Communication Starts
Sometimes the toughest thing about writing is getting started -- so here are some intros for various every day situations:
Awkward but need to reconnect:
Dear Larry,
I know it's been ages since we talked, and I still feel terrible about , crashing your car, dating your girlfriend, losing your watch but I'm hoping we can move beyond that onto bigger and better things. It just so happens that I now own a small construction, computer, design firm and wondered if you'd be interested in taking on a project....
Someone you really don't know:
Dear Mrs. Green,
You don't know me but your daughter teaches at my school, I am your neighbor four doors down, I'm your replacement newspaper carrier, and I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I've been admiring your roses and notice that they have grown quite tall. I'm looking for odd jobs this summer and wondered if you needed any help trimming them or doing other yard work. I've done this before for (name of someone she knows) and I'm sure he'd give me a good reference. My rates are reasonable, I'm prompt, and I work very fast.
-- Billy Jones, address, phone and e-mail
Request for records after long lapse:
Dear Mr. Murphy,
About twenty years ago you appraised the antiques in my home at 123 Elm Street, Your Town, State for insurance purposes. I thought I had a copy of your report in my safe deposit box, but apparently not. In that we've had a significant fire recently, I need documentation in order to file claims. Do you by any chance still have our records and could you provide me with copy? Any format is fine: hard copy, fax, or scan. I'd of course be willing to absorb related costs. Thank you so much for your help and I look forward to hearing from you. Regards,
(name, address, contact information)
Reaching out with belated apology:
Dear Eleanor,
Hardly a day goes by that I don't think of you and the fun we used to have. I know that our disagreement caused you a lot of sadness; it was difficult for me, too. I'm sure we both could have done a better job coming to terms, and I wish we had taken the time to do that. So if it's not too late to make amends, I'd love to meet you for lunch, have you come over to talk, invite you to a small party next Saturday. It seems like we have too much in common to throw it all away. Welcome your thoughts.
(name, contact information)
Putting someone on notice:
Dear Ralph,
I know we've talked about this before and I was hoping it was a done deal, but your dog is still digging up our yard, your trash is still overflowing onto our lawn, your TV is still blaring at 2 a.m. I'm willing to work with you to see if we can find a compromise, but if we can't, I'll have no choice but to contact the animal control office, the sanitation department, our landlord. Want to sit down over a beer, look at the damage together, hear a recording of what it sounds like? I'm sure if you can see it from my perspective, you'll do everything possible to remedy the situation. Many thanks, Ted.
(phone, e-mail)
Awkward but need to reconnect:
Dear Larry,
I know it's been ages since we talked, and I still feel terrible about , crashing your car, dating your girlfriend, losing your watch but I'm hoping we can move beyond that onto bigger and better things. It just so happens that I now own a small construction, computer, design firm and wondered if you'd be interested in taking on a project....
Someone you really don't know:
Dear Mrs. Green,
You don't know me but your daughter teaches at my school, I am your neighbor four doors down, I'm your replacement newspaper carrier, and I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I've been admiring your roses and notice that they have grown quite tall. I'm looking for odd jobs this summer and wondered if you needed any help trimming them or doing other yard work. I've done this before for (name of someone she knows) and I'm sure he'd give me a good reference. My rates are reasonable, I'm prompt, and I work very fast.
-- Billy Jones, address, phone and e-mail
Request for records after long lapse:
Dear Mr. Murphy,
About twenty years ago you appraised the antiques in my home at 123 Elm Street, Your Town, State for insurance purposes. I thought I had a copy of your report in my safe deposit box, but apparently not. In that we've had a significant fire recently, I need documentation in order to file claims. Do you by any chance still have our records and could you provide me with copy? Any format is fine: hard copy, fax, or scan. I'd of course be willing to absorb related costs. Thank you so much for your help and I look forward to hearing from you. Regards,
(name, address, contact information)
Reaching out with belated apology:
Dear Eleanor,
Hardly a day goes by that I don't think of you and the fun we used to have. I know that our disagreement caused you a lot of sadness; it was difficult for me, too. I'm sure we both could have done a better job coming to terms, and I wish we had taken the time to do that. So if it's not too late to make amends, I'd love to meet you for lunch, have you come over to talk, invite you to a small party next Saturday. It seems like we have too much in common to throw it all away. Welcome your thoughts.
(name, contact information)
Putting someone on notice:
Dear Ralph,
I know we've talked about this before and I was hoping it was a done deal, but your dog is still digging up our yard, your trash is still overflowing onto our lawn, your TV is still blaring at 2 a.m. I'm willing to work with you to see if we can find a compromise, but if we can't, I'll have no choice but to contact the animal control office, the sanitation department, our landlord. Want to sit down over a beer, look at the damage together, hear a recording of what it sounds like? I'm sure if you can see it from my perspective, you'll do everything possible to remedy the situation. Many thanks, Ted.
(phone, e-mail)