Literary Letter Swap

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Swap Coordinator:	cellardoor (contact)
Swap categories:	Books Letters & Writing
Number of people in swap:	5
Location:	International
Type:	None
Last day to signup/drop:	December 22, 2008
Date items must be sent by:	December 30, 2008
Number of swap partners:	1
Description:
Choose your favorite letter from a novel. For example: Darcy's letter to Elizabeth from "Pride and Prejudice" or Jose's letter to Holly Golightly from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Make the letter look as authentic as possible, as if it really came from the person in the novel. Use your creativity to make the character come to life. Make the envelope part of the novel too - address it to the receiving character, create a stamp if appropriate, then put the envelope in a 'real world' envelope to send to your partner. Examples: Darcy's letter would be folded and sealed with wax. Jose's letter may be written by typewriter on New York hotel stationary. You will have only one partner for this, so try and make the letter really unique. On a separate page please write what novel the letter is from, the characters involved, as well as why you chose this letter. For hearts, you could add any other trinket, relevant to the characters (no locks of hair, though. It may be true to the spirit of the novel, but it is also rather gross). No unexplained 1's or 3's. Newbies with at least one successful swap are welcome with profiles filled in detail to my satisfaction. Shady characters will be banned.

Discussion

babyamy 12/17/2008 #

Do we have to send the letter in English? I'd like to choose a letter from a German book...

babyamy 12/17/2008 #

ok, I found an English translation I can work with. :) I'll send the letter in English

cellardoor 12/17/2008 #

You answered your own question :-) It can be really cool to be exposed to books from other countries. It won't be much fun though if we cannot understand a word. Using a translation though is fine.

lilacamy931 12/17/2008 #

Could it be any book of any type? I know classicals have a lot of letters in them, but other sorts are ok too?

PalmidoraCrautiacolazione 12/17/2008 #

OHHH! This is an awesome idea! I won't have enough time to do it, so I won't join, but... I really wish you good luck!

chrissy32 12/17/2008 #

I love this idea, but don't have time this holiday season. Hope you'll do it again sometime!

Starwatcher 12/17/2008 #

What fun! I've put this on my watchlist. I've been thinking about the books by Nick Bantock, such as Griffin and Sabine, which actually is made up of letters and envelopes. also The Jolly Pocket Postman by the Ahlbergs. Of course, there is also the book of correspondence from a bookseller in England to a buyer in New York - (81 Charring Cross St? or something like that). They made the latter book into a movie with Anne Bancroft. Good idea for a swap!

sylviasushi27 12/17/2008 #

This is a really cool idea, but I don't read much anymore- just wanted to say that I think this is an AWESOME swap and I'd love to see pictures of what people receive. :)

lilrawker 12/17/2008 #

I had this swap on my watchlist, and as I started a new book today...lo and behold: it contained a letter from one character to another! It's a very inspiring one, so I decided to join! :)

cellardoor 12/17/2008 #

Starwatcher: I have read the first Griffin and Sabine and loved it. I don't think it would be a good choice for this swap, though, because it leaves no room for imagination - you already know exactly what the letter looks like, the handwriting, etc. I haven't read the others. Are they any good?

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