Jessica+LaFave's+User+Guide

How to Write a Ransom Note (Note: This is not intended to encourage any kind of criminal activity and is merely for educational purposes)  To begin a ransom note, there has to be something which has been taken and held for said ransom. The tone of the ransom note should reflect the crime. If it is being used as a joke between friends, then the chosen words should have a playful sound to them. However, if the intention of the note is to obtain money due to kidnapping then the language needs to be urgent and express the desired outcome. It is very important to remember who the intended audience of the note should be. This also determines the tone of the note. If kidnapping a young child, you want to make the parents feel as nervous as possible, so use very ominous language. If you are holding a friend’s laptop captive so they will return your favorite H&M sweater, make sure you are very specific in your demands and that it is worded in a way that your friend will easily understand. Additionally, anonymity is key. Unless of course, you want to be discovered but that seems highly unlikely. It is important to take measures in order to ensure that you will not be identified as the person who wrote the note. That being said, use a computer or newspaper clippings to compose the note. Do not write it in your own handwriting! That is the biggest mistake made by amateur criminals. You do not want people to know that it was you who committed the crime, otherwise you would have just told them about it. Another key element of writing a ransom note is the style in which it is delivered. Some common delivery ideas include: leaving it place of the object which you stole, sending it in the mail (with no return address label, come on people), leaving at the door after ringing the doorbell (and quickly running away) or having it delivered by a random intoxicated homeless man who could not identify you if his life depended on it. These are all important factors to consider while writing your note because it is the next step in the process. An effective ransom note can be incredibly powerful. As long as there is a clear statement of purpose, and reasonable threats to be carried out, it should prove to be just the thing for every thief or kidnapper. Remember the importance of tone and audience, these will help make your note easy to understand and will allow you to quickly and painlessly obtain your desired result. Good Luck!!

Good details on tone and delivery. There is also a need for an anonymous style. How do you write as you don't normally write?You might want to suggest a structure for the text, including

 * ==the facts of the situation==
 * ==the demands==
 * ==the execution of the demands==
 * ==the prohibited behaviors==
 * ==warnings and incentives==