Avid followers of my blog, will know that I’ve written to my MP a number of times in recent months.
This isn’t because I love writing letters, but because I feel this probably is the most effective way of making a direct difference to policy makers.
Watch this – it’s very short and to the point:
Political change with pen and paper
Now, I don’t agree with every single point of this video – I can’t handwrite for to save my life and clearly legibility is a facilitates smooth communication, so all my letters are typed.
In fact, I hate paper, printers, envelopes, stamps, postboxes and all that time-wasting prehistoric infrastructure… but it has a use… and this is it.
E-mails are ephemeral, letters are not, I always try to send letters.
Being massively lazy however, I found a service called pc2paper which lets me send letters for a low cost from the web – so I don’t have to interact with printers, envelopes, stamps, postboxes etc.
There are different ways of phrasing letters, there are different amounts of proof reading you can do, you probably have a specific idea of the right amount. Personally, I almost always prefer writing in an informal tone, and try to get to the point as quickly as possible.
However, I also try and be personable. It’s not about removing all elements of humanity. I’m always polite, non-confrontational, and reread it afterwards just to check it doesn’t come off as passive aggressive. Changing people’s points of view, and channeling someone else to see things you see as important, as equally important, is very challenging – and anything you can do to distinguish yourself from masses in a positive and uplifting way, will win your perspectives extra consideration.
Take it easy, have some fun…and get writing!
(You may also be interested in this post: When they’re wrong, how can you change someone’s point of view? )