Democracy Spark*
Ghostwriting for Grassroots Democracy Organizations
You Have the Fire. I'll Give You the Words.
You're showing up. Organizing rallies. Coordinating mutual aid. Defending constitutional principles while juggling day jobs and family responsibilities. You see what's at stake and you refuse to stay silent.
But here's what I often see: Grassroots organizations have passion and vision with minimal capacity for professional communications.
You know what you stand for. You know what needs to be said. But between organizing the protest, managing volunteers, and responding to the crisis of the week, who has time to write the rally speech that actually moves people? Who has the expertise to ground activism in constitutional principles while making it accessible?
That's my contribution to this movement.
You bring the passion and the organizing power. I bring constitutional analysis, persuasive writing, and years of understanding what actually moves people from outrage to action.
What I Create
Words that inspire focused action:
- Rally speeches that inspire without preaching
- Action alerts that cut through noise and move people to act
- Letters to representatives that demand accountability with constitutional grounding
- Protest guides that balance safety with civic courage
- Website copy that turns visitors into activists
- Messaging that unites rather than divides
Every piece I create follows these principles:
- Aspirational focus - what SHOULD be, based on constitutional and democratic values
- Evidence-based - quality sources, verifiable claims, no unsupported attacks
- Grounded in love, not hate - opposing authoritarian actions while affirming human dignity and inclusive of all people striving to defend the principles of democracy regardless of political or societal labels
- Commitment to peaceful nonviolent action - All calls to action are grounded in peaceful resistance that protects life and property
How We Work Together
No formal briefs. No complicated process. Just a conversation.
You tell me what's happening and what you're thinking - even if it's just fragments or the feeling you're going for. I ask questions. We talk for 20-30 minutes.
Then I translate your spark into something complete, powerful, and ready to use.
Real example: An organizer gave me four values - Democracy, Love, No Kings, Inclusion - and told me she wanted to bring down the temperature for an upcoming protest. From that conversation, we created a complete guiding principles document her organizing team now uses for planning, marketing, and inspiration.
That's what I do. You bring the spark. I bring the structure, the constitutional grounding, and the words that move people.
True Ghostwriting
What I create becomes your organization's - completely and permanently.
Put your organization's name on it. Share it with your network. Use it however serves your organization's mission. I stay invisible. This isn't about building my portfolio. It's about amplifying your voice.
Why confidentiality matters: Democracy defense work requires discretion. You get expert support without exposure. I can serve multiple organizations without conflicts. Your authenticity stays intact.
I Work for Tips (Here's Why)
This is professional work requiring years of expertise, deep research, and real resources. But I'm fortunate enough to prioritize mission impact over profit maximization.
How it actually works:
- Zero upfront cost - you see the completed work first
- Then you decide what it's worth
- Organizations with budget: $250-500 range helps sustain this model
- Organizations without budget: pay what you can, including $0
- Either way: same quality, same commitment
What do you have to lose? A 30-minute conversation and reviewing a draft. That's it.
What do you have to gain? Professional messaging you couldn't otherwise access or didn't have time to create.
What Democracy Spark* Offers (And Doesn't Offer)
Discrete writing projects.
I collaborate with you on the specific piece you need - rally speech, action alert, website copy - then your organization owns it completely and I disappear.
I do not offer:
- Ongoing staff or communications support
- Membership in your organization
- Attendance at your planning meetings, gatherings, or events
- Strategic consulting or organizational development
Once I deliver the work, it belongs to your organization. If you need help with another project, we'll schedule a new conversation to explore your evolving needs.
This Is My Contribution
Your passion and talent is organizing. You have your community connections and ground level knowledge. My passion and talent is writing. I translate constitutional complexity into accessible urgency. I take your unbridled passion and shape it into words that move people to action.
Democracy needs your organizing expertise. You deserve communications support that matches your commitment.
Let's Talk
If your organization needs messaging that inspires action while staying grounded in constitutional principles, let's have a conversation about your vision.
Tell me:
- What you need (even just a rough idea)
- What's happening that you're responding to
- When you need it
- A bit about your organization's mission
I'll respond within 48 hours.
What Organizations Say
"My passion is activism. My organization has grown substantially over the past two years and we have planned rallies and protests both small and large as well as providing our members with monthly meetings that include educational aspects and calls to action. Like many local social justice organizations, our planning committee has a lot on our plates and it can be a struggle getting it all done. I also recognize that to be a really effective organizer, top notch professional communications are essential.
When I first read a letter that Bonnie Ross wrote to an elected official, it stopped me in my tracks. Just WOW. Her writing was concise yet complete and extremely effective. Her letter was thoroughly researched, verifiable, and completely sourced. It clearly outlined her expectations of her elected official. In short, it was one of the best letters of this type I have ever read.
I reached out to her in hopes that she would help me with a series of letters on different topics that my organization could take to our congressman. After a brief conversation with Bonnie, I was amazed that within a few days she produced not only perfectly stated letters that I requested, but also a separate source document for each letter and talking points for each letter should we be able to discuss it in person with the congressman. She also included suggestions on follow up afterwards including options depending on whether we received a response to our expectations.
She goes above and beyond with every effort, and we reach out to her on a regular basis. I'm so grateful to have found her, and that I now have Democracy Spark to turn to when professional communications are needed."
"Bonnie Ross is an incredible asset to any organization working to defend democracy. At Good Trouble WNC, she has become our trusted expert whenever we need to engage elected officials or communicate effectively through the media.
Bonnie possesses a rare ability to cut through complex issues and consistently deliver messages that are compelling, articulate, and grounded in constitutional principles. Her strategic guidance has shaped our advocacy efforts and strengthened our impact.
We have come to rely on her expertise, and we are thrilled that she is now expanding her reach to support other organizations. I wish I could channel her words to explain more fully what an important role she is filling during this most critical time — but one thing is certain: Bonnie Ross is making a difference where it matters most."
"I have been working with Good Trouble WNC as an advocate and organizer since the fall of 2024. When Project 2025 came to light that summer, I knew I had to educate people about what was in this 900-page document. I also have a passion for helping people understand how our legislative branch works and how bills become law.
Between educating the public and planning multiple rallies and protests, I was using all my brain power. That's when Bonnie Ross became invaluable. Every letter, online post, or editorial she writes is eloquent, well-thought-out, and thoroughly researched. Every time I read her work, I am blown away.
Last week I asked Bonnie to write a letter covering three topics that Good Trouble plans to deliver to Chuck Edwards, Thom Tillis, and Ted Budd while we are in Washington DC. The letter she wrote was amazing. What she wrote in one day would have taken me days to complete. She is a valuable asset for making all our communications top-notch and professional."