Letter-writing is not dead! Part 1: Tips and Inspiration

Where the sun shines bright Where me and my true love will never meet again

[Music]

Hi boys and girls, I'm Rajiv Surendra. You know what I do for a living? I'm a calligrapher. That's right, I make a living writing by hand. It's great, really good.

So, you know why I'm able to make a living writing by hand? Because not very many people do it anymore. Today, I'm pairing with the Morgan Library. It's my great honor to be doing something for the Morgan to talk to you a little bit about letter writing.

The Magic of Letters

I want you all to think about how many messages you sent yesterday—how many text messages, emails, Zoom calls, or phone calls you made. How much correspondence did you have in the day, and how much of that correspondence is actually going to be around in 100 years? Probably not a lot of it that someone can actually pick up and hold.

But a letter is very, very different. You write something down on a piece of paper, put it in an envelope, put a little stamp on it, and the chances are that today the person that receives it is going to hold on to it. And who knows where that's going to be in 100 years?

The Morgan Collection of Letters

Frankly, that's not why I'm here to talk to you about this. I don't want you to be motivated solely by the future, but the Morgan has a wonderful collection of correspondence by some very notable people: Jane Austen, Edgar Allan Poe, Queen Elizabeth I, Vincent van Gogh, and my favorite—Beatrix Potter.

A Favorite Letter from Beatrix Potter

I'm going to read you my favorite Beatrix Potter letter. This letter was written to the young son of her former governess, a little boy named Noel:

Falmouth Hotel, Falmouth, March 11, 92

My dear Noel,

Thank you for your very interesting letter which you sent me a long time ago. I have come a very long way in a puff-puff to a place in Cornwall where it is very hot and there are palm trees in the gardens and camellias and rhododendrons in flower which are very pretty. We are living in a big house close to the sea. We go on the harbour in a steamboat and see ever so many big ships. Yesterday we went across the water to a pretty little village where the fishermen live. I saw them catching crabs in a basket cage which they let down into the sea with some meat in it, and then the crabs go in to eat the meat and cannot get out. I shall be quite sorry to come away from this nice place, but we now have been here ten days. Before we go home we are going for two days to Plymouth to see some bigger ships still.

I shall come to see you and tell your mama all about it when I get home. I have got a lot of shells for you and Erie. I suppose they would not swallow them. This is a...I saw looking for fish. These are two little dogs that live in the hotel and two tame seagulls and a great many hens in the garden. I am going today to a place called The Lizard so I have no time to draw any more pictures and remain yours affectionately,

Beatrix Potter

The Significance of Handwriting

Isn't that amazing? Isn't that amazing that we have this letter with all of its little doodles? So, here's the thing. People today are often intimidated when I encourage them to write letters, saying, "Oh, but my handwriting's really bad." It's not about your handwriting; it's about you leaving your actual mark on a piece of paper. Whether it's messy or beautiful, short or long, perfect or flawed, the person that holds that piece of paper sees a real part of you that a cold text message or an email just can't convey.

How to Write a Letter

Now, I'm going to write a letter to Anna. Before I do this, I just thought I would tell you a little bit about the psychological aspects of putting together a letter.

When I write a letter, I open up my pad of paper, and I usually think about the person that I'm going to write to. I almost feel like they're sitting right here with me. As I take my pen and dip it into the ink and start writing, I haven't thought in advance about what I'm going to write. It really is a genuine conversation, and what ends up happening is that you genuinely get down what you would say to them if they were sitting here with you.

Some Architecture

There is a sort of architecture to writing a letter. You start at the top of the page and start your conversation. If you get to the end of a page and feel like you don't really have much more to say, then you should find a way to close it off and not abruptly, but rather to tie the ideas together and then sign your name. If you have more to say and start another page, it’s better to continue to the end of that second page. Stopping in the middle of a page and signing off always leaves a feeling that you ran out of something to say because you didn't fill the rest of the page.

Another Sample Letter

I would now like to read you a letter that I received from, I think, one of the finest letter writers I know. This is my friend Gigi in Ireland, and boy does she know how to do it:

21st of June 2020

Dearest Rajiv,

It's hard to believe it's the summer solstice over and done with. Now the days get longer—perish the thought! For now, I am cherishing and appreciating each and every day, long or short. Tempus fugit.

How are you, our dear friend, so far away? It was a real delight to receive your missive, so impeccably executed—a joy to behold. It sounds like you are in splendid isolation and quite enjoying it. Actually, I have to admit I am in my element being more grounded and not dashing around. What worries me is I'm in no hurry to get out there into the wide world. I’ve become even more reclusive, not that I needed much coaxing.

Mr. C is chomping at the bit. Quite the opposite—missing the crack. It will all unfold, and I'm not planning ahead. Our wonderful sunny days are over, and we're back to grey overcast days, swirling clouds and morning mists, tempestuous waves in Loch Brackley. I love it. It means I can curl up with a book, do my knitting, or bake a cake without being torn between that or tending to the garden.

How are you? Are you still keeping motivated and upbeat? I hope so. This is a melancholy time for you, and you're much in my thoughts. Yoga is great for settling the equilibrium, and I'm really happy to know you're practicing each day as am I. I think it's what keeps me going without really knowing it. It’s a good discipline, calming and healing.

There is absolutely no news from here other than that the cuckoo has flown off and left us to our own devices. We're battling on, trying to keep up appearances—cutting the grass regularly, cleaning windows. I read lots but have a mental block with writing for some reason. My hair is wilder than ever. Anna continues to send regular food parcels—this week from County Galway: fresh plaiches, cod, smoked haddock, and Galway Bay prawns. Oh, so delicious. We've had fish three days running, eating it all whilst fresh with sandfire—a real treat. Although I have to say Mr. Tullamore Dew has had to put on a brave face and grit his teeth, fortifying himself before and after with something stronger than the fish itself, you can imagine. So I have promised him a reward: steak and kidney pie tomorrow, made by my own fair hand. I have to admit there's only a smidgen of kidney in it. I would say more of a threat than a taste, which suits me better.

Your biryani sounds quite divine, and I've never actually made one but loved them. By chance today when I rang Becky, she was in the process of making a biryani herself. Surely this is a sign for me to get my act together and conjure up one myself. Becky went into great detail to explain the gist of it. I had no idea it was so complicated—all that layering with yogurt absorbing into the rice. I'd better get my act together.

Next week we'll motor to Westport to check out the little house and visit mother. I believe things are opening up a little now, shops are opening—not that I'll be doing much shopping, but I do miss seeing everyone, especially family and friends.

Forgive this boring attempt at correspondence, dear Rajiv. The important thing is to feel close and know that you are loved. You are by us, and we send you all our love.

Gigi and Tony

Write Your Own Letter

Look at that, just tied so nicely together at the bottom of the page. So think about someone you care about. After reading this article, turn off your phone, don't just put it down—turn it off and put it away. Take out some paper and your favorite pen, and write a letter to that special person. I guarantee that they will be very moved by the letters you formed on the page.

Keywords

Calligraphy
Morgan Library
Letter writing
Correspondence
Beatrix Potter
Handwriting
Gigi and Tony
Personal connection

FAQ

Q: Why is writing letters important? A: Writing letters is important because it helps create a tangible, lasting form of communication that can be cherished over time. Unlike digital messages, letters provide a personal touch and can be saved and remembered.

Q: What should I do if my handwriting is bad? A: Don't worry about the quality of your handwriting. The most important aspect is the personal effort and sentiment behind the letter. Whether messy or neat, the person receiving the letter will appreciate the time you took to write it.

Q: How do I start writing a letter? A: Start by thinking about the person you are writing to, almost as if they're sitting next to you. Let the words flow naturally as if you're having a conversation with them. Don't plan too much in advance; write what comes to mind.

Q: Is there a structure to writing a letter? A: Yes, letters usually have a beginning where you start your conversation, a middle where you expand on your thoughts, and an ending where you summarize and sign off. Try to fill the entire page to avoid leaving blank spaces, which may give the impression that you ran out of things to say.

Q: Can letters be more than just words? A: Absolutely! Letters can include illustrations, doodles, or other creative touches that add personality and charm, making them even more special.