Questions to guide your writing

· Who is my audience?

· What is my objective?

· What are the objectives and needs of my audience?

· How can I best express my objective in relationship to my audience's objectives and needs?

· What specific benefits can I offer to my audience and how can I best express them?

· What opening sentence and paragraph will grab the attention of my audience in a positive manner and invite them to read further?

· How can I maintain and heighten the interest and desire of the reader throughout the letter?

· What evidence can I present of my value to my audience?

· If a resume is enclosed with the letter, how can I best make the letter advertise the resume?

· What closing sentence or paragraph will best assure the reader of my capabilities and persuade him or her to contact me for further information?

· Is the letter my best professional effort?

· Have I spent sufficient time drafting, revising, and proofreading the letter?