Q&A Tuesday: What Does Legal Writing Have In Common With Walt Disney?

Q:    What does legal writing have in common with Walt Disney?

A:    Before you put pen to notepad or fingers to keyboard you must identify the story you want to tell.  Only after identifying the story will you be able to shape and deliver it.

Walt Disney was a master of the storyboard to identify the story.  This simple idea made him the single most influential fellow in animation.

Click here to view the short process.

TIP:    Before you write know the bones of the story you need to tell on behalf of your client, issue or project. 

TIP:    The bones of a story are the skeleton or major elements.   

TIP:    Some folks find it useful to sketch out their story in icons or stick figures. Others use key words.  And still others rely on shorthand phrases or a mnemonic.

TIP:    Imagine that your story will be a Tweet; you have 160 characters to work with.  What is the story? 

TIP:    Reduce that Tweet to a text.  What is the condensed version of your story? 

TIP:    Now that you have created the bones of your story you can flesh out the rest by writing your brief, argument, opening, and so on.