraphs were riveting. Different somehow than everything that came before or after. Why? These were the parts he had written as placeholder text, as if he were hanging out with me over a glass of wine or cup of coffee, that were never intended for the “actual” proposal. You see where I’m going with this, right? Since he was not on stage (so to speak) at that point, he gave himself permission to sound like himself instead of trying to sound like what he thought a writer was supposed to sound like.

As a result, the best part of the entire proposal was the part he wrote thinking that no one would ever read it. The part he wrote to be deleted, the part he was embarrassed to show even me, was the gem shining out in contrast to everything around it.

The brilliant Brenda Ueland once wrote, “Pour out the dull things on paper, too — you can tear them up afterward — for only then do the bright ones come. If you hold back the dull things, you are certain to hold back what is clear and beautiful and true and lively.”

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Over the past year, many of you have been following my news about my client and friend Marc Warnke, who has had the vision and commitment to make the journey from hatching an idea, to creating a manuscript, to becoming a published author. The journey reaches its culmination today, folks – the book is now available on Amazon!

It’s called ONO, Options not Obligations.  The subtitle is, Enrich Your Personal Life by Rethinking Your Financial Life. ONO promotes Family First Entrepreneurism and teaches a lifestyle that will help create financial options rather than obligations.  The launch of ONO is today–April 22^nd. You can read excerpts and testimonials, as well as see and interact with Marc live on the 22^nd at www.ONOBook.com.

Marc did so many things right on this project. He engaged a great team of professionals to help with every phase, including a kick-ass editor (!) along with the amazing Maryanna Young to mastermind the launch and smooth the way with Marc’s publisher, Morgan James.

Marc is a shining example to aspiring authors everywhere!

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I know I’m not the only copywriter in town. I know this because I belong to several professional organizations, at meetings of which members take turns introducing themselves and their businesses. Every time, there are plenty of others who stand up and give a pitch that sounds unnervingly like my own. It takes confidence not to feel like chopped liver.

But what saves me from curling up like a billbug in the face of so much competition is the idea that there is plenty of success out there for all of us. It may sound too “woo-woo” for some, but having a world view built around the concept of “abundance” versus “scarcity” sure works for me. There is an enormous need for good writing and clear communication in the business world, and if I were the only one doing it I would get very lonely and be forced to spend too many weekends working instead of backpacking.

Many so-called rivals have turned out to be my best resources. Fellow writers I’ve met through Capital City Communicators have sent me referrals, subcontracted for me, hired me to subcontract for them, and given me priceless feedback about my work.

When Justin Beller founded the Treasure Valley Consultants Network early this year, people said he was being waaay too idealistic. “C’mon, that’ll never work. You’ll never be able to get consultants to talk to each other.” But the results have been wonderful. TVCNet is where I met the brilliant Sarah Lewis, who developed this site for me. Conversations with fellow members led to the formation of my first business book writers workshop (more to come on that subject!) and a number of strategic alliances with professionals whose specialties complement mine.

That old metaphor of the marketplace as a jungle where only ruthless predators succeed just doesn’t hold up, at least not in the world I live in.

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