fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #4513 ]

[ SECRET POST #4513 ]

⌈ Secret Post #4513 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ask your questions.

I've found plenty of articles on how to write a fan letter to a famous person, but none of them seem to cover the most basic part: how do you address them in the beginning? These are all the options I can think of and none of them feels right.
-Dear Joe Smith,
-Dear Mr. Smith,
-Dear Mr. Joe Smith,
-Dear Joe,
-To Joe Smith,
-To Mr. Smith,
-To Mr. Joe Smith,
-Mr. Smith,
-Mr. Joe Smith,
-[Nothing, just start the letter]

I know I want to be more friendly than formal, but I don't want to go too far in either direction. I haven't had to think about this in years and now that I do, I'm stumped. Full name feels clunky, last name only feels too formal, first name only feels too familiar. I know "dear" is considered standard even for strangers if the letter isn't formal, but as someone who rarely writes letters, I worry about it being creepy. But I don't want to be aloof either. Weigh in, F!S?

I would, personally, use 'Mr. Smith -' as I feel like that's the appropriate level of formality for someone you don't really know.

I wrote, "Dear Mr. Tolkien".

Christopher Tolkien must get thousands of fan letters and I imagine mine was pretty typical. I know he is technically a professor, but he retired long enough ago that I don't suppose it's a core part of his identity any more. Really, I was just concerned to send him a letter before it was too late...

It seems that it takes about the same amount of effort to get a therpist and to deal with the problems I want to discuss with them. Everybody talks about how great therapy is but I don't feel up to this. Moreover the only option I have at the moment is talking to a specialist via Skype. Should I seek the treatment and if so, is long distance ok?

Short answer: nobody can answer whether or not you should seek a specialist except yourself. Only you know you and what is good for you.

Longer answer, it couldn't hurt to try therapy out. Exploring any and all options will help you determine the best course of action for yourself. Treatment and/or self-help is a very personal journey with no clear cut path. Everyone has different needs. You may find a specialist is good for you or it might prove to not be the best fit.

For me personally, therapy didn't help but a drastic change in diet and exercise did - my depression and anxiety issues were mostly hormonal as well as having excess pent up energy that wasn't being properly channeled. But this is me, not you. Do whatever you think will help you.

ayrt
Thank you!

I like to know people's paths to getting published, especially for novels and short stories.

Self-publishing through Amazon KDP is probably the easiest way to go at this point in time. It can be done in an evening's time.

https://kdp.amazon.com

I'm lucky enough to have a friend with a micro-press. Otherwise I don't suppose it would have happened.

The traditional route is:

1. write hundreds of pages of material
2. make hundreds of submissions
3. expect lots of rejection.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ SECRET POST #4513 ]

Advice

How do I start a fan letter?

Re: How do I start a fan letter?

Re: How do I start a fan letter?

Re: How do I start a fan letter?

Re: Advice

Re: Advice

Re: Advice

How do you become a published writer?

Re: How do you become a published writer?

Re: How do you become a published writer?

Re: How do you become a published writer?