I deal a lot in anecdotes and analogies. Little stories and quips, chance encounters and “way back when’s.” I find as I write that often I’ll be reminded of some little story. More often than not, this becomes the ideal jumping off place to open my letter, or to move into a close. It may be a story about me, someone I know, something I witnessed, something I felt, an old adage or fable, an old saying, almost any conversation starter to get the juices flowing. It may come from real life, or from Ma Brantley’s blue-eyed boy’s head, from imaginary situations or painting pictures of actual locations and events.
Then, I make the connection with my subject, the point of the story, and begin developing the line of thought towards my just conclusion. Often, several pages along, I may refer back to “just like…” or “remember…” my original story, and maybe not. This can be a good tie-in to transition when I’m making the offer. When it’s a natural connection it will enhance the story, but don’t feel obligated to “remind them” of what you said earlier. If you’ve done your job right, at this point they are probably more interested in what you’re about to tell them – your offer.
