Today, I was on the phone, pitching a new book to hard-to-reach editors.

An assistant came to the line at one place, and very pleasantly asked me if she could take a message.

Almost without exception, assistants such as this person, in the publishing world, are first-rate communicators, so you can rely on them to accurately capture your message and convey it.

But I dont leave my messages with them, as a general ruleespecially if Im promoting a new title.

Here are five, rock-solid reasons for asking the assistant to put your call into the buyers voice mail:

(1) What you say is exactly what he or she hears. There is no lost in translation problem with a robot.

(2) Your buyer can hear your enthusiasm, first-hand. She wont hear it from her assistant.

(3) You can get a second bite at the apple, if your first message missed the mark, in your estimation, either by erasing it, or adding to it with a second voice message.

(4) You can speak faster, and cram in a lengthier message than most humans could ever comfortably transcribe.

(5) You dont have to dumb down or sanitize your message because a mediator is involved.

Dont worry; asking for voice mail isnt insulting. All you have to say, when asked, May I take a message? is this:

Sure, does she have voice mail? Oh, great, my message is lengthy so may I please have that? Thanks!

Then, you and your message are on the way, just as you want them, saying no more, and no less.

What could be better than that?