TRY THIS TOMORROW: THE OPEN LETTER
The open letter is a form of writing that offers nearly unlimited possibilities for writers. Typically addressed to a specific reader or group, but intended to be read by a wider and more public audience, the open letter can be crafted as a memoir, a persuasive piece, social commentary, or a small moment/slice of life. The open letter can be serious and formal, or it can be personal and humorous in that “you’re laughing because you’ve been there” way.
Regardless of the approach, the open letter requires some intentional writer’s moves when it comes to addressing the audience. The open letter directly addresses the named reader or group, but it must be written to engage the public audience.
McSweeney’s features a column called Open Letters to People or Entities who are Unlikely to Respond. Some of my favorite open letters are:
An Open Letter to Coastal Living Magazine
An Open Letter to the Immigration Officer Who Confused Me for a Criminal
An Open Letter to those Who Want to Liberate Me from My Hijab
An Open Letter to Collegiate Basketball Benchwarmers
An Open Letter to the Box of Loose Cables in My Closet
I’ve also found some excellent examples on HuffPost:
Open Letter to the Lazy Mom in the Grocery Store
An Open Letter to My Adolescent Daughter
An Open Letter to Teenagers from a Toddler Mom
Your students might also enjoy My Open Letter to Open Letters Everywhere (Odyssey) as a humorous reminder to keep it real and avoid open letter clichés.