“Don’t write merely to be understood. Write so that you cannot possibly be misunderstood.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Quote of the Month: December 2013
Leave a reply
Author Archives: Dalya Massachi
Describe how your work embodies your deepest values and guiding principles
[Dalya’s Note: This is an excerpt from my award-winning book, Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact.]
Back away from the practical specifics, and take a bit of a philosophical approach.
Ask yourself: What fundamental values or concerns have led your readers to your organization and its mission?
For instance, you and your readers might particularly value the physical and emotional health of young women; the dignity of refugees; the artistic expression of senior citizens; the conservation of wildlife in your region; the science education of middle school students; or waterways free of pollution.
Because of your shared values, you can make some basic assumptions about what your readers understand and agree on. In your written pieces, build on those assumptions about what works, what does not work, and what important beliefs should be upheld. You will naturally hit on the core thoughts and feelings your readers harbor, as they pertain to your mission and activities.
Ask yourself: How would your organization complete this sentence to clarify shared assumptions about the world, how it works, and what is important?
“Our organization focuses on ______ and we value ________________ . We believe our work is important in the world because ______________ .”
******* Continue reading
Webinar on 12/11: On Today’s Menu: Your Successful Grant Proposal
How can you whip up a successful grant proposal? You’ll need just the right proportions of research, planning, drafting, and editing. And don’t forget to garnish with tasty feedback and a dash of good timing!
Foundations and corporate funders are always looking for ways to make good investments in your community. To partner with them, you have to show exactly how you can help make that happen! Webinar participants will get a special discount on Dalya’s award-winning book, “Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact.”
Who should attend: This webinar is ideal for: nonprofit directors, staff, board, volunteers, and consultants who help raise money from foundations and corporations; jobseekers are also welcome.
Level: Beginner and Intermediate
In this webinar you will learn:
- How to prepare for the grantwriting process
- What to include (and exclude)
- What most engages (and repels) grantmakers
- Where to find resources for your next steps
Attendees will also receive 3 follow-up documents:
1) “Spot the Weaknesses” Summary
2) One-page Sample Grant Format
3) Recommended Resources List
Please join us Wednesday, December 11 at 12pm PT (3pm ET)! Sign up HERE.
What do previous attendees have to say about this webinar?
“This was a very useful and informative webinar. I have sat on many webinars that do not provide such clear, specific information and I appreciate your sharing your expertise. Thank you!”
“I am very excited about the prospect of writing successful grants for my organization — as opposed to fearing it!”
“Ask Dalya”: Grant Proposal Length
This “Ask Dalya” series covers 17 of your grantwriting questions. Get lots more Q & A, individual feedback, materials, etc. in the Grantwriter’s FastTrack Coaching Program.
Q: In grant proposals, should we use all of the space given in the application, or is it best to keep it short instead?
A: As I mentioned in my blog post on the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, my suggestion is always to strive to cultivate conciseness. Regardless of the amount of space you are given on an application you want to focus on brevity: as long as you still clearly make your points. If you have plenty of space, use it wisely. Just remember that your readers receive an overwhelming number of applications; if your proposal is easy to skim then it is enjoyable and informative to read and leaves the reader with a positive feeling. Look to strike the right balance.
Got questions about how YOU can use your writing to make a difference? Send them to my assistant, Leslie Rivera, and I’ll answer them on the blog.
Creating Inspiring Documentaries: Writing, Editing, & More
[Dalya’s Note: This guest post was written by Robert Bell.]
Creating a memorable and inspiring documentary requires more than just an interesting topic. A strong documentary can inspire changes in society, and it can help people to understand how the other side truly lives. An inspiring documentary will bring people closer together, and it will help to broaden minds in all areas. From politics to art, documentaries can truly help to change the world. While making a classic documentary requires dedication and skill, it doesn’t require a large budget. By following this guide, you will learn how to make an inspiring documentary on any budget!
What Makes a Documentary Great?
An interesting subject is only the starting point for an interesting documentary. While an interesting and engaging subject is vital, there needs to be a balance in perspectives, interviews, and even in editing. If an interesting subject is surrounded by bland interviews, cheesy editing, and subpar music, then the documentary will be a failure. Even a seemingly ordinary subject can become sublime under the proper care.
Quality Interviews
Quality interviews are essential, and even one poor interview can break an otherwise strong film. A weak documentary will have subjects mumbling or providing nonsensical answers, while a strong documentary will have experts and other insightful people giving interesting and intelligent interviews. This goes for both the interviewer and the subject, as one can help or hinder the other.
Professionally Recreating Events
TV documentaries have the bad habit of recreating events by shaking the camera, digitally lowering the resolution, and adding dramatic music. This does nothing but give the viewer a headache, and it only serves to discredit the original scenario. To make a documentary truly matter, you should only use archival footage or just have an expert speak on the event’s behalf. Unless this “retro” technique is done for irony or other stylistic purposes it should be avoided, as it does nothing to enhance the drama of a scene. Make sure to watch as many independent films as possible before getting started, so you can study how other experienced directors executed certain techniques. Consider sources such as these Directtv packages, which will let you pick up as many channels as possible that cover independent films (National Geographic, Discovery, etc.). Continue reading
