Sending a Letter To a Total Stranger, Ideas By Kari Chapin

We all need a little love, and sometimes it's best when it shows up unexpectedly. We love these fan mail and lucky day ideas from Kari Chapin. Check her out on Instagram for more letter writing ideas: @karichapin. -Sakura Of America, Egg Press, and Hello!lucky

Dear Champion Letter Writer,

My love affair with mail started when I was very young. Checking the mailbox each day was a treat and something I still enjoy doing to this day. Birthday cards, catalogs, letters from my grandmother… in my world, any personal mail (or mail related to shopping) is good mail!

My mother taught me to write letters. Thank you notes, short cards and little notes she would include in cards that she wrote to her friends and family. She role modeled good letter writing habits for me and I am glad to say that writing letters is one of the few good habits I’ve managed to keep well into my own adulthood.

I have eight pen pals spread across the United States and I write to them every month. However, about three years ago I began a new letter writing practice and I’d like to share them with you today. I send three letters to total strangers and you can too!

Fan Mail

Just a few short sentences is all it takes to let someone know you appreciate what they do for you.

Once a month I send a fan letter. I wrote my very first fan letter as a small girl to Garfield. That’s right, to Garfield the Cat. I followed with letters to Judy Blume, Beverley Cleary, and later, in my teenage life, I wrote to members of Duran Duran, Morrissey and the writers of sassy magazine articles. When I began writing books, I used the acknowledgments sections as a way to write a fan letter of sorts. I expressed my gratitude and love to people and organizations that kept me going; my friends and family, Neko Case, NPR, and my readers.

Fan letters are easy and fun to write. Mine are short and sweet. I thank the person or organization I’m writing to for whatever they have given me. Sometimes it’s inspiration, sometimes comfort, sometimes I just plain enjoy the product they make. Recent fan letters I’ve written have been to a cookbook author, a woman who I follow online that has given me years of good ideas and inspiration, and a local bookstore where I enjoy spending afternoons.

Sometimes I hear back from people, but usually I don’t. That’s okay, because the point for me isn’t to strike up a relationship, it’s to let them know that I am a fan of what they do. Their work has an impact on me and I want them to know it.

Letters of Appreciation 

There is almost no greater thrill than writing a thank you letter. The act of acknowledging that someone has been thinking of you, remembered you or has gifted you something is a wonderful thing to be grateful for. While most of us are used to dashing off cute cards for birthday gifts and special occasions, I challenge you to find one stranger a month to thank.

Sometimes I get exceptional service at a coffee shop. Or an online customer service representative really helps me solve a problem. The receptionist at my dentist office always makes me laugh and greets every person who comes in with such a big smile and positive energy. That deserves a letter of appreciation. I’m thankful for all of it.  

I try to thank one person outside of my family and social circle once a month. When writing to a business I try to make it count twice. I will write to the manager or supervisor (or dentist!) and tell them how their representative improved my day or experience, and then to the person I interacted with.

If you’re inspired to write this kind of letter, it is helpful to get the name of the person helping you in the moment, especially if you’re on the phone.

Lucky Day Notes

One of my favorite types of letters to write is a Lucky Day Note. This is an exceptionally good kind of letter to send when you need a pick me up. These are simple notes I send to total strangers that include a good thought and a crisp five-dollar bill.

Sometimes I choose a person by just picking a name out of the phonebook. Often I choose a house that I pass on a walk and jot down the address. Once in a while I go through the business cards I have saved and randomly choose one and use that address.

I like to include a short poem or a positive affirmation for them. I write the (almost) same message in each Lucky Day Card: “It’s your lucky day! Please use this lucky five-dollar bill to buy yourself a well deserved treat! We wish you only the best. We wish you happiness, love and health. You are amazing! Your address was chosen at random. You do not know the sender of this letter.”

So there you have it! Three ways to use letter writing to share good news, good thoughts, and good vibes. If you try any of these letter-writing ideas, I would be very glad to hear about it!

Your friend in mail,

Kari Chapin

Kari Chapin is a best-selling author and product designer from Portland, Oregon. Her books, The Handmade Marketplace and Grow Your Handmade Business have been helping people make their business dreams come true for years. Her line of products for creative entrepreneurs include project management file folders, new ways to get your brilliant ideas out of your head and into the world and a planner that shows you how to view your time and your possibilities in new ways. You are invited to get to know her better by connecting with her via Instagram @KariChapin or visiting her website at wwww.karichapin.com.