Writealetter.org

Let's start writing letters again!

  • Home
  • About
  • Go The Write Way
  • Posts
  • Resources
  • Contact

The Multifaceted Art of Writing Letters

September 16, 2013 By Carol

...because some people still appreciate handwritten notes. #17703 acornonline.com

September 16, 2013

Much has been written about the “Lost Art of Letter Writing and Handwriting.” Yes, it is rare to see a handwritten address in one’s daily mail. And, yes, cursive writing is disappearing from school curriculum.  But is the art of writing letters really “lost,”  like the Holy Grail, or gone the way of the dinosaurs?  Think again.  People still send each other greeting cards, and stationery shops are still part of the landscape. I venture to suggest that letter writing as an art form is not dead, nor is it lost, it’s just merely neglected.

Like any endeavor that involves skill, it takes time.  That element of one’s life that always seems to be in short supply.  I heard the phrase “time famine” recently, and I wonder why are we all rushing?  The clock still keeps the same pace, the celestial cycles are beyond our control, so where does our time disappear to?  It’s up to each of us to answer: are we doing what we enjoy? Or are we scrambling to keep the pace? Let me remind you that you do have a say in the matter.  You might have to periodically, step away from your gadgets, those “time vampires,” and reclaim some time for yourself.

It’s healthy to step back and seek balance, put your priorities in perspective and figure out what really matters. From that mindset you might want to slow down and connect on a deeper more personal level that only a handwritten letter can do.

So let’s return to the topic of letter writing.  Like watercolor painting, it takes time to write a letter.  Margaret Shepherd, author of The Art of the Personal Letter,  reminds us that because this form of communication is so rare these days, writing a letter is ever more valuable.  “A keepsake,’ another friend exclaimed.

OK, what I really want to acknowledge here is the multifaceted creative expression involved in writing a letter.  First of all, what we immediately see in a written letter is the visual expression of your thoughts, feelings and words.  Your handwriting, the color of the ink, the color of your stationery, the particular card you’ve chosen- engages the eye and sets a tone.  Then as you read the words, there’s the literary piece: how you say what’s on your mind and in your heart. For the writer, there’s therapeutic involvement.  You have to clarify how you feel before you can express it.  Then there’s the art of communication- relating your thoughts and emotions to another for their consideration.  And regarding brain function, writing engages more of the brain that merely making a keystroke.  A written letter is a gift of time.  It says: “I value you enough to take the time to write this.”  I could go on and on, however, for simplicity’s sake, writing a letter is definitely an art that forges a deeper, more personal connection.  Like I always say, “If you want to be remembered, write a letter.”

Margaret  Shepherd says “It’s her favorite way to communicate.”  It’s my favorite way as well.

For starters, send a postcard.  Write or print what you might say in a text message.  It will take a short while to get wherever you send it, but guaranteed you’ll impress, because “some people still appreciate handwritten notes.”

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Image obtained from the acornonline.com catalog.

Filed Under: Handwriting Tagged With: "time famine", "time vampires', Acornonline.com, appreciate, artform, brain function, celestial cycles, color of ink, communication, cursive writing, dinosaurs, feelings, gift of time, greeting card, handwriting, handwritten notes, Holy Grail, keep the pace, keepsake, literary, lost art of letter writing, Margaret Shepherd, multifaceted creative expression, personal connection, rare, reclaim time for yourself, seek balance, send a postcard, slow down, stationery stores, The Art of the Personal Letter, therapeutic, visual expression, watercolors

Subscribe

Subscribe to our mailing list for occasional newsletters and notices of new posts




Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • September 2021
  • July 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010

Copyright © 2023 · Carol Christmas · website by Hardenbergh Design · Log in