How to Answer a Raven Clearly and Kindly

Let it be recorded that the heart, though smaller than a fist, has ruined armies more efficiently than winter, and that a clear raven begins with the sender’s name, the matter at hand, and the answer you actually mean to give; do not bury a yes beneath three paragraphs about weather.

Write one decision per sentence, then add the useful detail: if a rally concerns your keep, name the hour and the gate, rather than sending a cloud of noble intentions. A newcomer should be able to act after one reading, even if the raven arrives during supper.

End by stating what happens next and when you will reply again, because an awkward silence is survivable but an undefined one breeds feuds; reread the message for missing names, dates, and promises before tying it shut. I inspect every ribbon this carefully, and Gooner would surely notice the difference!