Creative Writing - How To Find & Maintain Your Unique Creative Writing Rhythm

One of the most important elements to being able to write regularly, deeply, and consistently as a creative writer is to be able to find your own unique creative writing rhythm.

If we don't learn to listen to, and tune in to, the unique creative rhythm that each of us have, we'll find it a constant battle to remain motivated and productive in our creative writing projects.

Professional athletes and sports players talk about being "in the zone", where they're performing at a peak level and everything flows. We can apply the same principle to writing.

Creative Writing - How To Find & Maintain Your Unique Creative Writing Rhythm

So how do we know when we're not "in the zone", when we're out of sync with our natural creative rhythm?

Some of the tell tale signs are:

Writing inconsistent amounts - 10 pages flow freely one day, but the day after you struggle to string together 10 words.

Being obsessive about tiny details - you spend hours re-writing a single difficult line 30 times, and eventually go back to the first version you came up with.

Sticky Shoes Syndrome - you just can't get going, writing feels about as easy as wading through treacle in concrete boots. With an elephant on your back.

Losing objectivity - struggling to see the bigger vision in the project you're writing. It's like trying to view a mountain range from ground level, instead of flying above in a helicopter to get the overall view of the landscape.

Feeling out of control - you're aware that sometimes your creative writing flows like Niagara Falls and other days it's barely as fruitful as a dripping tap. But you have no idea why and you don't feel in control.

So what's the secret to overcoming some of these struggles and finding YOUR unique creative rhythm?

Put simply: experimenting and testing.

If you keep doing the same things over and over - the same things that aren't working - then of course they're going to continue to not work. And you'll continue to be inconsistent, erratic and frustrated in your creative writing.

Now I'm not suggesting you have to become an emotionless robot, churning out perfect page after perfect page of creative writing.

Not at all.

There are natural peaks and lulls in our minds and bodies, in our moods and in our personal circumstances. They're part of being a human being.

But if we learn to recognise these patterns, learn to find when we're naturally at our best, at our peaks, we can begin to find our creative rhythm.

And when we do that, we reduce the kind of tell tale signs like those above we feel when we're struggling to create.

So we're able to create more consistently, more abundantly and more deeply than ever before.

How do you experiment then to help you find your natural creative rhythm?

Here are some of the factors to play around with and see what works best for you:

- The time of day when you write.

- How long you write for.

- How you cope with or eliminate distractions.

- The materials you use to write with.

- Where you write.

- What breaks you have, how long and how often.

- What you do (if anything) to prepare yourself to write.

- Whether you use background music or sounds, or silence.

- How you have your writing space set up physically.

- How you decide when your writing time is over for that session.

Experiment with just one of these variables at a time or you won't be able to track the changes effectively.

Once you've found the best way of working with that particular factor, keep that fixed and move on and adjust the next one.

Follow these guidelines and you'll be well on your way to finding your own unique creative rhythm. You'll begin too to see your creative writing reach new levels.

Creative Writing - How To Find & Maintain Your Unique Creative Writing Rhythm
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Want to find out how more about how to unlock your creative writing potential? Get your FREE 5 part creative writing ecourse at www.YouAreACreativeWriter.Com.

Creativity Coach and keen creative writer Dan Goodwin helps people who are frustrated they're not using their creative talents as well as they could be. See more at his website: http://www.CoachCreative.com

Excitingly Fun And Creative Charity Fund Raising Ideas

Fund raisers can be a lot of work. They can be a lot of fun with the proper planning and in the end they can be very rewarding. Charity fund raising ideas are usually created to help someone or group in need. There are many things that can be done to raise money and they can be extremely fun and filled with a lot of laughs. The planning stages of a fund raiser are very important because it's all about organization and delegation. Many people try to take on a big project by themselves and it is killer to do it that way. I'm not saying it can't be done, I am saying it doesn't have to be all work if you include others in the planning. This article will give some tips on charity fund raising ideas and hopefully some excitingly fun ways to raise money for charity.

Charity fund raising ideas first begin inside someone's heart. The person who will be organizing the fund raising first has a burden for the person or group they are going to raise the money for. In many cases, money is raised for a transplant or operation or illness. It can also be a loss of a home due to a fire or some other freak of nature event.
Once the thought of raising money for the person has begun, then the work begins. You need to incorporate others to come on board and catch the burden because the burden is what is going to keep you going. Charity fund raising ideas will be worth the effort in the end, but up to the end it can be very challenging and you will need help and support.

Many charity fund raising ideas begin with getting a celebrity of some type to either be the star performance or just the spokesperson. It doesn't have to be a movie star, it can be a town leader or sheriff of some type. You can do an American idol contest, or just host a dress up event in which the people coming pay for a nice dinner with a little entertainment, or you can have a performer of some type put on some type of show that people come and watch. For other charity fund raising ideas, you could host a ball room dance of some type in which everyone gets to dress up again. People love to dress up for special events. You can also raffle off items and give door prizes away.

Excitingly Fun And Creative Charity Fund Raising Ideas

Charity fund raising ideas can be an auction of some type or a huge garage sale in which all the items have been donated. These types of things will require a lot of work and organization, but there is money to be made during these events. There are other charity fund raising ideas such as hosting a dinner of some type and having a best men's legs contest in which no one sees who the man is, or throwing a ball at the bulls eye in which a celebrity is sitting in a dunk tank. There are just so many different charity fund raising ideas that can be done, but remember again do not do something like this all by yourself. I believe that when you do something for charity, you don't have to get all the credit. Remember who the fund raising is for. That is the host of the show. In many cases good charity fund raising ideas will get free publicity. If you are well organized and you believe in what you are doing, then you can get your local television and radio and newspaper to come on board and help you out with the advertising.

Excitingly Fun And Creative Charity Fund Raising Ideas
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For more information on fundraising events and projects for your organization try visiting http://good-fundraising-ideas.com, a website that specializes in providing helpful tips, advice and fundraising resources to include Charity Fund Raising Ideas and more.

Words For Thank You Notes - Thoughtful Words to Express Your Thanks

It's highly important that you choose the best words for thank you notes. After all, you want to let people know how much you appreciate what they have done or given you. A simple thank you isn't going to cut it anymore.

Choosing words for thank you notes isn't that hard. You can be as creative as you want to be, depending on the person you intend to send the message to. If you have a couple of thank you notes to send, here are some words you might find useful.

1) I can never thank you enough... But I'll try! Thank you so much!

Words For Thank You Notes - Thoughtful Words to Express Your Thanks

This one is more lighthearted and is perfect if you're writing to someone who did you a favor. It's simple, sincere and a funny enough to be considered memorable. Sometimes, the best words for thank you notes are the simplest. But don't just stop at saying thank you though!

2) Thank you for this gift, and for the gift of knowing you.

People like to know that they're appreciated. If someone sends you a gift, this line would probably be the best. It takes away all the materialism of the actual present and instead highlights the more meaningful side of gift giving.

3) I'll think of you every time I use it.

If you happen to receive presents that aren't exactly to your liking, you should use these words for your thank you notes. It's still the truth, but you phrased it a little differently so as not to hurt anybody's feelings.

Choosing the best words for thank you notes can be a bit daunting at first, especially when you have to write so many. However, with the sample listed above, I hope that you'll be able to add more meaning to your notes rather than just a common thank you.

Words For Thank You Notes - Thoughtful Words to Express Your Thanks
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Discover how to say the right words in any situation, and influence people by using powerful persuasion and conversational hypnosis techniques. Grab your FREE course that reveals 10 groundbreaking persuasion secrets at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/secrets.htm.

Creative Writing: How to Write Fight Scenes

Many of the novels produced today have fight scenes which must be described in detail. If you are writing a suspense or horror story, chances are someone will throw a few punches. Depending on the type of fight you are writing about, you will need to think through each fight scene and decide exactly how you want to tell it.

Fight scenes are much easier to perform on television than to write in a manuscript. On the screen, you can see the fight happening and you aren't worried about what anyone is thinking. You don't have to tell the audience how each move is executed because it is right there in front of your face. In a novel, however, the way you write a fight scene will determine whether or not your reader can follow.

One of the most difficult aspect of writing fight scenes is the tendency to slip into monotony: He kicked her. She kicked him. He punched her. She bit him. In order to keep your reader interested, you have to find creative ways to tell the reader what is happening.

Creative Writing: How to Write Fight Scenes

When writing fight scenes, focus not only on the characters who are engaged in the fight, but also various aspects of the scenery. In most cases, you will be "in the mind" of one specific character, which means that the fight is explained from his or her point of view. Even as your character is kicking ass and taking names, he or she should be cognizant of the world around them.

There is a fine line, however, between creating enough description and creating so much that it takes away from the pace. Fights are fast, furious and often over within minutes; if you drag it out too long, your reader will get bored. Keep the pace flowing by intermixing your description with the mechanics of the fight.

For example:

"Caleb was momentarily distracted by the shouts that emanated from the rapidly growing crowd in the parking lot. Catcalls were followed by cheers of encouragement so loud that his attention was momentarily called away from the fight. Joshua's leg swept out in a wide, graceful art, connecting with Caleb's ankles, throwing him off balance. Without even realizing what exactly was happening, Caleb found himself flat on his back, sucking in deep breaths of air that seemed devoid of oxygen, wincing as tiny pebbles from the asphalt dug painfully into his back. The subsequent tunnel vision that threatened to take away his sight cleared with just enough time to roll away from a kick to the ribs."

The above is an excerpt from a suspense novel I wrote several years ago, and displays an example of complementing action with description. We know what is going on with the fight, but we also understand what has happened to Caleb.

Once you have finished writing a fight scene, read it over aloud. Listen to the words from an objective point of view and determine if you can see the fight happening in your mind. If you don't feel that you can maintain objectivity, read it to a friend or family member.

Creative Writing: How to Write Fight Scenes
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Laura J. College is a professional ghostwriter with more than ten years' experience writing fiction and non-fiction manuscripts. Her work can be found all over the Internet, and she is currently accepting ghostwriting clients. Check out her website at [http://www.laurajcollege.com]

Why Writing an Outline is Important

Your creative juices have kicked in, and you are comfortable with your topic and your point of view. Your mind is running a mile a minute. Ideas are starting to come. Right now, you need to take a deep breath and write an outline.

Exactly What is an Outline?
An outline is a road map of your book or paper. It organizes your thoughts, the points and the ideas you want to make. There is a specific structure to an outline. It's even been standardized in some word processing packages.

The best way to start your outline is to put down your main points. The standard here is to use Roman numerals. Points you want to make that support your main points are sub points. These points are noted by using capital letters. The process continues until all the sub points have found a home and all major points have sub points supporting them.

Why Writing an Outline is Important

If you follow this blueprint, your ideas will flow smoothly.

Writing an Outline
Short works do not necessarily need an extensive outline. However, the longer your work, the more complex and complete your outline needs to be. Once you're into writing an outline, the process becomes easier as you go along. The more complete your outline is, the easier it is to write the sentences that weave your ideas together.

Importance of Research
Do you do your research before or after your do your outline? It depends! You should have enough research done to know what direction your work will take. You still can change or adjust that direction as you do additional research. It is important, though, to have some research done. As you develop your outline, you can leave blanks for the results of research work yet to be done. On the other hand, if you work to complete all of your research before you begin the outline, you may find yourself stuck in the paralysis of analysis.

Organize Your Thoughts
Once you have started your outline and have stated your thesis, it is time to organize your thoughts. Decide on your audience. That will influence your decisions on voice and style. You are ready to make decisions about what you will include and what you won't. (Do not throw any unused notes away, though, you never know when you will be able to use them in the future.)

Importance of Structure
No matter what the purpose of your writing, the structure of your outline should be consistent throughout the project. Maintaining consistency helps you determine if your points are put in logical and easy-to-follow order. Once your outline is complete, writing the paper consists primarily of filling in the blanks and tying your points together. It also helps when you review your outline to make sure you have put in everything you intended to.

Writing and using an outline is important. Using index cards and sticky notes that can be moved around can help you as you polish your outline. They can help you keep track of facts in an essay or non-fiction book. If it is a novel, you can use them to track characters throughout the story line. The more you use outlines, the easier it will become.

Why Writing an Outline is Important
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Tiffany Byrd ~ Experienced management professional writer with award-winning achievements and background in marketing, integrated communications, and public relations. She has written just about everything, from magazine articles to books and press releases. Contact Tiffany at http://www.freelancewritingdesk.com

Employee Newsletter Ideas - 7 Creative Ideas for Your Employee Newsletter

Employee newsletters are an effective tool to communicate with your employees. Here are 7 employee newsletter ideas...

#1. Provide Information about Your Customers

The more familiar your employees are with your customers, the more successful your company will be. So it's very important that you provide them with enough information about your prospects.

Employee Newsletter Ideas - 7 Creative Ideas for Your Employee Newsletter

#2. Explain How to Sell Your Products

Share effective tips and techniques to sell your products and services. The more your employees know about selling techniques, the more sales you will make.

#3. Explain Your Company Goals

Every company has some important goals. You can explain your goals, why they are so important, and how your employees can help the company achieve them.

#4. Welcome New Employees

You might have new employees joining your company. Extending a warm welcome message to them makes them work more passionately and with more energy.

#5. Answer Frequently Asked Questions

Your employees might ask you some certain questions frequently. You can save a lot of time by answering them in your employee newsletter.

#6. Deal with Common Complaints

#7. Capture Employee Ideas

You can use surveys in your employee newsletter to capture their ideas. Your employees may have creative ideas that will help you increase your profits (e.g. how to improve your products or customer service).

Wish you much success,

Ladan Lashkari

Employee Newsletter Ideas - 7 Creative Ideas for Your Employee Newsletter
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Ladan Lashkari is a respected Internet marketing expert, and the owner of http://www.FreeNewsletterIdeas.com/ where you'll find free newsletter templates, creative newsletter ideas, honest reviews, and helpful resources to start your own highly profitable email marketing campaign.

The Importance of Imagination

With children and their development, nothing is more important than imagination to help with the growth of thought processes and creativity. Children that are able to get away from it all and place themselves, mentally, in another world are more likely to be able to think "outside the box" and produce more creative results when learning and working. For this reason, the importance of imagination cannot be underestimated and should be encouraged when raising children.

Parents know the importance of curiosity in children. Curiosity holds an important place in the minds of kids because it helps provide them with the will to explore objects and places that they do not know. Children become curious from a very young age and begin to wonder about various notions in this broad universe, but it is imagination that helps carry the child beyond the boundaries of imagination and into a new world of discovery.

It is imagination that begins to develop and occupy a very vital place in a child's mental world. With imagination, a child can move mountains, transport himself to a distant world, make himself smaller or larger, or disappear from sight. Imagination allows children to form new ideas and explore old ideas, all at once. For children with more to escape in their unfortunate realities, such as abuse victims or children with separated parents, imagination plays an even more critical role in development as it aids with coping.

The Importance of Imagination

Promoting Imagination

As parents, it is critical to promote imagination through various activities and ideas. Expose children to fantasy worlds through books and television shows. Discuss these ideas together and explore your children's ideas. Don't judge them for the ideas they think of, but rather explore them together and ask questions to promote more thought through imagination. This will help children flesh out and solidify ideas through their imagination, leading to the building blocks of creative thinking.

In today's world, having imagination is more important than ever. Jobs are being filled with people with creative thinking skills that can get things done. News reports are filled with terrible items that can create feelings of fear, despair and hopelessness. Imagination offers not only a release and an escape from the world, but also a new ability to think and create within it. The skills that come about as a result of a working imagination are infinite in number.

When children get scared, it is important to show them compassion and belonging. This can be accomplished through the use of imagination at play. Doll houses, miniature worlds, board games, role-playing games, or even a simple tent in the backyard can promote imagination in small children as they are influenced through the limitless boundaries of the creative world.

Buy children imagination-promoting toys and activities, too. A dollhouse is a great activity for promoting imagination, as the child can design and work with various characters and situations within the dollhouse. Any toy or activity that promotes imagination is a tremendous asset for preparing children for the world and allowing them the space in which to truly and safely grow up.

The Importance of Imagination
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Learn more about the fascinating world of miniatures. Visit TheMagicalDollhouse.com today for a great doll house and dollhouse accessories from top miniature companies.

Creative Writing: How to Start Your Novel

When I was in the eleventh grade, I took a creative writing elective with one of the most brilliant teachers I've ever met. She was brutal, honest and highly creative; I don't know why she hadn't graduated to teaching college courses. In any event, she gave me the best writing advice I have ever gotten:

"The worst way to start your story is with a 'dark and stormy night'. It's been done. Other than that, the sky's the limit."

I took her advice to heart, and the stories I wrote for her class had the most creative beginnings I've ever written.

Creative Writing: How to Start Your Novel

Most beginning (and even veteran) writers struggle with how to open their novels. Dialogue? Action? Witty prose? How you start your novel with decide how many people buy it off bookstore shelves. Captivating your reader should be the first priority, but how do you know if it's exciting enough?

How to Start Your Novel with Dialogue

I rarely start novels with dialogue, mostly because I can never think of anything important enough to say. However, sometimes dialogue is the best way to get your novel off to a running start. If your characters are in the middle of a fight or if there's something you want to get right out in the open, dialogue can thrust your reader right into the opening scene of the novel.

That said, you have to be careful. Resist the urge to start your novel with dialogue like, "How are you feeling today?" If you plan to open with dialogue, it must be intelligent and important and captivating.

My only real advice for starting your novel with dialogue is to have only one line of speech before you insert some explanations. Even if the characters are in the middle of a conversation, don't confuse your reader by failing to give details.

How to Start Your Novel with Action

Obviously, action is the most popular way to start a novel. It's exciting, intriguing, and it lures your readers into the story before they even know what hit them.

This is especially true with mystery and suspense stories. In those genres, readers expect to be hooked from the get-go, and they want to be shocked from paragraph one.

How to Start Your Novel with Prose

In this case, "prose" really refers to description. Some of the most powerful novels of all time have begun with languid and lyrical description:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

- Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

"A squat grey building of only thirty-four stories..."

- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

Description is my favorite way to start a novel because it eases the reader into the storyline. There are no expectations, no assumptions; your reader becomes immersed in the fictional world that you have created, and at your own pace; no one else's.

The only problem with this method is that you must find a unique way to describe the opening scene. My advice is to think about the characters and the setting and to pick out a remote object on which to comment. This takes your reader from a very specified place - the object - and into a more complex scene - your opening. For example, one of the books that I ghosted several years ago began like this:

"In a room filled with beautiful antique furniture and ancient artifacts from Egypt and Rome, the digital clock radio stuck out like a sore thumb. It's flashing green digits called attention to the clock as if to say, I may be new, but I'm still important. It struck me as odd that someone as refined and as old-world as Cunningham Thompson III would rely on such a technological timepiece." By drawing your readers' attention to something mundane, they will be twice as captivated when you get on with the plot.

Creative Writing: How to Start Your Novel
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Laura J. College is a professional ghostwriter with more than ten years' experience writing fiction and non-fiction manuscripts. Her work can be found all over the Internet, and she is currently accepting ghostwriting clients. Check out her website at [http://www.laurajcollege.com]

How to Come Up With a Creative Name For Your Website, Blog, Or Business

In this article I will share some tips on how to come up with a creative blog name even if you're not feeling very creative.

Think about what your website or blog is about. If you can, summarize what it's about in a few short sentences, it will help. Come up with a list of 5-10 keywords that describe your niche or topic.

Go for a walk or step away from the computer and brainstorm potential name ideas using the keywords you have come up with. Think about local attractions that will associate you with your local neighborhood or town. Use your personal name or initials in the name. Combine words that sound like the real word but are spelled differently.

How to Come Up With a Creative Name For Your Website, Blog, Or Business

Combine your initials or your name with the keywords that describe your business. Your blog or website is your business so be proud of it and treat it like one. For example if you are a graphic designer, think about using your name accompanied with endings like Desktop Publishing, Design, Media, or Studios.

Use name generators to combine your name with other creative words. One of my favorite tools to use when I cannot figure out a name is Musicians Friend's Band Name Generator. Yes it is for band names but you can use it for coming up with a creative name for business too. I find that this Generator gives me some very creative names and stimulates my creativity and ideas.

Keep your name short. Usually three-word domains are the longest you want to use. One exception to this is using keywords to target traffic. For example, makemoneyonlinefast.com is long but it does target specific keywords. Using your keywords in the domain name can be beneficial. But if you are going for a broader niche or starting a company, its best to keep it at two or less words.

Be remarkable and unique by using web 2.0 generators that will create fancy words out of ordinary words. Sometimes this can be successful. Look at Flickr or Yahoo. Also look at Squidoo and others that are web 2.0 names.

The bottom line is to create a short and remarkable name by combining keywords that describe your business and add a personal touch with words that could be your initials, your name, or a noun.

Below you will find a link to my blog which will show you all of the name generators on the web that will combine words for your. It's like auto pilot naming... sort of. Be sure to check it out.

How to Come Up With a Creative Name For Your Website, Blog, Or Business
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Don't give up! I have compiled a full list of every popular name generator on the web. There are over 6 name generators to choose from. I will give you a complete detail of the naming procedure plus the links and reviews of these other name generators. Just visit my blog at http://onebiginternet.com/2010/07/how-to-find-a-creative-name-for-your-blog-or-website/

5 Creative (And Low Cost) Ways to Thank and Recognize Your Donors

Recognizing and acknowledging donors is a critical step in getting the gift. It might be considered the final step in receiving a gift, but it is actually the first step in getting the next gift. Consider using these 5 creative ideas to honor and thank your donors.

1. Thank your donor 7 times. There's nothing more important than thanking our donors. We need to make sure donors know how much we appreciate them and their generosity. So thank your donor 7 times. The 7 Thanks don't have to be elaborate or expensive - just sincere.

The initial Thank You should be timely. Your quick response to a donor's gift lets them know that you did in fact receive their gift and that you are glad to have it. Ideally, you should get an initial Thank You letter out within 48 hours of receiving a gift. There's nothing worse for a donor than waiting weeks or months for a gift acknowledgment.

5 Creative (And Low Cost) Ways to Thank and Recognize Your Donors

Subsequent Thank Yous may be spread out over several weeks or months. Letting a little time go by between Thank Yous shows the donor that you haven't forgotten about them. And, it helps you build a relationship.

Ideas for the 7 Thank Yous:

- Computer-generated letter

- Hand-written note card

- Phone call

- Email

- Call or note from the Executive Director

- Call or note from a Board member

- Call or note from another staff member (NOT a Fundraiser)

- Note from a client

- Photograph of your organization in action

- Written update about the use of the donor's gift

2. Engage your Board in the recognition process. Board members often want to help you, but they are unsure how they can help. Consider using these ideas:

- Ask Board members to write Thank You notes, especially to donors they know. A personal note from a peer or friend is a powerful acknowledgment for a donor.

- Ask Board members to make Thank You calls to donors. Provide them with a script and just a few names to call (maybe 3 or 4). Give them a target date to complete the calls (i.e., within the next 2 weeks). And ask them to respond back to you when they are done with any comments the donor made or any observations they have. Make a call with them if they are apprehensive about getting started.

- Ask Board members to act as a host or hostess to a specific donor at a Thank You event. The Board member can provide one-on-one attention to a special donor and can introduce him to other Board members or donors at the event. A trained Board member can effectively cultivate a donor and glean valuable information about the donor's attitude toward your organization.

3. Harness the power of the Thank You call. One of the most powerful tools you have is on your desk - the telephone. Making a Thank You call to a donor can be a powerful way to say thanks. It says to the donor that you took time to pick up the phone and call them. Not many organizations do this these days, so your donors might be shocked! Here's an easy script for a Thank You call:

A. Say the donor's name and then identify yourself and your organization. "Mrs. Smith? This is Sandy Rees from the Save the Universe Foundation."

Your donor is likely to be suspicious. They probably think you are about to ask them for something.

B. Tell them why you are calling. "We got your check in the mail today and I'm calling to say Thank You."

You'll probably hear relief and surprise in the donor's voice.

C. Pause.

Don't say anything. The donor will likely gush about how great your organization is or why they made the gift. You may want to make a note of their reasoning, especially if they indicate a favorite program or feature of your organization.

D. Invite the donor to share information with you. "Is there anything you'd like me to relay to our Executive Director for you?"

Often, the donor will be floored that you want to know what they think and that their comments will go all the way to the top. Of course, you are obligated to actually share their comments with your ED! Assure the donor you will pass their comments on.

E. Thank the donor again. "Thank you so much for taking a minute to talk with me. And thanks again for supporting our work."

That's it! Call is done. These calls usually only take 3 or 4 minutes and will pay off big!

4. Involve your whole staff in thanking your donors. Consider using these techniques for involving other staff in the acknowledgment process.

- Ask program staff to write a note or letter to the donor to let them know how their gift is being used. "Front-line" stories are exactly what donors want to hear!

- At a staff meeting, pass a card around and ask everyone to sign it along with a one line thank you message. Send the card to the donor.

- Ask staff to provide tours to donors when they visit.

5. Pay attention to the special recognition needs of some donors. Some people want to be recognized and some don't. You have to know your donors well enough to know what would be meaningful to them. Corporate donors tend to want all the recognition they can get, while individual donors usually do not want a big fuss made over them.

Here are some things to keep in mind when recognizing donors.

- Keep it simple and inexpensive.

- Recognize corporate donors in their offices.

- Make sure the recognition is meaningful to the donor.

- If you have anything printed, make sure you have spelled the donor's name right and used the right name.

Here are some examples of effective and inexpensive donor recognition techniques.

A small basket with small candies makes a nice "Thank You" gift for a donor's support. Add a handwritten card and the package is complete!

Take a photo of your organization in action and personalize it for your donor. "John, you made this happen" written in gold ink can be a powerful recognition tool. An inexpensive frame can make the gift ready to sit on a desk.

If you own the property around your facility, consider a planting in recognition of a donor. This is particularly powerful if your organization has an outdoor element or if the donor has a favorite kind of tree or shrub. You can add a small sign with the donor's name by the planting so the donor can see it whenever they visit you.

Always be on the lookout for simple and meaningful ways to thank and recognize your donors and you'll be well on your way to fundraising success.

5 Creative (And Low Cost) Ways to Thank and Recognize Your Donors
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(c) Sandy Rees, CFRE

Sandy Rees is a nonprofit fundraising coach, consultant, trainer, and author. She shows small nonprofit organizations how to raise more money, gain more supporters, and strengthen their Boards. Learn more about successful fundraising and get free fundraising tips in her e-zine "Bright Ideas for Fundraising" on her website at http://www.getfullyfunded.com.