Pastor's Complete Model Letter Book FREE ONLINE RESOURCE by Stephen R. Clark

You are welcome to use this FREE resource online as often as you wish to develop letters for your personal use or for use by your church or organization.

It is illegal, unethical, and a violation of copyright to make copies of this online resource. You may select and use text o create individual letters, etc. However, it is illegal, unethical, and a violation of copyright to duplicate all or large parts of this resource onto any other medium (CD, diskette, hard drive, print, etc.), with the intent to distribute it for free or for sale.

You may NOT reprint any part of this book in any form for resale or for any other use.

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> Pastor's Complete Model Letter Book Paperback Perfect Bound

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All Purpose Letter Writing Outline

The letter below is based on the AIDA formula. The letters in the acronym stand for ATTENTION, INTEREST, DESIRE, and ACTION. The formula is useful when applied to any kind of writing.

Keeping this formula in mind and using the following outline as a quick reference, you will have no trouble writing effective letters for every purpose.

Date (Month, Day, Year)

Name of Recipient, Title
Name of Company/Organization
Street Address or P.O. Box
City, State, Zip Code

Salutation (Dear NAME)

Opening. . . A brief greeting or introduction if needed. Many letters do not need an opening.

P1. ATTENTION – Gain the reader’s immediate attention by stating the purpose of the letter. Why are you writing? Get to the point.

P2. INTEREST – Maintain the reader’s interest by stating why you’re writing to him or her. How is your reader related to your purpose?

P3. DESIRE – Arouse the reader’s desire to respond to your letter. What’s “in it” for the reader? What’s the reader going to gain by responding to your letter?

P4. ACTION – What exactly do you want the reader to do? How? When? Where? If you’re asking for money, how much? Or, what action are you going to take on behalf of the reader? In other words, how are you or the reader supposed to fulfill the purpose of this letter?

Closing. . . In one or two sentences, restate your purpose in writing and the action desired from the reader. Then thank your reader for his or her time and response, and sign off. Many letters don’t need a closing.

Sign Off (Sincerely, Yours Truly, Cordially, In His Service, etc.),

Your Signature

Your Name
Your Title

(If not included on your letterhead, type your church’s name, complete address, and phone number here.)

Your Initials (uppercase)/your secretary’s initials (lowercase)

P.S. If needed.

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