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How to Write a Deal Memo in Under 5 Minutes

October 2, 2006 by Liz

Getting the Deal Memo on Paper

I suppose it’s the same in every business. I know that it’s so in publishing. An important term — a term such as 1st pages — can mean something entirely different from one organization to another. Many folks make the mistake of thinking that when we use the same words that we mean the same things. Then in the middle of a project bad things happen, and great relationships sour. One way to get close to clear communication is to get down in writing what is being agreed to.

Unfortunately, some jobs would be in serious jeopardy if we waited to start until a full-blown contract could be prepared. I can show you how to get the most important information together in one place in just a few minutes. In this case, it’s deal memo for intellectual property — a job definition that will make both the client and the contractor comfortable enough to begin working.

I’ve made a sample on the next page. Let’s look.

How to Write Deal Memo in Under 5 Minutes

In my experience, what often happens is that a client and consultant talk about a project and then say, Let’s put together something that shows how we might work together. In another scenario, two equal partners, trying to build something as Phil and I are, need to determine the details of how the relationship will work.

What happens most often in these situations is that folks try to gather too much detailed information. What’s needed is the basics so that both parties can move forward with confidence that important parts are covered. The assumption is that standard industry practice covers all else until the contract is written. As soon thereafter when the contract is ready, the information on the deal memo, easily fits into a contract as Exhibit A — add target schedule dates tied to payments, and your good to go.

A deal memo also stops conversation with other parties around that project.

Take a look at this sample deal memo and what it covers. It is typical for intellectual property, in all ways except that we were still negotiating how to split the online rights so, on this one, they are not addressed outright.

It’s still enough to send and sign to show that we agree on major points and preliminary work can begin. The team can talk about ideas, folks who might need to be contacted and hired, other supply and staffing issues, while we are working out the details of a project scope and proposal, and issues such as the way to address electronic rights.

It took me at least 15 times longer to write this post than it does to write the average deal memo. On Phil’s job the deal memo outlines that there will be one book worked on, that it will come from his archives, and who will own the rights.

Do you have questions or concerns at this point?

For another kind of job, you might write a 5-minute proposal. I’ll show how to do that in the next post.

Be irresistible.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

Love at First Write: 5 +1 Steps to Your Authentic Writing Voice

September 5, 2006 by Liz

One Note and 42 Days Later

My husband and I got married 42 days after we met. He says he fell in love when he read a welcome note I left downstairs when he came to pick me up for a date. He still mentions it now, 23 years later.

We had a small wedding — 12 people in our living room.

My mother-law-in didn’t approve. She wanted us to wait. She also cried showing her husband what I wrote her on our wedding day. She told him I must love her son very much.

Both son and his mother heard what I said and knew I meant every word.

Using your authentic writing voice isn’t hard once you know how. In fact, it’s natural and works with all writing, not just lovey stuff. You only need to remember five things to do. Would you let me show you how?
[Read more…]

PH3: How Are You — Good or Well? Could You Be Advertising Your Soft Skin?

August 25, 2006 by Liz

Life-Changing Information

I am about to tell you something.

If you don’t already know this, the information will probably change your life.

The change will be a small one — it may not change a thing you do. It will change you nonetheless, because . . .

I’m about to do the grammatical equivalent of sticking a song inside your head.

Every day people ask and answer the question, “How are you?”

The answer I most often hear uses the word, good, in something like “I’m good, and you?”

Good is a tricky word. It’s always an adjective, except when speaking about health. Then it becomes an adverb, which means when speaking of health, good is not the right word to choose. You might instead try well.

Here’s the picture. The conversation is

ME: How are you?
IT Man: I am good.

He could be saying he is good at gaming, good at talking, good at what most husbands are good at, or even saying good for nothing, but he’s not talking about his health.

And oh my, should the conversation be

ME: How are you?
IT Man: I feel good.

Now he’s commenting on the softness of his skin.

That’s a picture, isn’t it?

Know that it is good to say that you feel well and all will be fine in the end.

Of course, if you have soft, smooth skin, I have no problem with you advertising . . .

–ME “Liz” Strauss

How Evil Pronouns Cause Arguments

August 17, 2006 by Liz

Give Me Pronouns to Tick You Off

Anyone who has been in any important relationship knows that most arguments aren’t about money, broken promises, or misbehavior. They are about words. Words cause misunderstandings and broken contracts. In the end, what arguments are usually about is that what was said and what was received didn’t match up.

Certain words make this happen particularly often, nicely said they are unclear referents. Evil pronouns is what I call them.

Let me show you how they cause arguments, er misunderstandings. Evil pronouns in question below are in bold.

IT Husband: So Larry, and the dog, and I went out jogging. He got tired and was a pain to deal with for the rest of the afternoon.

ME: Who?

IT Husband: Who? What?

ME: Who got tired and was cranky?

IT Husband: You know who I mean.

ME: No, I don’t. Was it Larry or the dog?

IT Husband: You weren’t listening. Were you?

[technically he in the original sentence would refer to the dog]

Need another example?

ME: Marcy said, “All married women are single parents.” I thought it was funny. What do you think about that? Do you think it is offensive?

IT Husband: I don’t find it offensive that you thought it was funny.

ME: That’s not what I was asking.

IT Husband: Yes it was.

ME: No, I used an unclear referrent. What I meant to ask was whether you thought what Marcy said was offensive.

IT Husband: But that’s not what you asked.

ME: You’re right, but it’s what I want to know. . . .

[technically that and it in the original sentence refer to what I thought]

Want one more?

IT Husband: We need to write a letter to the phone company.

ME: We?

IT Husband: Yeah. Us.

ME: You really mean me. Don’t you?

IT Husband: Well, you are the writer in the house. Are you refusing?

ME: No, I just wanted to be clear who’s really doing the work. . . .

Enough said about conversation.

How to Control Those Pronouns

You can control those evil pronouns in conversation and even more when you write. Here are two tricks to keep them in line.

Use nouns often.

Know that pronouns refer to the noun that is closest before it. So in this sentence, I came with both Ben and Jerry, but I spent all of my time with him. the pronoun him would refer to Jerry.

Of course, you can’t rely on other folks to follow that. So when you speak or write, include clues that keep the identify of your pronouns obvious. Listen for responses that might show that your conversation partner has misunderstood you. Look in your writing for opportunities to add details that make the identity of your pronouns unmistakable.

Do those things and you’ll not only communicate more clearly, but . . . you might even find that you argue less frequently. Okay about new topics then. 🙂

I’m sure you’ve been undermined at least once by evil pronouns. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say about them.

–Me “Liz” Strauss
If you think Liz can help with a problem you’re having with your business, your brand or your blog, check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.

The Problem with Writing . . . 25 Things to Know BEFORE You Write for a Living

August 16, 2006 by Liz

Let’s Be Honest

Every morning I get up and write blog posts . Then I go do my other writing work. I’ve been writing for a living for very long time. So I feel qualified to write this post. It’s not a rant. It’s a list. It’s a set of things that folks who think they might want to write for a living ought to know before they blindly follow their dream.

The problem with writing is

that, when you start, no one will believe you are a writer.

that all writing jobs takes longer than folks think they will.

that even talent needs ideas.

that getting to a living wage takes time and boring work.

that, when you write well, the finished product looks like it was easy.

that no one cares how hard it was.

that the lifestyle isn’t glamorous.

that the pay can be less glamorous.

that you’re always interrupted in the middle of the perfect thought.

that you’ll probably have to edit your own work.

that, if you get noticed, your mistakes are very public.

that you need to personally invest and be detached.

that you’ll be critiqued by people who don’t know to say things nicely.

that you’ll be critiqued by people who don’t know what they’re talking about.

that you won’t get to follow through on all of your favorite ideas.

that some of your ideas will stink too.

that folks won’t believe their opinion can’t hurt you.

that you won’t be able to explain the thrill of finding a word you spent 3 weeks looking for.

that only other writers will ever really know what it is that you do.

that your significant other may not read anything that you write.

that being a writer can wake you up in the middle of the night.

that it can make you feel stupid.

that no one can help you do it.

that when you have finished, there’s no applause.

that you have finished, you have to do the same thing all over again.

What could possibly be worth that investment?

Writing communicates through across the world, through time, to people I have never met. It captures ideas, inventions, and information. It’s worth it to be even a tiny part of that.

Bet you could add to this list. Why do you write in spite of it?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
It seems I’m always saying “Thank you, Darren.”.

10 Sure-Fire Ways to Stop Making Writing So Hard

August 15, 2006 by Liz

Why Do We Make Writing Harder Than It Needs to Be?

It’s amazing how often we undercut our own progress, cause a power failure, make things hard on ourselves. We set up roadblocks and wonder why the path is hard to travel. We take the long way home, because we fear the easy way. We shoot ourselves in the foot, and we don’t know that we’re doing it.

In training writers, I’ve seen people talk themselves out of writing in so many ways. Most are easy to stop if you know that you’re doing them. If you think you might be making things harder than they need to be. Hang on. I’ve got the list for you. [Read more…]