a wonderful letter

To my delight, I discovered a blog called "Letters of Note".  I’ve spent all morning scrolling through letters, memos, faxes, telegrams, and postcards.  

This letter was written by Robert Pirosh, a copyeditor who came to Los Angeles in 1934 to pursue his dream of becoming a screenwriter.  He sent this to studio executives, producers, and directors.  I love every single thing about it.

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

Here’s a few more well written letters (click on name to view):

Conan O’Brien writes to a sixteen year old girl after she asks him to prom.

David Bowie replies to his “very first American fan letter”.

John Steinbeck sends a beautiful letter to his son about falling in love.

(Source: Letters of Note)