Nested comp targeting element in a layer present in the containing comp..?

I am wanting to source the text for a Text layer with the following (as used by the pickwip)

thisComp.layer("Name of Layer")

However I would like to make a text style-template (as a comp, so I can use it in other comps) and then have custom text in those main comps which the template would use for the text in those instances.

So how do I target a layer in the main comp (maybe with a predefined name)?

Or is there a better way to do this?

Thanks