While moving homes about a year ago, I came across an unexpected treasure trove that had gone untouched for years: A box of handwritten notes I’d exchanged with my Australian pen pal, and passed surreptitiously back and forth in high school.
These notes were a veritable treasure trove of family memories recorded, secrets shared, dreams fulfilled (and others long forgotten). I was looking at a time capsule of moments shared.
So it was with great ennui that I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually written someone a letter. Although my pen pal and I became friends on Facebook, it was easy to send messages and forget about them, and friendships have become the stuff of text messages.
Over the last year, I’ve revived the once lost art of handwritten letters to family, friends, and yes, even my penpal. I’ll be headed to my pen pal’s wedding in Australia early next year, and being intentional about our communication has afforded a closer relationship to friends and family.
A handwritten note is an intimate expression of caring; the time taken to pick stationery, find the right pen, write the actual letter, and go to the post office isn’t a gesture done for just anyone. Even the most heartfelt and well crafted e-mail can’t compete with the personal touch of a handwritten letter.
It’s time to bring this lost art form back.
Find the perfect recipient
The first step to getting back into handwriting is to find the right recipient to correspond with.
For a sentimental, intimate letter
Choose your partner or a child — while it can be difficult to tell the people closest to us how much we care for them, they’re the most grateful to receive it.
For a partner, write them a passionate love letter for an occasion and mail it a few days before the grand event, or simply as a romantic gesture any time.
For children, writing them letters will give them lasting insight into your life and who you are, but it’s an excellent bonding tool. No matter how old children get, we love knowing that our parents care.
For a fun surprise
Surprises often get mixed reactions, but one that will be well received is a handwritten letter from a friend wanting to reconnect.
Take a moment to go through your high school yearbook and find a classmate or colleague you’ve lost touch with. Craft a thoughtful and entertaining letter recalling shared memories and ask them about their life.
Of course, there’s no guarantee you’ll get a reply, but if you got a handwritten letter from a classmate wanting to get in touch, wouldn’t you want to reconnect?
For a professional relationship
Handwritten notes with a young mentee or protege will help the mentee get clear about what they really crave for their personal and professional growth and learn the importance of going the extra mile.
A handwritten note will be sure to impress, and taking the time to correspond with a mentee through handwriting will allow you both to disconnect from a data and social-media driven world and get to the core of what mentorship is about: development.
Choose your materials wisely
Every aspect of a handwritten letter requires careful consideration.
From the weight and feel of the paper, to the color of the ink, the selection of the pen and the brand – these are all an opportunity to make a statement.
As a letter writer, you can either brand yourself through your writing or customize your letters and materials based on the opportunity.
Branding yourself constitutes an approach that is clearly yours – whether you’re writing to your parents, a partner, a work colleague, or a friend, you use the same paper, pen, ink color, envelope, and brand.
You can also choose based on the recipient and pick paper and ink colours that are representative of that person and show that you know who they are.
For handwritten letters, a thicker weight paper works better. Pick a weight that’s closer to a card stock so you can write on both sides and avoid bleeding.
As writing a letter is no small gesture, having the ultimate luxury stationery is essential. I send my letters on personalized Atelier Benneton Graveur stationery, and for thank you notes, I always use the elephant family set from Dempsey and Carroll.
Marker pens, fountain pens, or quill and ink are all popular options for letter writers. I’m someone who likes a bit of variety, so I purchased a fountain pen that has several available ink colors, and I customize based on the recipient. I use the Scheaffer Prelude fountain pen in brushed copper with a medium nib. It’s smooth and doesn’t skip.
For seals, you can either go with the traditional wax seal or a stamp. Personally, I went for a stamp that I had done at a local stationery shop in Toronto. I had a friend design a custom design and the shop made the rubber stamp. If you have a family crest, that’s a perfect addition to the letter, otherwise, find a local artist or graphic designer to create a custom design for you.
The content
While the aesthetics are important, the content is ultimately what your recipient will remember and cherish the most, so make it personal. Letters are a fantastic opportunity to be creative, to infuse your personal style into your writing, and to let yourself share secrets, memories, and dreams with someone you care about.
Aim for 1-2 pages if you’re just starting out, as this also keeps expectations low for the person who’ll be replying, and allow your correspondence to naturally get longer as the written relationship develops.
Let’s revive this lost tradition and bring back the art of the handwritten letter. I’m about to shut my laptop and as I board a flight from Toronto to Los Angeles, I’ll have my stationery in hand and a playlist of classical favourites queued, ready to respond to letters from friends and family.
