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Letter-Writing Tips
Even though I am not by any means an expert on letter-writing campaigns, I do have some suggestions that should help you generate more effective letters. Here goes:
- Send snail mail. I know e-mail's a lot easier to send, but that's one of the problems with it. Sending snail mail letters shows that you care enough about ReBoot to spend more than 60 seconds on it. There's other reasons why snail mail is better, too, but I'm just going to ask you to trust me on this one so I can move on to the next tip. (And trust Mainframe Entertainment-- they also recommend snail mail over e-mail or phone calls.)
- Don't be afraid to write your letters by hand. As long as your handwriting is neat enough to allow the receiver to read it easily, you might want to handwrite at least some of your letters. It shows you're not just using your computer to run off form letters. Even if you do end up typing your letter, sign it and address the envelope by hand to show a real human sent it.
- Keep it brief. You don't need to write a novel about how much you love the show or spend a paragraph talking about the great weather you've been having. Keeping your letter to a page long and staying focused on the reason you're writing will make it less tempting for the receiver to just skim it.
- Be nice. Sending letters demanding your favorite network order new ReBoot episodes will not impress anyone. Likewise, sending a letter to Cartoon Network that calls them idiots for taking ReBoot off the schedule temporarily would be unwise. Remember that you're asking these people to help you, so you'd better be polite about it. (And in the case of CN, you should probably thank them for playing the show at all rather than complaining when they take it off temporarily. Cartoon Network is very important to our chances of seeing more ReBoot in the U.S. Don't make them mad.)
- Be honest. Don't say you're sure airing new episodes would make the network a million-billion dollars, because you can't be sure. If you don't really have 20 friends over after school every day to watch ReBoot, don't write in your letter that you do. And just because everybody online knows you as MegaNull007, you should still sign your letters with your real name. (You didn't think I actually put "MG" at the bottom of my snail mail letters, did you?) The people who you'll be writing to want to know about the real people who support ReBoot.
- Have good things to say. As I said earlier, you don't need to write a novel. But do try to concisely communicate what ReBoot has meant to you and/or why it's something worth bringing back. It can't hurt to give these people a good reason to do what you're asking.
- Proofread! Once you've written out a copy of your letter proofread it, have someone else proofread it, then read it for yourself once more. If you type your letter, do all of that and spellcheck it. Rewrite your letter neatly if all that proofreading gets it messy.
- Spread the word. Tell all of the ReBoot fans you know about how they can help. Give them addresses to write to (or point them to this page). Get all ages involved to help show ReBoot's wide appeal. (Put pre-stamped-and-addressed envelopes, paper, and pencils in a kid's hand. Help them think of what they like about the show, then let them write it. It works wonders.)
- Be creative. If you've already sent Cartoon Network a bunch of letters supporting ReBoot, send some ReBoot drawings to one of the Toonami galleries. If you don't want to send YTV just another piece of paper, consider sending them a thank-you card. A little variety might just help get your letters noticed.
- Don't get mad at Mainframe. This has got to be one of the things that annoys me most-- people want more ReBoot, and they think Mainframe Entertainment (MFE) is somehow to blame. It's nothing like that. Mainframe is an exceptional company when it comes to listening to the fans and sticking with a show. Be grateful they even bothered to try to get the TV movies / Season 4 made-- it's not like they had to do it. There's plenty of other projects and shows they could work on instead. So let's not send MFE any mean, whiny, or demanding letters and/or petitions. They're already doing what they can to keep the show alive.
- Just do it. Don't assume you shouldn't bother sending letters because everyone else will. They won't. Tons of ReBoot fans don't even know they should be sending letters. And a lot of the ones who do know they should won't, because they figure you'll be the one to write.
[The preceding tips were compiled from my own experience and a list of suggestions kindly sent to me by Robin.]
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