Fanmail.biz

I figure the best way to help others write to celebs is to see a sample of what others have written. So please post a copy of a letter you have written to a celeb so that people who are having trouble or people who are new have an idea of what to Write =]


Be Polite
Always be polite when requesting an autograph whether in person or in writing

Be Original
When writing a letter you should try to be original. Using a form letter will read like an autograph hound's request for money.

Make It Personal (for Them and for You)
Tell the celebrity what you admire about him/her. If you can't give them a few compliments you shouldn't be writing to them. This lets the celebrity know that you are not simply an autograph hound and are a legitimate fan. Site their performances, personal encounters, or mention things they have said in interviews.

Be Positive
Nobody like to read negative reviews of themselves, especially when you want something (an autograph) in return. Compliment the celebrity enough to let them know you appreciate their work.

Get To The Point
Your letter should never be longer than a page. Celebrities receive tons of mail everyday and don't have time to read 20 page letters.

Ask A Question
It is often a good idea to include a question in your letter. Some celebrities will write a personal note or letter in reply to your questions.

Keep it Neat & Clean
It's up to you whether you hand write your letter or type it. Handwriting may be more personal, but if your handwriting is terrible then you should highly consider typing the letter.

Don't Forget To Ask
Remember to ask for an autograph. Don't expect them to just send you one. This may sound silly, but unless you ask for an autograph, just because you send a picture doesn't mean you'll get it back signed. The majority of fan mail is opened by the celeb's agency. They usually only forward the photos to the celeb if you've asked for a signature


Make It Easy For Them (and the post office)
Although most celebrities will provide a photo, it's a good idea to send at least an index card just in case they have no photos available at the time. Do not send too many or they will suspect that you simply want autographs to sell. It's your choice if you use an SASE or not. You will probably get better results with one. If you do decide to use one you should send a 10x13 clasp envelope and a self addressed stamped return envelope measuring 9 x 12. You also should write PHOTO - DO NOT BEND on the envelopes so it doesn't get ruined in the mail.

Be Patient
Keep in mind that you may never receive a reply, or your reply may take months to arrive. These are very busy people who do not stay in one place or work on one project for very long. Some celebrities get thousands of letters everyday and can't possibly reply to them all in a month. Wait a few months before sending a second request.

Be Kind
Also know that you may not receive a legitimate autograph, but an autopen signature, a pre printed photo with signature or a proxy's signature. This is usually the best they can do under the circumstance. Try again.

If I were in the position of not being able to think of anything to say to someone, I would question why I was asking for the autograph in the first place.

That type of stuff isn't posted here. Then people will copy what others do. If you don't know what to say to the person you're writing to, you probably shouldn't be writing to them in the first place.

I agree with the posters above. If you really want to write them, you won't have any trouble.

I can understand having trouble writing to celebrities. Letters take a lot of thinking and planning for me. I'm very shy, and I've never been in a position to be starstruck in person, but I definitely feel a bit of that when I'm staring at a blank sheet of notebook paper that will soon become a letter of request. I mean, for me, to know that the celebrity might read my letter makes me nervous, because I want to come off as well as I possibly can. To know that I have a single handwritten page to make an impression on someone I like so much puts me under a lot of pressure, or so I feel. So I don't necessarily agree with the claim that if you're a fan, letters just flow right out. I'm sure it's different for everyone, though.

Having said that, though, I agree with Tabby in that it's not a good idea to post letters on here in case they get copied. But if you're having trouble writing letters, open up a Word document (where it's easier to correct mistakes) and just type whatever comes to mind. Then keep writing and editing until it becomes a letter you're ready to send to the celebrity. Then just copy it down from the screen.