Great Letters for Every Occasion [Paperback]

Rosalie Maggio (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 1999

The bestselling author of How to Say It brings wisdom, inspiration, and fun to the art of letterwriting. Drawing from the author's personal collection of persuasive, moving, and humorous letters, this unique resource stresses the rules of form, tone, and word choice--and shows when to break them. Aimed at a general audience whose letterwriting needs may range from simple to sophisticated, Great Letters for Every Occasion combines the advantages of a model-letter book with guidelines that allow the reader to tailor them to specific needs. Drawing on years of feedback from readers of How to Say It, Rosalie Maggio has included chapters on the items that people have most requested: e-mail, faxes and memos; how to address sensitive issues--from sexual harassment to the return of a borrowed item. Here are suggested opened lines to help you get started as well as quotations that can be used in your letter. Great Letters for Every Occasion begins with a brief user's guide and provides simple, successful formulas for writing the basic fifty types of letters. Throughout, bulleted checklists of do's and don'ts make fundamental principles clear and easy to practice. This refreshing guide is sure to inspire even the most reluctant letterwriter.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rosalie Maggio is a longtime editor, collector of letters, popular speaker, and bestselling author of How to Say It and An Impulse to Soar: Quotations by Women on Leadership, both published by Prentice Hall, as well as some fifteen other books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall Press (June 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735200815
• ISBN-13: 978-0735200814
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,218,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good reference manual, January 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Great Letters for Every Occasion (Hardcover)

This is a valuable tool to have for reference. It is not a substitute for your own words as there are several problems with some of the samples.

The section on thank you notes should generally be ignored. The author makes several claims which go against proper etiquette and general good taste. For example, she says if a gift arrives prior to the big event, wait to send a thank you note until after the event. This is completely wrong as a thank you note should be sent *immediately* upon receipt for any gift. Most of the sample letters actually begin with the words "Thank you for..." which is also improper. The thanks are enclosed within. She also admits to going against proper etiquette by saying it's okay to close with the phrase "Thanks again." It's not okay and makes for a poorly written letter which looks to be written from a child who does not know better.

The section on employment is especially good and is a nice change from the droll letters seen by those who specialize in such letters. The section on introductions is also particulaly good. The section on apologies is excellent.

The model letters in sympathy are generally good, but certain letters are completely tactless, such as the examples written in the case of couple's divorce. Put yourself in the recipient's shoes when reading the model letters in this section to gauge how you would feel receiving such a letter in similar circumstances before you actually commit such a letter to paper and mail it off to a friend.

As a side note, the book is sprinkled throughout with small quotes from notables. They are very enjoyable and apropos.

This is a good reference manual to add to your library, but do not let proper etiquette go when referring to this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ahmadi Review, September 3, 2007

By 

Ahmed Ahmadi "Sabayah" (Gulf) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great Letters for Every Occasion (Paperback)

I thought that i will get all kind of letters related to all occassions, but unfortenately there are many letter such as - Employee disciplenary could not be found.

But also i found some good letters for some different occassions.