Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

When writing to convey information, I use a formula that is easy for me to remember and works for me. The formula is: what, so what, now what.

Someone gave me this formula in a meeting years ago. The meeting had nothing to do with writing, but had something to do with telling people information. I guess much of writing has to do with passing information.

The formula:

1. What
2. So What
3. Now What

Clever how that rhymes. I guess the little rhyme helps me remember the formula. I have heard this same formula using different words, but I can’t remember those words, so I pass along the formula in these words.

Let’s expand the formula:

What: Write what happened or write your principal statement.

So what: Write the implication of the event or principal. Explain why this matters.

Now what: Write what you will do or what you recommend doing.

For example:

1. We left home late today.
2. We won’t be able to pick up the party snacks on the way.
3. We recommend that you call our friends and ask them to pick up the party snacks as they live next to the store.

and

1. I use a formula in conveying written information.
2. This formula helps me remember to provide essential information.
3. I recommend this formula to other people, often.

One more little part of the formula. Insert the word “Gut” between steps 1 and 2, steps 2 and 3, or both.

Gut: Write the feeling you have about what you have just written.

The addition of gut allows those of us who are more emotional to use such a formula. Emotional types hate formulas unless the formula allows for emotion.