With this week’s topic asking us about “fan letters” and how we felt about them, I am a bit challenged as I am not yet published. But I bet we all have experience with a Thank You note.
I admit that I am HORRIBLE at writing Thank You notes. I have really good intentions, but often get sidetracked. (Hello! How many times have I slacked here at Four Foxes One Hound for the same reason?) And I admit that the standard baby/bridal shower thank you note usually gets tossed pretty quickly. It’s a chore for the writer and honestly, I can live without the lackluster “Thanks for the pack of diapers and wipes!” Not that I expect the recipient to get all excited for diapers and wipes (because I ALWAYS get soon-to-be-moms what they NEED as opposed to all the cutesy stuff), but a simple verbal thank you if I attend the party is sufficient for me. If I sent the gift, I get that the Thank You note serves as acknowledgement that they received it. If I don’t receive a thank you note from that person, it’s not the end of the world for me. I suspect I have many of my southern ancestors turning in their graves right about now for publicly admitting so, but there it is.
No, the kind of “Fan Letter”-equivalent I’m talking about is the gushing, sincere, wow-you-really-saved-my-ass, or the you’re-so-awesome-that-I’m-going-to-name-my-first-child/pet-after-you type of Thank You note. Every once in a while I get one of those. And boy, does that feel awesome. Like the baby/bridal shower gift, I know what I’ve done is appreciated, but my actions/gifts don’t require an obligatory Thank You note so when I get a personalized one, I usually do a little fist pump with a “Yeah!” Then the letter goes into my Sally Field file. “You like me. Right now. You like me!” (This is often misquoted as “You like me. You really like me.” Fast forward to about the 3:30 mark if the You Tube link works for proof.)
Yeah, I like you too, Sally.
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Yeah, the “you’re so awesome” thank you (call or note) certainly qualifies as a fan letter.
And even if you’re not *Published* in some particular book form, Micki, you’re already well published in blogs and many other formats.
There have been many blog topics — to pursue that single example — which have touched people. And when they mention it, that’s a “fan letter”.
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Yeah, Jeff kind of hit us with that one, didn’t he, Micki? Fan letter….I don’t have a book published and poetry /articles don’t get a lot of gushing.
THANK YOUs are wonderful to get, and I don’t get a lot of those, either….not that I have actually sent you anything! You have given me inspiration for a great story, and got me in the challenge where I actually started a real manuscript,
so THANK YOU, Melissa “Micki” Gibson!
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I’m sure blog comments would qualify as a “fan letter” Right? And I’m sure you’ve received massive amounts of great comments 🙂
I like the Sally Field clip. Gotta remember that one!
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I’m with you, Micki, on the not receiving a thank you note as not being the “end of the world” type of event. I suppose I’m guilty of not sending out every TY note I should have in the past. Sorry this response is so late.
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