Photo by Susan Freundlich

[Dalya’s Note: This guest post was written by Elizabeth Seja Min who will be a Special Guest on the 9/4 Writing Wednesdays call. She is the founder of SOLVII®: Secrets of Leading Very Important Ideas.]

Raising support for work that makes a difference is a people-centered journey. It’s about connecting. And remembering that connection across the span of time is necessary for a difference to actually take hold.

How can we make that connection in a written case for support? The kind of connect that touches the whole self, moves people to fresh conclusions, and inspires action? Part of it is how we come to the work as writers and how attuned we are to whom we are writing.

My dog Amigo was a great coach on this matter:

1.    He stayed with me through agonizing writer’s blocks, laying on my feet under the desk, completely non-judgmental.

2.    He unmistakably responded to emotion with emotion, and lived for emotional connection.

3.    He took in information delivered in plain language with no jargon, and short sentences that signaled action, such as, “Let’s go on a walk!”

4.    When exploring a new space, he habitually “set the scene” by circling the perimeters.

5.    He did not balk (much) about following pragmatic, daily practices: eat, nap, walk, play, snack, sleep, repeat.

6.    He listened to me read my writing out loud, over and over.

7.    He experienced all through the realm of the senses: nose, eyes, ears, paws, tongue, belly.

8.    He was highly attuned to the sixth sense, which I describe as “total soul.”

9.    He was first and foremost interested in what shows up in the present moment.

10.    He stayed curious, all sixteen and a half years of his life.