Take your work hostage!

- The best time to start negotiating with the folks who are going to give you creative notes on your work is before you meet with them because once the meeting starts, they may have you on the ropes. Well, in the ropes. By then it's too late to decide what you're willing to change in your work and what you're willing to stand up for, even if you can't stand up. So before they take your work hostage, take it hostage yourself. (footsteps clattering) Oh. Give your words and images a once over and decide which are the core elements that you won't compromise. (door creaking) (panting) Taken together, these core elements are your project's voice. The essence that takes you the author you are and your project what it is. If your project is a presentation deck, a core element might be the metaphor you're using to link your facts. If it's a screenplay, it might be your protagonist. It's like you project was an orange. If a creative executive says I like your orange but can you peel it? You might say sure, but if they say I love your orange, now make it purple, you might have already decided to push back. A purple orange, that doesn't make sense to me. Let's take about alternative. Now, you may not have the luxury of making any of your core elements deal breakers, I get it, but at least you've got a list of elements you've promised yourself you'll fight for and others you're happy to change. By the way, if you're the one giving the notes, it's not that much different. There are certain core elements you need to see in the work you're buying or you're not buying. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to squeeze this and have a big refreshing glass of purple juice.