Congrats to all of you with nice handwriting! Unfortunetly I don't fall into this catagory. Years ago, before I had a computer, I used to handwrite everything. Now it's always typed. I like that way better because I can always go back and change things or add something that I forgot.

I do save time by having templates that I use. It is just the opening and closing of the letter. I still have to fill out the middle where the actual content of the letter is.

I'm a newbie autograph collector but when I'm sending LOR to any celebrities, I prefer HANDWRITTEN because I think it's more personal as others said. I also iclude some designs to make it nmore attractive like burning the edges of the paper. You can use colored papers though but I always use scented papers.

I do use a basic template that I personalise for each letter I send. My letter includes the basics stuff that I always type.

my name
address
Hi my name is.....
and a general series of questions that I expand on each time.

It just saves me time when typing

Like many others have said, I handwrite all of my letters. I actually have nice handwriting and I like to write them out. I believe it makes them more likely to reply because they know that you took the time to write to them.

And I never keep a template or anything because I do not want any of my letters to sound like I am cranking them out 20 at a time with the names changed. I want each letter to be completely unique to the person to whom I am writing.

At first i would type all my letters. Reason was simple. My penmanship is comparable to a train wreck. I'm LONG out of school/college, which means I am long out of practice in hadnwriting; thanks to the age of technology.

I know first hand that typed letters result in MUCH less success. How? Those who didn't reply I wrote by hand and got a success. Also I spoke with other experienced TTM collectors who have had similar results. It's a massive pain to sit and handwrite a letter, especialy for me as i send over 25 a week; but it's worth the investment.

My writing was terrible, with all the letters I have written i have a MUCH better penmanship now. Actually I've recieved comments about how neat the writing is. I recommend to always write.

Not that I personally feel there is a diffference, I think these celebs and their agents realize much of the mail is from seasoned collectors whop use a template letter.

P.S. If you think you can type it and then handwrite a "P.S. My writing is atrocious, so I had to type this letter. I hope you understand". It does NOT work. I did that from the start, it didn't work.

dfreely wrote:Pat Neshek by any chance?

Bingo! He played in my hometown on his way to the bigs. A very, very nice guy.

dfreely wrote:I've always found his blog quite interesting, since he's an autograph collector, and can be considered a celebrity himself. I remember he once received a template letter and blogged about it, I really thought that was one of the worst LORs I've seen.

Yeah, that guy has quite a collection, having grown up near the sporting venues in Minnesota. He can get all kinds of autographs IP that we would never have a chance to get--simply because of his status as a ballplayer-collector. But I don't begrudge him of it.

I remember the template letter too. The guy who sent it was claiming he just got out of the hospital and was asking for all kinds of stuff, including a team signed ball. He never bothered to send an SASE. Pat put it on his blog to demonstrate how not to request an autograph.

Pat Neshek by any chance? I've always found his blog quite interesting, since he's an autograph collector, and can be considered a celebrity himself. I remember he once received a template letter and blogged about it, I really thought that was one of the worst LORs I've seen.

My handwriting is not all that great, but I always write by hand. I personally think it makes a bit of a difference. It also helps me to keep the letter short. There is a MLB pitcher who has his own web site and encourages people to send to him for autographs. He once blogged that some of the letters were way too long and a too tedious to read. I just have to remember to pay attention and do my best to make my letters legible.

It doesn't matter really. Some prefer to handwrite because it's more personal, or because they don't have a printer, others prefer to type because they may have poor handwriting or have weak wrists, or that it's simply easier. Everyone has their reason, but it doesn't figure into whether or not you'll get a reply.

Nahhh, you will get a reply mate, my first batch were typed too and I got some great successes!