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The Book of Letters: How to Write a Letter for Every Occasion

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How often have you been asked to write a letter about a faulty product, outline an insurance claim or draft a complaint to a government agency?

If you're like me, it happens a lot. Friends and family automatically assume a writer will know just how to handle any number of business or legal communications.

Fortunately, there's a perfect guide to help you navigate around legal minefields. And it comes in the form of 'Book of Letters: How to write a letter for every occasion' by Peter Breen.

Breen is ably qualified to write this book, having been a practising solicitor and barrister in Australia for almost 30 years.

Even though this book has been written for Australians, the bulk of the letters can easily be adapted to suit your requirements.

'The Book of Letters' offers letters which cover a wide variety issues and occasions, ranging from defamation, over-charging, car accidents and insurance claims to goods & services, advertising, real estate as well as employment and buying & selling a business. In addition, Breen provides letters for neighbors, debtors and creditors, and government regulators.

But, most important of all, Breen shows you how to write effective letters, including the structure, formalities and strategies for success.

Breen's book has been a bestseller since its original publication in 1986. This updated edition presents standard form letters for almost one hundred different consumer and small business issues as well as tips for communicating in the most effective way - an excellent guide for the general public (and a good reminder for writers).

As Breen puts it:

"Good letters that hit the mark have four features you will soon recognise and emulate in your own correspondence. You will also learn how to address the person who you are writing to and how to close your letters. It concludes with strategies you can employ to simplify letter writing, including some hints about language."

"People who write effective letters usually write with passion and to a plan," Breen continues. "While most of us are passionate in our letters, writing to a plan may not be so simple. We need to begin with the four key features of effective letters:

 Person - who you are writing to
 Issue - what kind of letter you are writing
 Purpose - what is the connection between the person you are writing to and the issue
 Action - what kind of action do you want the person to take?"

'Book of Letters' is a great thought-starter and guide for writing a variety of legal and business letters.

Next time a friend asks you to write a letter - you can (hand them this book)!

-- Michael Meanwell, author of the critically-acclaimed 'The Enterprising Writer' and 'Writers on Writing'. For more book reviews and prescriptive articles for writers, visit www.enterprisingwriter.com