Corey Sandler - 500 Letters for Difficult Situations. Easy-To-Use Templates for Challenging Communications

Title Page

500 Letters for Difficult Situations

Easy-to-Use Templates for Challenging Communications

Corey Sandler and Janice Keefe

Avon, Massachusetts

Copyright

Copyright 2010 by Word Association, Inc.

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

Published by Adams Media,

a division of F+W Media, Inc.

57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.

www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 10: 1-4405-0077-0

ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-0077-0

eISBN 10: 1-4405-0714-7

eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-0714-4

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

is available from the publisher.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

Dedication

To my father, who wrote out a long analysis and plan before he asked my mother to marry him.

Corey Sandler

Contents

Introduction

Dear Reader,

All letters should be difficult to write. Thats because you should take your time to lay out your thoughts, wishes, or demands in a careful, considered way.

Think of all the times you have blurted out something (or wished you had said something other than what you did). Wouldnt it have been great to say, Wait a minute. Let me think about what it is I want and how it would be best for me to respond.

The purpose of this book, the third in a series of collections of letters we have published, is to help you think about difficult communication. Theres probably not a letter in this book that exactly matches the situation you face, but as you read through this collection there are many phrases and sentences and strategies you can use.

For our purposes, were not going to be purists about matters of style. You can choose the form of salutation and thanks you think best. Instead we choose to concentrate on showing you ways to express your thoughts and wants in the clearest and most direct way.

The best way to write a letter is imagine you are speaking directly to the recipient. You have the advantage of being able to think carefully about what you want to say, but in the end the letter should sound very much like the words you would say across a desk or the kitchen table.

Unlike most any other book you might buy, we happily encourage you to make use of our words. Pick up phrases, whole sentences, and long paragraphs and adapt them to your needs.

And although this book uses the word letters in its title, that is by no means the only use you can make of the five hundred examples youll find. Use our examples to construct your own letter, e-mail, or text message. Or read them carefully so that you think about what you plan to say face to face or over the phone.

Heres what you can do:

Need to write a letter to a friend or a family member on a touchy subject? Weve got plenty of examples.

Got something you need to get off your chest and aimed at a government official, a politician, or someone in the school system? Read on.

Are you running a small business or employed by one? Weve got basic letters about looking for a job, handling your work assignments, hiring, firing, instituting a layoff or a cutback, and most of the other essential details of the workplace.

Getting the runaround from a store or a contractor or someone else with whom you do business? Well help you stand up for your rights.

Does your civic organization need help raising funds, spending money, or fixing all that is wrong in town? Weve got some ideas.

Go forth and write difficult letters (and other forms of communication). We hope this book will make the task a bit easier.

Corey Sandler and Janice Keefe

Part 1. Person to Person

Chapter 1. Sympathy and Condolences

Expression of sympathy to friend

Dear Anne,

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of your mother.

I spent many hours with her as a volunteer at the elementary school and the food bank. She was a warm and caring woman, and we are all diminished without her.

I know this is a difficult time for you and your family, but I want you to know that you are in our thoughts.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Your mother was an exceptional woman and we will all miss her.

Fondly,

Karen Jenkins

Expression of sympathy for death of child

Dear Natalie,

I can hardly imagine the depth of your loss.

Losing a child is not something any of us can prepare for.

Frank and I and all of your friends are thankful for the brief time we had with Patty. She was an extraordinary young person who carried a little ray of sunshine with her everywhere she went. We will never forget her.

I wanted you to know you and your family are in our thoughts. Please let me know if there is anything we can do to assist you in these difficult times.

Love,

Joan Holly

Thanks for expression of sympathy

Dear Caroline,

Thank you for your kind words about Susan. I know the two of you were really close and had a great friendship.

It helps to know that her memory will be kept alive through the special people who knew and loved her.

I promise to keep in touch after I take a few weeks off to clear my head.

Fondly,

Jack

Making contribution in memory of friend

Dear Susan,

I want to extend my most heartfelt sympathies to you and your family.

The entire community of Rolling Meadow will mourn Don. He was a most generous and giving man, donating his time and support to so many of our important organizations.

Knowing of his special affection for the Junior Little League of Rolling Meadow, I have a set up a memorial fund in his name and made the first contribution; I will be encouraging others to add to the endowment, which will be used to pay for equipment for youngsters in need.

Please do not hesitate to let me know if there is anything I can do for you. I hope when the time is right for you, you will call me and we can get together.

Sincerely,

Ella

Thanks for support in time of mourning

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your very kind expressions of sympathy after Jims death.

It is so very difficult to lose a loved one, but when it happens so suddenly and unexpectedly the loss is almost too much to bear. I do know that I could not have gotten through these past few weeks without the help and support of all of my wonderful friends.

I am in the healing stage of grief, but you have all given me the confidence I need to continue living my life the way Jim would have wanted.