Writing a book. Need advice.

[noobwriter]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas

I'm writing a book and it's based on something I learned years ago at a real estate seminar. The "guru" shared a lead generating tip while he was warming up the crowd.

He suggested we send a hand written letter out to prospects that said something like this:

Dear Homeowner,

Will you sell your home to one of my prospects? Please give me a call at 555-1234,

Sincerely,

Joe Realtor

The verbiage I'm concerned about is "will you sell your home to one of my prospects?"

Would I be violating any laws if I used the same verbiage as an example in my book? Or is it so generic that it can't be copyrighted or trademarked?

Thanks in advance.

 

[quincy]

Because I am really not sure what was involved with the "guru"s real estate seminar, I hesitate to say anything about his suggestion or the wording of the letter.

But it sure seems to me from what you have posted here that the letter is something that can be reworded and reworked to the same effect fairly easily. I see no reason, in other words, for you to duplicate anything suggested by this guru. Just come up with your own creative letter.

 

[Zigner]

Dear Homeowner:

Would you consider selling your home to one of my prospective clients?



See, it's not hard at all to not simply copy someone.

 

[quincy]

Well, shoot, Zigner. Now he needs permission from you to write it that way.

 

[Zigner]

Well, shoot, Zigner. Now he needs permission from you to write it that way.

Darn, and here I was trying to help



noobwriter:
You have my permission to use anything I've posted in this thread in any manner you wish. Please note that you may also need the permission of the forum owners...please read all the applicable terms of this forum.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

How about something like this....

Dear Homeowner:

Would you consider selling your home to one of my prospective clients?

XXXXXXXX,

John Smith


Note by substituting words, you are changing the nature of this post and therefore are not violating any copyright laws.

 

[quincy]

I suppose it is also important to advise that any phone number used in noobwriter's (however written) letter should not be a working number.

 

[noobwriter]

Thanks

Thanks for all the comments.

I've already thought about changing the wording but I've used it like that since I learned about it 20+ years ago. I could change it but the exact verbiage has worked so well that I didn't want to mess around with it if I didn't have to.

By the way, that isn't the verbiage. I was hoping for an attorney to jump in here and say "You're good to go...don't change a thing". I guess I'll make the alteration and move on. Thanks again.

 

[quincy]

I can't think of any wise attorney who would advise any poster here that all was good to go, not based on such scant information and not without a personal review of all of the facts first.

I advise that you have a publishing law professional review your manuscript prior to publication, to look for any areas of legal risk.

Good luck with your book.

 

[Zigner]

You've already been using this for 20+ years and only now do you think to ask if it's ok?