# Fan mail (not from a flounder, either) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396 "2014-12-16T15:06:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396/1 "2014-12-16T15:06:01Z")
I’ve been writing and publishing fiction for over 30 years. Today I just got my first fan letter. (Well, an email, actually). I’m delighted. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396/2 "2014-12-16T15:30:02Z")
You’re lucky. I got my first “fan mail” before I even knew I’d been “published”. I had a letter published in an early Starlog, and before I even got the issue I got TWO anonymous letter addressed to my home. One was…not kind, to say the least. It upset me a lot. I didn’t take hate mail too well at that age. The other was so poorly written I’m not sure what he was trying to say. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396/3 "2014-12-16T15:31:31Z")
Best to ease into these things I always say. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396/4 "2014-12-16T15:44:54Z")
Great to hear but - me being me - do you ever get “you idiot” mail? I can’t help it; my brain just works that way. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396/5 "2014-12-16T16:03:11Z")
Congratulations! May you get many more [Rocky] That’s what I _really_ call a message! [/Rocky] ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396/6 "2014-12-16T17:54:58Z")
Lucky! You know, some people go their whole lives without knowing if who they are or what they’ve done (or tried to do) has made a difference in this world. If its within your style, I’d say have it framed & hung up on the wall behind your PC. You could put a sticky note on it that says, “_That’s_ why.” 😃 Congratulations! (…and keep up the good work!) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396/7 "2014-12-17T01:14:04Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Great to hear but - me being me - do you ever get “you idiot” mail? I can’t help it; my brain just works that way. No, but I get plenty of that here on the SDMB. 😉 I`ve got plenty of reviews of my work, from good to bad, but a letter is different. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396/8 "2014-12-17T01:36:56Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > No, but I get plenty of that here on the SDMB. 😉 > > I`ve got plenty of reviews of my work, from good to bad, but a letter is different. That it is. Here’s hoping you get so many that you need a new filing cabinet to keep them all in! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396/9 "2014-12-17T03:58:44Z")
May you have many more. They never grow old. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396/10 "2014-12-17T04:01:12Z")
Oh good, it arrived. I hope you could read my handwriting. 🙂 Just kidding, of course. That has to be a great feeling! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-mail-not-from-a-flounder-either/707396/11 "2014-12-17T04:18:15Z")
You have a Number One Fan! [You should be afraid](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misery_%28film%29). Very, very afraid. 😃