Why you should talk about yourself in your letters (Pt.1)

Should you always keep all talk about yourself to an absolute minimum or nonexistent in your letters?

Some people would tell you that this is certainly the case as talking about yourself will make the other person feel less important and unseen.

While I can make a case for this view I think in some ways it is wrong.

Let me be clear: I’m not recommending talking about yourself in an egotistical or boastful fashion. Not at all. I have autobiographies in mind as an example of the the kind of self-talk I have in mind.

People may be very interested in themselves and hearing about themselves, but they are also to some degree curious about other people.

And they are curious about you.

Have you ever become so fascinated by someone that you wanted to know all you could about them? Right down to their daily habits, even?

You have? So’ve I. I snap up every bit of self information written by the authors I admire. Knowing such things helps one feel closer to the object of their interest.

It’s the same way with you. People want to know that you value them and are interested in them but then they also want to hear about you.