Put away all political leanings before you read this post. We’re talkin’ words here, not platforms.
I’m pedaling around on two wheels the other day and spot this bumper sticker:
Billionaires Can’t Buy Bernie.
My editor brain starts to play around with the words.
Wait, shouldn’t the message lead with Bernie? Bernie can’t be bought by billionaires. Nah. Longer and feels passive and doesn’t have the punch.
Bernie Can’t Be Bought. Shorter, but doesn’t answer by whom the way the sticker does.
The sticker is short and sweet. Alliterative. And slyly sets up a comparison: Billionaires can’t buy Bernie, but they can buy someone else.
My legs and brain were getting workouts. Win. Win.
How about you? Have you seen messaging that struck a harmonious chord? Played with a phrase to create the biggest impact? Post your comments here, please and thank you. (Reminder: we’re only talking about literary planks.)
I’m pedaling around on two wheels the other day and spot this bumper sticker:
Billionaires Can’t Buy Bernie.
My editor brain starts to play around with the words.
Wait, shouldn’t the message lead with Bernie? Bernie can’t be bought by billionaires. Nah. Longer and feels passive and doesn’t have the punch.
Bernie Can’t Be Bought. Shorter, but doesn’t answer by whom the way the sticker does.
The sticker is short and sweet. Alliterative. And slyly sets up a comparison: Billionaires can’t buy Bernie, but they can buy someone else.
My legs and brain were getting workouts. Win. Win.
How about you? Have you seen messaging that struck a harmonious chord? Played with a phrase to create the biggest impact? Post your comments here, please and thank you. (Reminder: we’re only talking about literary planks.)
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