The Simple Joys of Letter Writing in a Digital World
I originally wrote this article for the Wairarapa Lifestyle Magazine. It’s reproduced here with permission from the Editor.
As often as possible, Mr Blackwell and I nominate the end of the week as Analogue Sunday.
Essentially, the only rule is no screen time: we put away our phones in favour of a bike ride, diving into a good (physical) book, or cooking up a traditional Sunday roast.
And one of my favourite analogue activities is writing notes and letters to friends and family around the world. As a fan of stationery and the written word, it’s only natural perhaps that I’d gravitate toward rekindling this “lost art,” even though it may require a bit more effort to post a card or letter than to send a text or an email.
Letters are special because they require effort. One of my new favourite books, Four Thousand Weeks suggests: Convenience makes things easy, but without regard for whether easiness is truly what's most valuable in any given context.
“Take those services that let you design and then remotely mail a birthday card, so you never see or touch the physical item yourself. Better than nothing, perhaps, but sender and recipient both know that it's a poor substitute for purchasing a card in a shop, writing on it by hand, and then walking to the postbox to post it, because contrary to the cliche, it isn't really the thought that counts, but the effort — which is to say, the inconvenience.” - Oliver Burkeman
We only sell blank cards at the shop by design, but rather a lot of people are looking for cards with commentary inside. Maybe it’s because it frees them from having to find the “right thing” to say, or because they’re nervous about crafting a message left to their own devices, but for those of us who enjoy the challenge, that little blank canvas offers so much possibility.
5 easy ways to cultivate a correspondence habit
If the idea of sending more notes and letters appeals, but you aren’t sure where or how to start, we’ve curated a few suggestions:
Buy some beautiful cards or stationery. While this could seem a slightly mercenary suggestion from someone who sells stationery and cards, I do wholeheartedly believe that beautiful tools will inspire you. I tend to think of this like new running shoes, and how much more motivated I am to get out for a walk with new shoes. Pick up some quality note paper, a fine pen, or a few blank cards and you’ll be more likely to find reasons to use them than if you have to run out to purchase a card at the last minute.
Feel free to write short. There’s no need to feel daunted at the prospect of crafting a lengthy letter when a few short sentences will do. I can vouch for this as we put a little handwritten note in all our online orders, and we often get feedback about how it was appreciated. Imagine how much more impactful it would be from someone who actually knows you.
Find inspiration online. If you’d like to write more letters, but aren’t sure where to start, there’s no lack of inspiration online, including this list of 30 ideas for letters to write and send. If you want to send a card with a particular sentiment, but don’t know what to say, you can also search for specific prompts like “how to write a condolences card” or ”how to write a birthday letter” and let those words inspire.
If you don’t want to write — draw. One of the letter writing prompts I saw while crafting this article suggested illustrating your day — and if you’re artistically inclined, I think that would be a fantastic alternative to writing. Additionally, you can decorate your envelope for even more personalisation and joy. May I suggest a custom Mrs Blackwell stamp to finish the job?
Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. While fancy paper, beautiful envelopes, and Mrs Blackwell stamps are delightful, I promise that your recipient would be just as excited to receive a note scrawled on a scrap of lined notebook paper or a sticky note. The point is to create meaning rather than spend a ton of time, money, or effort and you can create meaning for someone in your life with the simplest tools and supplies you already have on hand. The point is to actually send the note rather than obsessing over it.
No matter what you write, it's a very special kind of analog connection in our busy digital world. That’s why they stand out from a text or an email.
Historical letters give us such an intimate glimpse into what we know about people from the past, and while I suspect social media may in some ways serve this purpose in the future, think of the difference between what you post for the masses to see and what you might share in a personal letter.
In fact, there’s a whole genre of literature and epistolary novels that have sprung from letters and letter writing.
If you’re feeling inspired, don’t wait: pick up a pen and send a letter to someone today.
