Letter-Writing: What to do, what not to do, and everything in between.

Letter-writing is a topic upon which I have many and varied opinions. First and foremost is my idea that it ought to come back into fashion. One reads an email far too fast and one can't save a phone-call.
Second is my idea that a letter constitutes an epistle of at least two pages. Anything smaller is a note or a message. :) But the third and perhaps the most important opinion of mine is that letter-writing is a talent. By that, I mean it is something that cannot be done in a trice. It takes practice, thought, and care and is worth more than many people would care to admit. A charming letter is a treasure and something that bears spending nearly 50 cents on when postage is so dear these days. I make it a point never to send something under the banner of a stamp if it will disgrace the very name of the Post Office. ; )

So how do you write a smashing letter?

As a woman who has rather a hefty correspondence, I think I'm fitted to share a bit of my experience with you. First off, I collect correspondents as Mr. J. Preston Peters of Something Fresh collects Egyptian Scarabs. I'm kidding, of course, but I do love running through my mental file of People I Write To and seeing addresses ranging from across town to across the world inside. :) Letter-writing is so much fun, I wish people would take it up a bit more! So here are my tips:

1. "Buy a black coat". Er. Pen. You can use gel-pens if you'd like, but the pen that I love best of all runs smoothly, is full of black ink (not too too gel-y) and fits your hand nicely. Believe it or not, my favorite pens are the generic Papermate pens you buy by the dozen at any Walmart. You mightn't realize it at first, but a scratchy, spitting pen is the worst menace to the art of letter-writing. You simply can't think when your pen is sputtering and protesting.

2. Use any paper on hand. This contradicts many people's idea of letter-writing etiquette, but I will say it again. Use any paper on hand. If you wait for the extra money to buy nice stationary it may never come. If you wait till you have the energy to fight your ennui and rummage up your best paper from a box in the depths of your closet, you'll be procrastinating. Of course if you are fortunate enough to own reams of letter-writing paper, more power to you! :D Often my letter comes appareled in a cute note-card (homemade or bought) and notebook paper. Believe me when I say that the best part of a letter is what is inside.

3. Let your mind wander. Everyone's mind is unique and different. Therefore the train of your thought may bear little to no resemblance to the person's who will get your letter. They'll love seeing all your little thoughts. Write swiftly and freely. Write the first things that come to mind. There is nothing worse than a stilted, premeditated letter that sounds about as natural as Mr. Collins' compliments.

4. Ask Questions. There's nothing wrong with wanting to Know, you Know. ;) And by asking questions I want to state clearly that I do not mean inquiring as to your friends favorite color, favorite animal, favorite food, and favorite movies. There mayn't be anything wrong with those questions,  but they are excessively fluffy and middle-school in nature and even though they might be necessary at first, I know you have imagination enough to rummage up more curiosity than that.

5. Doodle. Do. One of my finest letter-writing friends (Felicity Deverell from New Zealand! :) fills her pages with sketches of the room, the view outside the window, things that have happened recently, etc. Even if you aren't a gifted artist I'm sure you can manage a pretty flower or a funny, impish face. My Uncle Lon writes to us now and then and he draws the ugliest, most precious little faces on the letters. An Uncle Lon letter just wouldn't be the same without that strange little man doodled on the edge. :D

6. Try your hand at description. Too often an epoch in a friend's life, or the fair they just attended, or the sight they just saw is given no more than a passing mention in a letter. You don't have to hang gaudy, golden baubles on your words, but try to give your friend a picture of what you saw. I know I revel in every detail of Felicity's letters because she lives practically in a different world than I do! I never tire of reading about the banana palms and rugged cliffs, the sailing adventures and the native people.

7. Try to be original. Think of the person your letter is meant for--do they live nearby? Then don't go describing the weather--chances are they had the same rain as you, only an hour earlier. But if, on the other hand, your friend (like Felicity) lives half-way across the world, the smallest details will be greatly appreciated. I've gotten so much laughter ought of discussing accents, stereotypes, culture, and history with Felicity through our letters. :)

8. Pay heed to their letter. If you are replying to a letter, be sure to reference what the friend spoke of in their missive. Answer the questions that were asked, (referencing the question too--I know I sometimes forget what I asked a person. :D) and ask more yourself. I know I already said that in Tip #4, but it's really important. You know you hate getting to the end of a letter and finding you've both said all that needs to be said.

9. Use neat handwriting. Really,  this is more important than you'd think. You don't want your friend's experience of your letter to being telegraphic: "Dear...how are...having a ...time...I went to...Park today and saw a great big....it was so neat!" Without fail the sloppy hand-writers obscure the most important parts of their messages. :D

10. Be Unexpected. Try packaging up your letter a different way: Send your message in a soda-bottle, or make a funny-shaped envelope. The post office sends most packages, provided they aren't too outlandish or too tiny. Or you can tuck something inside the letter like a pressed flower of a bookmark or a necklace you've made--really, anything!

"It is my opinion that a person who can write a long letter with ease cannot write ill." -Jane Austen