Five Word Limit

                           
                                                            Five Word Limit


"Gerry, you have to understand that we are publishing into a culture that just doesn't read any more."

He listened and felt like the chief engineer had just told him the oil well was dry. "Well what are we

supposed to do?", he asked bluntly." "You have five words.", Sam repeated, "five words and then

 pictures and videos. Nothing else will do, five words to explain what lies below, what's inside, like

selling a product in the supermarket using the package only. 'Sweet Blue Heaven Soap. Get to it"

"Thanks Sam", he said just loud enough to be heard.

   So there it was. His assignment. Gerry was new. He'd written and published for his English

professor, contemporary commercial advertising and media copy. It looked like an interesting course

and it was. The teacher was a pro and continually gave out good and timely advice.

 "It's a real rat race out there. Writing for profit is a blood sport." He listened to all this and felt the

excitement too. The salaries were huge - if you got "on stage".

   "On Stage" was a resume with significant work experience - and most of all - references that

mattered. OK - he'd listen to Sam, turn in his five words a picture and a video and wait.


                                      College Student Finally Found Alive


He made up the story. He knew Bernstein. He was in his commercial writing class,  He didn't want anyone else to know the sad story. He just

made up the story and turned it in. Sam stopped by and looked at him. "Good job Gerry" - we can't

publish it but consider yourself  on stage.",  and smiled.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/01/10/upenn-student-found-dead-in-california-park-homicide-investigation-launched.html