person and how would you say it? This is how your letter should be written.

5. Keep it positive. For example, if you haven’t heard for this person in a while, don’t be accusatory or question his or her motives. Always remember, the most effective letter is one where you can bolster the reader’s self-esteem.

6. Recognize the connotation of a word as well as its denotation. A word’s denotation is what it means precisely. Its connotation is what it suggests. To understand the difference, try calling a person fat instead of overweight.

7. Strive for simplicity. The best writing is always simple, easy to read and understand. At every opportunity, use the short, hard gritty,

In today’s high tech society where the majority of people are now communicating by fax or email and unfortunately the art of letter writing seems to have been forgotten. People want to do things quickly and the personal touch of communication has gone out of much of our communication.

In fact how many times have you heard someone say and perhaps even yourself, “I’m a terrible letter writer; I’m all right until I sit down in front of a sheet of paper, and then I just go blank?”

This is ridiculous. If you’re a good, even a fair, conversationalist, you can be a very good letter writer. Write the letter in exactly the same way, as you would if the person to whom you’re writing were either sitting next to you or across the table from you.

Once you adopt this mind set it’s simple a matter of practice. For example, two people that are in each other’s company can often talk for hours about things that interest them, but if they had to write each other, they’d have trouble filling even a small sheet of notepaper.

People could write wonderfully interesting letters to each other, just like if they were together talking if they would just try. They could easily fill ten pages on both sides of each piece of paper and provide each other with some charming and interesting information by just taking advantage of this important form of communication.

The strange thing is that the thought of letter writing shifts most people into a totally different gear: They suddenly become formal. People, they’ve known for years, and whose presence would normally spark an interesting and informal conversation, suddenly become distant strangers. They then write their letter or email in a still and cold manner.

Here are eight rules that you can use to write better personal or business letters:

1. Avoid words that are too familiar or not familiar enough. Over familiar words tend to make little of no impression. However, your entire audience can be lost in a jungle of obscure words or phrases.

2. Don’t confuse of misuse words. Even with the advances in “spell check” the dictionary is still your best friend, and careful checking of your spelling can save you unnecessary embarrassment. If you’re at all in doubt as to the spelling of a word, take a minute to look it up. This is good practice, and you’ll often find another good word to add to your vocabulary while you’re researching for the one you want to use.

3. Find the right words and use them. Take the time to think about precisely what you want to communicate.

4. Know your audience. Yes that means being a human being. Even more, be yourself. Imagine the person whom you’re writing to is sitting next to you or across the table from you. What would you say to that person and how would you say it? This is how your letter should be written.

5. Keep it positive. For example, if you haven’t heard for this person in a while, don’t be accusatory or question his or her motives. Always remember, the most effective letter is one where you can bolster the reader’s self-esteem.

6. Recognize the connotation of a word as well as its denotation. A word’s denotation is what it means precisely. Its connotation is what it suggests. To understand the difference, try calling a person fat instead of overweight.

7. Strive for simplicity. The best writing is always simple, easy to read and understand. At every opportunity, use the short, hard gritty,

re either sitting next to you or across the table from you.

Once you adopt this mind set it’s simple a matter of practice. For example, two people that are in each other’s company can often talk for hours about things that interest them, but if they had to write each other, they’d have trouble filling even a small sheet of notepaper.

People could write wonderfully interesting letters to each other, just like if they were together talking if they would just try. They could easily fill ten pages on both sides of each piece of paper and provide each other with some charming and interesting information by just taking advantage of this important form of communication.

The strange thing is that the thought of letter writing shifts most people into a totally different gear: They suddenly become formal. People, they’ve known for years, and whose presence would normally spark an interesting and informal conversation, suddenly become distant strangers. They then write their letter or email in a still and cold manner.

Here are eight rules that you can use to write better personal or business letters:

1. Avoid words that are too familiar or not familiar enough. Over familiar words tend to make little of no impression. However, your entire audience can be lost in a jungle of obscure words or phrases.

2. Don’t confuse of misuse words. Even with the advances in “spell check” the dictionary is still your best friend, and careful checking of your spelling can save you unnecessary embarrassment. If you’re at all in doubt as to the spelling of a word, take a minute to look it up. This is good practice, and you’ll often find another good word to add to your vocabulary while you’re researching for the one you want to use.

3. Find the right words and use them. Take the time to think about precisely what you want to communicate.

4. Know your audience. Yes that means being a human being. Even more, be yourself. Imagine the person whom you’re writing to is sitting next to you or across the table from you. What would you say to that person and how would you say it? This is how your letter should be written.

5. Keep it positive. For example, if you haven’t heard for this person in a while, don’t be accusatory or question his or her motives. Always remember, the most effective letter is one where you can bolster the reader’s self-esteem.

6. Recognize the connotation of a word as well as its denotation. A word’s denotation is what it means precisely. Its connotation is what it suggests. To understand the difference, try calling a person fat instead of overweight.

7. Strive for simplicity. The best writing is always simple, easy to read and understand. At every opportunity, use the short, hard gritty,

ange thing is that the thought of letter writing shifts most people into a totally different gear: They suddenly become formal. People, they’ve known for years, and whose presence would normally spark an interesting and informal conversation, suddenly become distant strangers. They then write their letter or email in a still and cold manner.

Here are eight rules that you can use to write better personal or business letters:

1. Avoid words that are too familiar or not familiar enough. Over familiar words tend to make little of no impression. However, your entire audience can be lost in a jungle of obscure words or phrases.

2. Don’t confuse of misuse words. Even with the advances in “spell check” the dictionary is still your best friend, and careful checking of your spelling can save you unnecessary embarrassment. If you’re at all in doubt as to the spelling of a word, take a minute to look it up. This is good practice, and you’ll often find another good word to add to your vocabulary while you’re researching for the one you want to use.

3. Find the right words and use them. Take the time to think about precisely what you want to communicate.

4. Know your audience. Yes that means being a human being. Even more, be yourself. Imagine the person whom you’re writing to is sitting next to you or across the table from you. What would you say to that person and how would you say it? This is how your letter should be written.

5. Keep it positive. For example, if you haven’t heard for this person in a while, don’t be accusatory or question his or her motives. Always remember, the most effective letter is one where you can bolster the reader’s self-esteem.

6. Recognize the connotation of a word as well as its denotation. A word’s denotation is what it means precisely. Its connotation is what it suggests. To understand the difference, try calling a person fat instead of overweight.

7. Strive for simplicity. The best writing is always simple, easy to read and understand. At every opportunity, use the short, hard gritty,

advances in “spell check” the dictionary is still your best friend, and careful checking of your spelling can save you unnecessary embarrassment. If you’re at all in doubt as to the spelling of a word, take a minute to look it up. This is good practice, and you’ll often find another good word to add to your vocabulary while you’re researching for the one you want to use.

3. Find the right words and use them. Take the time to think about precisely what you want to communicate.

4. Know your audience. Yes that means being a human being. Even more, be yourself. Imagine the person whom you’re writing to is sitting next to you or across the table from you. What would you say to that person and how would you say it? This is how your letter should be written.

5. Keep it positive. For example, if you haven’t heard for this person in a while, don’t be accusatory or question his or her motives. Always remember, the most effective letter is one where you can bolster the reader’s self-esteem.

6. Recognize the connotation of a word as well as its denotation. A word’s denotation is what it means precisely. Its connotation is what it suggests. To understand the difference, try calling a person fat instead of overweight.

7. Strive for simplicity. The best writing is always simple, easy to read and understand. At every opportunity, use the short, hard gritty,

person and how would you say it? This is how your letter should be written.

5. Keep it positive. For example, if you haven’t heard for this person in a while, don’t be accusatory or question his or her motives. Always remember, the most effective letter is one where you can bolster the reader’s self-esteem.

6. Recognize the connotation of a word as well as its denotation. A word’s denotation is what it means precisely. Its connotation is what it suggests. To understand the difference, try calling a person fat instead of overweight.

7. Strive for simplicity. The best writing is always simple, easy to read and understand. At every opportunity, use the short, hard gritty, colorful words that carry a bite and add zest to your correspondence.

8. Take your time. Wait 24 hours before sending the letter you have just written. Your best shot at objectivity in looking at a letter you have just written is to get away from it overnight. This is very important, but often overlooked.

So practice writing letters. Chances are you owe a letter to someone. Why not answer him or her? Remember to avoid clich?s, such as “I am fine and hope you are too.” You never said that to anyone face to face so why would you say it in a letter?

We are living in the Information Age where communication is critical. The advances in electronic communication have made instant global communication a reality, but it has also made the world colder and less personable place. This is why personal letter writing is more important today than ever before.

Your friends should be kept as carefully cultivated as a garden. One of the best ways to keep your friendships warm and close is to work your letter writing.

Copyright©2007 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.