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A friend gave me a copy of the book "Letters of Note" for Christmas. It's a compilation of original letters, postcards, telegrams, memos etc. sent by famous and not so famous people that have been featured on Shaun Usher's excellent site: lettersofnote.com

The book is an absolute delight, as is the site - it's well worth checking out if you haven't already discovered it.

Here's a letter copywriter Robert Pirosh sent to all the major Hollywood producers in an attempt to procure a screenwriting gig. It landed him a job with MGM.

Dear Sir:

I like words. I like fat buttery words, such as ooze, turpitude, glutinous, toady. I like solemn, angular, creaky words, such as straitlaced, cantankerous, pecunious, valedictory. I like spurious, black-is-white words, such as mortician, liquidate, tonsorial, demi-monde. I like suave "V" words, such as Svengali, svelte, bravura, verve. I like crunchy, brittle, crackly words, such as splinter, grapple, jostle, crusty. I like sullen, crabbed, scowling words, such as skulk, glower, scabby, churl. I like Oh-Heavens, my-gracious, land's-sake words, such as tricksy, tucker, genteel, horrid. I like elegant, flowery words, such as estivate, peregrinate, elysium, halcyon. I like wormy, squirmy, mealy words, such as crawl, blubber, squeal, drip. I like sniggly, chuckling words, such as cowlick, gurgle, bubble and burp.

I like the word screenwriter better than copywriter, so I decided to quit my job in a New York advertising agency and try my luck in Hollywood, but before taking the plunge I went to Europe for a year of study, contemplation and horsing around.

I have just returned and I still like words.

May I have a few with you?

Robert Pirosh
385 Madison Avenue
Room 610
New York
Eldorado 5-6024


Frank
#letters #screenwriter #words
  • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
    words are awesome, expressive, interesting. They are the tools of many professions and they hold tremendous power.

    I like words too.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by Karen Blundell View Post

      words are awesome, expressive, interesting. They are the tools of many professions and they hold tremendous power.

      I like words too.
      Me too and I always have.

      When I was just a little thing, The Pokey Little Puppy was my favorite book and this is why...

      Roly poly, pell mell, tumble bumble...
      This story had the best words ever! (in my little, itty bitty opinion)

      And I've loved having fun with words ever since.

      Terra
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    • Profile picture of the author koocnaed
      Reading that was enjoyable... put a smile on my face!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    I like words, too. Especially words with letters in them.
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    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      I like words, too. Especially words with letters in them.
      Dennis, Look! You either like letters with words in them, or you like words with letters in them. It can't be both. :rolleyes:

      Blah, blah...Quantum Physics....blah
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        Dennis, Look! You either like letters with words in them, or you like words with letters in them. It can't be both. :rolleyes:

        Blah, blah...Quantum Physics....blah
        There's a third option, Claude: I like letters with letters in them.
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

          There's a third option, Claude: I like letters with letters in them.
          No! The letters have words, and then the words have letters. And then the letters are made up of Quarks, and the Quarks are made up of Strings. And the Strings are made up of Fairy Dust.

          Remember...Quantum Physics.

          It's Science.
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          • Profile picture of the author Horny Devil
            Banned
            Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

            No! The letters have words, and then the words have letters. And then the letters are made up of Quarks, and the Quarks are made up of Strings. And the Strings are made up of Fairy Dust.

            Remember...Quantum Physics.

            It's Science
            .
            Allegedly.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        Dennis, Look! You either like letters with words in them, or you like words with letters in them. It can't be both. :rolleyes:

        Blah, blah...Quantum Physics....blah
        Quantum physics? I thought it was quantum psychics and alphabet soup.


        @ Frank - Sorry, didn't mean to derail your thread with my silly little joke, but Whitacre and Riffle would have anyway. :rolleyes:

        It really is a neat site. I really do like words and not only enjoy reading, but I also enjoy writing a great deal. This part by Kurt Vonnegut to a group of high school students is pretty neat:

        Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what's inside you, to make your soul grow.
        It reminded me of a line I wrote years ago, not that I'm a writer anywhere close to Vonnegut's caliber, but we all spit out a few good lines if we write enough:

        Our greatest rewards aren't in what we get from our efforts, but in what we become for making them.
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

          Quantum physics? I thought it was quantum psychics and alphabet soup.

          It reminded me of a line I wrote years ago, not that I'm a writer anywhere close to Vonnegut's caliber, but we all spit out a few good lines if we write enough:


          "Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what's inside you, to make your soul grow."



          "Our greatest rewards aren't in what we get from our efforts, but in what we become for making them."

          One of the most beautiful thoughts I've ever read. I've pre-ordered the book. Unfortunately, in the US, it won't be available until May 6th.

          Here's a very non-affiliate link
          Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a...Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a...
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  • Profile picture of the author Brady Partridge
    Words I can take or leave. But worms, now you're talking.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I guess, speaking as a linguist, I kinda like words, too. I'd sure like to borrow Robert Piroshe's talent in using them for a couple weeks. He's got a style that would greatly benefit me to be able to emulate at the moment.

    Terra - Dr Suess does the same thing for me. I love his wordplay. But then - my internal entertainment center never has become very sophisticated.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I guess, speaking as a linguist, I kinda like words, too. I'd sure like to borrow Robert Piroshe's talent in using them for a couple weeks. He's got a style that would greatly benefit me to be able to emulate at the moment.

      Terra - Dr Suess does the same thing for me. I love his wordplay. But then - my internal entertainment center never has become very sophisticated.
      I hear ya. My first Dr. Seuss book was Go, dog. Go! The one that looked like this:



      My favorite page was this:



      and my favorite dog was this one:



      Probably because she was pink, lol!

      My next Dr. Seuss book was Hop on Pop.

      Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    That letter was absolutely fun to read. They would have been crazy not to hire him.
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  • Profile picture of the author raypal
    I like words
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  • Profile picture of the author YemTv
    I like words....
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

    A friend gave me a copy of the book "Letters of Note" for Christmas. It's a compilation of original letters, postcards, telegrams, memos etc. sent by famous and not so famous people that have been featured on Shaun Usher's excellent site: lettersofnote.com

    The book is an absolute delight, as is the site - it's well worth checking out if you haven't already discovered it.
    I've been checking out the site. Makes me want the book. Great site and great letters.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Frank. The book seems to be available only in UK ... even from Amazon, it's the UK Amazon site.
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      Frank. The book seems to be available only in UK ... even from Amazon, it's the UK Amazon site.
      Suzanne, it's due to be released in the USA in May. From the site:

      Finally, we have the US edition of Letters of Note, the cover of which can be seen below. This will be published by Chronicle Books on May 6th, 2014, and can be pre-ordered on AmazonAmazon , http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/letters-of-note-shaun-usher/1115810330, and http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781452134253.



      EDIT: Er..as Claude said above.
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

        Suzanne, it's due to be released in the USA in May. From the site:

        Finally, we have the US edition of Letters of Note, the cover of which can be seen below. This will be published by Chronicle Books on May 6th, 2014, and can be pre-ordered on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.

        Great. Got it preordered. Thanks Claude and Frank for the link.
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