Making letter writing fun
I apologize for being a tease. The interview is ready to go but some technical difficulties prevent it from being featured today.
In the meantime, I’d like to talk about the power of the written word, written as in pen on paper. In this internet age, the majority of us receive few, and send even fewer, written missives out. The exception is during holidays, where cards that do get sent out may occasionally include a few words before the signature, which is sad considering how pleasant it is to receive a letter in the mail from a loved one and not from the bank, the government or a company whose services you pay for.
Here are some ways to make letter writing fun for you (because it’s a given that the recipient will enjoy receiving your letter):
Use pretty stationery
I hope I’m not alone when I express my love for beautiful paper. Thick cardstock or heavy paper (greater than 24 lbs) makes writing a joy. Even choosing a colour of paper other than plain white can make all the difference. Paper stores and card stores are great sources of beautiful writing paper. You can also write on the other side of higher quality wrapping paper if you wish, or directly on wrapping paper with a delicate or light-coloured design. You can even make your own stationery fairly easily by stamping or doodling on some nice paper.
Use a fabulous pen
This is even more important than the paper, in my opinion. If you have a pen that flows well, does not smudge and fits the hand well, the chances of your words continuing to flow like the ink it’s being written with are far greater. If possible, test out several types of pens before choosing one. I’m partial to the roller ball pens as they have both ball point and gel ink properties, and I am currently partial to the Uni-ball Jetstream pen:
Get some address labels
Have some nice address labels printed, or print some yourself. I find having a pretty little address label, ready to stick on an envelope not only saves time but also makes you feel more like a letter writing pro. A nice address label can give the recipient of your letter an initial impression of you, or of the content of the letter.
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And there you have it–some simple tips for making writing letter less boring for you. Make sure you put enough stamps on the letter and get ready to make somebody’s day!
May 26th, 2007 at 6:44 am
OH NO, not pretty pink paper with polka-dots and flowers on it! Curses!
I think that kind of action would drive people nuts rather than make them happy to receive a letter.
But I agree on the nice pen.
May 30th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Well, pretty is in the eye of the beholder Dave! I finally got my husband to write thank you notes by getting him some “manly” note cards he likes … the paper makes all the difference.
The address labels are a good idea if you are a procrastinator on notes. A good friend of mine did that one day, spent a couple hours printing out address labels for her good friends and close relatives so when a birthday or note needed to be sent she could not procrastinate with the excuse that she needed to look up the address. She sends a lot more notes now! Sure, handwritten addresses are better but her friends and family would rather get a printed address and a note than no note at all.
May 31st, 2007 at 9:24 am
You said it, Margie: I’d rather get a hand written note and a printed address than no notes at all! And that’s awesome that you got your husband writing thank you cards too!