Wrote a letter...

[daniellaaarisen]

Originally Posted by David

The best fan letters are those that criticize the object of the fanaticism. I once wrote a letter to Jacques Barzun, criticizing some of his conclusions in his then-recent book A Word Or Two Before You Go. He wrote back -- a long letter -- getting into detail on each point I made, disagreeing with many but agreeing with a few. I was thrilled.

But a fan letter that just says I LOVE YOU SO MUCH doesn't really give the recipient much to enjoy, paradoxically enough. (People like being told they are loved by intimates, not strangers.)

Some stars, or so I've heard, even get a bit creeped out by such gush.

So I would say go ahead & write your fan letter -- but say something.

In your opinion, are good fan letters exclusively criticizing ones? Or do you think that sometimes a person can have such a specific and unique message to convey to a musician/writer/etc. that it is worth sending? Granted, much of that is based on the writer's definition of "specific and unique" in this case... but I ask because I think I have something to say, I really do.


Anyway, I think that she'd eat up the fact that you're a Marine. Send it-- I highly doubt it will get returned to you and what's the worst that can happen, you don't get a response?