Crafting a good pitch can be a bitch. It can also be a creative act. By approaching it as poetry you could find your voice, gather material that’s unique and evocative, and find a pathway that touches hearts and minds.
Before I get to the writing prompts, let’s review the purpose of the all-important pitch. It should convey a clear message, be memorable, and leave the audience wanting more. Oh, and it’s got to communicate important things about you and your work. All in a few short lines.
As if the challenge to be brief and compelling wasn’t enough, the fact that you’re talking about yourself can be a trigger that causes writing block. How many of us who are solo-preneurs, self-employed, or seeking jobs find it hard to claim our worth and own our talents? We tend to back away from tooting our own horn. We don’t readily stand front and center and say, “Here I am. I am my services. This is what makes me great.”
A pitch is much about identity.
And that’s where poetry can make a difference.
Since slave narratives, writing has been a path for the displaced and disenfranchised to claim their true identity. In present day California – and around the country – teachers have used poetry to help students claim their cultural heritage and celebrate their places of origin. Building on the prompt “where I am from,” thousands of children have authored poems that honor and appreciate their families and their homes. The poems speak back at anti-immigrant sentiment with power and heart.
Where am I from?
-I came from the same place you came from.
-I came from my mother.
-It should not matter where I am from, but where I will go.
-It does not matter but I will tell.
-I am from a small eroded pueblo in Duango, Mexico.
-I am from the pueblo Los Bagres.
-I may have been born here, in the crowded place called Sacramento but my heart was born there, in the open range and flowing rivers.
-I’m from my grandpa giving us “carne seca”.
Now it’s time to claim your identity. Get out a pen and paper, find a quiet place to write, and I’ll give you the writing prompts.
You are going to brainstorm a list of “I am” statements and “I am from” statements. Remember to play with imagesand visuals and your senses. The idea is to get in touch with what’s you and to paint a picture of your world.
Divide the page into two columns. On one side, make a list beginning “I am”. Then on the right side begin with Where and what your world looks like: Describe what’s in your office or your home. List where you are from or where you work, perhaps the address, perhaps if it’s a house…
Go to the What. Make a list of what you do, the materials or techniques you use, the actions that you take. Make a list of skills you use.
Go to the Who and Your Impact. Make a list of things you often say or things you often hear your clients say. Make a list of the things people say when they’re happy with your work. List people you work with or partner with. Make a list of what gets you inspired or gives you satisfaction.
Go to Who You Are. Write down where you grew up, what you did when you were growing up, what you ate, anyone you used to hang out with, pets, holidays you like to celebrate, names of places that matter to you.
Take the list and read through the lines circling words that speak to you, choosing lines that seem most important. Notice what inspires you. Experiment with taking a few lines and arranging them to tell a story. Create a poem or three, making each five lines long.
How does your pitch sound now?
Here’s mine.
I am powerful questions and deep listening.
I am a beacon shining a light on your vision.
I am a witness supporting your commitment.
When you work with me, your greatness resonates inside and out.
Heed the call to action inside you.
I’d love to read your poetic pitch, so please share it. Feel free to post your “I am” pitches online at https://www.facebook.com/ParadiseCoaching