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Comments

Kyle Tully

Your rewrite is definitely better. Without getting technical it just feels better.

Copywriter :: Peter Stone

Kyle,

Thanks for saying so.

--Peter

Kevin Francis

Peter,

Really enjoyed this. The layout of setting out the different versions next to each other is most helpful.

Your "mini-narrative" mindmap has been "swiped" and now forms part of my "Copy Toolbox" (along with other Peter Stone classics such as "The Dark Alley").

Yes, much prefer your version of the "Civil War" letter. As you say, the simple addition of those structural elements makes it much more compelling.

Great stuff. You really should be charging for this!

Kevin Francis

Copywriter :: Peter Stone

Kevin,

Thank you so much, for your enthusiastic comments.

Please, don't hesitate to suggest a letter as the subject of a forensic exam.

Sending that letter to me might avoid the frustration of hearing, "I don't have it," but that's certainly not necessary.

Anyway, and as always, thank you.

--Peter

Robert

Peter,

Thanks for this Wall Street Series. Forensics are fun – as the CSI series has proven...and Quincy, M.E. (if anyone but me is old enough to remember). Perhaps "Stone, C.E." will be the next hit.

Having never had a creative writing class in my life, the narrative education was interesting.

Looking at this from a rhetorical angle, one line kept jumping out at me, "Dependent on Children".

If this letter was successful (though flawed), I'm willing to bet it was that line delivered to a pre social security generation that packed the wallop or worked as the hook to keep readership.

I'm thinking of my Grandfather or my dad. 1) not being a "burden" was and is a huge drive in their psyche. 2) Leaving something behind is a close second.

The second element that popped for me in the older letter was the use of truism, and self evident truth to set up the sales arguments he was about to make.

Anyway, thanks again for the great video's and I'm looking forward to the next showing of Stone, C.E.

Copywriter :: Peter Stone

Robert,

Quincy? (-:

Your sensitivity to what sells ... to the reader is always impressive.

--Peter

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