How to Write a Letter of Protest

When you feel something is wrong, you can make a change by letting your voice be heard about what needs to be corrected. A great way of doing that is to write a letter of protest. Follow these tips to see how that can be done with ease, effectiveness and grace.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Research the subject that has caused you to protest. Understand the whole truth behind the situation, and cross-check facts and sources. Being fully in the know helps you compose a letter with ease and authority, and it makes sure that you don't have any incorrect information that you are protesting. When you ask the company their opinion and take on the subject, don't be surprised if they spin you a story that puts them in a great light, no matter how ridiculously far from the obvious truth it is. They often pay publicists to be able to do that sort of thing.

2. Address the letter like a business letter. Put your name and information in the top, then follow it up with theirs beneath. Get a person's name to address when possible. If you are writing to a company, find out the president's name. If you are writing to a judge or others, make sure you have their correct name that is spelled correctly Although a subtle touch, it makes your voice more commanding and sometimes more respected.

3. Keep the body of your letter short and to the point. The tone should be as friendly as possible under the circumstances, but you don't want any unnecessary sentences. Keep the letter under 300 words when possible.

4. Focus on one thing at a time that needs changing in your letter. You don't want to protest ten things at once in a letter. Your voice is likely to be muffled and ineffective, as it will seem like a mindless complaint letter. Work on one thing at a time. Once you've made progress or a bit of time has passed, start addressing the next issue with a company or organization.

5. Proofread and re-write your letter. If you are not great at grammar, have a friend who is look it over. Make sure that the letter comes across as professional and important.

6. Send the letter via the post office. A delivered letter is less likely to be ignored than a fax or email.

7. Follow up on sending a similar letter with your concerns if you do not receive a response within three weeks. Make sure to include the fact that you have been waiting to hear from them within the first paragraph. This letter should also be short and to the point. Perhaps, re-state facts in a more simple and concise way.

Tips & Warnings

• Write whenever you feel you have something that needs standing up for. You don't have to be an activist to have a cause that you're passionate about.
• Learn from your mistakes by keeping records. Keep a copy of each letter sent, along with the date it was mailed. Keep a log of the action companies take or what their response was. Looking at where you get responses and which letters were sent to those places helps you know, in some cases, where you are writing effectively.
• Don't compose your letter until you have researched all the facts and double-checked your sources. Nothing looks worse than a poorly researched, or flat out wrong, letter of protest.
• Never send a letter unless you truly believe what you are saying.
• Never be rude or degrading in a letter of protest. Keep the tone friendly or professional, and stick with the facts. Personal insults discredit the great things that you stand for.