Several months ago I came across a used copy of a paperback novel. The novel was based on the characters from the television show Star Trek: The Next Generation. I don’t recall the exact number, but I may have seen a dozen or so of the episodes while the show was on television but I was never a huge fan. The book caught my eye not because of the genre but because of the author – Peter David.

I have read Peter David over the years as a comic book writer but did not know he was a novelist until found a website that listed some of his other works including novels. I found his writing style in comics appealing and always felt he was one of my top comic book writers. When I happened upon a novel he wrote in a used bookstore, I relished the chance to read his writing in a longer form than a monthly comic book and decided to pick up Q-Squared.

Throughout the novel, Peter David pulls you into the story with all of its complexities. The story revolves around three separate timelines, each one with similar characters but the various timelines have characters in different roles than their classic archetype. In one timeline Picard is the Captain of the exploring ship Enterprise, in the other he is the First Officer, and in the third timeline Picard is captain of the warship Enterprise in the heat of battle. While reading, I found myself regularly going online to find images from the television show of the characters in the scene.

Like a weaver at their loom, Peter David pulls together an engaging story that could have been just a poorly executed concept by another writer. As a copywriter, I am always looking for how other writers tell a story in print or online. I am unsure if I could write a 432 page novel, but to know that a complex story can be made interesting (even to a non-Start Trek fan) appeals to me. Copywriting for customers or other businesses often requires the writer to pull many high level concepts together and refine then in a way that another business or a layman customer can understand.

To take the analogy to a second level, your website and copy need to be engaging because you never know when a potential customer might stumble upon your site. I did not go out looking for a Peter David book, but once I saw a book by that author, I wanted to purchase it to enjoy myself. I would not have picked up a Start Trek book if Peter David wasn’t the author, especially one that was written more than 16 years ago.

If your website is informative – don’t use boring writing. If your concept is complex – make sure you are writing about it appropriately for the target audience. If your site sells – ensure you include all of the information that may appeal to a customer looking to make a decision. You never know when a visitor to your site (or bookstore) finds a gem that they will enjoy.