The Proposal Guys Jon and BJ's proposal blog
  • Home
  • About
  • SP Website
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Home
  • About
  • SP Website
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Word Count Limits

6/21/2011

9 Comments

 
Posted by BJ
Not Quite What I Was Planning. That phrase has, no doubt, been uttered by a great many proposal folks before, during and/or after a proposal effort. However, in this case, it’s the title of a book (thus the use of title case, for those that thought this was incorrect.

This simple little book is a compilation of “Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure” drawn from Smith Magazine (edited by Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith, published by Harper). Talk about word count limits!

I found the entries delightful and very clever. And it certainly got me to thinking about mine own six word memoir. (This will be a work in progress for a bit as, as many of us are well aware, the shorter it is, the longer it takes to write. :) )
​
A couple that I really like are:
  • “I colored outside the lines.”
  • “Full life. Impossible to summarize in…

And one or two that really hit home for me:
  • “Next time, better parents, better hair.”
  • “Oh sweet nectar of life, coffee.”

Then there are those that could definitely be said about proposal efforts are:
  • “Filled blank spaces with ambitious endeavors.” (proposal writer)
  • “Indeterminate, not enough data for conclusion.” (a customer/decision maker)
  • “Once was blind, now I see.” (a sales person [Hey, it could happen!])
  • “It was embarrassing, so don’t ask.” (a proposal manager)

​I suspect this post will have many of you thinking about the “six words” that capture one of your proposal efforts. If that’s the case, Jon and I would love to read it and share it with our readers so please do send them in (as a comment.)
9 Comments
Ruth Lown Turman
3/25/2016 03:37:49 pm

Wrong place, wrong time; NEVER again!
For this I went to college?
No. You can’t use 6pt. Edwardian.
Exactly whose bright idea was this?
Stop the bus; I want off!
Not paying me NEARLY enough money…
You’re not listening to me. Again.
Trust me; I have APMP certification.
Had nothing to do with this.
I told you we needed help.
I’d like to tender my resignation…

What do you mean, “We won?”

Reply
bj lownie
3/25/2016 03:38:00 pm

One of Jon’s –
We could win this. Then what?

Reply
bj lownie
3/25/2016 03:38:09 pm

Silly rabbit, reviews are for kids.

Reply
bj lownie
3/25/2016 03:38:23 pm

We don’t need no stinkin’ strategy.

Reply
Stuart Pollard
3/25/2016 03:38:36 pm

A chronicle of wasted time, again.

Reply
Tom Campbell
3/25/2016 03:38:50 pm

Sounds good? Is good!
Hell’s path? Paved with good intentions. (Not original but often applicable)
We utilize seamless, robust technology. (Jargon not for weak stomachs)
Proven track record of extensive experience. (???)

Reply
Carrie Cassidy
3/25/2016 03:39:01 pm

How about this one: Thank God it’s over. Nobody died.

Reply
John Bredehoft
3/25/2016 03:39:14 pm

I have two:

“This will never, EVER happen again.”

and

“It doesn’t matter what the RFP says.”

:)

Reply
Larry Donnelly
3/25/2016 03:39:25 pm

No problem the client likes us.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Articles by Topic

    All
    APMP & Accreditation
    Interviews And The Panel
    Musings
    Processes & Best Practice
    Proposal Guys News
    Proposal Panda
    Proposal Training
    Purchasing Insights
    Word Play & Writing

    Authors

    BJ Lownie and Jon Williams are the co-founders of Strategic Proposals.

    Subscribe



    * Required fields

    SP News

    Strategic Proposals News

    RSS Feed

Picture
Website by Digital Media Design, Inc.