If you’re a reader, chances are pretty good that at some point in your life you’ve read a book that changed you, shook you, kept you up late, stayed with you for weeks. In the past year, I decided to start sending letters to those authors of mine, letting them know the impact they’ve had. It seemed a small trouble to go to considering all I got from their writing.
So I thought I would share some of the guidelines I used to write those letters, in case any of you are looking to send out some “fan mail” of your own. I’ve outlined 10 tips below, but keep in mind that these are guidelines that are supposed to ease any anxiety you might have over the process – authors are like rock stars to readers, after all, which can be squee-inducing to the faint of heart – not rules you “must follow.”
~*~
1) Send it snail-mail.
This isn’t a must, but it’s a touch that I think makes a difference. Yes, email is easier, but that’s why taking the extra 5 minutes to put a piece of paper in an envelope means so much. If you can’t find their address—which is hopefully the case—just send it to them c/o (care of) their agency, which should have an address listed online. Hopefully their agent will forward the letter to them at home.
2) Introduce yourself and the book in question.
This doesn’t have to be extravagant! A simple, “Hello. My name is ____ and I just finished reading ____,” will do nicely. If you have some sort of connection to them, such as being an aspiring writer in their genre, etc., you can mention that if you want, but don’t go overboard. Which brings me to…
3) Be personal.
If you know this writer through real life or some sort of social media, by all means, speak in your natural voice. Just because it’s snail mail doesn’t mean it has to be stuffy. If you tweet back and forth with this person all the time, you don’t need to address them as Ms. or Mr. Lastname.
The point of this letter is to express a reading experience that went above and beyond average. So yes, the letter can get personal. You can tell them why something about their book touched you. If your parent just died and the book is about that—and helped you get through it somehow—that’s a beautiful thing to let them know. But…
4) Don’t get creepy.
Sometimes the temptation to idolize people you’ve never met is strong, especially if you feel like you know them because you’re familiar with their work. But remember, this is just a person, like you. Keep it appropriate. Don’t ask for favors, don’t ask for personal details, don’t ask for help. Just keep it to letting them know that they’ve impacted you positively in some way, even if it was just a weekend of entertainment.
5) Keep it short.
If this is a published author, I think it’s courteous to assume that they’re a busy person. And yes, you’re doing a nice thing, but that doesn’t give you the right to ramble on for 18 pages (front and back!). Unless this is truly a personal letter, I think 1 page single-spaced should be adequate.
6) Keep it mostly about the book.
Maybe you think so-and-so is hot. Maybe you love the bits of their personal life they reveal on Twitter. Maybe you have a super crush on them or their adorable doggy. But those things being true is a lot less creepy than telling the author those things are true. You don’t want to give off stalker vibes.
7) Be specific.
What is it that you loved about the book? Be specific! Writers love to know what exactly worked and why. But…
8) Don’t speak in hyperbole.
When we hear the words “fan letter,” we tend to think of long raves. Which is okay, if you feel the need to do that. But don’t fake it. Don’t tell them it’s the best book you’ve ever read if it’s not; tell them it’s good or great or excellent. Don’t tell them you’re going to buy all of the books they’ve ever published if you aren’t; tell them that you gave it five stars on Goodreads or that you’ve recommended it to a friend.
Remember, they aren’t *expecting* this letter, so any level of compliment you give (besides backwards or underhanded ones, of course) will be a pleasant surprise. Be honest, genuine, and candid. Don’t blow smoke up their ass.
9) But don’t talk about negatives.
This might sound obvious, but there are many reasons that people feel the urge to tell someone something they didn’t like. Maybe it makes us feel clever or superior. Maybe it’s a disclaimer. I know I truly love some flawed books, and when I recommend them to people I mention the negatives so they don’t think I’m oblivious or have awful taste. But a praise letter is not the place to talk about those things. Even one negative comment buried in a nice letter can hurt. This isn’t a critique group where the writer is expecting criticism; it’s a friendly letter. This goes for backhanded compliments too. (Even though your main character annoyed the crap out of me, the plot was so amazing that I couldn’t put the book down!) Don’t hide insults or little jabs amongst your praise.
10) Include your contact information,
just in case they want to reply, but don’t expect a response.
And finally, thank them and/or wish them well. Sign your name and send it off. Hooray! Hopefully, you just made someone’s day. =)
~*~
Have you ever written a fan letter? Do you have any tips for the rest of us?
And authors out there… have you ever received a fan letter? What was that like for you? Do you have any wisdom to share from the experience?
Share this:
What a great post, Annie! As you know from my “Beverly Cleary” post, I started stalking authors with fan letters at a young age. Recently, I have sent out a few email notes, to which I’ve gotten responses. But I can see why the “written letter” means so much more! I love your no-nonesense tips about not being creepy (ha ha) and about not “blowing smoke up thier asses.” Heh heh.
Thanks Melissa! I’ve gotten a few responses too, and it really is thrilling!
Great post, Annie. A bestselling author (I forget who because I read too much) shared in a book on marketing tips that writers should contact people they receive really great fan letters from and ask them for permission to use excerpts from their letters on their websites. I don’t know if a lot of writers do this, but if you write fan letters, who knows, you might find yourself receiving such a request. Wouldn’t that be cool?
Thanks! That’s a wonderful idea. I’m going to tuck that in the back corner of my mental filing cabinet. And yes, it would be neat to see your own praise on an author’s site!
You’re so right that while email makes authors so much more accessible these days, a handwritten note would be extra special—it’s more of a treat (and email has a tendency to cause stress if you’re one of those people who have an inbox with 500 unread messages). I got some cute new stationary, so maybe I’ll pick a couple of authors and try to make their day 🙂
Yes, the email thing. That’s a good point. Another detraction from the email option is that many people feel they have to respond to every email, as opposed to letters which (in my mind) could more readily be tucked away as keepsakes. Yes, author responses are exciting, but I personally wouldn’t want an author to feel obligated to respond. I hope you do write to some authors! It made me feel good, and you just know it makes them feel good! =)
I’ve never written a fan letter before! Now I have these tips to help me, so I obviously have no more excuses. Time to give it a shot.
Haha, awesome! I’ll consider this my good deed of the week. 😉
Pingback: Why Don't You...? | Happy. Pretty. Sweet.
Hey !!! i really want you to help me please !! i’m a girl who is madly and deeply in love with Harry Styles !! 😀 if writing a fan letter is like this , i am breaking all the rules !!! haha! cause i’m talking very emotional in this letter and i tried to show him all my love ! i really wanna know is it any good or bad?? i really need your help ! Tnx ! lots of love xx
Hi Annie! I’m trying to write the “perfect” fan mail and reading your post was great help. Thank you!
Great to hear! I’m happy it helped. 🙂
you posted that years ago and its still helpful. thank you so much for publishing your tips and ur efforts
Awesome! It’s my pleasure.
Annie, would it be better to type up the letter or hand write it?
That’s totally up to you! There are no rules for these sorts of things. Hand written adds a personal touch but can be harder to read. Typed is easier to read. It’s just taste.
Thank you so very much Annie. I’m in the process of writing my very 1st fan letter ever in 40 years and this helps me out a whole lot, thanks you, thank you, thank you.
It’s my pleasure! Have fun!
I know this is coming really late, but why so you think criticism is so bad? If anyone wants to get better it’s important to know what you did wrong. Of course a letter full of negatives isn’t nice to receive but a letter full of only compliments can sound fake and bland.
Hi Janette! It’s not that I think criticism is bad in general, simply in the context of a fan letter. While all artists need (and most value) feedback, they seek it out as they desire from particular sources. A fan letter is supposed to be a nice thing, and criticism during an unexpected time (what’s traditionally a show of kindness and fandom) simply isn’t as welcome as when it’s sought out. Kind of like the difference between solicited an unsolicited advice, if that makes sense. Of course you can do whatever you want in your letter; these are just my suggestions. Good luck!
I just sent out my first fan letter and I wanted to thank you for your tips, they really helped me! The chances of getting a response might be little but at least I can say I tried.
Good deal! Good luck!
Pingback: The Best Ways To Contact A Celebrity – HollyWoodCelebGossips.com
Pingback: How To Contact A Celebrity’s Publicist – HollyWoodCelebGossips.com