Another important tool to have in your advocate’s toolkit is the ability to write effectively. Writing is an important way that you get your point across, whether it’s to request a meeting or to make your appeal directly in a letter or email.
In this section, we’ll cover how to write a persuasive and effective letter or email.
Before we get started, it’s important to note that writing a letter or email might not be accessible for everyone. If written communication is not accessible for you, you might want to consider these options:
- Ask a friend, family member or ally to write it, with your input. You can tell them want you want to include, and they can read it back to you before they send it.
- Use voice-to-text technology or another assistive technology solution.
- Ask for an alternate format. If a decision-maker is requesting written feedback but that is not accessible for you, ask if you can provide feedback verbally, by phone, video call, in-person, or in another format.
Letters vs. Emails
When should you write a letter versus an email? As a general rule, emails are acceptable for almost any situation, as email can be used for both formal and casual conversations.
On the other hand, a letter is more formal and may show that your request is important. For example, if you are contacting a very senior government official or lodging a formal complaint, you may wish to send a letter. These days, it is generally more common to send letters electronically, via an email attachment, rather than sending a physical letter in the mail. Postal mail is completely acceptable if you find this option more accessible.
