Reaching Out: The Guide to Writing a Terrific Dear Birthmother Letter (Volume 1)

Based on extensive interviews with social workers, adoption attorneys, agency personnel, counselors, and birthparents, REACHING OUT will help you know your audience, clarify your goals, and have confidence in what you present.

It's a tool kit for self-expression that anyone can use.

REACHING OUT takes the fear out of the process of writing about yourself. Chock full of valuable tips and strategies, it will help you speak your heart... authentically, clearly, and with impact

CONTENTS INCLUDE:

• What birthparents look for in a good letter
• Common mistakes and how to avoid them
• Tons of examples, samples, and styles to spark your imagination
• Step-by-step writing and revision techniques to help anyone write well
• Secrets of selecting photographs that work
• Hints for good graphic design
• Tips for writing with your partner

With a foreword by nationally known adoption counselor Carole LieberWilkins, M.A., REACHING OUT also teaches you the keys to creating and sustaining a positive mental outlook throughout the adoption process.

This is an extraordinarily helpful book, full of authoritative research, clear guidance, warm humor, and genuine sensitivity to everyone involved in the adoption triad. It was highly recommended to me by both my attorney and my adoption counselor. In the process of helping me write a letter that truly reflected my heart, it also dispelled many of the fears I had, born of misconception. To judge it without reading it does this book, and the adoption community, a grave disservice.


Insightful, Entertaining and Informative   August 12, 2003
Sheri Cohen (Los Angeles, California United States)
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

As an adoption professional, I recommend this book to all of my clients. The author turns the daunting task of drafting an outreach letter into a manageable and enjoyable process. Written with insight, sensitivity and humor, the book guides you from initial idea to final product -- an outreach letter that speaks honestly and compellingly to potential birthmothers.


Witty, practical, warm, and honest   October 9, 2002
Jennifer Cowie King (Altadena, CA United States)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

Anyone who is daunted by the task of writing a Dear Birthmother letter should read this book. Recommended by a friend, I picked it up and couldn't put it down. I found it witty, practical, warm and honest. Loved it. (In fact, I am having to restrain myself from using "!!".) My husband is now reading it and laughs out loud. What seemed an overwhelming task now looks like fun. Here's to the journey...


Extremely Helpful resource for this very important task.   November 18, 2002
Jean Doherty (Watertown, WI)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

This book was the best I have seen when it comes to writing the Dear Birthmother letter. It gives you very practical advice on how to put this letter together. The author does a wonderful job describing how the birthmother feels based on the words that you are using. A must have for anyone faced with the task of writing a Dear Birthmother letter. I have recommended it to many.


Fantastic Help writing your Birthmother Letter   November 26, 2001
Rhonda Vinton (Los Angeles, CA USA)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

This book is great! It is easy to read and filled with lots of examples and HEART. It helps you choose the content, style, and structure that works best for you. It continually gives you the encouragement to be yourself(s) when writing your letter and to understand important things about birthparent's mindset.

Before we (my husband & I) got this book, we had struggled to write our Dear Birthmother Letter. Once we got this book, we were able to write our letter relatively quickly. Most importantly, we are happy with the result. Our letter is full of life and love. Our friends and families continually comment that our personalities and our lives are vibrantly conveyed in our letter.

Writing a Dear Birthmother Letter is a difficult step in the adoption process. Using this book with make this step easier and more effective towards making a connection with a birthmother.