Never Give Up, Never Surrender

The question has come up for folks who can't make phone calls but who still want to get in touch with their representatives: how do you take a phone script and make it a letter?

Guidelines - I pulled this list off of my representative's website and it's sound advice, I think:

• In an easy to read format, with a clear purpose stated in the first paragraph
• Regarding a single issue, not a group of unrelated issues
• Not attempting to begin a dialogue, which is better conducted on the phone or in person
• Directed to the appropriate office: committee business to the committee, and constituent business to the Member's personal office
• In your own words, not copied from a form letter or Web site
• From an individual, not an intermediary organization or Web site

Example
I'm going to use the ACA script from the We're His Problem Now google doc, since I have it handy.

Here's the phone script
I’m ---- ---- a constituent calling to let <Senator/Representative ____> know that I want <him/her> to stand up for the subsidized health care plans that cover millions of Americans. Please ask <him/her> not to support cuts to Medicaid or Medicare or changes to the ACA that would result in a loss of coverage. Affordable health care is a priority issue for me and I will be paying close attention to how <Senator/Representative ____> votes.

Step 1: Break the script into its parts. The easiest way is to put each sentence on a separate line.

I’m ---- ---- a constituent calling to let <Senator/Representative ____> know that I want <him/her> to stand up for the subsidized health care plans that cover millions of Americans.

Please ask <him/her> not to support cuts to Medicaid or Medicare or changes to the ACA that would result in a loss of coverage.

Affordable health care is a priority issue for me and I will be paying close attention to how <Senator/Representative ____> votes.

Step 2: Use each script sentence as the first line for each paragraph in your letter. This is your outline.

Header with your address

Header with Senator/Representitve's address

Dear Senator/Representaitve -----

I’m ---- ---- a constituent calling to let <Senator/Representative ____> know that I want <him/her> to stand up for the subsidized health care plans that cover millions of Americans.

Please ask <him/her> not to support cuts to Medicaid or Medicare or changes to the ACA that would result in a loss of coverage.

Affordable health care is a priority issue for me and I will be paying close attention to how <Senator/Representative ____> votes.

Sincerely
Badass Letterwriter

Step 3: Change any words needed to address the representative directly

Header with your address

Header with Senator/Representitve's address

Dear Senator/Representaitve -----

I’m ---- ---- a constituent writing to let you know that I want you to stand up for the subsidized health care plans that cover millions of Americans.

Please do not support cuts to Medicaid or Medicare or changes to the ACA that would result in a loss of coverage.

Affordable health care is a priority issue for me and I will be paying close attention to how you vote.

Sincerely
Badass Letterwriter

Step 4: Personalize the letter. Read through and probably in the second paragraph add something personal that makes this real to you. This letter is from the script where the LW isn't personally covered by an ACA plan, BUT that does not mean the LW is not personally affected by it. Drug prices. If you have female parts you may get contraceptive coverage, or equal premiums that you wouldn't otherwise. Young adults have staying on their parents insurance till 26. You may have a family member who has an ACA plan. Pre-existing conditions.

This part can be as short as a couple sentences, as in the example below, or you can go on for a paragraph. I wouldn't do more than that though unless it's a good story.

Header with your address

Header with Senator/Representitve's address

Dear Senator/Representaitve -----

I’m ---- ---- a constituent writing to let you know that I want you to stand up for the subsidized health care plans that cover millions of Americans.

Please do not support cuts to Medicaid or Medicare or changes to the ACA that would result in a loss of coverage. My sister has a pre-existing condition that prevented her from being covered by health insurance until the ACA. Before the ACA she was handed a $50,000 hospital bill for surgery that saved her life. Under the ACA she doesn't have to fear that she has to choose between her life or bankruptcy.

Affordable health care is a priority issue for me and I will be paying close attention to how you vote.

Sincerely
Badass Letterwriter

(If you want to throw down, you can add as a last line before Sincerely: "See you at your next townhall." But only if you're actually going to go.)

Step 5: You're done! Sign the letter, pop it in the mail, and wait anxiously by the mailbox to see if you get a form letter in response.