Wordsmith Craftsman

November 3 2021

How to Write a Thank-You Letter

jbcheaney teaching, writing teaching writing, Thank-you notes, Wordsmith, Wordsmith Apprentice, Wordsmith Craftsman, writing

Kids today . . .

Or to be fair, it’s not just kids. Thank-you notes (as well as sympathy notes all other kinds of mailed correspondence) may be a dying art. A quick “thanks” over the phone or email is certainly better than nothing, but there’s no replacement for a hand-written note. The very act of selecting a card, writing a few lines, addressing the envelope, hunting down a stamp and putting it in the mailbox is an investment of time. That in itself is an expression of gratitude.

It’s never too early to start; even preschoolers can dictate their thanks and draw a picture (which is sure to end up on someone’s refrigerator, especially if their name starts with “Grand”). Once a child can write sentences, it’s time to write notes. In Wordsmith Apprentice, I offer a simple formula for the kid who got everything for Christmas. Start with a simple chart of three columns with one line for each gift.

In the first column of each line, write the giver’s name. In the second, write the name of the gift—and be specific! Don’t just write “game,” write “Monopoly” or “Mario Kart.” In the third space, note how you plan to use it or list one particular thing you like about it.

Once you’ve completed your list, you’ll have an outline of what to say in the Thank-you note. Just put the thoughts in sentence form. To make your letter more interesting, include one exclamatory or interrogative sentence. For example:

Dear Aunt Louise,

Thank you for the Jenga Blocks. Carl, David, and I have already played many games. I think it’s really exciting when we get near the end and everybody is so afraid that their block is the one that will make the whole tower fall down! Thank you again for remembering my birthday.

Love, Jenny

Get a little artistic: use cardstock and add stickers or drawings or both. Fold it, envelop it, and don’t forget to mail it.

_________________________________________

In Wordsmith Craftsman, I went into a little more detail, but even though the kids are older, the formula is basically the same:

After your salutation (“Dear____”), begin with “Thank you for (the specific gift you received).” If you just write, “Many thanks for the Christmas present,” the gift-giver may wonder if you remember what it was!
The second sentence or two should tell how you plan to use the gift. This may call for some ingenuity, but don’t shy away from being specific.
Close with another expression of thanks or appreciation, such as, “You always know what I need.” This last statement may be formal or casual, depending on how well you know the recipient of your thank-you note.

Examples:

Dear Gus,

Thanks so much for the book on World War II Aircraft you sent for my birthday. I’ve already looked at all the pictures (at least twice!) and they’re fascinating. I’ll get into the text this weekend. I do appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Your friend, Alex

Dear Aunt Mary,

I was so happy to get the gloves! The weatherman says a cold front is moving this way, so they’ll certainly be appreciated when we go cross-country skiing this weekend. You always seem to know just what I need. Thanks so much.

Love, Sarah

That’s not so hard, is it? The only hard part is taking the time, or making sure a busy kid takes the time.

December 9 2020

Plan Your Writing, Write Your Plan

jbcheaney teaching, Tips, writing business plans, goal-setting, teaching writing, Wordsmith Craftsman

Writing a Business Plan with Help from a 14-Year-Old Entrepreneur

In Part One of Wordsmith Craftsman (my writing course for high-schoolers), I included an assignment for “Business Reports.” Some parents were confused by this—what do business reports have to do with composition? To be honest, it was originally my husband’s idea (he who had begun his own consulting business and ran it successfully for 12 years). When he suggested it, my first thought was, “What do business reports have to do with composition?” But upon further reflection, I saw how it could fit. Part One of Wordsmith Craftsman is all about how to organize your thoughts: note-taking, outlining, summarizing, and communicating by letter. A “Business Plan” puts all that organization to practical use.

Recently I reviewed Bee Fearless by teenage corporate mogul Mikaila Ulmer. In many ways, Mikaila is a typical 14-year-old (probably 15 by now), even if exceptionally energetic. But she’s the CEO of a multi-million-dollar business that began as a lemonade stand. If you’ve seen Me & the Bees Lemonade in your local Whole Foods or specialty store, or even bought a bottle, you may know that the idea came from a concern for the diminishing bee population. That’s why it’s sweetened with honey. The rest of the story is a combination of focus, personality, good timing, excellent mentorship—and planning. It’s rare that circumstances line up the way they did for Mikaila, but anyone can shape an idea into a workable plan, whether it’s how to start a local lawn business or how to get into your first-choice college.

And, not to dish on college (or not much), learning to form a workable plan—and then work it—is worth as much as a Bachelor’s in Communications.

The “Business Report” section in Wordsmith Craftsman addresses feasibility studies: determining the steps of a goal and the action to take, and finally determining whether the plan is do-able or desirable. It’s meant to help the student think through a goal before tackling it, and many of us could have done more of that at certain pivotal moments!

Bee Fearless goes more into detail about starting and running a business, which may or may not be the goal. But the practical tips make it worth a read for the practically-minded student. Or the student who could use a little more practicality. Mikaila began with a simple business plan of product development, budgeting, and growth. Her current business plan involves company description, market analysis, product line, sales, funding, and financial projections. Most of us will never get there. But we could all use a little more intentionality and focus.