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 You hear something outrageous in the news – the local council is cutting down a historical forest to make way for a new shopping mall, or maybe you’ve been on the receiving end of some atrocious customer service...
You could yell and scream, stomp your heels or just bitch away to your friends, or you could make a stand and have your voice heard.
We show you how to take those injustices and turn your moaning and groaning into an effective critique, that will force people to take notice of your views. We’ve got the ultimate guide to writing a serious, clear and thorough letter or protest or complaint!
1: Put down your weapons… No one wants to be insulted or sworn at – whether it’s verbally or through a letter. Leave all the utter nastiness inside your head! Otherwise it’s all too easy for the reader to shut you down and dismiss your argument as mere mud slinging. Make your case by being firm but polite and simply stating exactly why you have your problem. Don’t let yourself get petty or personal.  2: Reality checkDon’t call for radical, dramatic changes – let’s face it, nothing changes over night. When writing your letter keep your expectations in check, suggest changes that are realistic and feasible, so organisations will take you more seriously. For example, instead of suggesting that your local supermarket stops using plastic bags all together, you could suggest they charge shoppers for extra bags. 3: Face facts When writing your letter, base your argument on hard, cold facts – not just pure rant and emotion. That will get you nowhere! You want your argument to be persuasive, and nothing is more powerful than authentic, genuine facts.  4: Keep it short and snappyI’ll be honest, no one wants to read a long winded, boring and raving letter. Keep your case short and snappy. With writing, the aim of the game is to draw the reader in with your case, in as few words as possible. So think carefully about what you want to say, and write it out in the most concise way possible. Take out anything that isn’t absolutely essential to your point. 5: Don’t exaggerate Don’t fictionalise, exaggerate or over generalise – it’ll immediately turn the reader off. It makes your case seem invalid and takes away the legitimacy of all those fabulous facts you’ve found! 6: Do your homework Address your letter to the appropriate person. Don’t make a silly mistake and send it to the wrong person, otherwise it’s likely to end up in the bin and then you’re views definitely won’t be heard!  7: Hit the spell check!Before you send your letter off make sure you’ve done a thorough proof read and spell check. You want to be taken seriously, and a well written letter, executed perfectly will help you get that respect. However it works both ways; a letter loaded with spelling mistakes won’t be taken all too well, no matter how good the argument is.
8: Give credit where it’s due
To really pep up your letter and add a little flare, give the organisation a little credit where it’s due. This can help the reader to see that you’re not just out to bring them down, but really want what’s best. So if they are dong well in other areas, let them know! A little flattery (as long as it’s deserved) can go a long way!
Ramarea
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