Here's a brief primer on writing thank-you notes

An immediate response to receiving a gift makes the message sound more sincere.
By KIM ODE
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Dear Reader,
Thanks for choosing to read this story. Your interest means a great deal, and will help me maintain my enthusiasm for my job. How did you know that's exactly what I needed? Thanks again for the gift of your time.
Sincerely,
Kim
Well, that wasn't so hard. Of course, I typed it instead of writing in longhand. And the printing presses took the place of my having to address and stamp an envelope. Hmm. Maybe you're justified in regarding that "sincerely" as anything but.
So it's good to learn that the best thank-you notes also are the easiest to write.
"All you really need to think about is three or four sentences written from the heart, and how tough is that?" said Angelyn Davis of Minnetonka, Minn., who teaches classes on etiquette.
Yet it seems we either nag or are nagged about the task before finally putting pen to paper. And let's get this out of the way right now: pen to paper. E-mail doesn't count. Jean Summers, who wrote "The Kids' Guide to Writing Great Thank-You Notes" (The Writers' Collective, 9.95), regards electronic gratitude "as your last resort for kids or teen-agers if a parent just can't get them to do it any other way."
You want to be lumped in with the dregs of courtesy? Your call. But writing a thank-you note for a favorite CD really is just a dry run for times you'll need to express gratitude for a job interview, a friend's favor, a wonderful party or a task well done.
"The kids start to see the application," Davis said. "The idea of being socially adept, in their minds, is being cool."
Be thoughtful
After all, she added, etiquette is about being respectful, thoughtful and kind. "There's the satisfaction of building relationships and really wanting to express immediately and spontaneously the impact the gift had on you, how much pleasure it gives you."
So, how to go about this?
Use stationery, or a nice card. A fountain pen is ideal, but Davis knows this is asking a lot. Ballpoint will do. But save the spiral-bound lined paper for schoolwork.
Write conversationally. Sometimes, when we're trying to sound polite, we sound robotic. No: I have always wanted to own a Lava Lamp. Yes: I've always thought Lava Lamps were cool.
"If someone writes, 'You rock!' that's perfect," Davis said, because it's the way that person really talks. Having said that, "awesome" is overused. Even in conversation.
Sooner is better
Get it in the mail today. In other words, now. Granted, it's never too late to express thanks, but an immediate response reinforces the gratitude in the message, as if wild horses couldn't keep you from penning this note.
And yes, this even goes for less-than-thrilling gifts. If honest enthusiasm lags, you can always say how fun it is to get a package in the mail, or to be surrounded by well-wishing friends.
Even if you thanked someone in person, a follow-up note, while technically redundant, always is appreciated.
And yes, this advice is for adults as well as kids.