On Thank You Notes

In these two videos, Sally Horchow of Very Goodlooking talks to Marc Friedland of Couture Communications (they've created last year's "and the Oscar goes to" envelopes!) about how to write and present the perfect thank you note.

Should you need more of Marc Friedland's thankful tips, do check them out HERE! A few of my personal favorites from the list:

What are yours? Do you have any cool tips of your own?

P.S. Thank you to Thankuz for bringing these videos to my attention!

The Trouble With Thank You Notes

I'm not sure just exactly how I came across this fantastic article on thank you notes on Slate circa 2005, but it's well worth going back in time! If you happen to be a Thankful Newsletter subscriber or like TTYP on Facebook, you've had a chance to check it out already, but if you're none of these, you might want to take a moment to do so now. Why? It features pretty awesome authentic thank yous from Benjamin Franklin, Harry Truman, Virginia Woolf and Margaret Mitchell among a few others.

To read more on how to write thank you notes visit:

• How To Write Thank You Notes: 6 Tips from Author Cat Wagman via TTYP 
• How To Write Thank You Notes: More Tips from Author Cat Wagman via TTYP 
• & a cool and super easy to follow step by step guide How to Write a Thank-You Note via The Morning News  

 

Image via 

How To Write Thank You Notes: More Tips from Author Cat Wagman

My post on How to Write Thank You Notes with tips from author Cat Wagman from a while back was well received by you and it’s still popular – quite a few people stop by it while searching for just that, tips for writing a perfect thank you note. With this being said, I thought I neded to follow up on my conversation with Cat and share more of her thankful wisdom, especially since some of them are so very in line with my previous post on the cards and little thankful somethings. Here below are more useful tips from the lady herself (and remember that you can always get your own copy of her book for even more of those right here):

1. Pick out stationery you like that reflects the occasion, a personal interest, hobby, etc., or design your own on your computer;
2. Purchase commemorative stamps or design your own stamps through an online company;
3. You can only write one thank-you note at a time, so don't get overwhelmed if you have many to write;
4. Newlyweds SHARE the responsibility... She writes the ones to her family, he writes to his, and they split the rest. (Cat said she and her husband got whole 150 notes written in just THREE days using this method BEFORE going on their honeymoon, so I'm guessing it works!)
5. Have FUN writing your notes: thesaurus.com is a great resource for finding just the right word.

Image via

How To Write Thank You Notes: 6 Tips from Author Cat Wagman

I’ve just recently had the pleasure of personally talking to Cat Wagman about her book “Why… THANK YOU!”, where she uses an example of the thank-you note as a “teaching vehicle” to help kids and grown-ups alike discover and develop their writing voices. When I asked Mrs. Wagman what were her personal feelings about thank you notes, this is what she had to say:

“I have always felt that writing thank-you notes is a simple way to express gratitude and connect one-on-one on a personal level. I also believe that your handwriting is an extension of your personality and style, and as you read a personalized, handwritten note, you hear the writer's voice in your mind. This is particular true of letters and notes from my late relatives, something that email or texting can never do.”

All so very true, isn't it? Cat has also kindly agreed to share some of her thankful writing tips to consider before writing a thank you note, here they are:

1. Think of a thank-you note as an enjoyable mini-adventure in creative writing, not as an etiquette chore; 
2. All you need is 3-5 sentences, and… 
3. … it's okay to use your imagination and sense of humor; 
4. If you have received a lot of gifts, write a short description on the back of the card that came with the gift, along with any notes about gift giver's address, relationship to you, etc.; 
5. Motivational tip: Can't use the gift until the note is written! 
6. Draw on your five senses for adjectives and other items, such as how the gift will be used, etc., to build a foundation of facts, before writing your note.

My personal favorite tip is the tip number 5! This is sure to work for bigger procrastinators out there, something of which I am occasionally guilty too!..