Alright, so this one is a little bit of a rambling mess, but what are you going to do? Nothing, that's what.

I couldn't think of any good stories, so I wrote about what was on my mind, which seems to never be the best option as far as letters go. Who knows, maybe he'll like it.

I really have to go read for class. I'll catch you folks tomorrow.

Another late letter

Sorry for the awkward constructions in this one. I am well aware of my lack of writing ability, but I think today especially was a day I struggled with this factor. I enjoyed writing the story itself, and didn't have trouble with the content, but just the construction, the manifestation into words. Hopefully I will be a better story-teller by the end of this project.

I'm building quite a collection of personal stories here, most of which I would not tell to everyone. Pen and paper are proving to be deceptively comfortable, easing my more sacred experiences out of me.

Sorry this post is so late, I had a late lab today, and had to finish up my other homework before I could even start thinking about this letter. I thoroughly enjoy this method of telling personal stories in my letters, and I think I will keep it up, until I have another idea.

I haven't gotten a response yet, but it's still very early in the project. Honestly, I don't expect to get many responses at all, but that does not keep me from watching the mailbox.

New Letter

#5 down. Hope you all enjoy.

#4

Fourth letter down. I got an early start today (early for me), because I knew if I didn't get this letter out, it would be bothering me all day. I knew since yesterday what I wanted to write about, and this one proved to be easier to write, and I hope a better read. I wrote about a decision I made this summer for which I am still angry at myself. You'll have to read it. I hear from my friends it's a heart-breaking story.

I'm glad I broke my own rule for this letter. I may end up doing away with it all together.

I'm exhausted

Third letter down. This one's going out to Alaska! I found this was another hard one to write. I ended up using some items from some of my last letters as a crutch, which I'm kind of disappointed about, but this is part of the experience I think. Hopefully by the end I will be able to knock these letters out more quickly.

For the next few I may break rule 3. Instead of writing random thoughts, I'd like to think of an amusing story and tell it to the recipient. Also, this will help me write letters with a little more variation, and maybe help the recipient relate a little more.

Here's letter 3, by the way. Not my favorite so far, but a letter nonetheless.

What a day...

I just completed the second letter. I'm actually pretty suprized I've made it this far. When I first thought of the idea, I half-expected to let it die like most of the others, but so far I've stuck with this one. I know, I've only written 2 out of 100 so far, but it's a start...

This letter was a little easier to write than the last. I found that if I stop trying to think of the perfect thing to say, and just start writing something, more like I were writing to a friend, the page fills up much faster, and more of my personality makes it onto the page. Then again, maybe I'm just crazy, which is what I'm sure these people are going to think when they get my letters. Here are the scans, I hope you enjoy.

Ooh, also, I plan to do a little publicity for this blog so I'm not just writing to myself. Hopefully I can get a few regular readers.

Here are the scans of my first letter, front and back.

1st letter!

I just completed my first letter! When I began this project, I didn't realize how difficult it would be. I had trouble getting a good start on my letter tonight, and ended up staring at the page for close to three hours before I really found my beginning. I hope the next ones are easier, but this experience is a big part of the appeal of the project to me. I get to learn more about communicating with people (I'm pretty shy), and slowly I hope to learn more about the human experience. I will post a scan of the letter hopefully soon. Right now I am outside at a market, so I will have to wait until I go back home to scan the letter before sending.

Explanation

Hi, welcome to hundredletters. Let me explain this project of mine:

I was sitting in my house the other day, reading the label on the back of a bottle of windex, because I was a bored college kid, and I guess that's the kind of thing bored college kids do. At least this one does. On the back, an address was listed for comments or questions anyone may have about the product, which led me to think of the person whose job it was to read all of those letters, and how boring or unrewarding such a job seems to me. I was then inspired to write a letter to this person. Not a letter about windex or their job, but one to give them something to read, to make their day stand out, one to cheer them up. I then realized that the person on the back of the windex bottle was the CEO of S.C. Johnson, which was not exactly the path I intended to go down. I then decided for 100 days I would write a single letter a day to a stranger. Here are the rules I will follow:

1. I will write 2 letters to each state. At the time of writing I have decided to start with Alabama and proceed alphabetically so my current progress is easier to keep track of (mostly for myself).

2. The people I write to must be complete strangers, people who I have never met. Also, I will write to people who are not commonly known in the public mind. This will also make the chances of a response much higher.

3. When I write to them, I will make an effort not to tell them about myself for most of the letter. I would rather talk about something more universal to humans.

4. The letters must be hand-written and unique, to a point.

I plan to post a scan of each of my letters as I complete them, and if I get responses, maybe some of those too, which personal information censored of course.