How do I write a letter?
Before you say thank you to an important person in your life, please introduce us. Tell us who they are.
Close your eyes and picture the person you’re writing to. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? The moment you met? A phrase they often said or a habit or a quirk? The most surprising thing they ever told you?
Write the letter in the way you’d describe a favorite scene in a film. Put down every detail you can remember. Let us read your letter and feel as if we’re right there with you, back in that moment.
And don’t worry if the specifics feel too small or trivial. Writing down these little details is its own way of remembering. Things you thought you’d long forgotten will come back to you, one remembered piece at a time, as you write.
You might build the letter around a story or experience that captures a quality about a person that impressed you or for which you’re especially grateful.
For example, a member of our staff once had to abandon a car on a skating rink of a road one night and begin walking home in the dark – on a winding icy path with a river on one side and woods on the other. A while later he saw a dot of light ahead, growing brighter. A flashlight. Held by his father. In this case the letter writer might describe his father as loving, supportive, and ever helpful – or go straight to the story.
If you’re the kind of person who appreciates guidance in bullet points, here are some additional suggestions:
- Be focused – think about a theme or central idea that you associate with the person you wish to thank (for example, their love, kindness, patience, humility, faith or courage)
- Be brief – write 500-1,000 words (several minutes when read aloud)
- Be original – reach for specifics in place of familiar turns of phrase (for example, instead of saying “thank you for always being there for me” you might mention the phone call or text that came at the close of every day)
- Be yourself – share honestly what’s on your mind in your natural, conversational voice, as if writing to a best friend (not to the audience of The Gratitude Letters)
I wrote a letter. Now what do I do?
Just email us your letter. A photo of the handwritten pages, a typed document- whatever you have is fine.
Format your subject line like this: Your Name — The Gratitude Letters — Your City (for example: Jane Miller — The Gratitude Letters — Goshen, IN). Send it to：[email address]
Prefer to mail a physical letter? You’re welcome to write to us at：
The Gratitude Letters Goshen College 1700 South Main St. Goshen, IN 46526
What happens after I send my letter?
A small committee reads through every letter we receive each month, and you’ll hear back from us within a month, no matter what.
We can’t turn every letter into an episode, but every one is read by a real person. If yours is one we’d like to feature, our producers will reach out to talk through what comes next: recording for the podcast, publishing your letter, or both.
Send us the details early. Photos, voice memos, or video of the person you’re thanking can become a wonderful part of the story. The more specific your memories, the better, so attach anything you have from the very start.
You don’t need to reach out to the person yet. If your letter is chosen, we’ll figure out together how, and whether, to involve them. That’s a conversation for later, and we’ll be with you for it.