A version of this article appeared in the July 21, 2023, issue. We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.

SEGARRA: OK, letter writers, it is time for a recap. Takeaway 1 - if you want to get letters, start writing letters. Reach out to friends and family, to old acquaintances, and even to strangers.

Here is a common scene: A supervisor agrees to write your letter of recommendation with one condition—you draft it. Shocker. We, too, were surprised the first time this happened to us.

First, you have to decide how you’re going to write the letter: By hand, or electronically (typing or using voice dictation). There’s also a typewriter, but we’ll skip that one today.

Answer: Great question, and it’s admirable you’re willing to support someone with a letter of recommendation. Before you begin writing, here are a few key points to consider: ...