by Debbie W.
Member since:
April 24, 2007

Revive the Lost Art of Letter Writing in February

January 24, 2012 07:36 PM UTC
views: 0 | 11 people recommend this | comments: 30

Do you miss writing letters to your friends and family? Author Mary Robinette Kowal will launch The Month of Letters Challenge in February, as writers around the world will try to post a letter a day.

In the month of February, mail at least one item through the post every day it runs.  Write a postcard, a letter, send a picture, or a cutting from a newspaper, or a fabric swatch. Write back to everyone who writes to you. This can count as one of your mailed items. All you are committing to is to mail 24 items.  Why 24? There are four Sundays and one US holiday. In fact, you might send more than 24 items. You might develop a correspondence that extends beyond the month. You might enjoy going to the mail box again

I would love to write letters to my Gather friends. Anyone up for the challenge? Send me a private message with your address and I will send you mine!

Comments: 30

Lori A Jan 24, 2012, 7:38pm UTC
great idea
Nora D. Jan 24, 2012, 7:41pm UTC
What a cool post!!!!! It just me thinking about the years ago, when I had a pen pal hobby......there was a time when I had over 100 pen pals.....from all over the world! I even got to meet several, including a guy from Pakistan! What an experience! Then, I wrote to 30 or 40 different guys in the military during the Viet Nam era.......wow, it was sooooo neat to get loads of letters each and every day from all over the world!
Would you believe, I even got phone calls from some of the soldiers, got a dozen long stemmed red roses wired to me as a big "thanks" for thinking of the guys, stuffed animals, and, even got a couple of marriage proposals, as well as a promise ring.....I kid you not! It was so awesome......memories I will cherish forever!
Debbie W. Jan 24, 2012, 8:16pm UTC
Nora, that's such a wonderful memory! It doesn't surprise me that you had all those pen pals!
Pamela Marks Jan 24, 2012, 8:02pm UTC
sounds like a great idea I am ready
Debbie W. Jan 25, 2012, 6:56pm UTC
Send me your address in a PM and I will send you mine!
Pamela Marks Jan 25, 2012, 7:04pm UTC
sent
Connie C. Jan 24, 2012, 8:03pm UTC
It is so strange that you would post this now. You see I was so sick this year, that I never did get my Christmas cards sent out. I had most of them fixed up but never got to the Post office to maril them. So I decided to handwrite a letter and add it to each card and still send it. I have done that to about 20 of them so far and still have more to go. My letters are all handwritten with the person whom the card is too in mind.
Debbie W. Jan 24, 2012, 8:15pm UTC
Connie, that's so funny and great! Hang onto them and mail in Feb!
Vj McMullan Jan 24, 2012, 8:16pm UTC
This is a good idea and a lost art. Yes, I say art because the effort and care that a letter takes and like you mentioned a more pleasant trip to the mailbox.
Debbie W. Jan 25, 2012, 6:52pm UTC
Receiving a letter in the mail is an event!
Heather Reid Jan 24, 2012, 8:29pm UTC
I used to write to my great aunt in Georgia a lot, but the letters slowed in high school :/
Debbie W. Jan 25, 2012, 6:53pm UTC
If she is still living, Heather, make her day and drop a note to her!
Darin Waugh Jan 24, 2012, 8:32pm UTC
Nice!
Stephannie H. Jan 24, 2012, 10:43pm UTC
I honestly don't miss it.
Sandy Moore Jan 24, 2012, 11:08pm UTC
I used to write a lot but got out of the groove of things. I would love to write to you.

Thank you for sharing with Watching The Wind Blow By
J. Reid Jan 25, 2012, 8:44am UTC
I cannot say I ever felt the urge to write or call someone, as a busy working single parent, I only received gossip in the mail and never fed into that practice.

I could consider this for February if I corresponded with another Gather friend who sharing a high degree of similar interests. I will reply to any PM from a friend who may be interested in either Photography, or writing (challenges on Gather or other sites).
Debbie W. Jan 25, 2012, 6:56pm UTC
I think it is a great opportunity to get to know someone new!
J. Reid Jan 26, 2012, 11:31am UTC
Oh, I agree!
Plusize Popstar The Original Jan 25, 2012, 1:21pm UTC
time to work on improving my hand writing skills
and this is the perfect opportunity.
Debbie W. Jan 25, 2012, 6:53pm UTC
You are right and write!
Bernard C. Jan 25, 2012, 1:25pm UTC
As a teenager I use to think I would end up as some person in correspondance with persons abroad and make lots of pen-pals too. At one point did begin writing to someone though it soon faded as did the idea after a few letters. Sometimes I like to write a letter though I admit that I have not done so now for a very long time :-) Good luck to those letter writers..and who knows..find new penpals :-)
Debbie W. Jan 25, 2012, 6:54pm UTC
We have been around long enough to know about pen pals, haven't we? If you would like to write me, let me know and I will send my address to you.
Donald M. Jan 25, 2012, 3:42pm UTC
I did love to write letters. Would even write 30 page ones, well 15 pages front and back and at the end of each page write over on the first page, so they would flip it and read the back.
Now my hands will barely sign my name, and not even that anymore.
Debbie W. Jan 25, 2012, 6:55pm UTC
Oh, I know it was so much fun to write letters. I'm going to try and send a letter out each day! I'll drop you a note!
michele r. Jan 26, 2012, 6:24am UTC
I think actually writing a letter every once in a while is therapeutic. I just wrote one to my aunt.
Doug Westberg Jan 28, 2012, 12:39am UTC
Thanks for sharing with Depression and Creativity! Terrific item!
Connie C. Apr 6, 2012, 7:52pm UTC
Debbie,

I am just stopping by to let you know that this post is spotlighted in the What Is Happening Today On Gather ~ Friday April 07, 2012 post.

Congratulations!

I do hope you will find the time to view the other spotlighted posts as well.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Debbie W. Apr 6, 2012, 8:02pm UTC
Thanks so much, Connie! I'm thrilled. I will check out all the other posts, no doubt!
Sherrie H. Apr 6, 2012, 8:49pm UTC
What a great idea this was! I am so terrible at writing handwritten notes - but I love getting them.
ʚϊɞ Carol ʚϊɞ Apr 9, 2012, 1:21pm UTC
I used to write and send cards on a regular basis. Seems that everyone is living life in the fast lane these days.

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