Day 5 — Letters of introduction
February 5, 2013 in Journal
It is tricky to write to a new person for the first time. Once, you would have a letter of introduction from a mutual friend to accompany yours. It is rare when you have that opportunity now. Many of you have found new people to write to through the forums and now must write that first letter. The temptation is to start off with a short biography.
Allow me to counsel you to avoid that. Why? Because letters are a form of written conversation. You do not approach someone new at a party and recite your curriculum vitae. It is stiff and formal. Instead, you start with an observation about the place you are in, or some other bit of small talk about something you have in common. In person that might be, “can you believe the weather we’re having?” In a letter it might be, “I’ve been buying ridiculous quantities of stationery…”
I sometimes start by simply describing where I am at that moment. “I’m sitting at my desk in our dining room. My cat Harriet is curled up on the radiator next to me and is snoring. I adore a cat who snores…” You see how simply trying to capture that moment in time begins to tell my new correspondent something about me. I have a cat named Harriet.
Another idea, suggested by participant Fiona Webster is to free associate. Look at their bio on the webpage and start writing about whatever comes to mind from a quick glance.
And ask questions. If their bio mentions that they are married, ask how they met their spouse. Or if it mentions that they collect typewriters, ask what their most recent acquisition is. Treat it like a conversation.
And remember, when you first meet something, there’s nothing wrong with a little small talk while you get to know each other.
What tricks do you use when starting?
Michelle said on February 5, 2013
Ahh, such good points! Wish I had read this yesterday when I wrote my first “first” letter in almost a year! I got nervous and dedicated each paragraph to a section of my life
Ah well, better tips for today!
Gillian Osborne said on February 5, 2013
Very good points! I’m sure your letter was still a very interesting one Michelle. I too am always guilty of ‘writing a CV’ yet never even realised it until Mary mentioned it above. I shall be aware of it in future letters and will just relax and ‘let it flow’ as I write.
Denise said on February 5, 2013
Yes, very good points. I’ll try to keep those in mind. Thank you.
Jonathan Gabel said on February 5, 2013
Just a simple introduction will do whether someone is writing to you first or not. I had said something else over at Facebook that relates to this. I will say this right here as well. By the end of this evening I have written a total of 13 letters so far in February 2013! I will be past the halfway mark of the magic number of 23! Good luck to us all and keep having fun!
Jackie Parkins said on February 5, 2013
Very good ideas, thanks for posting this. The first letter is always a little awkward for me, I will keep this in mind.
Sara Rose said on February 5, 2013
It never hurts to talk about the book you are reading, project you are crafting, creation you want to cook next. You may find some common ground!
Carolina Garnero said on February 5, 2013
Excelentes sugerencias!
Anny said on February 5, 2013
Very good post, like! I often try to start off by describing the place I’m in, which will probably be at home, at work or at a coffee shop. In the two latter, it’s usually pretty easy to look around and describe a situation, that way the person I’m writing too (hopefully) feels like a part of a conversation and a wee bit “closer” in a way.
But writing first letters is always terrifying even though I’ve done quite a few by now. In some ways it’s a bit like a job interview, because your new pen pal doesn’t have anything to judge you from but your letter, so of course you want to make a good impression
Cynaemon Milliken said on February 5, 2013
Sounds like a good idea
Cynaemon Milliken said on February 5, 2013
Sent several letters and postcards today. Moving right along.
Cassie said on February 5, 2013
Glad for this post! @Anny, you are absolutely right and that’s what makes it so frightening.
I have a tendency to start writing basics about my life and think it must be so boring. I participated in a recent letter swap titled “Rambling Letter.” The whole purpose behind it was to write about whatever was on your mind, but no formal introductions. Very helpful and much more enjoyable!
@Sara Rose and @Anny – great suggestions!
Kurt Adam said on February 6, 2013
This is something I definitely have been struggling with, but I just turned it into something else to talk about. How meta of me. :p
Anny said on February 7, 2013
@Cassie, woah I’d love a Rambling letter swap, although I suspect most of my letters are quite..rambly
But that’s a great way to practice the skill of not being so formal in letters!