Don't make a scene, write a scene! Your donors will feel as if they are on location. This is the 140th Fundraising Writing Newsletter. If you find value here, please tell a fundraising friend. (Your fundraising friend can βsubscribe here for free.)β In this issue: β Fundraising 101: You're writing a scene, not an article. β A free summer webinar for YOU (space is limited) β Randomly yours: to inspire and recharge you β Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Hi Reader, βTom Ahern once said to me, "Most copywriters are frustrated novelists." I was intrigued. Tom went on to explain that at a conference some years ago, he met up with several other world-class fundraising copywriters at a bar, and they compared notes and stories over drinks. That's when they found they had one thing in common: they'd all written novels. (I guess the "frustrated" part of "frustrated novelist" came from not hitting Stephen King- or J.K. Rowling-level jackpot literary success.) Huh. Interesting. Brett has written novels . . . And I've helped revise and edit them . . . It struck me: this common denominator is not a mere coincidence. It's essential to fundraising writing success. You have to know how to put your donors right in the middle of a scene. That way, they'll really FEEL the urgency, really SEE the need, really WANT to help. Turns out, you don't actually have to write a novel. You just have to understand what novelists know in their bones... Fundraising 101: You're writing a scene, not an article.People are storytelling creatures. Our lives are stories. We can never get enough. This is why:
A good story is immersive. You feel like you're there. So how can you put your donors "on the scene," where the need is, where they can help? First, set the scene. β β Second, add sensory details. β Third, add interior thoughts. Fourth, add emotions. β Fifth, add dialogue. β If you do all this β if you write vivid scenes worthy of a novel, not dry articles worthy of The Wall Street Journal β you'll put your donors in the middle of your story. Your story will become your donors' story. Your donors will have a visceral connection to your mission. They'll get it. They'll feel what you feel. They'll want what you want. They'll be with you for the long haul. Now that's a happy ending. π A summer webinar for YOUSlots are running out on this free webinar. We can only admit the first 500 registrants. We're more than half full already. If you wait until the last moments to sign up, it might be too late. On Wednesday, July 31, I'm teaming up with 2 of my fundraising BFFs, Rachel Muir and Sarah Masterson, to present "How to Write and Design Money-raising Appeals" at 10 am PT/ 12 noon CT/ 1 pm ET. βSign up to discover: β οΈ Copywriting mistakes and what to do instead πͺ "Power words" good donor copy taps into π How to format and design appeals to boost results β "Before & After" appeal makeovers We presented this same 90-minute workshop at AFP ICON 2024 and scored a 4.67 (out of 5). π€©π Attendees said things like... π¬ "These ladies put the fun back in fundraising!"
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π¬ "Exceeded my expectations!"
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π¬ "Speakers had great delivery, were highly prepared, and were clear subject matter experts. I would 100% recommend them again as speakers β bias-free, accessible tools and suggestions ANYONE could apply"
β βRegister now because this session will fill up! Hereβs that link again to register for the free webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qXezCI8KSh2PO8Cd1PbVGwβ Hope to see you there! Please say 'hi' in the chat! π Randomly yours: to inspire and recharge youFor your brain, heart, and funny bone...
Until next time: May you channel your inner novelist and put your donors on the scene so they really feel the need β and their hearts are stirred to action. Grateful,
Was this forwarded to you? Welcome!β β β β |
We're Julie Cooper and Brett Cooper, fundraising copywriters for great causes. Does your fundraising bring in as much money as it could? You can send donor communications that stir hearts to action. We'd love to help. π Start by subscribing to our FREE and fun weekly newsletter.
...say I'm the only bee in your bonnet! π This is the 144th Fundraising Writing Newsletter. If you find value here, please tell a fundraising friend. (Your fundraising friend can subscribe here for free.) In this issue: β Not to put too fine a point on it... β All Aboard! 2 weeks from tomorrow, will you be on the Tom-Ahern bus too? β Randomly yours: to inspire and recharge you Wednesday, August 28, 2024 Hi Reader, There's a fun old song by a fun old band I think of now and then. Maybe you...
Image generated from Grok 2 (Fun Mode) You go, marmot! Jump that gap! We believe in you! This is the 143rd Fundraising Writing Newsletter. If you find value here, please tell a fundraising friend. (Your fundraising friend can subscribe here for free.) In this issue: β 9 ways you can help your donors close the "Information-Action Gap" β All Aboard! 3 weeks from tomorrow, will you be on the Tom-Ahern bus too? β Randomly yours: to inspire and recharge you Wednesday, August 21, 2024 Hi Reader,...
Setting the scene is like teleporting. Do it carefully or you might wind up in the wrong place. This is the 142nd Fundraising Writing Newsletter. If you find value here, please tell a fundraising friend. (Your fundraising friend can subscribe here for free.) A special hello π to all of you who have joined us since last week when I co-taught a webinar with Rachel Muir and Sarah Masterson. So thrilled to have you here! π In this issue: β 3 things you might be missing when you "set the scene"...