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Writing for
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Column of the Month |
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| I'm sharing this next column with you for a personal reason -- I was flattered by all the nice things my readers had to say about me and my nasty letter contest. After acknowledging their generous, carefully worded messages to me, I offer some serious advice about what to do when you're tempted to let loose and blast away. |
First published October 10, 2003
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So, you may be wondering, what was the point of my contest? My answer: Although nasty letters are fun to write, they're not always the best way to win your argument. Not every reader will enjoy reading them as much as I did. When getting your way is more important than getting even, you might want to take a different approach: •Avoid personal attacks. The best way to offend someone is to question that person's competence, intelligence, or integrity. But if you succeed, all you've done is make someone angry. •Express restrained anger. Controlled anger is generally more effective than unbridled fury. •Propose a solution. Tell the reader how you want the issue to be resolved. Be explicit about your expectations. •Be brief. A one-page letter is more likely to be read in its entirety. Stick to the point. •Wait before sending anything written in anger. Take time to cool off. It's fine to draft in the heat of passion, but you should revise in the cold light of day. Taking this approach may not be as much fun as writing a nasty letter, but it's likely to be more effective.
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